Gourds and Pumpkins

Gourds and Pumpkins
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x5
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Another day spent basking in the glory of the harvest!  I just love painting the rich colors of fall - and there is so much variety in the squash and gourds!  I have followed the same techniques as in the Harvest Basket, as I painted through the steps of these two at the same time.  When working on watercolor batiks, I almost always work on two, three or four at a time.  The main reason is that I like to start and finish with no down time.  In watercolor, I have to wait for the paint to dry between layers, so I simply move to the next painting instead of wasting my time just waiting.  I feel like I am unlocking the secrets of the masa paper with each painting I finish - the smallest little changes in method yield different results.  Experimenting really helps keep all things fresh - no chance if slipping into hum-drum when mixing it up daily!  Painting number 690 in as many days.

Dance of the Pumpkins

Dance of the Pumpkins
Watercolor batik on rice paper, 8x5
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We have a 2 - 4 inch snow predicted tomorrow!  The first one of the season - and it should be in the 50's this time of year!  When the cold air moves in, I want to get to the warm studio to paint.  It will take me just a bit to acclimate to the new cold and take my gear outside again.  I am just not a cold weather girl - I'll take the 100 degree heat any day over the freezing cold!  It has taken me all day to get to the easel.  Feeling the need for a little whimsey, this painting is loosely painted from a street scene still life in Fairfield, Illinois.  Painting number 685 in 685 days, and I hope I will be able to paint all day tomorrow while it snows!

Harvest Basket

Harvest Basket
Watercolor batik on masa, 5x8
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Thinking of Thanksgiving today, and painting the fruits of harvest.  I handled this painting just a little bit different than I have the others.  After sketching in india ink, painting all bounty and basket with watercolor, I went back in for a second layer of color.  This additional step really adds to the depth. Waxing those areas to resist the next layer of paint, I then watercolored the background and foreground - dropping in paint to spread and mingle in the very wet layer.  Since I am painting on masa paper, I lay a sheet of wax paper under my painting.  The wet paint seeps through the masa, and is absorbed again by the masa as it dries.  Next, I wax the remaining unwaxed parts, let dry, then wad up "carefully" into a ball.  The house is a little warmer today, so I should have popped it into the freezer first.  The wax cracked pretty well, just not as well as yesterday.  I then floated that violet raw umber - Daniel Smith's - into the creases.  Allowing to dry slightly, I then ironed it off between layers of newspaper.  Wanting a little more definition in those creases, I dry brushed on some additional paint only to the tops of those creases, with the side of my brush.  I like the result!  Every painting is another lesson learned - and this one is the 683rd painting in a row :)

Autumn's Bounty

Autumn Bounty
Watercolor batik on rice paper, 8x5
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This has been a day where I just couldn't seem to focus.  My second day home from Ohio had me catching up on chores, and all those other loose ends I needed to work on.  I started painting countless times, only to get up and take care of something else.  Finally, I am finished with this watercolor batik of a still life on the main street in Fairfield.  There were several wonderful displays outside of the shops - and this is only one of three that I intend to paint! I am finding a preference for the super thin rice paper.  I have just two pieces left, and then a whole roll of masa - and I think I'll have to go get some more of the thin paper!  It is harder to paint on, but there is something about that translucency that I really love!  The masa is thicker, still a rice paper, but it paints more like a watercolor paper.  So, if you love controlling your paint - masa is probably the right choice for you.  If part of you likes throwing caution to the wind - then the super thin rice paper may be the perfect fit!  This painting makes the 680 in as many days - wow - I am nearing 700 paintings :)

Autumn in Elmore

Autumn in Elmore
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x5
Elmore, Ohio - purchase here

Okay, now this is exciting!!  I have included my first car in a street scene (that I can remember)!  I know, it sounds silly, but painting cars is scary in a landscape!  I always shy away from them, and now I am making a concentrated effort to paint them in.  It is one of those areas I want to work on.  I first sketched this one out on the masa with india ink.  It is important to paint on the rough side of masa, not the slick side.  The slick side is just too resistant to the paint.  It will work, but with more effort.  This scene is at the top of Rice Street, right by the old bank, turning left at the light.  It is fun to be painting this place which has been my parent's home these last 26 years.  Painting number 679 in as many days :)

