The April Winner is!

This months winner of a free painting is announced . Hooray for the giveaway day! The next free painting giveaway day is May 30th. Tell your friends to enter because you already have. Here is how they can join  in

Murky is good thing when it comes to neutrals

This is an 18x24 exploration with neutrals or "Murky" colors.
I am not sure if it is done or not.
Tomorrow will be finishing touches and then moving on. Nothing can become precious.

Finished! I pushed the color up a bit.

Searching For

I call this one Searching For. It is 18x24 inches. I think I managed to guide it in for a safe landing. I stand by this painting. It can be found here

Peony Twins

This is a real statement piece it is 18x24 unframed. I am ready for peony season. painting full out. Peony Twins
Things I have explored for months are starting to come together. This is an exciting time to see what comes next. I never know but I know I will be there.

What I have learned so far:
If you give up too soon you can not reap the rewards of hard work.

Two portraits to share

I was contacted yesterday and asked to paint a special  Mom and Dad. So I got "busy with it" and here they are.

These were super fun to do. I think the peonies and pet friends are feeling like second class citizens at the moment as they wait for my attention.

The Man on the Street

I call this one the Man on the Street. It is this weeks challenge at the Daily Paintworks. It can be found here
The challenge was to keep the figure in the front darker than anything in the background. That was tricky but I think I accomplished the goal.

Tess in the Hood

I completed two small paintings of my niece Tess. She is a great subject because she is willing  and because that blond hair and light coloring let me play with darker shapes to enhance the planes of her face.
The next free painting giveaway is on April 30th.
Here is a reminder of that in peony form

Two for the road

Two more peony paintings that I think went really well. This first one is a 9x12 inch one and the second is 10by 14.

And just as a reminder the monthly free painting giveaways are still happening. The next giveaway day is April 30th

If you are receiving this blog post you are automatically entered each month.
Now it is on to other projects....

Tulip Times

Tulip times 

I have learned so much about layering and backgrounds this week. That is an exciting development. Tulip Time

Simple folds

Simple Folds 

7.9x7.9 

watercolor 

I found the simple folds in this white peony today. 

I also finished all the paintings of girls on the beach.

So far this is what my board looks like this week.

Turning to you

I call this one Turning to You . 

9x12 inches 

watercolor 

This can be found on my website in the peony section.

Bathing Beauties

This is the last of my bathing beauties. I had fun painting them over the last four days.To see more click here.

Rainbow girl

Rainbow Girl 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

This painting can be purchased HERE

These paintings are painted with three colors. Alizarin Crimson, Ultra Marine Blue and Aureolin. It is amazing that you can mix the whole rainbow and many many neutrals with these three basic colors. The key is that they are primary colors. I suppose any three primaries could do this but I find these three work nicely.

Queen of the world

Queen of the World 

watercolor 

10x7 inches 

Thank you to Marilyn Bush for letting me use the pictures of your grand daughters on the beach. This is another three color painting. I am enjoying using the limited color choices. It slows me down and makes for a more strategic approach. 

This painting can be purchased HERE

A strong woman in the making. 

Expectations

Expectations 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

This is a watercolor using three colors. Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson and Aureolin. The fun is to mix every color and every neutral from those three colors. The result is a cohesive color chord.

Spring light on tulips

Spring light on tulips 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches

 

I finally got the whites to be consistently darker in the shadows than in the direct sunlight and inserted one value more before the white of paper and that created the intense white light I wanted to capture. 

Tricky? No? ...Yes! 

Time Companions

Time companions 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 

12x12 

This one is all about the body language and the neutral colors to create a mood. I think it is about love. Not new love and not even middle age love but the love of the ages...long time love.

Peony Delight

This is a 12x16 inch peony delight. I am working on my negative painting. This was pure fun.

Three things at once

This is my board so far this week.

Here is the reason why. I am powered by cake the breakfast of champions. This one is covered in roses and is so pretty.

Tomorrow I plan to get serious.

 I will finish this peony the third thing that is keeping me working at a pretty fast pace.
But I am done for this day.

A Collie Boy

This collie boy makes me happy. His owner has allowed me to paint him as often as I wish and I plan many more . He is a super model of dog. This painting can be found  HERE

Sherbert Peony Revised

I revised this from yesterday. I needed to make the value range larger. Yes and yes.
This painting can be found HERE

Sherbert Peony

Sherbert Peony

10by 14 inches 

This day was interesting. I had high hopes. This is the third of three peonies I tried today. The challenge it to simplify the forms into a cohesive structure. I would not take "no " for an answer.
What I have learned so far?
It is important to incorporate both hard and soft edges. Feel for the balance. Breathe and paint, breathe and paint.