Ocean and beach

I love the ocean and this beach reminded me of Santa Cruz in Northern California.

Lama Li wc paper; Daniel Smith watercolors; 8.5" x 11"

Montana Clouds

It's been a long time that I've been excited about watercolor paper and paints, but when you have a combination of Daniel Smith watercolors and Lama Li watercolor paper, painting is so much easier and fun. 8.5" x 11".

I felt like the painting painted itself. I think too finally all the years of struggling to paint, I finally just allowed the paint do it's thing.

Lavender fields of Provence

I think I'm finally back on track. This month I'll be focusing on doing landscape watercolors from some of my favorite places. What I would like to accomplish this is month with my paintings, is to be able to filter out a lot of the information that I see on my photos. Less is better.

This painting was done on 8.5" x 11" Lama Li watercolor paper. I used Daniel Smith watercolors.

Twisted for Illustration Friday

Something that you make your body do when you attempt to use a hula-hoop.

Re-take of Oliver

After yesterdays feeling of self doubt, I decided that I had to re-visit Oliver's portrait again. This time I attacked the drawing very carefully. Sketching on tracing paper, working out all the bugs before I transferred the drawing to mi-tientes drawing paper. I did a color swatch of Oliver's fur, which helped me rendered this drawing. I am now pleased with the way he turned out.

Lesson learned...there are no short cuts!

I seem to be all over...

I seem to be all over the place. I can't seem to decide if I want to work in watercolors, colored pencils,or work on my Chinese brush technique. I guess I'm having at the moment self doubt about my ability to create. I keep on asking myself, why do I create? Is it a need or a desire? Do I paint or draw because I have too? I think so. Even when I'm not drawing or painting, I'm thinking about art. What will be my next piece? What do I want to learn from the process? What direction do I want to take? And a hundred more questions fill my mind. Originally when I first started to learn how to paint in watercolors...I wanted to paint a realistic portrait of my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel...Bella. That was the beginning. Since then I've painted several portraits of my dogs. Some are good, some are OK. I'm really trying to draw free hand without the help of a grid. The colored pencil drawing of "Oliver" the Dachshund is a drawing I did freehand yesterday. I'm not happy with the way the drawing came out. Something seems to be missing. I wanted a likeness and I wanted his proportions to be right. Then I had problems trying to achieve the correct coloring of Oliver. It's when I get frustrated with the outcome, I become unsure of my ability. So after looking at Oliver for a while I decided to put him aside and work on something else.







I thought I'd try my hand at rendering a glass piece done in colored pencil. This drawing went a little better and I'll probably sketch it again and try painting it in watercolor.

Magnolia on Faber-Castell wc paper

I looked through all my photo's and found a photo reference of a magnolia. I attempted to render similar to the demo in Leisure Painter. I used Faber-Castell wc paper and Daniel Smith Watercolors. After using the Lama Li wc paper, I think I'm spoiled for life. The Faber-Castell just doesn't have the tooth like the Lama Li.

Magnolia...Sunlight on White Lama Li WC paper

I decided to try a watercolor demo from my recent copy of Leisure Painter...Sunlight on White by Annelise Pio. I used different colours than suggested and added a little bit more detail. Overall I'm please with the way this small watercolor came out. I used Lama Li watercolor paper, Daniel Smith watercolors, and did the line drawing using a HB pencil. Now to go through my photo's to find a magnolia to paint incorporating suggestions from the article in Leisure Painter.

I really like the watercolor paper, but don't like the graininess that I get when I scan the painting. I'll have to keep on tweaking my scanning process to get better results.

Lama Li watercolor paper

On Friday I got to meet Brenda of http://www.amberridgedesert.blogspot.com/

turns out that she only 6 miles from me. So we had an art date. We went out to lunch in Lancaster and then went to a local art association to see the new watercolor paintings. Afterwards we came back to my house for some show-in-tell. It is just so neat to be able to meet another artist that lives so close and that I can get together and paint and go on outings with.

