Today's Progress

Moving right along.  Thanks for taking a peek. 

Juggling

Nantucket Basket - wip 1
(approx. 13" x 19")

Nantucket Basket - wip 2

In between washes of this new painting, (which I'm thoroughly enjoying) I took out my gentleman farmer to work on: trying to adjust values using a black and white image of my painting. I find myself constantly struggling with values anyway - but throw in yellows and bright oranges and I'm completely lost! I think they're so difficult because they register gray. Ugh. 

I also continued working on some details. I feel like I'm going at a snail's pace with this guy . . . in fact he's already hayed his fields twice since I started this painting! Almost done though.  

Have a great day!

  

 

Side Door

"Side Door Simplicity"
6" x 6"
(watercolor on Fabriano cold-pressed)

(what this painting could look like framed)

Click here to bid

I bought a block of Fabriano cold-pressed paper and thought I'd give it a whirl and I liked it! Yay! I found the pigment very easy to lift out however the paper held the color in place for adding washes which is not so much the case with hot press. And I enjoyed working on the texture. Perhaps you'll see more little studies from me on this paper . . . or not . . . who knows? . . . I'm always all over the map! It was a nice departure though.

Thank you for dropping by and I hope everyone had a lovely weekend / St. Patrick's Day. I'm excited to start the week off with a new painting!

Really Big Bowl

"Really Big Bowl" - wip1
12" x 16"

I did some more work on the big shoe yesterday, but nothing too noticeable. However, I started this one. I won't be keeping the name -- "Really Big Bowl" so if anyone has a suggestion, let me know. I just wanted to call attention to the size of this piece. If I do say so myself, it looks pretty cool in person.  I love working bigger than life with objects. Someday I'll have to try something on a full sheet. (That's if I'm feeling really wild and crazy!)  :) I'll be sure to post my shoe progress soon. Thanks for taking a look.  Have a great day.

A Basket Awaits

"A Basket Awaits"
14" x 11"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)

I finished "A Basket Awaits" over the weekend and entered it into a local juried show. We'll see if it makes it in -- you just never know. I decided to enter this painting over some other ones that I've recently completed because it didn't need to be framed as it's on a cradled panel. You'd think by now I'd know what shows were coming up and have my act together, but for some reason I still get blind-sided; scrambling around last minute. Not all the time . . . but this time, definitely. And thus not having to mat and frame helped a lot. :)

Anyway . . . thanks for stopping by and viewing my work. 

Aquabord Basket

Just the beginning . . . stay tuned for more updates!

Building A Painting - Morning Sun

"Morning Sun"
17.5" x 24"
(watercolor on Fabriano soft-pressed paper)

Click here to purchase.

I just finished this today and thought I'd post. Oh and I've started another basket! Call me "crazy" -- but this time it's on aquabord so we'll see how it goes. I must say, I'm already having a better time with it. Thanks for stopping by.  Cheers!

Building A Painting (part 4)

Well, I'm in the homestretch.  I can't tell you how many times I painted, then erased, then painted, then erased, etc. that cloth!  I think it's done now -- yeesh.  I believe the quilted pattern solves the problem of your eye being led off the page at the top with the branches that are coming out of the jug. I think my eye keeps bouncing around -- but finally settles on the jug or maybe those branches . . . oh good grief . . . who knows?! Am I really supposed to know these things? Probably . . . but sometimes I just don't.  :) Anyway . . . a few more details to attend to and then she's done! Have a good day.

Building A Painting (part 3)

Big changes for this painting. It was looking far too plain in that there was too much space between the jug and the window so I needed to do something to add more interest, hence the pussywillows. Although now I'm a little afraid the ones coming out of the jug lead your eye out of the painting . . . sigh. The empty space wasn't as prominent in the computer images, but in person, because of the scale of this painting it really wasn't working and I had to do something. 

