Sunday, June 30, 2013

Many palette boxes of gouache

These are my palette boxes of various gouache.  Of all the gouache brands that I have tried, Schmincke gouache I like the best.  It does what gouache is suppose to do, especially on toned paper.
 
 
Pill Box is filled with Holbein Gouache.  From left to right:
Cad Yellow, Sap Green, Leaf Green, FUB, Carmine, and Cad Red.
 
Schmincke Gouache : From left to right:
First row: Cad yellow light; Indian yellow, Cad orange, Carmine
Second row: Cobalt green light, Helio green blueish, Ultramarine blue, Cobalt blue light
Third row: Violet, Burnt umber, Madder red deep, Titanium white, Ivory black
 
 
 Compact watercolor Palette box filled with Holbein, Winsor & Newton, and  Schmincke Gouache. 
 First row left to right Cad yellow light, Cad Orange, Carmine, Cad Red,
Second Row:  Madder Red Deep, Dark Indigo Blue, FUB,  Cobalt Blue
Third Row: Cerulean Blue (Holbein), Violet, Cobalt Green Light, Brilliant Green (Winsor/Newton)
Fourth Row:Sap Green, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, Titanium White 
 
 
 Winsor and Newton Gouache.  From left to right
Zinc white, Burnt umber
Cad yellow, Primary red, Ultramarine
 
 

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor sticks palette

Cleaning out my studio has been interesting.  I keep on finding stuff that I could use or re-purpose.  This 3" Round Altoids container was one such item. 
 
I've had these Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks for awhile.  I've used them, but wanted to find a way to assemble a small palette with just a few colors.  That's where the Altoids container came in.
 
 
 
 
To make, I used empty half pans.  Magnetic  adhesive sheets were put on the bottom of each empty half pans.
 
 
 
The watercolor sticks were cut down to put into the empty half pans.  I applied a little water to the bottom of  each half pans, so when dry, the watercolor stick would stay in place. I put the watercolor sticks half pans in the container. Then got a small watercolor sheet of paper, painted each box with watercolor.   I  then cut down the WC paper to fit on the bottom of the Altoids container to make a WC reference sheet.  Using my Sharpie, I noted down the colors on the WC reference sheet. Then the WC sheet was laminated.  I then cut a square piece of the magnet strip to put on the back of the  WC reference sheet.  Once that was done, I attached the WC reference sheet to the bottom of the Altoids container. 

This Altoids container is so small, there is no reason why I can't do quick watercolor sketches when I'm on the go.
 

Friday, June 28, 2013

Numana, Italy

 
It was a beautiful warm day in Numana, Italy.  I was looking down below to the wonderful color of the ocean and the blue sky.
 
 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Gubbio, Italy

 
 
Last year at this time I was in Fabriano and Florence, Italy.  Today I decided to paint from one of my photo's that I took in Gubbio, Italy,  a view looking down the valley.  It was mid-afternoon when we arrived in Gubbio and had about an hour free time to explore.  Needless-to-say, I didn't make it very far on the main street.  I was looking at all the shops and stumbled into a book binding shop.   The owner/artist was rather friendly and told us about her shop, how she made books and leather goods, and where she was trained in Rome.  I bought a ostrich backpack and a glass dip pen from her.  
 
 
 

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Big Kitty

 
Saw this guy sitting in the middle of the street today on my way to my chiropractor.   Lucky for him that we live in a gated community, otherwise, he might of been road kill.  Took his picture with my IPhone so I could paint him when I got home this afternoon.  You never know when inspiration will appear.
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Palm Cockatoo

 
Cockatoo's are beautiful and come in many colors.
 
 
 
 

Monday, June 24, 2013

Indigo

I've been cleaning out my studio and have been going through all my tubes of watercolor paint.  I was amazed at all the tubes I have; some duplicates and some that I forgot I had.  When I first started to paint in watercolor I was only using Winsor & Newton.  But as I got comfortable painting in watercolor, I started to try other brands.  It wasn't until I discovered Daniel Smith that Winsor & Newton was kicked to the curb.  There are still a few of WN colors that I'll use.  This little painting of Maddie was done with WN Indigo.  Once it's all gone, I'll replace with DS Indigo.
 
 
 

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Experimenting

 
As I slow re-organize my studio I've been coming across unfinished paintings.  Before I added the flowers, the background had already been colored with green and blue neo crayons.  I then sketched out the flowers with a brown sharpie and used kids Crayola watercolors.
 
 

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Working on a set of note cards

Today worked on a painting using kids watercolors.  All I need to do is add a greeting.
 
 

Friday, June 21, 2013

Bread Machine Challah Shabbat and festivals

Today I made bread.  It was so beautiful that I couldn't resist taking a picture of it. 
 
I bought my bread machine when they first came out years ago and had a $400. price tag.  I made a few loaves, but was never really satisfied with the shape or texture.  So my bread machine sat in my appliance grave yard.
 