Brenda had mentioned Lama Li watercolor paper and brought over her journal so I could see some of her paintings and feel the paper. I couldn't get over how nice the paper felt and was lucky enough to get a few pieces to try...Thank you Brenda! So yesterday morning I drew this Dalia lily and was amazed at how wonderful the paper took to the watercolor paint. I'm definitely sold on this paper and now am waiting for my order from Dick Blick. The only problem I can see with this paper is that you can't really scrub because the paper not only lifts the paint but the paper too. So I found just getting a clean brush with water,dabbing the area I want to lift the paint, and then using a paper towel to blot out the paint and that seems to work just fine.

Chinese Brush painting class with Nan Rae

Yesterday I took a Chinese Brush painting class with Nan Rae in Burbank, California. I had recently purchased her book "The Ch'i of the Brush" when I was at the Art Institute in Chicago two weeks ago. WWW.nanrae.com
After attempting my hand at this, I decided I needed to go for a lesson and it so happens she had a class yesterday. Well the lessons were fabulous. Nan is a wonderful and patient teacher and in the 4 hour class I learned a lot. Also bought a lot of supplies...better Chinese brushes, and paper. The bunnies and the cat is what I did in class.

Now that I have the right brushes it will be practice,practice for me. It's so relaxing.

Chinese brush painting

I've finally recovered from my trip back east. My niece's wedding was a pleasant surprise. She looked beautiful and the groom, my first time meeting him, was rather nice. I can't remember a wedding that I've been too that I've had so much fun and enjoyed. Best part my time in Ohio was short and sweet. On Sunday I flew to Chicago to visit my girlfriend. The weather was a bit cooler than I expected and it rained. We spent the time doing some fun things. I participated in some dance classes...salsa and west coast swing is harder than it looks. I didn't realize I had two left feet. The Art Institute was amazing. Saw some interesting Picasso's and lots of oil paintings. I really was surprised at the extensive book selections in the Art Institutes's gift store. I bought a book on Chinese brush painting and it turns out that the author lives near Glendale and offers classes. So for the past few days I've been trying my hand at Chinese brush. I bought a couple of Chinese brushes and really don't like how they handle. You either have to work with a really dry brush or rice paper. I ended up using a regular watercolor brush to do this Peony using the techniques in the book I bought. I probably will sign up for one class to see if this is something I might like to get into.

And course shopping was great. Now that I have no more distractions I plan to get back into my art.

Will life ever settle down????

Ever since March my life has been on a very fast pace. I can't seem to find enough time in the day to do what I want. This past weekend I went home to the SF bay area to see my older sister graduate from Chabot College which is a two year junior college. My sister is 56 so this was a major accomplishment for her. She'll be starting Mills College in August working towards her 4 year degree. I'm very proud of her and glad that she wants to continue her education. She also got a partial scholarship for the next 3 years at Mills.



This coming weekend I'm off again...this time to Ohio and Chicago. My niece is getting married on Saturday, so were flying in for the event. I'll only be in Ohio two days and then I'm off to Chicago to visit my friend Rosemary. Chicago should be fun because I'll get to go shopping, go to the Art Institute, take a salsa dance lesson, and do lots of catching up with my friend Rosemary. On a sad note, her beloved Sassy (a boxer) passed away on Thursday. Sassy was 14 or 15 years old. Rosemary had adopted Sassy from Boxer Rebound and lived a wonderful life with Rosemary. So the weekend will be bittersweet.

I'm hoping to start some larger watercolor paintings this week and hopefully get back to drawing each day.

Four Parrots

This is not quite how wanted this painting turn out,but it's OK. I did this as a free hand sketch. I'll have to re-visit parrots again.

Watercolor 9.5" x 11.5"

Daniel Smith Watercolors

Ibis

I'm experimenting with wet-on-wet and trying to be more looser with my watercolors. Faber-castell watercolor block 9.5" x 12". Daniel Smith watercolors.

