Summer Feet

Summer Feet 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 inches 

matted 12x12 inches 

Today the pet friend of the day is happy on the porch swing with her human friend. I call this one Summer Feet and it can be found

HERE

On The Prowl

On The Prowl 

Watercolor 

7x10 inches 

This one is all about shapes and forms. It is a three step watercolor but done by adding the mid-tones last. I had to establish the patterns first. 

I am always drawn to saturated color and pattern and this one has both. 

The next free painting giveaway day is coming up. I will announce the winner here and on my Facebook Fan page Jan 31st. Good luck ! 

If you are receiving this post you are already signed up and entered.
This painting can be found here

Escape the Snow Challenge Try Number 2

Escape The Snow Challenge Number 2 

watercolor 

7x10 inches 

This is my second try at the escape the snow challenge going on at the Daily Paintworks this week. I knew I got the values right on my first attempt but the colors were wrong. I did not get the greens I was looking for. This time I did . 

Hey Guess what...the colors on your palette better be right because those are the ones going on the painting. 

Can I get a "Duh" on that sudden realization?

White Delight

White Delight 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

White Delight  

 

Nothing is more fun for me than painting peony shapes. I have two to share today. 

My tip of the day is not a watercolor one. It is instead about dental work. I just found about something called a bite block. If you have to have extensive work done ask for one of these and it sure does help with easing your jaw muscle. 

I will be having some work done and I am as prepared as I can be. I wish I could get a "brain block" !

No Specials!

Dia 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 inches

 matted 12x12 inches 

Can be found here

Yesterday was a day of high drama here. I felt so glad to have a pet friend to center me today. It made me realize how much I love the regular dull days. No surprises no specials! 

 That is my new tag line 

No specials!

The Pet Friend of the Day

Trout 

7.9x7.9 

watercolor 

matted 12x12 inches 

Trout is the Jo Mackenzie watercolor pet friend of the day. The next drawing for a free painting is January 31st. Here is how to  enter

It is free and it is fun! You only have to enter once and each month you have a chance to win. If you want your pet painted send me a photograph and soon you will see your "little darling" here. 

How To Build a Fire!

Fire! 

watercolor 

10x7 inches 

This can be found here

 

 

Step One. 

 

 

Step Two 

For Missy

For Missy 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

This painting can be found HERE

 

It felt good to be back to painting pet friends today. This picture was given to me by Missy Sawyer. I love to paint interactions between people and animals. This is also going to fit the Daily Paintworks challenge of the week. They are asking for submissions that include snow in them. Well I say "done and done". 

Fire

Fire 

watercolor 

10x7 inches 

This is a day to stretch and try new things.

A Three Step Rose

 A Three Step Rose 

7x10 inches 

Step one ...find the darkest pattern shapes and paint them. Connect them whenever possible. 

Step 2 ...Find the mid-tones. Both neutrals and full hues. make no mark that is darker than what was established in step one. Make test dabs and double check. Move slowly but with the strategy in mind. 

Step 3 ...find your lightest shapes and  connect forms. Less is more here. Nothing can be as dark as what was established in steps one or two. 

That's is the strategy for how to paint this rose. I am not sure what to do with the background . I need some time to think. 

 

  

Let Us Eat Cake

Let Us Eat Cake 

7.9x7.9 inches 

Matted 12x12 inches 

There was a time when I only had cake for special occasions. Now I always have cake in the house. Nothing is as satisfying as Swiss Buttercream icing. It is time consuming to make but worth every second. 

I can make a cake and freeze it in chunks ..then bring it up for those days when nothing else will hit the spot. 

I painted this as my second entry into this weeks Daily Paintworks Pastry challenge.

The Pastry Challenge

Pastry Challenge 

watercolor 

7x10 inches 

This week the Daily Paintworks challenge is to paint pastry. I had this picture of a blueberry and cream wonder from years ago. I had a few days of not painting so I decided to start up again with a limited palette of three colors. Alizarin Crimson, Ultra Marine blue and Aureolin . I knew this would force me to concentrate at the highest level and not get sloppy. 

It felt so good to paint again. It is my happy place.

Shake It Off

Shake It Off

7.9x7.9  watercolor 

Matted 12x12 inches 

This is the magnificent Glenn. If you ever visit the rough collie boards on Facebook you will see Glenn in all his glory. His owner is a great photographer and she takes Glenn and his pack on long walks and often posts for all of us to see. 

Glenn is the superstar. I never tire of seeing pictures of him.

After the Vacation Day

After the Vacation Day 

This is my day 2 entry into the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge because well? Why not. I wanted to capture that end of the day moment when the canoe is tucked away and a wonderful day is over and a new one is on the horizon. After the Vacation Day

Rob's Maine Cottages

Rob's Maine Cottages

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

Can be found here

 Today is day one of the thirty paintings in thirty days challenge. Which is kind of my usual month but it is fun to participate with everyone else. My first painting is from a photograph Rob Ryan took of cottages on the coast in Maine. Rob has a wonderful eye for composition he is a inspiration to me and has been so generous in letting me use his images. I am lucky to see the world through his eyes.