Hello Ladies

Hello Ladies 

watercolor 

10x14
This painting can be purchased HERE

I am enjoying working larger. This painting show my process well. Here are the steps for how to get "there". 

Start with massing the darks. Put in mid-tones, move toward your lightest lights. Everything is shape value and temperature. Don't think just look for value masses.

Our Pet friend winner of the month

The next free painting giveaway is Jan 31st. click  to play HERE
If you have already entered no worries you will be in the running each month . Thank you fpr playing.

Blooming

Blooming 

watercolor 

10x14 inches
This painting can be purchased HERE

It is getting crowded in this studio with all the large paintings. 

 What I have learned so far: 

Larger is better.

Slow Cows

Slow Cows 

watercolor 

14x20 inches 

Inquire for price....HERE

Slow poke

Unfinished painting. 

The thirty paintings in thirty day challenge is coming up in two days. I have decided since I paint over 30 paintings every month, I would do the opposite and paint larger paintings and work slower.  I will still be working on my pet friends of the day because I love them.

So unlike others...my goal is to work larger and slower. It is the opposite of a diet. Ha!

Large cows

Large cows 

watercolor 

14 x20 inches 

The challenge for me when painting larger is to keep loose and treat forms the same way I do when I am painting smaller. The other challenge is to mix enough paint to cover an area.

Bigger Stronger Better

Bigger Stronger Better 

watercolor 

10x14 inches 

It was suggested to me that I should work larger. So I shall do so. 

I would like to dedicate this picture to my father-in-law who showed me the way . You were right Ray ...better days were coming..

Christmas Barn on Christmas Day

Christmas Barn 2

watercolor 

7x10 inches 

$160 

This was a hard one for values because the barn was the darkest element. It took me two days and four paintings to figure that out. 

What I have learned so far? 

Hey Jo! The barn is darker than the snow ! Deal with it!

Christmas Barn in Vermont

Vermont Christmas Barn

7x10 inches 

watercolor 

$150 

Christmas sunshine is seldom and slanted . But it showed up!

Fig Newton before Santa

Fig Newton before Santa 

watercolor 

10x7 

$150 

We are having a Christmas eve.....Tom, Jo , Fig Newton and Maggie . 

Fig Newton has the right attitude about it all. Relax , breathe. be.

The Last Calendar Call

I have six calendars left. If you order one today you can have it delivered before the new year it here.
First come first serve.
To purchase one click HERE

Marlie

Marlie 

watercolor 

10x7 inches 

$150 

Marlie is the Jo Mackenzie watercolor pet friend of the day. He was submitted by his graphic artist owner who has helped me with my pathetic computer skills. 

What I have learned so far

Mix colors slower and make each value shape decision with care.

Wrapping paper dressing

Wrapping Paper Dressing '

10x7 inches 

watercolor 

$160 

This is the simplified version of what I did yesterday. Simplifying is always a better way to go. This painting can be found HERE

Sky Challenge

Sky Challenge 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$160 

This is the Daily paintworks challenge of the week. I have the stage I almost stopped at below so that you can see the difference in pushing the value just a little further.
This painting can be found HERE

Needless to say I went for the drama.

Bubbles

Bubbles 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150
This painting can be found HERE

I think I am not done with exploring the roundness of things. 

Wrapping paper dressing

Wrapping Paper Dressing 

watercolor 

10x7 inches 

$ 150
This painting can be found HERE

This is from FB and captures the fabulousness of fashion dressing with wrapping paper. 

Here the photograph for comparison. 

Thank you for tuning in to this humble blog

The Last Ornament in Three Steps

The Last Ornament 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150
This painting can be purchased by clicking here. HERE

What I have learned so far? Red and green make very interesting and useful neutral grays.

Step two ..putting in the mid tones. You can see the test dabs on the left.

Step one..establishing the NOTAN pattern.

Silver Ornament 2

Silver Ornament 2 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

This is the second try at the silver ornament. There are some value issues that I struggled with but I stand by this painting.

Our Town

Christmas cottage 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

 

This is the Christmas decoration in the middle of our town. It is populated by paper mache beavers and dogs and  somehow a blue heron got included. I think of living somewhere else often . This can be an isolated life and then
Adamant does something that makes me fall in love all over again. We live in a very special place.
Artist Janet Macleod is mostly responsible for this but all things Adamant are group projects.

Abby

Abby 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

Abby is the Jo Mackenzie watercolor pet friend of the day. The next free painting giveaway day is Dec. 30th. Good luck to Bridget who submitted this little rascal.

Silver Tone

Silver Tone 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

This painting can be found HERE

The studio is starting to look very festive. Who needs a tree? Not me.

Let it bleed

Let is bleed 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

I know , I know that is a terrible title for a painting but not if it is about color. Let the color bleed and flow and become one as it mingles. Maybe I should rename this "mingle jingle".

Ha!

Ha! 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

I love to laugh . Do you? 

The only thing I like better is getting someone else to laugh.

Golden globe

Golden Globe 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9
$150

Blue Globe

Blue Globe 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

This is vintage ornament I bought last year. I am glad I have learned how to use neutrals better and am finding them very helpful here.

The Charm?

The Charm 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

I have found as a painter and a person usually for me the third time of trying something is the "Charm". 

I never think this is going to be true. Surely the first attempt is my best.....but then I get nagging thoughts ...the "what if's". 

Before you know it I am trying it again and think for sure I have learned all I needed to from my second attempt. 

But oh no ...not true....there is still a layer to explore. Maybe if I try one more time I can get what I hoped to accomplish done. 

So number three begins and to my surprise ...Yup...the third time is the Charm.

What I have learned so far : 

Not all OCD is bad it can be useful  and productive. 


Here is step 2

Here is step 1

The whole point today was to key from a higher value range. The tricky part is that is what helps make things look shiny.

Value spots

Value spots 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

This has cleaner color than yesterdays ornament attempt. I stand by this painting.

A round moment

A Round Moment 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

$150 

It is a moment to contemplate the roundness of things.

Storm

Storm 

watercolor 

7x10 inches

$150 

We just had a storm and two days with no power. So "Storm" had to be the next pet friend up to bat. Here he is. This one is for Jeannine. 

Here are the first two steps