Geraniums

This is a tape batik, painted on Arches 140 lb cold press paper.  While out for a walk I passed this group of potted geraniums sitting in the sun on a front porch.  Painting it as a simple grouping of potted flowers would not have portrayed what I felt as I was looking at.  Using the tape batik added a lot of drama to the setting, and really captured the sun and shadow pattern.

Ohio Watercolor society Show 2012

 

"Afternoon Shadows"

The Ohio Watercolor Society Show 2012 has opened at the Riffe Gallery, 77 S. High Street, Columbus, OH.   My painting "Afternnon Shadows" which is in the show, was also selected to be in the Ohio Travel Show.  The Riffe Gallery hours are  Tues. 10-4, Wed. & Fird 10-5:30, Sat. & Sun. 12 -4 pm.  The OWS Show runs until January 2013, and the Travel Show runs from January 2013 until July 2013.  The Travel Show schedule can be found on the Ohio Watercolor Society website. 

This is a tape batik watercolor.

Maple Trees

This is the pastel version of the scene I described in my last post.  This is soft pastel, on sanded paper.   I will probably try a third version in acrylic.  I really enjoy painting the same picture in different mediums and exploring the contrasts available.

Autumn Lane

"Autumn Lane"

This watercolor was painted from a photo I had taken.  I had stopped to take pictures in this location because there was a river with all of the surrounding trees in full autumn color, but there was not enough room to stand and safely sketch or paint!  Once I pulled off the main road, however this stand of trees was on one side of the road, and a cornfield on the other.  It was a perfect subject for a landscape painting.  This is a watercolor painting done on a full size sheet of Arches watercolor paper.

Autumn

My favorite time of year for painting has arrived.  We have had beautiful weather, and the trees are not quite at full color.  This really makes it easier to distinguish one tree from another, and the greens interspersed with color make a good painting.

The Blueberry Shed

"The Blueberry Shed"

In the autumn when all of the trees start to turn color, the blueberry bushes turn a brilliant crimson. Set against the evergreen trees, this scene made a perfect painting.  This is a small pastel, done on sanded paper.

Michigan Weather

 

Do you see the rainbow?  A few weeks ago I went to Michigan and set out to take pictures to paint that I could use when I returned home.   A storm front moved through leaving very windy weather behind.  But as often is the case, stormy weather makes for great painting!  I will paint this vineyard scene without the rainbow, but it does make for a beautiful photo.  It was a little too early for the trees to have turned color.  The next photo illustrates the power of the wind!

Middletown Art Show

 

"Contemplation"

 

This painting was just accepted into the Middletown Art Center Show, Middletown,Ohio.

This is a pastel done on sanded paper.  I changed the elements of the scene quite a bit to come up with a good composition and went with my instincts on playing up the color of an otherwise grey scene.

 

 

 

"The Hen House"

 

 

"The Homestead"

 

One of my favorite paintings,"The Hen House" was also accepted.  This was done on a full size sheet of heavy weight yupo paper.  It is a tape batik, done with fluid acrylics.  Quite a bit of the paint comes off when the tape is removed when working on yupo paper.  This leaves a lot of play in the texture, which was perfect for the wall and the feathers of the birds.  I also used miskit in the hay.  This was really quite a lot of fun to paint!  I added some metallic colors to the feathers also.

The third painting I had accepted was my favorite pastel "The Homestead" .  This was done on sanded paper.

The Area Art Show will be open to the public from Sept. 21 to Oct. 27. Opening reception is Friday, September 21 from 6-8pm.  The Middletown Art Center is located at 130 N. Verity Parkway, Middletown, Ohio.

The Patriot

Last year I attended a memorial service on 9/11, and observed the many American heroes attending the service also.  I was very moved by the number of servicemen and women that were present.
This is a pastel done on sanded paper.

Beach Dreams

Last summer when I was at the beach this beautiful family was there.  After playing with the figures, changing the composition several times, and the colors of the dresses, I was finally happy with the picture.  Instead of painting the girls as they really were, I painted them walking into the waves.  I felt that was what they really wanted to be doing!  This is a watercolor done on 140 lb. cold press paper.

Afternoon Shadows

 

This painting was juried into the Ohio Watercolor Society Show which will take place from Nov. 1, 2012 until Jan. 13, 2013.  The show opens at the Riffe Gallery of Art, 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH.  My painting was selected for the Travel Show in the Watercolor Ohio 2012.  This is another example of tape batik, using masking tape as a resist, then layering watercolor paint and more masking  tape until the painting is complete. This was done on Arches paper.

