New Introductory Offer

There is a new introductory offer on all peony paintings sized 7.9x7.9 inches. This size is being fazed out and replaced with larger works. When the current inventory runs out they will no longer be available. so there is a special price on these items.
You can find them  here
There are also a variety of well priced prints in various sizes and these come printed on paper, canvas or metal. They can be purchased both framed and unframed. They can be found at Fine Art America HERE

It is peony time. ( is it ever not peony time?)

Grow Like a Peony

Peony Power

 

There is a new introductory offer on all peony paintings sized 7.9x7.9 inches. These are sold matted with a beautiful gift presentation that is 12x12 inches . This is a size that will be fazed out and replaced with larger works. When the current inventory runs out they will no longer be available. So there is a special price on these items. 

 

There are also floral prints available at Fine Art America

 

 

HERE  

These come in a variety of sizes and can be printed on canvas, paper or metal. They can be purchased both framed and unframed. I call that one stop decorating. Just in time for Spring and those Mother's Day events that will be happening. The only difference is these flowers will last forever and Mom will know they came from you every time she looks at it.

Custom Pet Portraits = Happy People

Here are two custom pet portraits that were done for the same client. I think they look great together and I appreciate the framing choices made by the owner. They honor the custom nature of this kind of product. 

It is highly personal

It is one of a kind 

It is made with paint , paper, a brush and the collaboration of two minds working toward the same goal. I think that is where the magic comes in. 

Both of us are thrilled and happy with the results and don't the pet friends look happy too? 

If you want to have custom pet portrait done for Mother's Day or Father's Day now is the time to take action. 

Here is the link to the Pet Friend Commission page on my website Pet Friends

Value Relationships

Bike Girl 

watercolor 

7x10 inches 

Matted 11x14 inches 

This is an exploration of value relationships. Below you can see the test dabs I used to compare the mid-tones to my dark masses. 

In my three step method the first step is to mass the dark areas. That is somewhat easy. It is finding the mid-tones that is the tricky part. It is also important as a watercolor artist to combine several midtones to cover those mid-tone areas. If I only used one color the value would be correct but it would look like a "paint by number" painting. Remember those? 

This painting can be found HERE

3 Steps To A Rose

Rose watercolor 

7.9 x 7.9 inches

Three steps to a rose.  

Step one...mass the darkest value shapes . connect those patterns. If it "reads rose" you are on to something good. 

Step two...find the mid-tone value shapes. Squint your eyes to find them. Leave the lightest spots of white alone. Use large strokes and keep it simple. Don't apply any paint that is darker than what you used in step one. Make test dabs and squint, squint , squint. 

Step 3....find the neutral shapes and use light washes to unify forms. This is just about final adjustments and not over doing it at this point. 

My book is a frustration buster that reviews these steps for watercolor success. You can find my book here or at that other big book seller who's name begins with an "a".

Swimming Pools and Floating

large Swimming Pool 

24x18 inches 

Can be found here

Sometimes I want to float along in life. I don't want to figure things out or study my next steps or plans. I want to let things take me and hand all power over to the elements . I dream of cake, swimming and floating. I don't know how they are connected but they are a place of joy and celebration and that is all I have to know right now. 

I should have called this the endless pool. Have you ever seen those advertised? It is a pool that has a current in it . It is basically a swimming treadmill. If I ever win the lottery I would purchase an endless pool and swim everyday. It would keep my core strong and my body would be weightless.
Dream on...

Let Cake Show You The Way

Handy Tools 

7.9x7.9 

watercolor 

This week the challenge at the Daily Paintworks is to paint these handy tools. I love to enter the challenges and enjoyed painting this . It is the opposite of flower petals so it stretched me and that is what I need a challenge to do. 

    I have also started to look at two other "handy tools". They are business blogs for people who create specialty cakes. One is the Business of baking by Michelle Green and the other is Cakefu. 

They are full of great marketing and pricing information. I see so many similarities between cake decorating and watercolor painting. 

Here are the links The biz of baking

And  cakefu

Large peony Painting

A large peony painting step 1

This painting is 18x24 inches. When framed it is a formidable size. To paint large takes a bit more planning. Mixing enough pigment so that the brush never gets thirsty and meanwhile the paper soaks up all moisture like a sponge.
     One tip is to always mix up more paint then you think you will need. When painting a wash it is impossible to get the formula to match if you don't mix enough to cover an area the first time.

testing one two

This is a test, please ignore

Sky Challenges

This week the challenge at the Daily Paintworks is to paint a skyscape. I think this best illustrates how it is important to make a landscape about either the land or the sky. If they are treated equally the composition suffers. 

This was my first entry. I just finished entry number 2. This one is from a photograph by El's Manning friend and muse to many artists. 

This painting can be found HERE

Summer Feet is SOLD

Summer Feet is sold and going to its forever home in Southern California. Happy journey.

In Focus

In Focus 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 inches 

Matted 12x12 inches 

 

I wanted to try to see if I could make the foreground in focus and the background slightly vague and shape fluid. I think it worked out. This painting can be found here

Yesterday was the free painting giveaway day.

Congratulations. The painting is on its way!