I've actually made even some more changes since this version, but need to work some of those out. In person, the cupboard is too cool -- kind of purple and just isn't working, so I lightened it up which shows great texture on the antique, but now need to adjust its value again and I'm hoping to get a warmer tone more in keeping with the rest of the painting. Right now it's too jarring. I also will need to adjust some values between the cloth and the cupboard -- I ended up getting too dark with the cloth. I'm pleased with the window at this point and think that's probably done. Today will be a big day for this . . . I'm excited to get started . . . it's in that uncomfortable stage where there are lots of mistakes that need adjusting. Hopefully I can get it to a completed state that works! Have a good day and thank you for stopping by.

Building A Painting (part 2)

Pushing on . . . 

Building A Painting (part 1)

So while the snow flies here in Massachusetts, I thought you might like to see what I'm working on. The overall dimensions of this painting are 17.5" x 24" -- much larger than I normally work. We'll see how it goes. Have a good day and thank you for taking a peek. 

A Moment's Rest

"A Moment's Rest"
13" x 10.5"
(watercolor on Fabriano hot pressed paper- 300 lb.)

Click here for a closer look, or to purchase.

A while back I posted an "almost done" image of this painting, here and on Facebook, and asked for your help regarding names.  I got a few responses -- all were really good and very helpful.  I decided on "A Moment's Rest" -- a suggestion from my friend June.  I thought it captured the serenity of the image while offering a story for the viewer to fill in.  I've decided to put all the suggestions/names in a hat and pull out one winner who will receive a small gift.  If you didn't get a chance to offer a name for this painting, don't worry . . . I spent some time yesterday preparing new paintings and will be asking for your help again.

Another little tidbit . . . I had a wonderful time a couple weeks ago presenting a workshop on blogging at the Concord Art Association.  I think the day was a success . . . I know I had a good time and enjoyed meeting some very nice and talented people.  I had very eager students who added to a great discussion on art, blogging and online marketing.  So if you attended the class and are reading this -- THANK YOU for a great day!  :)

Finally . . . I'm working on two little paintings that I'll be posting in the next couple days.  Below is one in progress.  Can you tell I'm looking forward to Spring?  Also, on Monday we had the first class of a 5-week watercolor workshop I'm teaching here at my studio and it was a blast!!  I'm already looking forward to next Monday and seeing what everyone produces.  So far we have four beautiful preliminary washes!  It really is very exciting. 

"Springtime" - wip
6" x 6"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Thank you for stopping by . . . and happy painting!

Chair With Basket

13" x 10.5"
watercolor on paper

This is pretty much done -- I just have to set it aside for a day or so to look at it and make sure there's nothing else I need to tweak.  I'm really at a loss for a name for this piece -- so if anyone has any suggestions, I'm completely open.  Thanks for your help and for stopping by.  Cheers . . . and onto the next adventure!

Baskets Are Hard

Here are a couple shots of a painting I'm working on.  The second one has a mask on some of the reed, that's why it looks so weird.  I painted some underlying washes first, as you can see in the first painting, but then went back masked out one of the legs and parts of the basket to add some darker tones.  I have no idea what the heck paper I'm working on -- I thought it was a Fabriano hard-press -- but I'm not so sure.  It's not really allowing me to lift like it usually does - although I did manage to get some of that pigment off the wall before I neutralized it.  Perhaps though because it is a heavier stock than what I usually use -- I think it's 300lb.  That probably makes a difference.  Anyway -- I don't like it.  And also, like the title of this post reads:  baskets are hard!  Actually they're freakin' hard -- pardon my language.  I don't much like them either right now.  I am a little in a bad mood, in case you can't tell . . . but I will keep pluggin' along, so watch for my next post.  And I promise I will be back to my delightful self again!  HA!

A Collector's Photograph

Happy Monday everyone!  I've been meaning to post these photos for a little while now. One of my lovely collectors, L.S., was so kind as to email me, a photo of one of my paintings in its new home. How sweet was that!? I was truly tickled to receive it, AND, she graciously gave me permission to share the photo with you.Even though L.S. lives down south now, her memories and fondness for her New England upbringing remain strong, evident in her beautiful hutch and stunning redware collection. When she saw my painting "Redware Tea" she immediately recognized the Old Sturbridge Village mug and as you can see, her new painting fits right in! Thank you L.S.!!  :)  

It's nice to know that even though some of my paintings may have a "New England-y" feel to them, one doesn't necessarily have to live here to relate.  

