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. 

Gold Nugget Afternoon

"Gold Nugget Afternoon"
7" x 5"
(watercolor on aquabord)

(what this painting could look like framed)

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Last summer I spent a lovely day with my friend kayaking and touring her beautiful property, Gold Nugget Farm, where she boards horses (and the occasional snake -- yeow!). I ended up snapping lots of photos, but until now hadn't painted any.  So if you see this blog post, Lee-Lee -- thank you!  :)

Thank you for viewing my work and have a great weekend!!

Progress On The Basket

(watercolor on cradled aquabord)
16" x 20"

detail

detail

I managed to do some more work on this one.  Thanks for taking a look!

Barn Window

"Barn Window"
5" x 7"
(watercolor on aquabord)

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Last November while I was out and about snapping pictures in Petersham with my friend, I took this photo. I was taken by the weathered wood and simple yet strong design of the composition. Weathered barns have such personality and history and this one is no exception. In some way, this painting will always remind me of home.  I hope you like it.  Thank you for viewing my work.

McReavey's and Student Work

McReavey's Barn
6" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)
starting bid:  $95

stained sides -- ready to hang or display

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I did a little bit of tweaking today and put McReavey's up for auction on DPW.  I also did some more work on the basket, but far too little to photograph and post.  I'll be sure to do that tomorrow.

But in other news, we just finished week 3 of my 5 week watercolor workshop here at my studio and my students are well on their way to finishing up some wonderful paintings (as you can see below).  I'm already planning my next workshop . . . it will be something on aquabord.  So stay tuned and if you're interested in attending, keep checking my workshop link at the top of the page for when I post more information or please email me and I will send you out a notice when I firm up my plans.

Aren't these wonderful?  I'm so proud of my students!  Thank you for stopping by.

McReavey's Barn

"McReavey's Barn"
6" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)

I took a break from the basket painting today and did this little painting instead.  I'll post progress on the basket painting soon.  I need to finish it by the end of the week because I just committed it for jury at a local show.  Ha!  I hope it comes out well.  :)  But it is also on cradled aquabord so I don't have to frame it as it's all ready to hang . . . definitely a good thing when you're in a pinch.  

Anyway -- this little ditty is of a barn up my street.  I had fun with it.  I'll check it out in the daylight, see if there's anything amiss and then put it up for auction on DPW.  I'll be sure to take another picture of the whole thing so you can see how it's like a little box, all ready to hang.  Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Painting!

Being Hopeful

"Hydrangea II"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on aquabord)
$155

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I'm looking forward to Spring and Summer flowers and thought I'd repost this hydrangea painting I did last year.  I've also included the progress shots below.  Thank you for popping on by and be sure to THINK SPRING!  :)

Autumn Studio

"Autumn Studio"
6" x 6"
(watercolor on aquabord)

(what this painting could look like framed)

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I took a little break from painting the basket and in did this little painting.  Wouldn't this make the most charming studio?  I think it's just an empty out building, but it was so delightful I knew I had to capture those lovely shadows in watercolor!  The little "house" is in Petersham, MA down a side street in the center of town, in case you're ever in the area.  :)

Thanks for stopping by.

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)

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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.