Two on the Beach

Two on the Beach 

watercolor 

7x10 inches 

matted 11x14 inches 

It is so much fun to make shadows and shapes and forms and suddenly an image appears. It is a magical thing. Find this painting here

The May Winner is Announced

The winner of a free painting for the month of May is Tricia Amsden. If you are receiving this blog post you are automatically signed up for each months free painting drawing. The next one will be June 30th.

Meanwhile it  is the month of June which means peonies.
But I also feel the urge to paint a pet friend today. That is how this whole art adventure started. I began by painting a pet friend everyday . This page and business have  "blossomed" into so much more. I am super grateful for it.
Now I hear a pet friend calling me......as I always say More later....

Hide My Eyes

Hide My Eyes

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

Matted 12x12 inches 

Sometimes you just have to paint something and today was the day for  this

Peony Shapes and Values

Peony Shapes and Values 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

This year I am looking for the simple forms and value changes that make a peony flower.

This painting can be found HERE

Three step watercolor of a cow

Coming Home 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 

12x12 inches 

This painting can be found HERE

Below are the steps for how to build this painting. 

Step one..mass your darks

Step two..plug in mid-tones. Nothing can be darker in this step than what has already been established in step one. Be careful....make test dabs.

Step three ..lightest washes and final adjustments.

Come Swim with Me

Come Swim with Me 

watercolor 

10x7 inches 

This image is from the Morgue file. The Morgue file is a great resource for artists who want to use images and not have to pay for them or ask permission. I call this one Come Swim with Me. I painted it because I didn't think I would succeed. But I stand by this painting and am really proud of it.

Come Swim with Me

Dance 2

Dance 2 

watercolor 9x12 inches 

This painting can be found HERE

 

This is a fantasy of a painting. It shows movement and joy. My heart is in that place and I am inspired by it. 

Three Steps to a Rainbow Swirl

Rainbow Swirl 

watercolor 

7x10 inches 

Matted 10x11 inches 

Swirl and twirl here is step one...(below)

I am off the chain today. Color shape and value are all one to me .

Window Lights

This is the first pass. laying in and massing eh dark patterns.

Window of  Lights 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

Adding the mid-tones and light washes competes the painting. But it was all there after the first pass.

The best pictures have a strong value pattern to follow. It makes the rest of the decisions so much easier. Not easy...but easy ...er. 

Painting found here

The Nose That Kisses

The Nose that Kisses 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x112 inches 

This painting can be found HERE

I found a subject I could get excited about today. Pet owners will recognize this view point when being awakened .

Rainbow Dance

I call this one Rainbow Dance. It is 7x10 inches. This was a wonderful image to work from. The value patterns fell into place and I was a happy artist to just follow the map provided. This painting can be found HERE

3 Cows in a Row

Three Cows in a Row 

10x14 inches 

watercolor 

This is my happiest thing to do. Just to paint color pattern and shapes. I get lost in "there". Where is your happy place?  Would you share it with me? 

I could add your place to my "tool belt". I have paintbrushes in my tool belt now but I bet there is much more diversity to be had. I am listening with open ears.

This painting can be found HERE

Peony Quest 2015 Begins

Peony Quest 2015 begins today with this entry to consider. It is 10x14 inches of peony softness and strength.
It can be purchased here
And here are the steps for how to join in the quest with me.

Step 4 soften edges and make final adjustments

 Step 3. Find all the mid tones that  need a color boost with a layer of wash in the areas that show the most depth. No scrubbbing!

 Step 2 . Lay in the darkest patterns and establish the light source. Charge the brush and don't be wishy washy here.

Step One . Transfer the drawing and add maskit to the whitest whites you want to preserve.

LLoyds Daffodils

These are LLoyds daffodils. I am using the NOTAN method and adding more layers as I move to make the most saturated color I can. I like the direction painting is going. I wonder what other discoveries will be made this week.
This painting can be found HERE

Yes, and That is Why I Did It.

This is my book Three Step Watercolors. I just went to Amazon.com to fill an order for someone and saw this review. It made me feel great because this is exactly why I wrote the book.
I am so glad it is helping others. Here is what they said .... 

http://www.amazon.com/review/RIAEWY8EWDP3F/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00J7EJ4V6

Light and shadow

I call this Vacation Spot. It can be found here

It illustrates how nothing in the light can be darker than the lightest light in the shade. Everything is relative in value and making those decisions correctly trumps color. That is why they say value does the work color gets the credit.

Layering day 3

Layering day three. This is slowing me down and that is a really good thing. This is a12x16 inch painting. I think peony season is going to be super exciting with this new skill .

Home Sweet Home

I call this one Home Sweet Home.It is a 10x14 inch watercolor. It shows how very green the state of Vermont is. Hence its name . This painting can be found HERE

Layers

It takes a lot of layers to paint this way. I call this tulip layers because it must have been 10 or more layers to block this in. I don't usually paint this way. Not my personality,  but I like the deepness and I will work layer after layer to achieve that. This painting can be found here

Nothing in the Light

This is called Nothing in the Light. Because it illustrates the concept that nothing in the shade can be lighter than the darkest light in the light. Artist Kaether Bealer paints this concept better than anyone I know.
This painting can be found here