Pasted

I decided to paste this little sketch into my watercolor sketchbook for reference. I don't keep a regular sketchbook but am once again trying to get into the habit as I'm always impressed when I see others' books. They're so inspiring and sketching in general is just a good way to practice skills.

So I will once again, try to do more sketching. I can't promise I will, but I'm going to try. Do you keep a sketchbook? How often do you sketch? What kinds of things do you sketch . . . and how much time do you devote to sketching? I'd love to read your responses!

Cutler Road sketch
8" x 8"
(watercolor on paper)

Happy Friday, Happy Sketching, and Have a great weekend!

Throwback Thursday -- "Nantucket Christmas"

"Nantucket Christmas"
9.25" x 5.5"
(matted and framed watercolor on paper)
$185

Click here to purchase.

This painting served as one of my Christmas cards last year.  This year I'm hoping that the original painting will find a good home so I can make room in the studio for some new paintings.  As a little extra gift, I will throw in a box of 10 of "Deerfield Wreath," this year's cards, with the purchase of this painting.

"Deerfield Wreath"
2017

`Tis the season and thank you for all your kind comments and support throughout the year.

Bird-Brained

"Big Red"
10" x 7"
(watercolor on paper)

I've had nothing but birds on the brain whenever I've sat down to paint in the past couple weeks. My morning students are painting cardinals so as I've mentioned in previous post, I've painted this image multiple times and in various stages to help them along. Because I've gotten so intimately acquainted with this little fella, I even used him in a painting demonstration for the Quabbin Art Association last week.

Happily I finally finished one of my versions of this guy today.  He's on paper, and luckily I have the perfect mat and frame for him in my inventory, so this one will come all ready to hang. I may have a buyer already, but if not, I will post the specifics.

Below is what this painting looks like all framed up.

I've had to be busy with other things lately, (taxes being one of those things but alas I am done!) so I am ready to paint again and it feels really good!

Have a lovely day.  

Cardinal On Paper

work-in-progress
watercolor on paper

Happy Friday!

Yesterday, my Thursday morning students (I affectionately refer to them as "my Ladies") asked if we could do a project all together.  Most days everyone just works on their own paintings.  So we decided on a cardinal.  One of "my Ladies" was already working from a lovely photograph that she had taken and everyone was so impressed by her progress that they asked if they could all try.  So I started this little practice - left unfinished - so I could demonstrate more finish work as we moved along after the initial washes.  

Stay tuned for our progress . . . and have a great weekend!

But It's Still Summer!

"Winter Sunlight"
8" x 10"
(watercolor on aquabord)
starting bid:  $100

Click here to bid or buy now.

Why Winter?  Well, because I'm working on my annual calendar and Christmas cards so I can have them printed in time for my Open House in October.  I didn't have a very good image for December, so I adapted a reference photo I had taken a few years ago of this lovely, little porch in Spring . . . made a few changes and voila!  

(what this painting could look like when framed)

While this is going to be the image for December 2017, I think it looks more like February or even March . . . with a rather faded wreath that has yet to have been taken down.  That's pretty how I roll. I won't tell you how long my decorations are usually up for!  :)

Have a great day!  I'll be back with a few more finished commissions soon.

Sketching

I've always found landscape painting to be quite challenging.  All that extraneous information that needs to be edited has always confused me.  Joyce Hicks (whose work & process I find VERY inspiring) emphasizes creating shapes - so I've been doing some pencil sketching and working on values & temperature through little thumbnail studies.  It's been fun.  I'll be sharing some more over the next few posts.  Thanks for visiting!

"Red Barn"
3" x 3"
(watercolor on paper)

Thanks for stopping by!