More Development of a Botanical Watercolor

Had a wet day to paint .. and made some headway on this watercolor.

The good news is... I found a great pigment to work with-- OLD HOLLAND Mars Yellow. It behaves like my old paint..and wasn't at all frustrating!

So.. I have added it to my stable of colors. My journey of finding suitable pigments is slowly evolving.

Colors is this painting:

Old Holland Mars Yellow
Winsor/Newton Green Gold
Quin Magenta
Winsor Green
Dioxazine Purple
French Ultramarine Blue

Development of the Watercolor

The next intermediate stages............... will have time to finish tomorrow --

It was a nice rainly day today --- perfect for laying down the washes.


Untitled
watercolor
22 " h x 30 " w
2009
unfinished

watercolor start

i began a new watercolor today.... rainy wet day and perfect for adding large washes.

it was of the swamp in Florida. .... swamp series painting. i didn't get a lot done.. because it took too long for the washes to dry.
but.. tomorrow will have more progress.

i also began and almost finished a double portrait -- which i will also add tomorrow.

Small works

New small watercolors available immediately.

all framed and ready to go................

Old OLD work-- watercolor

I went to my son's college yesterday-- Principia College... for Parents' Weekend. In the lobby of one of the buildings is a painting of mine from 1977. I graduated from the same school... and won the "art award" that year. My painting was purchased for part of the permanent collection.

I still like it... it's soft and reminiscent of some of the ideas i was trying to grasp in painting.

Shells and Horseshoe Crab
watercolor
22" h x 30 " w
1977

Rainforest! watercolor

this botanical watercolor was done about 15 years ago! i was introduced to Rachel Crandell of the Monteverde Conservation League and was inspired by her knowledge and enthusiasm for the rain forest.

i decided to do a painting based on ferns -- and present it to Rachel.

i haven't seen it in years.. and was mildly surprised by how much i still enjoyed it.

Rainforest Rescue
watercolor
35"h x 45" w
1993

Jacob with the Portrait- watercolor

when i was in Tucson -- i met with the Coles who commissioned this portrait of their sons. this is Jacob-- with the portrait. what a cutie!




Conner and Jacob
watercolor
15" h x 22" w
2009

Oracle!

me and ann... what a pair!

Ann's Ying Yang rock garden.

Windmill....

Really kool art.

Oracle, ARZIONA

my friend Ann Bedingham picked me up yesterday and we went 30 miles north to Oracle AZ. what a charming little hamlet!

it was rustic, western, wild, and open. it's a higher elevation -- 4500 [?] so the air is thinner and clear. boy, what a drop dead gorgeous day!

we saw the Triangle L Ranch where they have an art gallery and art happenings, along with studios..... and we also we to the Linda Vista Ranch -- which is also an artist's retreat. the surroundings are gorgeous-- and inspirational.

it was such a special day-- my friend ann built a porch trellis out of cactus-- which created dancing patterns of light and shadow.

i also found the wine-bottle-wall intriguing!

watercolor- Corkscrew Swamp

Here is another version of work on my swamp series. it has changed format-- now a vertical. this perspective creates a better view of what i'm trying to capture-- the unsettling and fragile nature of a pristine wild preserve.


again and again
watercolor
60" h x 20" w
2009

Tubac, ARIZONA

Today was the most enjoyable day -- perfect weather, perfect temperature, perfect landscape-- total sunshine. ARIZONA rocks!

the wind and the dust were blowing, but i thought it was a stunning day.

My friend Ruth Canada -- drove me to Tubac, AZ-- a local artists' community about 60 miles south of Tuscon. It was refreshing and wonderful to see all the galleries, art, and retail in this charming little town!

I saw so many great works of art.. so much art retail -- gathered a lot of new ideas and possibilities... for art, for art economy, for art marketing.

wow!!

Tubac is located in the desert and totally devoted to selling art. There is a lot southwest art and imagery -- but overall, the quality was exceptional.

I was impressed!

Thank you Ruth, for a most magical day!

Floral Commission -- watercolor

This commissioned triptych is about 90% completed. it was a nice commission and easy project -- because i was so motivated to work with the space and fill it. the client was very clear on what she wanted-- and i could envision right away... how i wanted to handle it.

it was the opposite of HOW SWEET THE SOUND -- which was a more complex subject and less-clear project.

nevertheless, i was pleased with both! a challenging couple of weeks in the studio -- but rewarding.

Spring
watercolor
30" h x 60" w triptych
2009

STIMULUS PAGKAGE ART SHOW

Here's some action from the opening yesterday... a good time was had by all! wonderful friends.. and great company.

thank you everyone for coming!

Studio

This is me painting the large commission for "HOW SWEET THE SOUND".

The watercolor is 4' x 3' and quite fun to paint. I'm doing a progession - step-by-step process.. and will post it here when the painting is completed. Which will be monday.

Small Watercolor

A present to a friend.... a little toy... curiously painted.... painted with love--->>

sent in the mail--->> framed and appreciated.

yay!

what more is life about?