Sunday, December 14, 2008

Koi Managerie



2.5 by 3.5 ACEO, sometimes I think these little cards can be as difficult as a larger painting.

I mean....these cards are so small and in a such a little space, you find you need to be very careful not to mess up something since there isn't much room.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

December Sunset


















9" by 12"  watercolor on paper  $120.00
This is hot press paper, it would have been better and easier for me if it were cold press, the softening of the edges is usually easier on on cold press paper.  

The palette is cobalt blue and burnt sienna, antwerp blue permanent orange,  sepia

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

December Snow



Watercolor on paper  $100.0 7.25 by 9 inches. I've been trying out some different palettes for snow.     This one is painted with  Burnt sienna, Manganese blue, antwerp blue, raw sienna, cobalt lavender, ultramarine blue.  You could also use Sepia instead of ultramarine blue and  and burnt sienna.  You could skip the cobalt lavender as not much is used...   The raw sienna is barely used also..   I had more  raw sienna in the background and it looked very good but I ended up glazing over it because I decided not to place as much emphasis  in the back.

Monday, December 08, 2008

With a little help from my friend

Here I am taking a break to pet my little pup. Sugar...

Sunday, December 07, 2008

A painting a day















A wintery morning a few years ago.  
Today it 35  (F)degrees and clear...



I'm not sure that I mentioned to everyone that I have finished my painting a day regimen. I did stick to it for two years... Now, I will only paint several small paintings a week. Its good practice and allows me a kind of freedom that I don't always have with the larger works or commissions. Looking back over my painting a day commitment, I know it was good for me and I learned a lot. Mostly about myself. It was surprising because with only a few hours to finish a painting each day, I had to pick either a simple subject or a difficult subject painted simply. Usually (not always, everyone likes a shortcut once in a while) I opted for a difficult subject painted simply. Thus I found all kinds of ways to create depth, tried my hand at abbreviated brush strokes and learned to like things with accidents, drips, soft edges and less detail. Basically, how to do everything economically, This wasn't a big stretch because I learned long ago that I loved realism but that I really loved loosely painted, wet into wet, free flowing water color even more. So.... as each day progress, I tried to incorporate a less detailed approach. I learned to trust my instincts, gave myself permission to just try it, like not fighting the urge to put that color in there or leave out those lines or change the perspective to whatever usually doesn't seem right. My style seemed to emerge little by little, one day I would stand back and say, "I like that!"... then figure out why, add that to my mental list of gotta do that more often" and my approach to painting gradually and uniquely became my own. For me, one of the best things that happened is I don't beat myself up over poorly painted work. I don't feel let down by the not so perfect paintings... I now know (not just intellectually, but really know) the road is not a straight one where, when you reach the end, you are a perfect painter, never creating another work of art that is less then perfect. Best of all, I don't have that feeling that every work I start has to end up a masterpiece, its ok to try anything, push forward into unknown color schemes, unfamiliar products and subject matter. Each painting doesn't have to be better than the last and I'll learn something about painting and about myself with each painting so they all have value. Even if they end up in the trash. P.S. If it bothers you to throw them out, gesso over them and paint another painting in a few days when the gesso is dry.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

December Rose ll






6 by 9 50.00

The background is really white... I need to get these finished while its daylight cause my indoor lights seem  to all have some reflective qualities.  

I guess I didn't get painting this rose out of my system... This looks strangely like yesterday's painting...  well thats because I painted it with the same palette.  Hope you enjoy!

Friday, December 05, 2008

December Rose


If this looks like a yellow  background it shouldn't, it's white, the light I used was a warm one.  

8 by 10 watercolor on paper 75.00 5.5 s& H

I have painted a lot of roses but  I try to paint them all a little differently so it gives each rose a unique feel.

This background is white…  if this photo looks anything but white thats because the light I used to light the painting for the photo was a warm light. If you would like to purchase this painting, I would be glad to take another photograph so you can see the difference.  cio!

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Golden Meadows

Landscape
3 "by 3.5" watercolor on paper This is a close up of this little card because I wanted to show  you what the gold watercolor paint looks like on the paper after it has dried. 
btw...
From a distance it just appears gold not sparkly......

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Mystic moon and boulder
















Watercolor on hot press paper. Mystic moon and boulders on top of the world. Its 5 inches by 8 inches $30.00 plus s& H Mystic Boulder was a painting that evolved without a plan. I love these little pieces of magic.

This is funny Happy Thanksgiving everyone !

