Koi Pond at Dusk

22 by 11 $200.00 watercolor on paper

This looks great either this way or Horizontal...

Adolescence

9 by 7

Watercolor on paper $35.00



Another painting from my new paints. This is a quick study of a very young koi, so I’ve named this painting” Adolescence”.

Golden Boy

This 5.75 by 5.75 painting is actually a little darker than the photo looks. I didn't get the painting finished till 11:00 pm. I had to take the photo under warm lights. Its a bit washed out.

Koi in the Wild

Watercolor on paper 16″ by 11″ $300.00

I felt very sad today and didn’t think I was going to paint. But after watching an art video of another artist painting, I got the bug and painted this piece. This painting started out very gray and as I painted I felt my spirits lift and it became a bit more colorful. Its funny how my color choices are related to my emotions.
Art’s ( my husband)mom passed away last night and since her stroke twelve days ago we have had some ups and downs. Thank you so much for your notes and words of encouragement.

Pink Koi

I decided to create a painting of a Pink Koi, I've never a seen a pink Koi but you never know there could be one out there. Especially since there are red Koi & white Koi and perhaps mother nature has mixed up those two colors and turned out a Pink Koi.

Golden Koi

Watercolor on gessoed wood. 6 by 6 Golden Koi is just one painting that I liked because it is realistic but also has a good abstract feel. The shapes, overlap and the color combinations.

Perserverance lV

This is another of the perseverance series. I'm painting the same subjects on a variety of supports and media. This is watercolor on canvas which has been gesseoed. 16 by 20 inches

The watercolor is the easiest media to use so far, it can be lifted, which means... it can dry but still be pulled off, it can be rewet and reworked. Texture can be added. I really don't see a down side to it other than it may be cheaper to paint in acrylic. Oil would be good but then I wouldn't really want to paint right outside of my kitchen if I were painting in oil.

Koi Curiosity

5.75 by 5.75
Watercolor on gessoed masonite $38.00, This piece is sealed so it may be framed without glass. I gessoed this and made the texture sort of go in a vertical pattern . I painted it in Brown and Red and a Wine color. Then I pulled out the fish and painted their color back into the spaces. I sprinkled water on the surface and pulled a towel across the surface which gave it a little bit of texture. This isn’t 6 by 6 because my brother was cutting these boards for me and when this one went thru I guess it got stuck and he had to recut it so the edge wouldn’t have a gouge. This artist thing isn’t as simple as painting a picture, there’s lots of prep work. I can see why artists had apprentices. I usually get my brother to do the cutting and sometimes he does the gesso work too. I’ve been out cleaning the yard, its spring and the trees look great with their new buds. I don’t have any excuse ( I hate cold weather) , Now that its warm, I have to get my porch cleaned off and my pots washed, you know the routine. I have a wood deck so I’ll pressure wash it and clean up my Terra-cotta pots, buy some potting soil for my flowers and work in my beds. I bought some seeds & I want to get them started so this summer I’ll have some flowers. It may take me a week cause I also have to clean up my brother’s place. I store stuff over there, he only lives across the street, boy, it seems like I need to get rid of some junk. I give the stuff to goodwill, of course, my accountant says I should get receipts for my goodwill donations but I never do. I guess I’ll take some things over and get one, you know, just to make him happy.

Koi Carnival

this is an eight by eight watercolor on gessoed masonite.



I just found out both of my entries into the "spring into art" juried show got into the show. I'll take photos of the pieces so you can see them. I'm happy my work is in the show but it would be even better if one of the pieces won an award. They said there were over 150 pieces of art work, so I was really surprised and happy to have both of my paintings get in.

I think 50 to 60 pieces were accepted.

Curious Koi

This little gem is so wonderful in its use of color that I would be shocked if no one wanted it. I may even keep it for myself!

People ask me all the time how I come up with my ideas for paintings. Most are just a subject I want to explore.... Usually when I start all I have is the thing, like a flower, or a barn, then I choose colors intuitively and the rest is pure magic.

Of course, I can actually paint the way I was trained, that is... take photo fist or set up plien aire... 1. value sketch, followed by 2. selection of a color palette which must be chosen to convey a mood, feeling or season. Then you paint it from your value study. This usually makes for a successful painting but I have trouble staying focused on something so disciplined and will usually stray away from the original idea once I start. Sometimes I'll add things or go to a color not on the original palette. It tough for me not to respond to the image as it appears.

Regarding this painting... About a Year ago I dreamed of painting a Koi coming out of the water to look at some fuchsias. Ever since that time I have thought of how to paint it. I have painted countless masterpieces in my own mind, painting this painting over and over, so today this little gem is only the start, I will paint it a few more times in various styles and ways. But will any of these paintings ever be as great as the one I dreamed about, probably not. But, I can keep trying. Please... keep coming back and check on my progress.

Wonderful Koi

5.75 by 5.75 watercolor on masonite, by the way,this piece looks good either way.


Reading this morning made me realize how many people don’t read and how they’re missing this great past time. I don’t have to tell you if your a reader, you understand what I’m trying to say. For a few moments you can be transported to another place and see life thru another’s experiences and their eyes. You can speak with an accent, change your station in society or even live as a criminal. Unlike film or tv you’ll be experiencing the story thru the writer’s voice, the details are always wonderful and the very well chosen words and phrases used to describe his or her reality are unique to each individual. My mother never learned to read and loving books as I do, I’m sometimes sad to know this simple joy was not hers to have.

Koi fantasy

This piece is 2.5 by 6 inches but I think this is one painting that would make an excellent larger painting. Maybe 2 feet by 4 feet.
I also like it turn up this way...

Koi bubbles

7 by 6

Watercolor on gessoed paper. The bubbles were made by painting the whole painting then allowing it to dry. I sprayed with water and rubbed it off quickly with a tissue and where the water drops fall it leaves little spots or bubbles in this case.

Koi Games ll

Watercolor on gessoed paper. 8" by 5.5", I painted these fish a bit animated. I love these colors together the phalo turkquois is a daniel smith color and yes I can make it myself but its a treat to have color ready to go right from the tube.


I woke up at 4 am to work on my larger painting, I'l try to put up a wip photo on my weekly painting blog .
http://h20color.wordpress.com I only have 8 more days... I like it so far but it is going thru the uglies so be patient.

The Dance

5 and 3/4 by 7 inches..... watercolor on gessoed watercolor paper.


I think of these two koi as male and female. I thought it would be good to paint something along the lines of a mating ritual..... The last time I was at a Koi show, the judges explained to me that the male koi are usually long and thin while the females are rounder and many times can be bigger than the males. Unlike birds both are very beautiful and both have their fish personalities.

BIG Koi Painting

I was working on my BIG painting today... to see it go to


http://h20color.worpress.com

Its a work in progress and 35 by 35 inches.

Tri Koi

8 by 10 70.00 This is on clay board which is gessoed masonite.

KOI 105

SOLD


This Koi was painted on Gessoed canvas panel in acrylic. It is 6 by 6 and is for sale for $50.00 Since it’s varnished no need to frame under glass.

Koi Secrets

$50.00 8 by 6 watercolor on gessoed paper.

It started to rain here this aftrnoon and I'll have to wear my rubber boots to take the dogs to the woods. It can be muddy at times down by the lake but very nice even in winter.

Koi

8.5 by 12 I was working on this new palette, It has more red and green.


Update about my husband.

Art is doing so much better this week... He stopped taking one of his pain meds (vicodin) and he is awake for more of the day. We went down to the art league today and even went to lunch. Usually he would be too weak to eat in a restaurant.
It made me very happy to actually be out and about with him!