Amaryllis in watercolor

Watercolor has always been my first love in art. I didn't realize how much I missed painting and it seems to be so much easier after such a long break.

9" x 12" Faber Castell cold press watercolor paper; Daniel Smith watercolors.

I'm back!!!

I'm back...After almost 2 months of non-stop packing,moving,unpacking, I finally have gotten to a place that I can create again. I wanted to do something that expresses the joy I feel...Spring time, flowers, and yes lots of sun.

It's been so crazy and so much has happened in such a short time. My house is slowly coming together as I continue to unpack. I've had time to explore the area and even have done day trips to Valencia, Canoga Park, and Glendale. I've already have met some nice people and even found a harp teacher just 2 minutes away from my house in Lancaster. The weather has been great...after two years in grey weather, the dry desert and warm sun is just what the doctor ordered.

So for the month of May, or I should say what is left of it, I will try to do one watercolor a day. My tulips were done on Faber-castell cold press watercolor paper, using Daniel Smith watercolors on a 9" x 12" watercolor block.

I finally got my studio set-up

It's been a crazy two months,with packing,driving down to Southern California,and finally unpacking. Each time I thought I was done, I'd discover more boxes. Today I finally got my studio set-up. I've missed not being able to create,but I've also have been so tired from all the work that this move has required. I'm hoping to start working on a new project by Monday. I figure that will give me a few more days to figure out what direction I want to work. So hopefully in a few days I'll have some new work to show.

Never a dull moment

I think I'm finally in the final stretch. The movers come on Saturday to pack my house and then I'm heading to California!!!! It's been a rather crazy month and I still can't believe that I bought a brand new house and it closed in less than 10 days...that's a record for even me. My husband is already in the house just waiting for me and the dogs. I'm hoping by mid-April to have my studio set-up and get back into the swing of doing art.

The one good thing is my sister and her husband will be driving down with me so they can help unpack once the movers deliver my stuff.

So here's to a new adventure...

Life continues update

It's been a rather crazy three weeks,but I finally got everything done. Tomorrow my house gets listed and the for sale sign goes up;my taxes are done;I've finished all my packing; and last week I bought a brand new house and we're hoping to close by the end of March which is in a few days. So tomorrow I can finally rest and get back to creating art, which I've missed doing.

My "Just Crazy About Dogs" girls know something is going on and have really stayed glued to me, following me all through the house...poor babies.

I think in my next life I could come back as a professional mover---secrets of getting packing done in record time. I've noticed with each move I tend to get rid of more stuff...not hanging on to stuff, which in itself is rather freeing. I guess I'm making room for the new stuff!

So the journey continues!!!!

Life changes....

Last week I was trying to finish up my portraits, when out of the blue my husband was offered a 3 year consulting position in Southern California. So in a matter of two days my life has become rather hectic. My art is on hold as I'm getting my house ready to put on the market, which means de-cluttering, packing my treasures, flying to California to find a house, do my taxes, and do more packing. My target date to list my house is April 1st. At the moment I feel rather overwhelmed with all the stuff I have to do to list my house. Between my walk-in closet and my art room, I have a lot of clothes and art supplies to pack. I'm trying to pack my art books and material according to subjects...watercolor, drawing,rubber stamps, and whatever other categories I might find. I'm so tired, but everything has to get done.

March...

I'm trying to play catch up on my last few drawings of portraits for February. In the meantime, here our some pictures of my house from yesterdays snow shower. It only has snowed 4 times since I've moved to Washington State 2 years ago.

Twins

There is something about babies...twins.

Little girl portrait

I've been so caught up in carving rubber stamps that I've fallen behind in my portrait sketches. Five more to go and I'm done for February. Each portrait has presented different areas that I need to focus on. Sometimes it's the nose, or mouth, and in this case it's the eyes. I'm hoping to get to the point that I can actually sketch portraits from life.

