Watercolor in the Village

Waiting

18"x24"

I finished this painting a couple of weeks ago. It was actually started about 4 years ago when I painted a picture of an Ohio barn with lots of trees in a sunset. I hated the painting and it has been sitting around for 4 years. A while ago I decided to cut up the painting into assorted squares and rectangles and glue it to a piece of illustration board fitting the pieces together into an abstract design mainly in the colors of a sunset. A couple weeks ago I collaged white tissue paper over the design and then, when it was dry, I dry-brushed white gesso over the top of the collaged tissue paper, catching the texture and allowing some of the sunset color to glow through. I then drew my portrait of the woman with black Elegant Writer Calligraphy pen and completed the painting my spreading the black ink with watercolor brush and water and some davy's grey watercolor paint. My source for the drawing was the body of one person and the head of another which I cut and pasted on the computer to create a 'new' person.

Watercolor in the Village

A Portrait of Patty's Cabbage

11"x 15"

Some time ago a good friend of mine, Patty Magato, gave me a sheet of watercolor canvas to experiment with. She also has the most beautiful garden, both with flowers and vegetables, and often shares her pictures with us. She is a gifted painter and photographer who generously shares her photographs with us. This painting, on the watercolor canvas, is a close up view of one of her photographs of her cabbages. My palette was limited to antwerp blue and quinocrodine red violet which gives you a full range of red violets, violets and blues.

I haven't accomplished much painting during the last 5 days because I have been babying my lower back which has been in spasm. I have had several visits to the chiropractor and am beginning to think that I may take up a paint brush tomorrow!

Watercolor in the Village

This has been a busy day. In November I had 3 paintings juried into the State Teacher's Retirement System art show so today Rock and I journeyed to Columbus for the reception. It was a really nice show which included works by students from local colleges. It is nice to see what the students are doing in art classes now. I also saw some really creative new works by the 'retired' art teachers. It certainly disproves the old saying that "Those who can, paint, and those who can't, teach!" We had a nice day, met some new artists and some old friends. The only blot on this beautiful day is that I am suffering with a bad back - oh the 'misery!'

Watercolor in the Village

Rosie Ayers' Barn

11"x 15"

An artist friend of mine Rosie Ayers, gave me a photo of this old truck in an old Ohio barn over 2 years ago. She knows that I love to do paintings of old trucks. I started the painting then, and like so many things, it got lost under a pile of miscellaneous things. This week I pulled it out and started working on it and tonight I finally finished it. Hurrah!

Watercolor in the Village

"Gazing at Stars"

20"x30"

This painting was finished last summer. I poured the first coat of paint using liquid acrylic inks. Then finished the painting with traditional watercolor techniques which include negative painting in the leaves between the flowers..

Watercolor in the Village

"Jamie"

Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches hot presses - 12"x 16"

This painting was created in honor of my nephew Jamie's graduation from the Air Force Academy in June, 2006. It was presented to his family as a gift.

Watercolor in the Village

The painting I am posting today is called "Bountiful." It is painted on a full sheet of 140 lb. watercolor paper.

"The Old Crow"

Watercolor in the Village

Today is February 16, 2008
Today I decided to start a blog. Actually I have little idea of what I am doing, but I guess I will learn. I plan to keep a visual record of my painting day by day. I didn't paint today - was busy doing the everyday things. Will do more tomorrow and will try to post some paintings.