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

October Koi



15.00 2.5 by 3.5 This is a mixed media Koi painting on gessoed masonite.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

ACEO Show Koi




This is an ACEO.... Artist Collector's Edition or Original. This is an original... its Mixed media on masonite. $15.00 plus shipping and handling of $1.50

Friday, November 21, 2008

winter Ice, fall leaves




The icy wind was really blowing today, as we ( the dogs and I) walked around the lake this morning, I had to put my chin down into my vest while we faced the wind. Maybe if I would have worn a coat I would have been OK but I thought a down vest and hat would be good enough. Needless to say it didn’t take me long when I got home…. I pulled out all of my winter clothes and started washing them, I guess you can say Its definitely winter.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Carousel of Light



ACEO 2.5 by 3.5 Watercolor on paper. $15.00

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Friday, November 14, 2008

Cold winter nights aceo




I haven't really been feeling well and I thought I might try to get my creativity back by painting a few ACEO's .... they can be relaxing just because there isn't any pressure to have them turn out.. its funny how I hate to waste paper but with ACEO's I can paint a million of them... I guess cause their small, I feel free to really do anything.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

aceo leaves




2.5 by 3.5 watercolor on paper

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Last of the leaves



here is a photo of some leaves .....last week I gather them for reference material. The problem is... I'm sick and they'll probably turn brown before I feel better so I'm putting this up for you.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

South Carolina Marsh




This is an Oil on gessoed masonite painting.... 8 inches by 8 inches $50.00

but you'll have to wait about 4 or 5 days for it to dry. s&h $5.5


I wanted to show you some wonderful colors of fall. This is a red Oak I believe.
You can use this for reference if you like.

Friday, November 07, 2008

Navigation



This abstract acrylic painting is painted on wood and is 8 by 10 inches. The sides are also painted and are about 1/2 inch wide. 75.00 pay pal accepted!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

"She Soars"






Barbara Hakenberry passed away recently and as one of my collectors and email friends, she will be missed. Not only by the Daily painter"s artists but by so many folks. I met Barbara when she bid on some of my paintings on Ebay and I realized very quickly she was a savvy ebay buyer. Even though she balked at the higher prices, I asked her to switch over to the daily painter's group and check out my work and the work of other artists because I felt the quality of the Art was better. ( also I wouldn't have to pay the ebay fees) She became an instant friend to many of the Artists emailing me and others often. Sometimes it was a joke or a video she thought I would like but at other times we would get into heated discussions about life and societies issues. We talked about everything and because we both has some similar beliefs about religion and death, I think many of my religious paintings struck a cord with her. She was an Art lover that bought paintings purely for the fact that they moved her. It was obvious, she really felt the paintings more than anything. I used to say she was like a Chcolate creme, hard and solid on the outside with a soft center. After seeing a new painting and before hearing what I had to say about it, or why I painted it, she would type a long explanation and emai it to me about her reaction to what she saw or felt from the piece. I always found her insite to be really interesting. More than once her influence would show up in my future paintings. She like realism and many of my works were abstract and I could see as time went by she began to appreciate some of the abstracts more and more. We also had our tiffs, she had a very strong and determined personality and didn't bother to beat around the bush, she wasn't the type to mence words. I have several friends like this and I'm not bothered by some of the blunt ways she would let me know I didn't particularly get a painting just right. We always worked it out and even though she didn't like the prices of some of the more expensive paintings, if she liked it she'd buy it. I of course always lowered my price for her as I do with collectors and friends. She would get particulary mad if she wanted a painting but didn't buy it in time and someone else bought it. So if I thought she would like it, I would send her an email. I also think she bought some paintings just to help me out financially. This was the kind of person she was, I'm sure she did the same with other artists. I would go to her ebay account and sometimes I would be shocked to see how many paintings she would buy in just one day. If someone had the room her paintings would make a great investment.

About my tribute painting... I really struggled as to what to paint and as late as 3am I still hadn't painted my painted for today. For some reason I have seen myself ( in dreams) as a bird flying over the landscape looking down on the earth. I've often wondered If I have a bird spirit which is watching over me and perhaps because of this belief I seem to notice birds following me. Flying from tree to tree as I walk thru the wooods. I wonder if in a past life if I were a bird and if so perhaps I will one day fly again. Since Barbara was in pain in many ways, I hope now her spirit is soring over the ocean flying ever higher and her soul is at peace.

Friday, October 31, 2008

blue waters 2

blue waters2
6 by 9 inch watercolor. This painting was painted as a way to teach beginning painters how to apply paint in the correct way.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Abstract



This abstract is from my weekly escape mode, no expectation no subject, just pure color, texture, shape and form.

