Doggy Paddlin'

"Doggy Paddlin'"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on clayboard)
$275

I finally finished this little painting yesterday so that I could hang it in a local exhibit at the Palmer Library in Palmer, Massachusetts. It is part of the Library's Community Collaborative "Rivers" Art Exhibit. A reception is scheduled for Wednesday night from 5:00 - 6:30 pm with a poetry reading event following from 6:30 - 8:00. You can find more information here if you are interested in attending. It should be a lovely event.

Have a great day!

Taking Risks

"Watching the Red Sox"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)

I took a little detour from my Amsterdam paintings to work on a couple of gifts. While I haven't yet delivered them, I'm pretty sure the recipients don't follow me online, so I think I'm safe. And yes, that's a priest.  :)  Our dear Parish Pastor, Father Fitzgerald, has retired after 30+ years and we are all sad to see him go. He and his loyal sidekick, Sister Angela actually look a lot like these Fisher Price people -- Father and Sister are the cutest, most adorable little people I know . . . and one of the great teams in history. 

Anyway . . . I did a painting for each of them . . . this one is for Father. But there is a painting lesson in here that I wanted to share with you. Take a look at the version of this painting mid-way, below:

It's horrible! The reference image had the background darker, and in shadow, so that is what I aimed to paint. And if you are familiar with the Fisher Price toys of this era, the blue on the walls is a weird, almost dirty looking blue. Too often I succumb to being a slave to the photo -- something I am really striving to avoid these days . . . but alas, I was sucked in and my painting was lifeless and dirty looking.  There was no way I could continue it like this. I would either have to do something drastic or start over.  So I went "drastic" and decided to wash off the background. (This is one of the perks of aquabord.)

To the sink I went . . . and carefully holding the board under the running water, only where I wanted to "erase," I began to get rid of the majority of paint in the background. The Winsor blue is a staining pigment so I knew it wasn't all going to wash off, however, I wanted to leave a ghost image so I knew where to re-paint. 

Luckily, it worked like a charm and I could revise the background.  I brightened it up, making new decisions about what the painting needed as opposed to what the photo was showing me.  

So I validated two valuable lessons here (I say "validated" because deep down I know these things, I just don't always apply them):

1)  Let your painting speak to you . . . and be sure to listen. It will tell you where to go and what it needs.  Don't just paint your reference photo.

2)  Take a risk on a painting that isn't working. The worst that can happen is you start over . . . the best is that you salvage something that would never have worked in the first place.

Thanks for popping by.  Tomorrow I will share the painting I did for Sister Angela.  :)

Who's Jumping on that Bed?

"Jumping on the Bed"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)
SOLD

Those crazy kids are at it again!  Jumping on the bed .... oooh they're naughty!  #3 in my series.  I'm so grateful for my clients!

Little Peoplepalooza

"Family of Four"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)
SOLD

I'm done with one of my commissions -- the four Little People paintings.  "Family of Four" is the first in the series.  I'm excited to share the rest of them with you!

Thank you for checking in.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This is going to be a short post as I have been busy working on commissions and am actually headed to bed.  Oh how good it will feel to crawl under the covers!  

These are some 8" x 8" cradled aquabord panels in various stages.  It's fun to to work on multiple paintings at once.

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Lots of Slow Progress

"The Budding Artist" - work-in-progress
12" x 12"
watercolor on cradled aquabord

I'm getting close with this one . . . looking to have her done this week. There are lots of nit-picky details left to add to the realism; I'll be playing with some values and making sure my star artist stands out against her busy background.

Have a great day!

30 Day Challenge - Painting #29

"Pass The Popcorn"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Day 29 -- one more painting to go in Leslie Saeta's 30 Day Painting Challenge.  This one is part of a series of 3 theatre paintings that have been commissioned.  They are planning to be displayed near my client's home theatre.  How cute is that?  

I apologize for the quality of these photos - I'm hoping to get a new computer and scanner in the near future, hopefully though, you get the idea of each painting.  You see, my camera went on the blink and I've been using my husband's -- which is actually a very nice camera, but I don't know how to use it properly.  I've also been finishing these up after dark and rushing the photography, not taking the time to do it properly.  Anyway -- that's my story . . . luckily though, I've been able to get high res images of them for my records, but that's been after posting. I have to say, I think they look much better in person and am excited to put what's left of them out on display during my Open Studio next weekend.

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #27

"Two Popcorns, Two Sodas"
5" x 5"
watercolor on paper
SOLD

I keep wanting to throw in a "Please" at the end of this title, but am afraid it would be too long.  However I just don't want anyone thinking these Fisher Price people don't have manners!

This piece is not exactly authentic Fisher Price, but it was oh so much fun.  A collector suggested to me that a concession stand would make a delightful painting and could round out a little vignette of 3 theatre themed paintings that they would like to purchase.  So I drew up what would be the concession stand "decal" - stuck it on the wall of one of the Village shops, threw in a couple of movie-goers and voila!  I hope they like it . . . and you as well.  It was a lot of fun to do.  