Summer in the park

I have spent the last few mornings out painting.  The trees are just beginning to turn color, which helps when painting a mass of green!  I am afraid we will have a short color season since it has been so dry, therefore I am painting every chance I get.  Even if I don't finish these on site, I have enough information to finish a respectable painting later.  My primary goal is to block in the big shapes and values when I know I won't be able to stay and paint for long.  I take several photos for reference also.This is a small plein air piece,  done in acrylic on linen canvas.

Wax Batik Bird's Nest

I really thought a long time about how best to paint this robin's nest, complete with blue eggs.  Using wax batik I was able to get the texture of both the twigs in the nest and the surface of the eggs.  This painting was juried into the Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati Show, 2012.

Mill Pond

This was done a a beautiful sunny day.  I really enjoyed being outside while painting this piece.  This is an acrylic on canvas.

Rain in the Mountains

I painted this on a rainy day in the mountains.  When working on location I always hope for perfect weather, but atmospheric changes add a lot to a painting.  This is an acrylic on canvas.

Mama Swan #2

I originally painted this picture in the independent layering technique on yupo paper. You can see this under an earlier posting, called Mama Swan #1.   I wanted to try it as a traditional watercolor on Arches paper.  There are wonderful changes in a painting that happen when I change media.

Batik Waterlily

This is another version of the waterlilies that I painted earlier.  I decided to try it as a wax batik.  I wasn't happy with the either the colors or shapes so I worked to correct the problems.  Using Caran D'Arche crayons and more watercolor I darkened values and fixed shapes.  Since it was done on rice paper there is a lot of texture in the flowers and leaves.

Forgotten Farm

Many areas of the country that are cleared for development leave behind wonderful old homes that stand forgotten.  This house looks like it could tell many stories of the family that lived there.  This is a pastel on sanded paper.

Summer Farm

I painted this from a few quick sketches and a photo I took on location.  So many times I see things that would be a great painting, but not in a location far enough off of the road to be able to stand and safely paint!  This is a pastel done on sanded paper.

Sunflower Field

This is a pastel done on sanded paper.  I painted this farm working on location. 

Waterlilies #2

Here is another patch of waterlilies painted in the same manner.  I think a captured a nice glow on the waterlily in the foreground.

Waterlilies #1

These waterlilies were painted in watercolor on Arches paper.  I used a lot of dark, sedimentary colors to get the variations in the background and reflections.

A Pool of Light

This was my first attempt at Tape Batik which I learned from Sandy Maudlin.  The painting was created using layers of watercolor and masking tape as a resist. This painting was done on watercolor paper.  I thought it captured the feel of the warm sun as it washed acrosss the porch.

A Blue Spring

 

Blue hydrangeas are the most beautiful flower.  This old stucco house was the perfect backdrop for this garden.  I painted this in pastels on sanded paper.

Beach Girls

 

This is another example of Independent Layering painted on Yupo paper.  Both fluid acrylics and watercolor paint were used.

Mama Swan

This family of swans was swimming so peacefully across the lake.  I used the process called Independent Layering which I learned in a workshop from Sandy Maudlin.  Both fluid acrylics and watercolor paints are used on Yupo paper.

Swan Lake

This painting began as a batik.  However, after removing the wax I was not happy with the value range in the swan. I mounted the rice paper on a sheet of watercolor paper and began to fix the painting.  I used Caran D'Arche crayons and more watercolor painted directly onto the surface of the rice paper to correct the problems.

Michigan Cherries

It is a beautiful sight to see an orchard full of fresh fruit.  Using watercolor I felt I was able to get the glow of the cherries and a good value range of the color of the fruit.  I painted this on Arches 140 lb. cold press paper.

The Homestead

This pastel was entered into the NC Statewide Pastel Competition for 2012.  I was thrilled to win the Jack Richeson Award.  I came across this old farmhouse on my travels and felt the history of this home. 

Evening Shadows

Watercolor on Gesso

Painting with watercolor on gesso is an excellent way to create both mood and texture.  Passing by this old house late in the day is such a beautiful scene that I just had to paint it.  After applying a heavy layer of gesso and letting it dry,  I transferred my drawing.  Painting in and taking off paint with water leaves a wonderful effect.