I have to get a tooth pulled today and I'm not looking forward to it. Especially since I could have prevented it. I'm one of those people that avoid going to the dentist. I knew I had a cavity but I didn't realize it had gone under my crown and was actually much worse than I had realized.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Caravaggio



This is one of my koi his name is Caravaggio, he is a beautiful white Koi with yellow markings. Unlike his name sake he is the sweetest koi in the pond. I name all my Koi after artists. I don't really know which ones are males and which ones are females.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Jewels



This piece was a commissioned piece and I only have a few more finishing touches and it will be ready to send off to its happy owners.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Large work in progress

oil1

If you have been wondering where I've been.... as you can see from this photo ( my husband was actually taking a picture of the puppy but since I was painting I'm in the pic too...)
I've been working on a very large oil painting. This is just in the second stage and is going well. You can see it a little better on my other blog... http://h20color.wordpress.com In this photo,the colors are more true but in the photo on the other blog the painting has sunlight striking the surface from an overhead skylight which makes it difficult to see the true color because of the refractive nature of Oil paint when wet. so I guess you have to see both one to see the colors and one to see the entire painting. I will continue to work on this and post updates.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Murray's Mountain


I named this painting after my father in law, Murray Goddard. Its an 8 by 10 acrylic on masonite. The masonite is gessoed and has GAC 100 painted on the surface to create a perfect barrier between the wood and the paint. This will help make sure it does not yellow in years to come. Of course it isn't varnished but if it were it would definitely yellow over time because varnish doesn't age as well as acrylic paint...but then it could be restored as so many paintings have been over the years.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Canadian Geese



9 by 12, watercolor on paper $100.00 I added a bit of exagerated color to this piece and I like the dreamy quality,it lends to the piece.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Shanti's Inferno




ACEO watercolor on paper 2.5 by 3.5

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Lake Wylie Fall


15 by 22 watercolor on paper.

Busy busy busy. This light and easy painting is very relaxing and I hope it brings a moment of relaxation to you.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Fall Leaves








Acrylic on ampersand 8 by 10 75.00

This monocromatic painting is done in a deductive or (negative painting) manner. This is where you paint the entire board with the colors you wish, in this case the mid value, then pull out the lights while also adding the dark. Sometimes you’ll put in some darks and pull out the item either to mid value or to light value. This painting was completed as an exercise we did at Wild Acres. Our instructor was Phil Garett ( SC “Golden” Rep) . We were using the long awaited for… “OPEN” acrylics. Since this technique takes some time to finish, its the perfect opportunity to try these slow drying paints.

You might like to try this little exercise… You don’t have to do anything to the ampersand board it comes ready to go. We went outside and picked up items like flowers or seed pods and used it as a bit of inspiration. I chose leaves because I love fall leaves and always try to paint some each year.

“Negative” painting just means you paint around the object your trying to depict rather than painting the object directly. Usually by using value and color counterpoint to create the illusion of the object. It’s frequenly a technique one does in watercolor and it can be very challenging for some folks because they have to think in terms of whats needed in the background to form the Foreground ampersand a lot but this was also a chance for those folks who don’t paint on this medium to give it a try. If I could afford it, I paint many of my paintings on the stuff. Its fast easy and consistent. It comes in all sizes and can be framed very much likie an oil painting. Of course you can frame it under glass if you wish and they look great either way.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

California Hills

8 by 10 ” Acrylic on Ampersand. $50.00 This little painting was something I painted from my imagination because at times I miss the foothills which surrounds the San Joaquin valley where I grew up. My favorite landscape is a flat farm like valley surrounded by rolling hills and back a bit further, tall mountains. This painting doesn’t have the tall mountains but the rolling hills are very beautiful just the same. The hills just seemed to jut out of the valley floor as if pushed up by magic. I lived in a place called Centersville for several years and it looked very much like this. Outside my living room window I would see foothills and often beautiful horses or cows grazing on the flat valley ground which would be covered in green grass and wild flowers. Across the street I could see acres and acres of orange and avocado trees. The sun filtering thru wind swept clouds shining down on the crops growing in rows which followed the contours of the land. It looked like a painting waiting to be painted.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Sunset Mirage


Its a beautiful day here in SC the kind you wait for all year. Too bad I had to clean out my aquarium, house, pool and do books for most of the day. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go to the lake and let the dogs swim. It may be one of the last times this year for the dogs to swim in the lake. Once it gets cold only one of my dogs will even get into the water.

I planned a play date for them, isn’t it funny to actually have a play date for dogs? Well if you want to get a lot of work done its best to wear them out. It takes a lot to get them so tired they lay down for the rest of the day. Its one way to get things done without having too many winey complaints.

