"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Dancing Angel

Well - I am finally back to painting after a wonderful vacation.  I finished this painting on Monday for the June project of Watercolor Workshop.  It is painted on a half sheet of 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper from a source photo provided by Gina Hall.  One of my fellow Muse painters, Rosie Wermert,  named it for me this afternoon - she says it looks like an angel dancing - I thought that would be a good title.

18 comments:

Christiane Kingsley said...

A very good title for a great painting! In a half sheet size, this must be absolutely stunning. I have yet to try painting an iris...they look so difficult to paint. Yours is perfect with an equally beautiful background.

padmaja said...

Oh very aptly names, it carries the purity and energy associated with an angel.. loved all your works here!

Autumn Leaves said...

I think this is the most beautiful iris painting ever, Barb! The name is perfect for it as well. The background is heavenly!

Ruth said...

Barb, this is absolute perfection. Aptly named, it stokes visions of the etheral, peace and absolute beauty.
How fun to just wander thru and enjoy the shapes, colors, texture. Gorgeous and a showstopper piece. Ruth

Gillian Mowbray said...

This is stunning - it has great depth and subtlety. Perfect name. x

Anonymous said...

Stunningly gorgeous!!! I saw the thumbnail image on my blog roll and just had to come see. Beautiful!

Barb Sailor said...

Christiane...Thanks for the positive feedback - iris's are not as difficult to paint as you might expect, although it takes a while to draw them. Thanks for commenting.

Barb Sailor said...

Padmaja...Thanks for visiting my blog and for your comment on the title - it does have the 'energy' you associate with an angel.

Barb Sailor said...

AutumnLeaves...I was tickled to read about your comment of a "heavenly" background with the "angel" iris -Thank you.

Barb Sailor said...

Ruth - thank you for your kind comments - coming from you these are very meaningful.You express yourself so well with words.
Barb

Barb Sailor said...

Gillian...Thanks for visiting and commenting. My friend Rosie will be happy to know that everyone approves of her name for this painting.

Barb Sailor said...

PAMO - I am so happy that the thumbnail caught your attention and that you visited my blog. Thanks so much for your positive input!
Barb

Barbra Joan said...

Barb, aside from the fact that this is just one perfect Iris, beautiful ! I also wanted to comment on your words about darks in watercolor. Yes, I find them very difficult to achieve without it looking just plain dull and the fact of the brand names in paint. I use almost WN entirely, I just tried a burnt sienna in M Graham and was I dissapointed.!

Barb Sailor said...

Hi BarbraJoan...Thanks for commenting...I have found that most all burnt sienna's that I have tried tend to be more opaque than I like - I think they have fillers or something:( and that tends to dull the color and make it more opaque. I find that the quinacridone colors tend to be less opaque and more transparent, but it is hard to get them as dark as I like so you are Dam*(^ if you do and dam^*# if you don't. If you find a brand you like let me know. I do use Holbein most of the time and usually like those pretty well.

RH Carpenter said...

A beautiful title for a beautiful painting!

Kathy Wirth said...

This is fabulous!

Kathy Wirth said...

This is fabulous!

Barb Sailor said...

Thank you Rhonda and Kathy - your comments are so very much appreciated.