Ups and downs of printmaking

For the past two days I've been working on this rubber stamp of my sister's dog Marcus who I had done a watercolor several years ago. I really need to find a book on printmaking because it seems to be hit or miss with each inking. This image was sketched with a sharpie pen on a 4" x 6" block. I initially had just carved the details of Marcus and a lot of the stamp was still filled in. I think I got carried away with trying to get his features to standout; I probably carved too much of the block and had to make some correction with his nose and I'm not to happy with his eyes. As for inking...I was laying the stamp on the paper and found that I wasn't picking up enough ink and had missed spots. So I would ink the stamp and place the paper on top of the stamp and then use a brayer to roll over the image. By having the paper over the stamp I got a better inking onto the paper. I probably will do another stamp of Marcus now that I know what I'm trying to accomplish. After getting frustrated with the inking processes, I broke down and ordered a Speedball hand press today, that way I should have no problem with the ink being uniform over the paper.

relief printmaking

I think I've found my new money pit...hand carved stamps from my art work. Today I went to Daniel Smith Art Store in Seattle...never surprised when I come out of the store spending $100 or more on art supplies. I bought a Speedball 4-inch block printing baren, a # 3 and #4 gouge blades, three tubes of water-soluble ink, a linoleum working plate, Paragona glass palette, and several different sizes of Safety-kut printmaking blocks. I went looking for a instruction book on printmaking, but wasn't thrilled with the small selection. I think I can get more information off the internet or reading blogs about print making then in the books I looked at today.

So with my new stuff, I re-worked my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel head of Bella; carved a new stamp of a French bull dog from one of my drawings from the summer, and carved a leaf. I really like carving out these stamps...it's rather relaxing and just can't stop thinking about the endless stamps I can make. I still want to buy a Speedball hand press that would allow me to print out images that are 6" x 8",but that's something I'm going to have to get by mail from Dick Blick.

I really appreciated the sales person in Daniel Smith Art Store who let me try out the product I was interested in, before spending the money to discover the product wasn't what I wanted. They had a sample linoleum,brown linoleum, and safety-kut printing blocks. The lineleum blocks were too hard and I knew that I would have to apply to much pressure to carve out my design, so the Safety Kut printing block which is easy to cut and soft.

I figure I'll teach myself as much as possible and hope to find a workshop on print making in the near future, but until then, I'll carve away...

4 more faces

I found 4 more faces I wanted to try my hand at from the wetcanvas reference library. I think sketching while listening to TV will be my new nightly thing. I'm amazed at how quickly I can focus on the faces.

Three more faces

I thought I'd take a break this weekend, so now I have to play catch up. I'm finding some faces are easier to sketch and still working out in my mind how to approach those difficult poses. Anyway, I'm really enjoying doing these portraits.

My dog's head Rubber stamp

The other day I bought a little Speedball rubber stamp kit to carve my own rubber stamp with a drawing of mine. I couldn't get over how easy it was to do this. Basically I did a little sketch right on the paper then I just carved the outline of my drawing onto a Staedtler artist carving block.

Lady in a scarf

This is a photo I got from wet canvas reference library.

George Clooney

What can I say, I'm a sucker for good looking men and he's good looking.

Little Girl with a hat

Yesterday I got some good advice on rendering portraits. Turning the reference upside down will allow your eyes to see rather see what they think their seeing. So I gave it a whirl and I'm surprised how much that little tip helped.

Happy Valentines Day

My little girls surprised me with their Valentine Day picture...These are the famous "Just Crazy About Dogs" girls.

Oh...how do I look...

This little person has that look that say's...what do you think???

Photo reference from wetcanvas reference library.

faces of children

I found two more photo references from wetcanvas reference library of a little girl and a little boy. I choose both because of the hair. Each sketch is getting easier to do and with each sketch I feel I'm getting closer to a likeness of the photo reference.

A baby

I found this photo reference at wetcanvas in their reference library. I thought he was so cute, I had to sketch him.