Vintage Fire Truck

This is the latest lesson I have prepared for my intermediate watercolor students at the Riverside Arts Center.  It is a vintage fire truck from the Wet Canvas image reference library.  The photographer is "trix from the stix."  The painting is 9" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper.  I tried to keep it nice and loose and except for the final details, it is basically a painting with a poured underpainting in reds and light browns.  I lifted the highlights on the truck with a damp brush while the painting was still wet.  Then I did a very wet-in-wet painting of the foliage and after all dried - I tightened it up with the detailing.  I used a lot of greens in the background because I like the contrast created by the complementary reds and greens.  Hope the students enjoy painting this one.  I love vintage trucks!

Painting Day Lillies

This is the latest project for my intermediate watercolor painting class at Riverside Arts Center in Wapakoneta.  I did This painting of pink day lillies   from a Wet Canvas  reference library photo.  It is approx 8" x 12" and is painted on Canson Tientes 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.  I really love painting lillies - they are so delicate and exotic.  I used quinacridone rose, quin. rose-violet and violet for the flowers.  The quinacridone colors are so beautifully transparent - I love to paint with them.

Painting at Meyer's Barn with Ashley the Cat

 One Wednesday afternoon recently, I was painting en plein air at the country home of some friends near where we live.  They have some wonderful animals and we were first greeted by the 3 dogs, a golden lab and 2 boxers.  After I was set up and beginning to paint, I was greeted by Ashley the cat, who took a liking to me - so much that I was unable to paint for a while - she was persistent in making sure that she had my attention.  What an affectionate, sweet and gentle cat!  Painting en plein air has many advantages and perks - Ashley was definitely one of them.  The barn painting, which I did eventually get painted, is 9" x 12" and is painted on a canvas panel.  It is always going to be a reminder of a lovely afternoon with a wonderful furry friend!

Old Canal Doorway

This is a painting I prepared for the class I am teaching at the Riverside Arts Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  It was basically a lesson in painting textures.  I taught the lesson this evening and the students ( all adults) did very well and enjoyed the process.  The painting is from a lovely Wet Canvas photo by Sue Galos. Photographers and artists post their photos in the reference library for use by other artists.  It is a wonderful source for those needing something special.  The size of the painting is 8" x 10" and is painted on hot pressed, 140 lb. Canson Tientes watercolor paper.

Painting the Bluestone

The second day we painted on our art holiday, we painted in the rain.  After taking the tram down into the Bluestone Gorge, we spent the afternoon in our blue raincoats painting the Bluestone!  I put an awful lot of color into this painting considering it was a dreary, drippy afternoon which turned very chilly later in the afternoon.  In spite of the weather, it was an enjoyable time.  I think this painting is rather overwhelming as far as color is concerned, but this is the way I saw it!  The painting is 9"x12" and it is painted on a canvas panel.

Sandstone Falls

This is an oil painting of Sandstone Falls which is on the New River in the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia.  This place is magical and fascinating.  I painted it en plein air during my art vacation in southern West Virginia 2 weeks  ago with 3 good painting friends.  I had a wonderful time painting the beautiful vistas in the area.  The painting is 9" x 12" and is painted on a canvas panel.

Colors of Autumn

This is a painting I finished yesterday. It is the example for a painting I am teaching at my intermediate watercolor class at the Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio. We started the drawing and underpainting tonight during class. It is titled "Colors of Autumn."

Painting in the Rain

Three good painting friends and I just spent a week painting in Wonderful West Virginia!  We rented a great cabin at Pipestem Resort- deep in the mountains of southern West Virginia.  Pipestem is chucked full of wonderful scenery and is also close to the New River Gorge National Park where we painted the Sandstone Falls one day.  In this picture, we were painting on the banks of the Bluestone River in the Bluestone Gorge, which you reach by riding a tram deep into the valley down the side of a mountain.  What a view!  What an experience!  Unfortunately it rained that day but we painted anyway - as you can see in this picture of me in my blue raincoat (which was given to me by my friend Theresa - she brought 4 of them home from her Niagra Falls Maid of the Mist boat experience.)  Thank goodness for raincoats!  We had fun anyway!  I will post the painting in the future.