Thank you for viewing my work

30 Day Challenge -- Painting #25

"Chatting At Work"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

Day 25 -- it's getting close!!  I have the remaining paintings all plotted out.  Four are in the works already of which 3 happen to be commissioned.  I've been lucky and have sold 10 of these paintings through Daily Paintworks -- you can see one of the packages below, all ready for shipping (a photo taken a few days ago.)  I am very grateful for my collectors -- thank you!

I'm also posting a photo of some of the collection all together.  Thank you for viewing my work and have a lovely day!

all ready for shipping

21 paintings

30 Day Challenge - Painting #24

"The Family"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

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This one took a lot longer than I had expected, but alas it's done.  I have 3 more in various stages . . . so stay tuned.  We're in the homestretch!  

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #23

"Got Milk"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

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I don't think there was really ever a milkman in the Fisher Price Village, but I thought I'd make one using the mail truck.  I think this works.  I must say, it was nice having a milkman, ours was Mr. Banas . . . I wish they were still around.

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #22

"Annie"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper
NFS

My friend, neighbor and favorite mail lady is retiring on Monday . . . so this, my 22nd painting of the 30 day painting challenge is for her --  Congratulations, Annie!!  We love you.  :)

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #21

"No Jumping On The Bed!"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

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I think we all remember hearing those words from time to time when we were kids.  Another late night for me, but this one felt good.  I'm hoping to get back to my better routine tomorrow.  Thank you for taking a look.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #20

"I Got You Babe"
5" x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

Ok -- so this one is a bit wacky, but hopefully it will make you smile, perhaps even chuckle a little bit.   I've had this idea floating around for a while -- 1970's Fisher Price + vintage pop culture = Sonny & Cher in Fisher Price style.  Why not, eh?  Fisher Price did Sesame St.  I still think it's funny, and I like the idea, I just didn't take my time prepping for it, so the execution is a bit lacking I think.  And once again, I started painting late in the day.  Oh boy.  For all you authentic FP fans, don't worry, I've got plenty of regular paintings planned, I just had to get this one out of my system.  And isn't that what this challenge is about -- trying new things?  Anyway, thank you for viewing my work.  Oh ya, this is #20. And the beat goes on . . . 

30 Day Challenge - Painting #19

"Fill It Up . . . Hi-Test"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

"Hi-test" . . . now there's a word you don't hear anymore.  And look at the poor grump -- he must already know about the parking ticket . . . or he's just mad that the nozzle is coming out of his head.  Either way . . . he's none too pleased and I can't say as though I blame him, poor fellah.

Day 19 of the Challenge . . . we're getting down to the wire.  And oh so many Fisher Price ideas still floating around in this nutty little head of mine.  I may have to continue this series even after the challenge has ended.  After taking a little break though, of course.

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #18

"The Parking Ticket"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

Apparently parking in front of a hydrant isn't such a good idea . . . especially one that's set right in front of the Police Station.  I guess even Fisher Price people have to obey the laws.  I wonder if this car belongs to "The Grump" -- that could explain a lot.  :)

Sorry for the lousy image -- again, it's late at night.  I didn't get a chance to start this painting until very late tonight.  But I was determined to stay on track.  I just hope I can get some painting done early in the day tomorrow, so I won't be burning the midnight oil again.

Anyway -- thanks for dropping by.  And now I'm going to bed!

30 Day Challenge - Painting #17

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

It may be cold outside, but this little lady is keeping warm by her cozy fireplace.  Now if only she could get some insulated glass . . . or something at all, in her windows to protect her against the elements and keep the heat in.  Have a lovely day.  I finished this one early today -- yippee!  Thank you for stopping by.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #16

"Wake Up!"
5" x 5"
watercolor on paper
SOLD

Click here to bid.

Day 16 --- woo hoo!  I'm trying to get some paintings started for the week.  It's funny, one minute I'm feeling like I'll be able to get ahead and the next I'm saying "oh no . . . I have no paintings started."  These days just keep coming . . . and so quickly . . . and using up all my started paintings.  

Thank you for viewing my work.  Have a great day.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #15

"Grandma And The Baby"
5"x5"
watercolor on paper
SOLD

Click here to bid.

I've been scrambling here this weekend.  Although I have a couple more started, this pace is just nuts to keep up.  How the heck do people do this?!  

So I think this photo was snapped while Grandma was feeding the baby.  Ha!  Aaaah . . . the little people -- they're just so happy.  Hope you enjoy . . . and thank you for stopping by.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #14

"Bovine Pride"
5" x 5"
watercolor on paper
SOLD

Click here to bid.

I had a lovely day at my cousin's bridal shower, hence the late post.  I had to finish my painting when I got home, but then I started listening to music and googling other music and . . . well . . . you know how it goes.  

The colors in this image are pretty horrible -- it's night now, so the photograph stinks and I'm so tired I didn't do much color correcting.  But at least I have something to post for today.  Well . . . actually I guess it's already tomorrow.  Oh well.  Day #14 is done.

Thanks for coming by.