BURST! new IRIS watercolor floral

I just had to do another IRIS for Spring! The large scale watercolor relies heavily on complimentary colors for punch.

It was a joy to paint-- and fun to pull together.


It is monumental in scale and really lives up to it's title!


Happy Spring everyone-- on this first day of SPRING!


BURST
watercolor
40" h x 30" w
2013
email for purchase

Spring Bounty!

I sold the three paintings here this weekend.  The lovely SPRING BOUNTY will be hanging with the two smaller IRIS to make a statement.

I couldn't be happier!

So happy that art is being collected.  It's especially important for an artist!

I am always honored when someone likes my work enough to feature it in their home.

Thank you Chris and Michael!  Your support means so much to me!



Spring Bounty
watercolor
30" h x 22" w

Iris 1 and 2
watercolor
15" h x 11" w
private collection

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

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

Blue Iris

Blue Iris is taking off.

I have begun a new IRIS painting---  that is softer and less vibrant than the FLAME THROWER.

It will be a cooler palette-- and larger in scale.

Tomorrow will see big changes in it!


Blue Iris
watercolor
40" h x 30" w
2012

Flame Thrower progress on watercolor

I did a few washes on the Flame Thrower watercolor yesterday.

I don't have much time to finish this painting-- the condo comes first!

Must get THAT painted!

But... here's the progress.

I really like the softer Fabriano paper. It doesn't behave with the blossoms like Arches. I will have to relearn some new techniques.

But I do like the fact that lifting and softening edges is much more responsive.

I may do a few more Iris to complete a statement.

I want to try Saunders paper as well.

Ahhhhh.... looking forward to life in the studio again ... once the CONDO is done.. and the MOVE is complete!

Flame Thrower

watercolor

40" h x 30" w

2012

in progress

Fabriano again!

I have decided that I needed to paint an IRIS this spring.

They are one of my FAVORITE flowers... and now in full BLOOM!

The best place to find them is at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Off I go to photograph them on Friday-- before the big rain storms.

There are dozens of varieties.. and so many to choose from!

It is always exhilarating to see them!

The last two days I've been trying the bloom on the FABRIANO paper.

Here is a painting after two days of work. I have to finish it later-- as there are pressing things for me to accomplish over the next fews days.

I promise to post the final result of this when I finish -- so you can see how it concludes!

Long live IRIS!

Flame Thrower

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

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