The Public Spaces Challenge

The public Spaces Challenge 

watercolor 

9x10 inches

This was the Daily Paintworks challenge for the week. It can be seen HERE

Below is the second painting that is at the Walsingham Gallery which you can see HERE

They have some wonderful artists there. It's a trip to the seaside without having to pack up the car. 

The Walsingham Gallery

This painting is currently framed and for sale at the beautiful Walsingham Gallery. You might want to check them out HERE

The Three Bears as told by an Artist

This painting is too dark!

This painting is too light!

This painting is just right!

No  bears or children were hurt in the telling of this tale of three paintings. But you get the point.

Sublime

Sublime 

Watercolor 

7.9x7.9 inches. 

This is almost the end of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I have so many things I want to tackle. But first I have a website glich to fix. 

Jo Hangs a Show

Today I am hanging a show at the East Montpelier Meeting House with two artist friends.
Wendy Soliday  who is a wonderful pastel artist and Ann Selkelsky  who makes wooden bowls and can even build a boat.
I will post the hours , directions and times for the show tomorrow. I wanted to get a painting up for the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge first.

     
More to come .....

LIp sticks

Lip sticks 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches

Yesterday I discovered the Savvy Painter Radio program. Now I am getting caught up on many artists and their stories. It is great to paint at the same time I can hear about the process.

Go For A Walk

Ready To Go 

7.9x7.9 watercolor 

Matted 12x12 inches 

This painting is full of deep washes. It can be found HERE

Small Brush Peony

Small Brush Peony 

7.9x7.9 inches 

Matted 12x12 inches 

Time to revisit the peony. I will never finish trying to paint this flower form. This painting can be found HERE

Release the Hound

Release the Hound 

7.9x7.9 watercolor 

I have a hound and a collie. They are very different personalities. The hound 

 looks noble and wise but is the biggest goof ball ever. The collie is practically perfect in every way. 

I thought I needed to "represent" and not show favoritism . 

So today the pet friend of the day is the hound dog. 

Hello Puppy 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

This painting can be found HERE

Collie as a Lion

Collie as a Lion 

10x7 inches 

Here are the steps for how I approached this pet friend of the day today. 

I started with the mid-tones. Not what I usually do at all. 

Layered more mid tones. Staying in the neutral gray and orange tonal range.

The last step. Hit is hard with the darkest dark value shapes being decisive and direct.

Looking Toward the Light

Looking Toward The Light 

It was time for a Kitty Cat pet friend of the day. This fellow was "up at bat". There were a lot of neutrals to mix and make decisions about on this one. But we did it. this painting can be found HERE

Absurd Problems and the Pop Up Giveway Winner

I had to buy new wire snips because I mislaid my old ones.Here is how they arrived with instructions for how to cut the plastic ties that bind them to the cardboard.
They suggest you use......Yup! You guessed it.

Now the announcement ( while I try to pry the  wire snips free with my teeth). The winner of the Pop Up giveaway this week is Kathy Phillips. She decided to choose her pets picture instead of the lipstick painting. Congratulations to her. The next free painting giveaway day is Sept 30th.

Three Steps to Strong Shadows

Strong Shadows 

watercolor 

9x12 inches 

This painting can be found HERE

Here are the three steps to how I approached this painting today. 

Step 1 

Put in the darkest patterns. 

Step 2 

Begin to build in mid-tones . Find the shadow shapes carefully 

 Step 3. Put in the lightest shapes and finishing touches.

Do not pass Go do not collect 200 dollars until you read this link!

If you want to know everything you need to know about watercolor pigment to water ratios . Read  THIS

I wish I had understood this back "in the day" when I was struggling with the basic fundamentals. But it still applies today. 

House Selfie

House Shadows 

9x12 inch 

watercolor 

This was painted 1/2 hour ago. It is Vermont today
"Fresh Picked". 

HERE is where it can be purchased and the steps to create it

Step one. Finding all the dark patterns to connect into a whole 

Step two..connect the dots with mid tones and finish off with light washes.

Me And My Shadow in 5 Steps

Me And My Shadow 

watercolor 9x12 inches 

I am still obsessed with my interesting house shadows. Following are the steps for one way to approach painting this subject. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow Obsessed

Shadow Obsessed 

watercolor 

9x12 inches 

I am completely taken in with a shadow that appears in the late afternoon by the side of the house. It is an oddly shaped friend and I can't get enough of it. I was going to paint it in three steps. Below is step one . I forget to stop  and post the progression. The shadow was in control . 

This painting can be purchased HERE

House Shadows

House Shadows 

9x12 inch 

watercolor 

I am exploring shadows today. The whole point of wanting to paint this was the odd shaped shadow in the foreground. I am always interested in the space between things more than I am in the actual "things". This painting can be found HERE

Rose Forms

Rose Forms 

9x12 inches 

watercolor 

So many challenges today. Getting to simplify some rose forms was relaxing and helpful to me. Simplify, simplify, simplify.

Getting Lost in My Own Yard

Back Yard Value Shapes 

9x12 

watercolor 

This is an example of getting lost in the world of no words. Just shape , color and value. This is where my social skills are the best. This painting can be found HERE

Blaze

Blaze 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

This is Blaze. He is not a collie but he is a noble dog who is no longer with us. I hope this picture brings his owner Brittany some comfort. Some of the pet friend losses are untimely and unfortunately that was the case for Blaze. That makes what is already hard even harder.

Sampson

Sampson 

watercolor 

10x7 inches 

This painting can be found HERE

These are the three steps for how to paint this pet friend. 

Step 1..Mass your dark values

Step 2...Begin to apply mid-tones 

Step 3.... Apply final washes and make adjustments. 

And later 

A peony to honor this day.

 

Emma

Emma 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

Emma is the fifth pet of the 30 Collies/Shelties in thirty days challenge. I am working on simplifying forms and uniting value shapes to make a cohesive whole. 

One of these paintings will be given away on Sept 30th. All you have to do to enter is be signed up to receive my newsletter and if you are reading this you already have done so. 

Good Luck!

Tulip Time

Sometimes a simple form is what you need to start of your day.

A Nutty Nut

I am a "nutty nut". I know this and so that is why I am painting 30 Collies and Shelties in 30 days. Because if not now? When?
I will also be working on landscapes and other things that strike my fancy.
There is nothing I like better than when I have a task to do. It puts me into my happy place. As usual I will be  evaluating color shapes and values at all times.

I hope you enjoy the pet friends who will be "running your way" as little Caboose the sheltie is doing in the picture above.
More later....

10x14 Barn

10x14 Barn 

watercolor 

This painting can be found HERE

This painting is the result of three prior studies. I called them "The song that never ends". I kept painting too much and confusing value elements and shapes. It was a struggle but I knew learning was happening. Last night I told myself "you can do this". 

I woke this morning determined to make a plan and not deviate. I think this came out great! 

I got the simplicity and the values right. 

Lots of learning happened in the process of this painting.

Bella

Bella 

10x7 inches 

watercolor 

Bella is the Jo Mackenzie watercolor pet friend of the day. This one is for Karla Carmichael. 

I am trying to paint thirty collies and shelties in thirty days. Plus work on landscape because...why not?