Spirit Week Live Kids Demo

I just found out that I have been accepted to do a live kids demo at the Spirit week public demo next Thursday, February 11th. The event is taking place outside in Leigh Square from 6-8pm There will be artists, live entertainment and of course the torch will be be arriving Thurs morning!

Check out the city's website for more infmoration and I will provide more info as well as I get more of the details. Hope to see you there!

Watercolor Painting - No Longer Adrift

Finally got a decent photo of my driftwood painting, No Longer Adrift, but even still the sky is much darker near the top in the actual painting. I think I just need to break down and get some decent lights for photography...ahaa :(

The driftwood was actually quite gray but I could not resist painting the warm tones that would be in the wood if it had not been sitting exposed to the elements for so long and I am quite happy with the decision :) I love the way the wood forms the arch to meet in the center.

Mother and Child Commission Portrait Framed

Yay the custom double matt is completed so I picked it up and framed the portrait today so that it can be shipped out tomorrow :) Looks very nice but I must say I am going to miss my companions as they have been keeping me company in my studio all week!

Watercolor Driftwood Painting - Update #3

It is hard to see much difference online but the colors looks much richer now than they did in the previous post. The darks are not showing up well in the photos so I will try to photograph today in the sun to see if it helps, I can't believe we get a sunny day for a change, yay. The water and rocks have been darkened and next is the sand and then will decide whether more work is needed on the driftwood. I can hear the paper screaming, "stop, no more paint, I can't take anymore"....will see :)

Driftwood Watercolor Painting Update #2

Well I think things are getting better...I keep going back and forth with this one ;) I have darkened the sky and darkened many areas on the driftwood. I still need to tone down areas as there is alot of detail and I worry about losing the focal point so the bottom half and the area on the right of the driftwood needs be pushed back more.

Then I will darken the water and sky again and do some more work on the land :)

Driftwood Watercolor Painting Update #1

I thought I may as well post an update on this since I am sitting here staring at it on the screen to see if I have really made any progress since this morning :) I think I have, some areas are starting to recede more and things are getting a little bit toned down in areas as it was getting a little too red and bright all over so it seems to be helping.

Another layer has been applied to the rocks and sand but still a fair ways to go on them. The sand is much too bright right now as are the rocks so they will need to settle in a lot more as they are steeling the focus from the driftwood. Back to the easel....

Driftwood Watercolor Painting

This is a painting I am working on right now of a piece of driftwood. I really like all the twisty shapes in the wood and how it still reaches out to the ocean even though it is stuck on the seashore.

The original reference photo was taken by a very talented photographer, Tom Burke, who was nice enough to let me use his photo for the painting. In the actual photo the wood is much more gray but I wanted to show the richness and warm so I have warmed it up considerably.

The sand and rocks have been painted in roughly and will require a few more passes to give them more shape and form. Areas of the driftwood also need to be pushed and pulled back and forth a bit to give more dimension but it is getting there. Then I will decide whether to go darker with the sea and sky :)

New Toy for Christmas

So I got some cash this year for Christmas and it has been burning a hole in my pocket. I have been pondering being a new easel for several weeks now, which is a long time for me to make a decisions, usually if I think I need something for art I must have it. Gets me in a bit of trouble sometimes with the other half. Luckily I have a large studio but it is getting pretty crowded as I inherited my hubbies old desk and 3 matching bookcases, bought an really cool drafting table from craigslist for a killer deal several years back, a couch, another small desk and a zillion frames. So I had to think about it awhile to see if I really needed yet one more item in my studio. The answer in my head of course, I must have it :)

So I checked out several options and found one that seems to be made for me. It can be adjusted easily to allow painting vertically, horizontally or anywhere in-between. Holds canvases up to 84" high. My hubby graciously offered to go and pick it up for me and help me set it up and even he was impressed with how pretty it looked. It is made of beechwood so has a nice warm glow to it, I could hardly sleep that night, who says I am obsessive.

So the next morning, of course bright and early, I set myself up and started to paint, what a difference. I have used easels before but always got a kink in my back, usually during life drawing, and have found them a paint as I could never get them set up correctly as always wobbled or slide around. This one stays where it is put and because it is so adjustable I can always have my main subject at eye level. Best studio item I ever bought I think :)

Only down fall is of course now I need to reorganize the studio...again :)