Monday, September 29, 2008

wild acres at Dusk




If this looks familiar its because this is almost the same painting as day before yesterday. This time I put a pink or magenta glaze over the painting to give it the appearance of early evening light.
8 by 10 acrylic on illustration Board. 75.00

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Monet's tribute 10


Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas $300. This is another painting from the “Monet’s tribut” series… This piece is a bit larger than my other pieces in the series. I also used a different palette. I like it, it has a bit of gold mixed into the paint which gives it a special glow. This was painted with the new Golden Acrylics which look and work very much like oils. These new Open acrylics are great and if your considering trying them I encourage you to do so. The process is very much the same as regular acrylics but there is a special medium which extends the already long drying time. Also there is a thinner which you can use to actually remove the paint from the canvas. The real key is to never use water. Water only makes these acrylic paintings look dull. The mediums makes them glow.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Just me




6 by 9 inches watercolor on paper 75.00
I love these colors

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Grandmother's Visit





Watercolor on paper 22 by 30 $ 500.00 SOLD
I sold this painting today and thought I should at least post it because I realized the client is coming tomorrow to pick it up and I hadn’t even taken a photo yet. I really didn’t have time to take a decent photo and you can see that there is a big flash right in the middle of the sky. Oh well, you get the idea and this photo at least give me a record of the painting.
I used to paint light houses all the time because I used to get a lot of requests for them. Not so much any more. Now folks just like water paintings of the waves on the beach or breaking on the rocks. Its more of a mininamalist trend.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Shaun The Sheep | Still Life

This is all so true for any artist who paints outdoors. I mean it is a collaspable easel after all. Would that be the Mona sheepa?

Monday, September 15, 2008

Koi Pond at Dusk

koi


22 by 11 $200.00 watercolor on paper

This looks great either this way or Horizontal...

Saturday, September 13, 2008

pool party


This fun painting is an 8 by 8 inch watercolor on masonite.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Young boys portrait


I've been working on a portrait and if you would like to see an update there is a link below. It will be finished tomorrow and then I'll put up a final photo.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Butterfly Koi


Watercolor on Masonite 8 by 10. $75.00 Some folks call these fish ” fairy fish” or “Dragon fish” and “long fin Koi”. I watched this Butterfly Koi swimming back and forth under about a foot of water and I was desperatly trying to see if this little long fin fish would hold still. Not a chance, she was moving like Isadora Duncan, & her fins were flowing all around her like veils. She swirled in and out of the Lillypads. It was like watching an underwater dance all alone skimming thru the water and dancing for no one but for herself. They are beautiful fish and so different than the standard Koi. Some folks think their not Koi at all but a hybrid. I don’t really get involved in show Koi ( although they are beautiful) and I don’t care about the correct classifications of Koi, I just like them as I like my three rescue dogs, for the pleasure of watching them and having them be a part of my life.
I’ve owned several purebred dogs in the past but none ever gave me the love my three mutts have given me each and every day.
Also that reminds me of my Walmart fish.. I told this story a while back…who would have thought, its an ugly duckling story all over again.
It started to rain tonight and the weather seems a bit cooler. Its refreshing after a couple of very humid days.

Monday, September 08, 2008

Aceo "Asian Influence"


This little painting was painted in between my commissions. They are rather tedious so its nice just to paint for painting sake. I love the rich thick color of oil sometimes.
Watercolor will always be my favorite but sometimes its nice to just paint without too much forethought.
I'm painting a child's portrait right now and if you want to check it out go to http://h20color.wordpress.com

Country Dream






I painted this some time ago but I can't remember if I ever postd it. Its a watercolor (1/2 sheet)15 by 22 and is for sale for $300.00

I love the colors in this landscape and I like cows so of course I like this painting. Sometimes you just like sentimentality.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Under the influence





11 by 15 Watercolor and Carendach on WC paper $130.0
Busy busy busy… its been hectic this week and now they say a Hurricane is on its way, I had the rain gutters cleaned out and I can’t think of anything else to do to prepare. We are really very much in land from the coast and usually all we get is rain so I think everything will be OK. Last week with the last hurricane we got five inches of rain in about 15 hours… but everything went well and I think it will be OK this weekend too. Cross your fingers for me. We have been in a drought so this helps us so much, I just wish it didn't all come down at once.

Lady in pink


This watercolor sketch was painted in one hour with a live model. This is a good way to brush up on your skills. Your decision making skills are put to the test.
15 by 22 watercolor on paper