All dogs go to heaven # 15

It was my friend's birthday and I painted this painting for her.

Its part of a series of paintings depicting dogs and I usually have them looking up to the sky.
5 by 7 watercolor

Feb Koi ACEO

watercolor on gessoed masonite
2.5 by 3.5 I like the blue koi mixed in with the orange.


I've been ill today so I may be taking a couple of days off.

How to do this project....buy acrylic gesso paint it on masonite ( get it from the hardware store) allow the gesso to dry, paint your picture in watercolor, allow to dry & varnish! I used matte varnish but gloss gel is nice too!

All dogs go to heaven #12

This little 5 by 7 watercolor on paper is a part of a series called "all dogs go to heaven. I love these three characters!

Valentine Koi

Today the DP artists are doing a valentine theme. I thought to make this little Koi valentine. its 8 by 10 on Canvas panel and it $95.00

Rembrandt

Watercolor on 300 lb paper $100.00 8 by 10 inches
Rembrandt is one of my Koi, & as most of you know, I name my fish after famous artists.

In a letter to Huyghens, Rembrandt offered the only surviving explanation of what he sought to achieve through his art: the greatest and most natural movement.” Whether this refers to objectives, material or otherwise is open to interpretation; either way, Rembrandt seamlessly melded the earthly and spiritual as has no other painter in Western art.

One of my favorite paintings of Rembrandt’s “The Mill”

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

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.

Golden Meadows

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......

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.

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.

little red bud

7.5 by 5 $ 25.00 Its almost my birthday! one more day...

h2o a tribute to this beautiful earth

8 by 10 watercolor and Gesso on masonite. $ 75.00
I haven't been to the beach in several years and if given the opportunity I would go to the mountains before I would go to the beach, yet when I do travel to the coast, I'm always in awe of the mighty ocean.
Its been a long day and I think I'll hit the hay. This morning when I woke up there was a stuffed rabbit laying on the pillow next to my head. I know my dog, Glock left this present for me because he loves stuffed animals and makes sure I have at least one to sleep with.

Tiny Falls A painting a day

6 inches by 12 inches, watercolor on paper this is the right side of a two part companion piece...

Yellow Boy

8 by 8 watercolor on gessoed masonite. 75.00
I gave this guy a little more form by painting his underside a deeper gold, you can’t see it here but it makes him look a little less animated.
I hear a storm is headed our way “Fae” lets hope she doesn’t dump too much water on us. Two years ago we had a pretty good drenching and it flooded my bedroom, hallway and kitchen.
I’m having all the french drains checked tomorrow just to make sure they aren’t clogged. Other than that there isn’t much you can do but hope the winds don’t knock down any trees. I 'm planning to put out my rain barrel and some containers so the following week I’ll water my pots from them. At least I’ll get some free water!

Someone asked me about my fish, well….I know it’s crazy but I named all my fish after famous artists, I have Picasso, Vincent, Freda, Georgia, Mary & Claude. There are more but you get the idea.

Koi Solo, Tribute to the Earth

7.5 by 8 inches 72.50

Watercolor on gessoed masonite, this painting can be turned in several directions, and it still looks good. Thats the beauty of water…

Koi like to be with other koi, they tend to all hang out together and when one strikes off to swim over to the other side of the pond the rest just automatically go with the Koi who has decided to move. Often the largest fish will swim will lead the other fish or so it seems, the smaller fish follow the larger fish hoping to be under the large fish’s protection.

Usually there will be one or two Koi who are loners, these fish seem shy and like to hide under Lillie pads or behind plants. They swim out in the open but usually all alone. It makes me think of how there are always people who would rather be alone rather than swim along with the crowd.

Waterr Saving Tip: Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. Stopper tub before turning water. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later.

This is the 768 Post for this blog… Its two years old and still going strong.

Beautiful Earth 09

Watercolor and gesso on Illustration board. Painted with a pallet knife 9 by 15″ $125.00
Water saving Tip: The faucets in your bathroom sinks generally use about 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm). By turning off the water when you brush your teeth, you can save approximately 3 gallons of water! Filling the basin to rinse your razor when you shave can save about 4 gallons.

Beautiful Earth 08.08.08

This abstract painting a day is 11 by 15 " and is a painting in mixed media on gessoed watercolor paper $200.00..
The gesso gives it a bit of texture.
I think it fits today's date and this months theme. If you really look you can get the feeling of water drops.


Wow, it feels great to actually have my painting uploaded and on line before midnight. I've been burning the candle at both ends lately and I may actually get some sleep tonight!

725th post... Beautiful Earth 07 by Shanti Marie

Watercolor on Gessoed masonite.... 8 by 10 $75.00
There is a bit of glare on this photo but I'll try to re-post in the morning because the photos are much better without a flash.
If you've ever looked at the moon hanging over the lake on a warm summer evening, you'll know that the colors are muted yet beautiful. You would think it would be quiet but the air is filled with the sounds of cicadas and tree frogs. Its very beautiful and yet very mysterious.
When I was in Camerton I noticed some of the waterways there were choked full of water weed, like blanket weed and Hydrilla, and that made me think of all the folks who unknowingly place plants in the lakes or ponds thinking it will be good for the lake. Its never a good idea to introduce a plant ( or even an animal ) to an area if it isn't native. These plants mess up the delicate balance and many times take over an entire eco system, disrupting the balance of plants and even animals. Usually changing that area for lifetimes to come. Often that area will never be able to return to its natural state.
When your tired of that cute little turtle or fish... don't release it into the waterways, even well meaning folks release alligators, fish or plants into marshes or waterways, thinking it won't hurt. They even think the unwanted pet is getting a great gift of freedom. These Alligators could grow very large in a lake without predators, easily dining on waterfowl and worse, small pets!

Beautiful Earth 05

Today I went to Cramerton ( about 9 miles from my home) with 25 or so local artists and we painted standing in the grass along a winding river. The scene was a small bend in the river with ducks and submerged logs. Really very nice, but of course It was about 96 degrees and that was at 5:30 pm... It didn't take long for the sun to start to set and the temp to drop, good thing too cause I was melting. Painting plein aire is always a little tricky and today wasn't an exception. The warm air kept drying out my paper so the first plan to have a nice wet into wet water scene kinda died as the paper was drying faster than I could paint. Then again the oil painters had lots of bugs in their paint so I can't complain...On to plan B and I decided to do some exaggerated color and see how that would look.

Here is my buddy Marth who was painting to my right and Martha's boys who were very happy to have found a fishing line with a hook and a worm all ready to go.

Some of the other artists

my painting

day 02 tribute to this beautiful earth

"Lake Wylie Evening Song" is a watercolor on canvas panel 8" by 10" $75.00

I like these colors together and I find the sunsets here in South Carolina can be very intense. 

The lake is always beautiful but at sunset they can be magic.  These wonderful bright skies only lasts for brief moments and you dare not look away because the light and color is fleeting.