Roses are just blooming in abundance

 

Everyday when I go out to my back yard, I am amazed at the number of roses that have opened up. 

 

Hydrangeas in a vase

 

For the last couple of months I've been working towards just using my watercolor brush to draw and paint, instead of sketching first with a pencil and then applying paint.  I am enjoying this process of painting because it requires me to paint spontaneously, just as I paint in Chinese Brush.  It's taken me years to get to this point of being OK in not putting every detail in my paintings. I also realized that I needed the foundation of first  painting every detail to bring me to this point where I am today ... creating an impression of what I see.

 

 

 

A View from the lake

 

It's been the longest 24 hours in my life.  Waiting for my phone and internet to be restored.  I had an appointment for tomorrow morning, but luckily Verizon was in the area fixing other neighbors phone lines.  I guess I wasn't the only one that yesterdays windy weather affected.

 

This is a view I saw while sailing on the lake at Lake Tahoe.

 

 

 

 

Song bird

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to post tonight.  We've been having some rather windy weather that it knocked down power lines making it impossible to  use my phone or access the Internet.

 

Thank goodness for cell phones.  

This song bird was painted on toned  paper using Schmincke gouache.

Shi Tzu in the basket

 

Shi Tzu puppies always look so sweet and innocent.  Somebody should mention that to mine.  Maddie is cute as button; playful and smart.  Painted on toned paper, using Schmincke gouache.

 

 

 

Recently I was going through all my photos that I took at the San Diego Zoo last year.  These guys were sleeping standing up.  I decided to use Schmincke gouache on toned paper.

 

 

Mendicino coast

 

A day at the beach in Mendocino, California.

 

 

 

I've been thinking a lot about Lake Tahoe and Yosemite.  Something about all of those lushes trees and meadows of flowers.  Where I live in the high desert, it is often rather brown, with Joshua Trees in abundance.  When I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, it wasn't uncommon during Memorial Day weekend to drive to either Lake Tahoe or Yosemite.  I miss those trips, but I don't miss the hoards of travelers.  I'm just happy to paint those memories.

 

 

Grove of trees in the High Sierra

This is one of the many views that I see when I drive through the High Sierra on the way to  Lake Tahoe, California.

 

 

 

 

Blue trees

 

There something about simplistic painting.  Just a hint of detail, with pure color.

 

 

 

 

bird on the branch

I really am enjoying playing with photo shop on my watercolors.  Up until a couple months ago, I really had a hard time understanding how layers worked.  Then one day everything seemed to click!

 

 

 

 

Stargazer

I was pleasantly surprised this morning to see my stargazer had bloomed.   I forgot that we had planted it last year.  Nice surprise!!

 

 

Koala bear...

 

I never know what I will paint each day.  Sometimes I have something in mind, or I go through past vacation photos and  find something to paint.  That's what happened with this guy.

 

 

Working with gouache

 

Today I worked on a lot of contour drawings.  This drawing was done on toned paper using Schmincke gouache.

 

 

 

IF -- Liquid

 

 

Orange Kitty

 

Working on a birthday invitation for a friends little girl.  She has a big Orange cat.

 

 

Flowers from the yard

Just one of the many borders of flowers in my back yard.

 

 

Flowers of the Day

 

 

A sampling of flowers from my garden.

 

 

 

What's on the menu today...he asks???

 

I just love his face.  6 x 8; Daniel Smith Watercolors.

 

 

Squirrels...

Near my house is a back road that I sometimes travel to go home.  When I use that road I always seem to see this bushy squirrel running across the road.  I'm not sure if it's the same squirrel or some other guy.  I like to think it's the same squirrel, but I have a feeling it isn't.

 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day!  Since I have no human children of my own, my dogs make up for that void.  I woke up this morning to bunch of roses and a Mother's day collage from them.

 

 

 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Using Schmincke gouache to capture one of my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from my past.

 

 

 

 

Baby ducks...

Across from the place I was having lunch today was a mama and her babies. 

  Too cute to pass up sketching and painting.

 

 

 

Tulips line drawing

I did this drawing yesterday while I was on the phone with iyogi. After several hours on the phone, they said my issue was resolved.  I thought, OK, now I can post my drawing.  While when I went to open Adobe Photo shop, it wouldn't open.  I was so tired with my computer, I just called it day.  So this morning I called Iyogi and they finally got my Adobe Photo shop to work.  Sometimes I really hate my computer. grrrrr

 

 

 

 

Did you ever have....

One of those days that nothing goes right.  While that has been my day.  I just spent the last 4 hours with iyogi getting my spy ware uploaded.  Just when I thought everything was working, my Photoshop  doesn't open, so that means more time with iyogi tomorrow.  So no painting today...but I do have one.

Hoping for a better tomorrow.

Flemish Giant Rabbits

 

Up until a few hours ago, I've never have heard of a Flemish Giant Rabbit or rabbits that could weigh anywhere from 22lbs to 50lbs.  After looking at quite a few today, I had to paint one.  6 x 8; Daniel Smith Watercolors and also used Daniel Smith luminescent watercolor--Interference Blue. 

 

 

 

 To learn more:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_Giant

 

 

Giraffes...what are they thinking???

 

They seem so deep in thought.  I wonder what they are thinking about???? 

 

 

Fashion Illustration

 

When I was a little girl, I had wanted to grow up to be a Fashion Illustrator and Designer.  I would design clothes for my dolls and Barbie.  I wasn't lucky enough to have parents that natured that dream.  They wanted me to study something practical.  So my dreams to be an artist were put on hold.

 

Recently, while blog surfing I came across an online class titled "Illustrating your favorite runway looks" taught by Katie Rodgers.  The class has 4 lessons.  For $20, I thought I'd give it a whirl.   So this morning I watched all 4 videos and sat down and sketched and painted this evening gown.  I used watercolors and finished off with glitter.   It was easier than I thought and plan to do more.

 

 

Anemone from the garden

The last couple of days it's been rather windy here in the high desert.  This morning I got up to survey my garden to make sure nothing was damaged from the heavy wind of last night.   Surprisingly my Anemone's were still intact.  I took a few cuttings to bring inside to enjoy and paint.

 

 

 

Chickens....

I always thought it might be cool to have chickens, but that's as far as that thought goes.  I'm a city girl; unfortunately I live in a gated community and I don't think the homeowners association would take to kindly to me having chickens.  So for now I just paint them.  6" x 8", Daniel Smith watercolors, and Schmincke gouache.

 

 

 

 

IF -- Tribute

Nothing like a good old Ford.

 

 

 

Roses from my garden

 

I just love going out to my garden each morning and cutting roses to bring into my house so I can enjoy their lovely fragrance.  On this painting I started out with a piece of 6 x 8 orange toned paper.  I used my paint brush to draw each bud with gouache, waiting for each layer to dry so I could go back in a add more detail.

 

Peaceful Ocean

I miss living by the ocean.  So whenever I get the chance to go to Santa Barbara, I go.  6" x 8", Daniel Smith watercolors.