End of the Day Iris Watercolor

Iris's are my love.  I used to grow them in my garden.... and photograph them incessantly.  I painted them every spring-- because they usher in the promise of warmer weather.

Now... I go to the Missouri Botanical Gardens to photograph all the iris's.  There are so many lovely varieties!


This partiular iris was a challenge.  The use of complimentary colors helped me resolve the issue of making the background unify with the foreground.  I wanted to create scale and impact by having the bloom being half the size of the paper.  The petals and the buds are off-center -- and create an interesting composition.

I never tire of painting iris!


End of the Day Iris
watercolor
40" h x 30" w
2012
almost finished some tweaking needed

Don't Leave Me Behind Tulips!

So...   I have been working on my third painting on FABRIANO paper.  I returned to Spring and familiar subject matter--- TULIPS!

I wanted to see how the paper performed and how the paint handled in the manner that I need it to-- Wet and loose!

So far-- I'm really pleased with the way it's turning out.

I deliberately stopped working on it-- so I could gain perspective.    I want the last tulips to be the center of interest and the most dynamic.  I need to make sure that they will be done with clarity and right color choices and value.


Don't Leave Me Behind Tulips
watercolor
25" h x 40" w
2012
in progress

Ice IRIS

Have worked some on the blue iris painting---  that follows the FLAME THROWER .
It's cool blues and purples--  with a hit of yellow.


I need to do some tweaking of the 'saved whites'.... and a few more glazes.  However, it was a joy to work on this today!

Enjoy!

Ice Iris 
watercolor
40" h x 30" w
2012
in progress

Big Blue- Iris Watercolor

Big Blue iris watercolor has found a home. I am happy to say -- that 2 of the 3 monumental iris paintings I did last year have found placement.

It is a wonderful to have them move on to be my "ambassadors."

I love to see them appreciated!

This painting is currently getting framed- so I will post the final presentation later.

Big Blue

watercolor

40" h x 50" w

2010

sold

ITALY -- acrylics

I have two days to finish these paintings.

The top one is new-- started yesterday... and being worked on this week.

The bottom one is giving me trouble. I don't know why-- but it isn't grabbing me as it should.

Somewhere along the way -- I lost the spark.
I know I will get it back-- but I have to set it aside.. and let it fade in the background of my desire and consciousness.

Then.. after a while... I will bring it out again... and see it with 'fresh eyes." Immediately -- I will know what to do~ !

It's always easier to solve paintings after you are dispassionate about the conclusion.

Sometimes I think -- we fall in love with what we "paint"..and not with what we "see."

Italy 123
acrylic
21" h x 21" w
2010
unfinished


Italy 120
acrylic
30" h x 40" w
2010
unfinished

second to the last stage -- Goliath Iris watercolor

i photographed this second-to-last stage of this enormous watercolor -- there's one final day of painting on it .. that needs to be documented.

it was fun to go back and rework this image..and pull together a more solid painting. the final painting has a bit more drama... and value.

there's a simple freer abandon or creativity .. on working a previously-resolved painting. with the fresher eyes and perspective... i tend to make bolder and less calculating decisions. it's as though i've been given 'free reign' over the image.. and don't have to have boundaries!

tomorrow.. i will photo the last stage and post it here.


Goliath
watercolor
60" h x 40" w
2009 unfinished

Still Waters -- watercolor

This painting is really gathering it's own energy and presence. I am almost done with it ... and what started out as TWO watercolors... spontaneously became infinitely better by becoming a DIPTYCH. i was working on both pieces simultaneously -- and had them next to each other on my work easel. suddenly -- the differing perspectives of virtually the same pond... became eerily suggestive.. and captivating. i LIKED it better together.. than separately. that's how they hang.

now.. i have to finish the top leaf -- minor adjustments.. and viola! it's done.

when you stand in front of it.. the size, the perspective, and the way that it's arranged on the wall-- makes you feel dizzy! very cool....


Still Waters
watercolor
45" h x 65" w
diptych
2009 unfinished

Clear As Day- Acrylic

I'm currently in FL-- seeing relatives as well as the Naples art scene. There is no lack of economy here.. and the area seems to be thriving. I talked with galleries -- and they all report good sales and robust inventory. I think the West Coast of Florida is buffering the economic slow down. I was also struck by the amount of foreign travelers in downtown Naples. This will bolster tourism. The galleries were wrapping and shipping many paintings...yay!

I'm not sure that I would want to stay year-round in Naples-- but I would definitely consider an extended stay during winter months. The real estate looks pricey -- so you would have to stay "near by". But I didn't seen any cutting-edge art--- so there's definitely room for new artists and new ideas!

