We are hanging this art exhibit at Austin Community College in Elgin on Monday. Come see the beautiful campus and some fine art Oct 12-23, 2015.

Cactus blooms

These blooms were especially beautiful against the pond below. Photographed them last year and went through several versions of playing with how I wanted to paint them before coming up with this. Now I am having fun learning to post from my iPad. We'll see if this works.

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Hello in Red and Blue

A couple of weeks ago, I cut some bluebonnets and Indian paint brush from our acreage and brought them in to enjoy and paint them.  I started this painting with wet paint on wet paper, adding fuller body color and pulling out color as I saw fit.  After drying, I worked one section at a time continuing this process, stopping for "gut checks" frequently.   This process of refining my painting until it expresses what I intend is quite an exploration.  Thanks to my friend Becky for encouraging me to finish this painting and to share the process! 

Painting from Class

After demonstration by Linda Neuenschwander in art class on Friday, I let loose with a wet-on-wet painting of flowers in a vase.  I wet the entire paper before beginning, but since the paper was drying unevenly, it left me with a variety of hard vs soft edges.  And of course I love that!  After it dried, I added touches of blue, some definition to the petals and a few more leaves.  Though one does have to work quickly in the initial stages while the paper is wet, this process of finishing a painting actually takes quite a bit of time and patience to discern what is needed, and most importantly what is not needed.  This was a fun painting to create as I always get inspiration from being around other painters.  Happy painting to all!

Simply Intuitive

This is one of my simply intuitive paintings, no pencil drawing on the paper prior to painting and no pre-planning of even what I was going to paint.  I selected colors I felt drawn to, testing how they mixed on a scrap of watercolor paper.  On partially wet paper I added color intuitively, intending not to create any recognizable image but to create a pleasing abstract design with which to start. I then let it dry, the result of which you can see below. 

Stepping back from my painting frequently to pay attention to all parts at once, I created a variety of soft and hard edges, increased value contrasts, and some texture by spattering.  These subsequent additions were minimal but essential, as you can see, carefully and deliberately added to create balance, excitement and depth.  There you go. I called this one, Depth of Red.  Hope you like it.

Balloon Lady

I enjoyed watching a woman twisting balloons at Pike Market in Seattle, noticing the light coming through windows behind her, and the fanfare of activity all around her.  Later that scene inspired this fanciful painting on a full sheet of watercolor paper.  It is one of 3 selected for exhibition in Imagine 2014, sponsored by the Round Rock Arts Council.  See the sidebar for details regarding this exhibit, which runs through May 16. 

Leave Some to the Imagination!

I watched the elephants for a long time at the St Louis zoo. This one was spraying dirt all over himself making quite a spectacular show! I had done some sketches from a photo, then a few direct paintings with no pre-drawing, and finally a painting of the elephant integrated into an exciting underpainting or color wash. In the watercolor workshop I attended recently I was intrigued with how Jean Haines would typically leave out at least half of the detail of her subject. Certainly adds to the mystery doesn't it?

 

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