OH -- and if you happen to own one of my paintings, and feel so inclined, please feel free to email me a picture of it in its new home.  I love to see and share where they end up!  Have a great day . . . and thanks again for stopping by.

Backyard Sunlight

"Backyard Sunlight"
12" x 12"
(watercolor on Fabriano soft-pressed paper)
sold

I think I'm finished with this painting now.  I spent the past couple days playing around with some of the shadows and highlights, but I'm done with all the fussing (I think!).  :)  Sometimes it's hard to be done.  Incidentally, my painting, "American Interior" is the room beyond the window in this painting.  See if you can identify what the ornament is in the window.  (how's that for a tease?)

Anyway, thanks for stopping by.  I'm onto finishing up the "Circus Train" painting -- just a couple tweaks here and there -- and starting a Christmas commission.

Backyard Sunlight

"Backyard Sunlight" - wip
12" x 12"

I'm moving along with my backyard painting -- still messing with the foliage.  Foliage is really not my favorite thing to do -- ugh.  It's a lot of trial and error for me.  Many layers when trying to achieve depth and create pockets of sunlight.  You can see where I'm pulling out pigment.  Hopefully I'll get there soon.  Thank goodness for soft-pressed paper!  

And in case you noticed, since my last posting, I've changed the name of this painting.  I think I like "Backyard Sunlight" much better.  Now to get some more sun in there.  Have a great day . . . and thanks for stopping by.

Time Flies

"Bathed In Sunlight" - wip
12" x 12"

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Tuesday -- Yikes!  I stayed up waaaay too late to watch the election and thus was utterly useless all day Wednesday.  I really do need my 8 hours.  But I did manage to get a new painting started and I kind of finished "Just A Trim." I say "kind of," because I think I may have jumped the gun adding the black outlines on the wall decals before my under-values were all set.  (Gaaahhh . . . WHY do I do that?!)  And so now I'm a little worried that it's a bit muddy.  BUT on the flip side, I started thinking that I've learned a valuable lesson, better understand the values now and could really make a better painting if I started over.  Yes.  I actually thought that.  So that's what I did.  I'll post soon.

In other news . . . I've also been itching to try this little composition.  I say "little" but it's actually quite a bit larger than what I've been painting lately and it's on paper -- my favorite Fabriano soft-pressed.  I was so "jazzed" about it . . . (yes, you read that correctly, I actually used the word "jazzed."  I think I did that once before here.  It's so lame.  Forgive me.) . . . that I woke up at 3:55 this morning (early enough to have met the nun from my church at the gym, whom I've ridiculed for getting up so early  --  I'll have to tell her she made it into my blog -- oh and it's probably not a good thing to ridicule a nun.  I digress.) . . . all excited to paint!  Isn't that grand?!  Or insane.  Since I took the photo above, I've done a little more work on the foliage but you'll have to wait to see the next step.  Heh-heh!  :)

So that's the news here.  It's about 9:30pm now and I didn't even nap today!  My poor Teddy-dog was so excited this morning at 4:00am when he was served his "early, early-bird breakfast special" but then turned completely pathetic when his belly was full and it was only 4:02.  He was too pooped to pop and could barely keep his eyes open to climb back onto his bed and take his morning nap.  I'm kind of feeling like him right now.  :)  Cheers!

American Interior - finished!

"American Interior"
6" x 6"
(watercolor on aquabord)

(what this painting could look like framed)

Click here to bid.

I didn't think I'd get this painting done today as I went on a wild goose chase . . . ahem . . . wild DOG chase today.  We have the slipperiest (is that a word!?) canines ever!  They busted out of the fence AND electric fence to roam around the woods and backroads for about 3 hours.  It's such a nightmare.  But I digress . . . the dogs are home and after a long period of decompression (I'm always emotionally drained after they take off and return) I got to painting and was able to finish, photograph, post on DPW and blog.  Whew!  And now I'm going to bed.  Thinking of all those hit hard by Hurricane Sandy . . . check out the fundraiser that Daily Paintworks is running here:  original paintings donated for a good cause.  

Have a great day/night . . . wherever you are and thank you for stopping by.  :)

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)