Tuesday, April 29, 2014

The pet friend game


Frankie 
watercolor 
7.9x7.9 
$130 
Frankie is the Jo Mackenzie watercolor Facebook pet friend of the day. Tomorrow is the free painting giveaway day. It is my favorite day of the month because somebody is going to win a free painting and that makes me happy. 
You only have to enter once by sending a photo to Jowatercolor@gmail.com. I have so many pet friends I need a box to hold all the photographs . I treasure them all. They have taught me how to become a better painter.

Monday, April 28, 2014

City challenge


City challenge 
watercolor 
7.9x7.9 
$130

This is my first weekly challenge entry in almost a month. It felt good to participate and I almost felt "normal" for a few moments. 

What I have learned so far: 
The neutrals are going well ..now it is time to plug in more color into value. You can do it . Just slow down use your value finder and figure it out.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Three steps to paint skippy


Step 3 
Skippy 
watercolor 
7x11 inches 
$140 


Step 2 
Putting in the mid tones



Step one 
Massing the darkest areas first. 


This is my first painting since my medical leave. I guess I am back. I feel rusty but lucky and happy to start the engine back up again. Oh and now a shameless plug is in order...

You can learn how to create Three Step paintings in any medium using this handy book. Available through amazon.com and also my website at  jomackenzie.com .

Friday, April 25, 2014

Living Large

This is the biggest size I paint. It is 18x24 inches. Framed it is larger. I painted this about two years ago before I understood many things I now know. But I think it holds up . I put Charles Reid's wonderful book Watercolor Solutions underneath a glass bowl with marbles in it.

What I have learned so far:
A painting can hold up over time if l the fundamentals are sound. I can still stand by this one.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Artists healing Artists

Artist's healing artist's is a play on the title of my favorite Blog talk radio program Artist's Helping Artist's .

Today I was feeling blue...truly feeling the loss of my recent surgery and all that it has come to mean. Then it happened!

I opened up my email and my good artist friend Dana Richards sent me this healing gift.
She contacted Dreama Tolle Perry who you can find here . Dreama is well known for her use of color and her generous heart. She is also known for painting her cat Eddie.

Dana asked if she would sent me a picture of Eddie that I could paint for my pet friends project.

Dreama sent a picture and said Eddie is looking forward to being painted in watercolor.

How exciting for me to have this to look forward to when I can pick up a brush again.

I needed this helping hand to make me feel the power of art and women..that I have kind of lost in my own soul for the time being.

That is why this post is called Artist's healing Artist's. 
I am overwhelmed and accept this gift and will paint Eddie as soon as I am able to start up again.

Monday, April 21, 2014

The pet friend game and how to play


How to play the pet friend game

How? 
Send a photo to Jowatercolor@gmail.com
 Where? 
I will paint your pet and post the picture on my Facebook Fan page. 
What? 
Every month a winner is picked at random to receive a free painting. 
Why? 
Because it is fun and it is free. Jowatercolor@gmail.com

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Three step watercolor book and where to purchase it

This is one of the examples from my Three Step Watercolors book. This is step three . You can see the strategic value dots I used to create this painting on the left.

This is step one. Where all the darkest values were plugged in to anchor the painting together. To see more about the book and get the best price go to this page for the best price and kindle version




Thursday, April 17, 2014

Wellness bear

I am back. I can not paint yet so Mr. Bear will have to do that while I heal a little bit more. But the surgery is done, the drains came out about an hour ago ...so now it will be ice packs and physical therapy and I should be back to painting daily soon.
I got courage from the comments and well wishes I received. I read them in the hospital and again at home. It gave me great comfort.

What I have learned so far :
You can do things you don't think you can as long as other people give you a helping hand.

An Adamant Day

This is the Adamant July 4th parade. A good example of how to paint this is in my Three Step Watercolor book.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Pet Friends

Pet friends are still being collected for the April free painting giveaway. Just send a photos to jowatercolor@gmail.com to enter .

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Kents corners

This is right around the corner from me. The classic Vermont white cape with dark green shutters.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Time for more

This is a favorite of mine. It is framed and I am looking at it right now. It is 9x12 but framed quite a bit bigger.
More later...

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Hello I must be going.

Today is my first day of medical leave. Do not worry about me. I will be back soon. In the meantime I will be posting some of my favorite paintings.
Please enjoy my website and my new book which are available while I am just down the hall.
Tom will be my stand in for this period of time. I think he is the best possible "me" there could be.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Lost edges


Lost edges 
watercolor 
7.9x7.9 
$130 
I decided it is time to explore colors that have no names ( neutrals) and lost edges. It is time to ponder those things. 

What I have learned so far 
There is so much more to experiment with and I am ready to do so

Monday, April 7, 2014

Emily

Emily is on my mind today. I tried  to ignore emotion and just see darks and lights and shapes. Look, paint, simplify, no scrubbing...done.

A maple postcard from Vermont


Sugaring 
watercolor 7.9x7.9 
$130
This is a postcard from Vermont where it is sugaring season. This is the old way to do things using sap buckets. Very labor intensive but for individual families it is still a tradition to collect the sap this way to make syrup. 

Here is step 1
This would be a brilliant selling technique to keep showing steps one and three and not showing step two ( my watercolor book is called Three Step Watercolors)  But I truly keep forgetting to stop and take that middle picture. 

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Roses step 1 and 3


Roses step 1 mass your darks 



Roses step 3
watercolor 
7.9x7.9 
$130

I put up steps one and three of these three roses. I forgot to photograph step two. I think I am so caught up in painting those mid-tones that I forget to stop and photograph that step. I am not holding out on you I promise. I will put up a note to remind me from now on . 
In the meantime my book Three Step Watercolors can fill in the gap as well as the short video on the top right hand side of this blog. 

What I have learned so far.....
I am now a tweeter.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Peony times three

Peony times three the final edition
watercolor 
7x11 inches 
$140 


A peony I like ...alert the media.......I made petals and progress.

Peony times 3


Peony times 3
watercolor 7x11inches 
 

Peony practice for today and a book sale to a wonderful artist friend. 

I am starting to get feedback that this book is useful for all painters and not just watercolorists. That is great to know. I probably should have given it a different title.


Friday, April 4, 2014

Skippy on the prowl


 Skippy 
7.9x7.9 
watercolor 
This is an example of a three step watercolor . I have written a book on how to use this method. It is available at jomackenzie.com and on  Amazon.com .
 Here I am showing steps one and three. I left out step 2 because I forgot to photograph it.




Thinking about peonies

I am starting to make my peony painting plans. I know it is early. I am in the strategic phase. I will paint the peony of my dreams this year. Peony Quest 2014 has only just begun.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Lassie


Lassie 
watercolor 
7.9x7.9 
$130 

Lassie is the Jo Mackenzie watercolor pet friend of the day on Facebook. If you want your  pet to be entered into the free painting giveaway send a photograph to Jowatercolor@gmail.com and I will paint it for you and enter you in the monthly drawing.

What I have learned so far 
The power of neutrals by mixing complimentary colors is starting to take hold.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Totally inspired by Aud Rye


Inspired by 
watercolor 7.9x7.9 
$130 
I was inspired by an artist I just discovered named Aud Rye. I think this came out nicely.

What I have learned so far:
Pull back and take a three steps away from the rose. 

Skippy is still running


Skippy running more 
7.9x7.9 
watercolor 
$130
Skippy is still running and jumping. I have so much fun with animals in action.