Corkscrew Sanctuary was a highlight of my trip-- and I garnered many images that will work themselves into new paintings. What a beautiful place! There were so many birds, gators, insects, and reptiles. It was the original Florida... which is fading so fast.

I can't wait to get to the Everglades next winter~

Tower Grove Lily
acrylic
48" H x 24" W
2008

Pond Watercolor

This watercolor is a rework of a piece i hammered on last summer. i was never really satisfied -- and after many months of consideration -- decided to return to it.

it is fuller now with better scale and focus.

i was always taken with the background water.... and not the reeds -- so this time around... i spent much more time on the reeds... deepening them.. and bending them with value and shadow.


Early Light
watercolor
25" H x 60" W
2008

leftover sunflowers-- acrylic

i think it's finally... done!

you know.. sometimes.. when you work on a painting.... you work and work-- only to get fatigued.. and have to put the painting aside.

that's what i did with this piece. i couldn't figure out how to draw it to conclusion... everything was "right".. but it just wasn't complete.

i put it away.... and began the acrylic swimmer.

yesterday.. at the end of day.. i brought it out and reviewed. i saw exactly what i needed to do! and.. on top of that.. i had the courage and emotional distance from the 'making' of the piece.. to do the change!

the changes aren't that obivious but slight additions of stems and texture... here and there.. mainly to the top of the silhouette of flowers.

NOW.. i really like it.. and i'm happy that it's done!

Leftover Sunflowers
acrylic
48" H x 24" W
2008

Sea Grape - Revisited Acrylic

i added a small shift in background orange..to make a more interesting passage -- in lower right hand corner. this makes it just a bit more quirky and unsettling.

i still like the piece...especially when it's situated in its heavy gold frame!

Sea Grape
acrylic
16" H x 20"W
2008

Sea Grape Continues- Acrylic Botanical

This sea grape painting was sacrificed to learn new techniques and materials. i am seeking to deepen the richness of my acrylics.. and broadening my technique. i took a smaller/older acrylic -- and painted another layer. the sea grape became my test-kitchen. i like painting... when you don't have to worry about 'results'.... you are only concerned with learning. there is some 'rolling' of paint involved here -- and some spritz w/ toothbrush. also, a variety of new glazes and pigments from Liquitex.

as a result... i like the painting now.. it has more character and individuality than before. it seems to mimic the crusty ol' sea grapes that hang about the edge of the beach.

i am going to resolve on more passage in the sky.. and then frame and enjoy for a while.

Sea Grape
acrylic
16" H x 20" W
2008

Sweet Calla- Floral

This tiny little watercolor was done a few years back... 2004 to be exact. It hangs proudly in a home on the West Coast.

I was surprised to see it... and really enjoyed the 'glow' around the flower-- and the way it was framed.

Calla Lily
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
14" H x 4" W
2004

Tobacco Sunflower Floral

Here is another acrylic tutorial. I like to share the various stages it takes to make a painting. I find it fascinating and helpful myself.

Each stage takes time.. and over all -- I think there's about two week's worth of work here.





I begin with a slight outline-- and under paint with Cadmium Orange.

I then add the deeper purples -- mixed in with Liquitex Baltic Gray and Baltic Green.

After most of the passages are defined according to value and weight-- I am free to add the background.

The subject flower is then "taped off" -- so that the image will be protected as the background gets painted.

There were a couple of attempts to get the background color right. I took great care to blend the right softness to add volume of space.

The first background had more orange. Subsequent layers took that away-- but you can always see little remnants and underpinnings of previous layers.

Mid State Sunflower Floral

The layering continues-- and painting in the intricate greens and greys give form and share to the cascade of leaves underneath the blooms. The flowers themselves are painted in deep purple -- to resemble end-of-summer timeliness. The weight and sense of summer's turning -- was what I'm trying to capture.

Tobacco Sunflower Floral

These are the last few stages of the floral. There are many more -- as you would expect... but too many to post.

I added yet another layer of depth and glaze today -- finishing off the surface and deepening color.
Cadmium Orange and Dioxazine Purple we rolled on-- adding flexs of detail and color. that pops
I can see this framed with a heavy black frame.






Voila!

Tobacco Sunflower
acrylic
48 " H x 24" W
2008

email for purchase

reeds

here's a large scale watercolor-- of reeds and marsh. i'm not quite done with it.. there are hours more work in detail. but.. the layout and feel is positive.. and i like the way the painting is going.

so far.. so good.

stay tuned for the final result.

Marsh Reeds
watercolor
40 x 60
arches cp 555 lb
2008