Top Hat

"Top Hat"
10.25" x 7.5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.  Starting bid:  $75

Another short post today as I've been trying to keep up with my painting and gardening. The painting is going well . . . my gardens . . . ummmm . . . let's just say, they're getting there.  :) The image below is of a "virtual frame" just to illustrate what this painting could look like framed. This painting seems to appeal to my "early American/antiquing" friends. (notice I didn't say "antique friends!)  :)  Hope you like it as well.

I'm off to bed now. Thank you for stopping by.

what this painting could look like framed

Being Bold

"American Interior"
6" x 6"

One of the most difficult things for me when painting, is getting the values right.  While I was working on this painting today, I just couldn't seem to get the glow on the window's mullions, nor was I achieving the overall drama that I wanted. So I took a photo of my painting, desaturated it in Photoshop (turning it into a black and white image) then compared it to a black and white image of the real photo. Wow! I was sooo off. It's hard to remember sometimes, that in order to create "popping" whites, you have to have the dark contrasts. Because I have a tendency to overwork my paintings, I'm often gun-shy when it comes to pushing the values and achieving those darkest darks. But as long as I remember to use a full range of values, creating the contrast I need, I'll be able to obtain those glowing whites.  And the black and white image "trick" is VERY helpful as I have a very difficult time seeing the value in color. I still have some work to do before I can call this painting done, but I feel much better that I'm headed in the right direction.

Below you'll see my before and after value images, along with the original photo. Happy painting!

(the "before" value image --  notice that the wall
and the outside values are all wrong)

the actual photo's value image

(the "after" value image -- this is from the color
painting image at the beginning of this post)

Pushing on . . .

So I did a little more on this painting . . . but I also started another one.  I'll post my progress on that one soon.  Lots of shows coming up, so I'm pushing to get some watercolor work done while I continue painting my commission.  Happy Friday!

Just About Done

"Autumn Bittersweet"
13" x 18"
Sold

I did a lot more work on Wednesday in class with this piece.  I think it's just about done.  I may go back in to do a little tweaking but I'm going to let it sit.  I'm planning on putting it in a local sale/show coming up at the Petersham Town Hall on November 4, 5 & 6.  If it doesn't sell, I'll then be putting it up for auction on the DPW site.  So stay tuned.  Have a good weekend!

My Other Life . . .

panel -- 4' x 8'

Not only am I having withdrawals from watercolor painting . . . but now I think I'm suffering from blog anxiety.  :)  So I had to post and at least show you that I'm not just sitting around eating junk all day.  (Well at least not ALL day, maybe just part of the day). This is the panel I'm working on -- one of the two major projects that have kept me busy. It's a naive style painting and will look old by the time I finish it. Our town seal will go in the circle at the top -- and the rest represents different buildings and areas of my town.  I'm planning to be done by the end of the weekend.  So if all goes as planned . . . next week = watercolors!  Yippee!

Daily Paintworks "Old Mill Challenge"

"The Old Mill"
5" x 7"

If you haven't ever visited my website, you wouldn't know that in addition to watercolor I also paint in acrylics, but in an "early American naive" style.  I have always had a love of colonial New England, antiques, early American folk art and more specifically, the murals of Rufus Porter.  I actually have only recently started seriously painting with watercolor.

This week the Daily Paintworks Challenge provided a photograph of an old mill.  I decided to use the photo to inspire a more naive-style painting.  This painting was painted in acrylics, and "aged" (lightly sanded then stained)  It is painted on panel.  It was a good departure from the watercolors - I haven't painted in this style in a while and it's fun.  I actually have a mural I started in this style, in my house that I need to finish.  Perhaps this will get me going on it again.  So much to paint, so little time!  :)