Things changed a few weeks ago when I discovered www.allrecipes.com.  I was looking for an easy pizza dough recipe when I came across All recipes website.  Not only did I find a great pizza dough recipe, I found lots of recipes that I could make in my bread machine.  I looked at bread recipes that I would only use my bread machine dough cycle.  So far I've made Italian bread and whole wheat bread.  I've always have liked Challah Bread, so I decide today was the day to make it.  It was so easy to make that I plan to make each Friday.  I've include a link to the actual recipe at all recipes.com.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bread-Machine-Challah-for-Shabbat-and-Festivals/Detail.aspx

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Elephant mowing through the grass

This originally was suppose to be done on toned paper using gouache, but after sketching the elephant and laying down the gouache, I realized that it would take longer to render the painting with gouache, so I started over on watercolor paper and used Daniel Smith watercolor.
 
 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A orange/red Parrot

 
I seem to be on a roll with gouache and toned paper.  Painting the last few days has been a joy.
 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Penguins

I'm really enjoying working with Schmincke gouache and toned paper. 
 
 

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Golden Eagle

 
Gouache painting on toned paper.  I really like using gouache and toned paper together.
 
 

Saturday, June 15, 2013

White Duck

 
I like dining at restaurants that have out door seating.  That being said, living in the high desert there is only a small window of opportunity to dine outside.  So when ever we travel down below, we try to go to a restaurant that does have out door seating weather permitting.  While we were in Valencia, we had lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen on the patio.  We had a view of the small pond that the ducks frequent and this is one of the ducks that waddled by.
 
On this painting I used gouache on toned paper. 
 
 
 

Friday, June 14, 2013

A Field of flowers

 
Sometimes I find the unexpected...like a field of flowers.
 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

I love brown dogs...

 
What can I say...I love dogs, especially brown dogs with long hair. I especially like them when they prance down the street with their happy face and tails wagging.   It's something about this combination that makes me smile.  So today I was lucky enough to see 3 brown dogs...all with their happy faces and wagging tails.  How many brown dogs have you seen today???
 
 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Brown bunny

 
I've been using this mix media paper for my watercolors.  I've finding that I have to push and pull the paper to get my glazes down, otherwise, the paint just streaks across the surface.
 
 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Pansy

 
Today was a day to just drop paint and knowing when to call a painting finished!  Sometimes the paintings that appear to be easy to paint, in reality aren't.
 
 

Monday, June 10, 2013

Panda Bear

 
I've been going through all my original watercolors that I've painted over the last 15 years.  I was amazed at how much my artistic ability has grown.  I remember buying a greeting card when I was in college of a Panda.   The greeting card was rendered in watercolor and I thought I'd like to be able to paint like that some day.  Even back then when I was questioning if  I could even draw, even a likeness, I took baby steps to figure the mechanics of drawing that panda.  Now I can draw the Panda with no problem.  So this afternoon I took 20 minutes to paint this guy.
 
 

Sunday, June 09, 2013

Sheep

 
From yesterdays driving adventure, on the way home, I saw lots of sheep.  So yesterday wasn't a total loss.
 
 

Saturday, June 08, 2013

Screaming Ostrich

 
I can imagine this is what an ostrich would be doing if they were stuck in the car all day driving...that's how my day went.  It's been rather hot in the high desert, so my husband suggested that we drive down to Santa Barbara for the day.  I checked the weather and the forecast for the day was 69 degrees...that was good.  When we finally got to the coast, it was rather gray and cold.  So we decided to go to Ojai, which is higher in elevation.   Turned the car around and off we went to Ojai. 
Ojai was a nice 80 degrees, unfortunately, it was crowded, so we drove home.  It wouldn't of been so bad if it was just me and my husband, but we had all four dogs.  The dogs were rather good the whole time they were in the car, but having to deal with them in crowds can be a problem.  So tomorrow we stay home!
 
 
 

Friday, June 07, 2013

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Just in time for Father's Day

 
I think my dogs will give this to their daddy for father's day.
 
 

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Horse Carousel

I was going through my photos from Paris and came across one of the Carousels.  What originally started out as a brown horse seem to take a life of it's own.  I went a little crazy in Photo Shop using the layers feature.  I changed  some of the colors of my watercolor and added a textured background. 
I think this is a keeper.
 

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Maddie...my cute little Shi Tzu

 
I decided to pull out my Chinese Brushes and do a quick study of Maddie. I think I captured her expression.
 
 

Monday, June 03, 2013

IF - - Sweet

Nothing is sweeter than a piece of French fruit gateau.
 
 
 

Sunday, June 02, 2013

Gold Fish

 
 
 
Since I was still in a fish mode, I thought I'd paint some gold fish painted in Chinese Brush style.
 

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Koi Fish

 
Today went over a friends house to sketch her pretty Koi Fish.  Just watching them swim around was rather peaceful.