Looking Down Rice Street

Looking Down Rice Street
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x5
Elmore, Ohio - purchase here

I am working on street scenes again today in Elmore, Ohio.  This charming town of 1200 people is little changed in the last 100 years.  Filled with many historic homes, including the antebellum home of my parents, it is full of nostalgia.  Rice Street is the main street in town, and this view leads us right into downtown Elmore.  I am painting this using the batik method, although I am starting to long for a more traditional approach.  I did bring some regular watercolor paper - in the 140 lb variety, as I had no real intention of using it while I'm here.  Not my favorite weight, but maybe it will be okay.  Painting number 676 in as many days :)

Dad's Shed

Dad's Shed
Watercolor batik on rice paper, 8x5
purchase here

The stunning color of the fall foliage hit me as soon as I walked out the back door at my parent's house.  Early morning light illuminated the trees splendidly!  How I wished I could set up and paint on the spot, being hospital bound, this was not the time.  I sketched this while my mother slept and my dad "rested" in a rather uncomfortable chair.  Laying in the first layers of color discreetly (from the vinyl couch in the room) - I took this back home to wax and paint again.  What a therapeutic way to spend the long hours waiting by mom's bed.  Painting number 675 in as many days.

Autumn Barns

Autumn Barns
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x5
Elmore, Ohio - purchase here

This farm is heading north out of Elmore, Ohio on highway 51.  We pass this farm every time we go to any of the hospitals.  In the past three years, I have driven by here many times when dad was hospitalized, and now, with my mom.  This farm is ever changing - with the light changes of each day to the various seasons.  My first time to paint it, I am capturing this landscape in it's autumn glory.  Once again using the watercolor batik method, I have first painted the scene in watercolor on masa paper.  Brushing hot wax over the finished painting, I then crumple the painting up in a tight ball - no kidding!  Flattening it out, I then float the brown/plum color into all creases and cracks and allow it to dry.  I then iron it between brown paper (or in this case, old newspapers) until no more wax bleeds into the paper.  What remains is this landscape painting with an antiqued appearance.  This landscape is painting number 674 in 674 days :)

Autumn on the River Road

Autumn in the River Road
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x5
Elmore, Ohio - purchase here

As I walked out to get the mail at my parent's house, this beautiful scene lay before me.  Slipping the mail into the car and grabbing my phone, I stepped back into the street to get the photo for reference.  The golds were stunning in the backdrop of greens.  I have been wanting to work on street scenes - so this is my chance!  I am going to sketch and paint these every day while I am in Ohio - where I can get many different paintings from my parent's lawn!  I have sketched this one in india ink, painted in watercolor on masa, & brushed hot wax over the surface.  Crumbling up, this surface was more resistant to the wax coming off.  I don't know why, perhaps the wax was thinner than on my previous paintings.  As a result, the batik effect is lighter here.  The actual painting of the scene was fun!  I think I am going to like painting the street scenes!  Painting number 672 in 672 days :)

Portage River in Fall

Portage River in Fall
Watercolor batik on masa paper, 8x5
purchase here

The Portage River runs past my parent's house in Elmore, Ohio, and is a constant source of inspiration when I visit.  This morning, while the grass was still very wet with dew, I walked down the hill and to the water's edge just to get this vantage!  So worth it!  So many of the trees are showing off their yellow foliage - the reflections are stunning!  I first sketched this out with my Pitt india ink pen in sepia, and next filled in with watercolor.  Using the hot wax for some movement in the water, I have left this one rather loose and liquid.  I think I will try to paint several of the river while I'm here!  Painting number 670 in 670 days.

Golden Glow

Golden Glow
Watercolor, ink, hot wax on masa, 8x5
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I am in Ohio for my mom's knee replacement surgery.  As we drove to the hospital this morning, the early morning light was bathing the autumn landscape in gold!  Taking a few reference photos, I then sketched a few paintings out on rice paper while my mom rested between therapy sessions.  This painting is from their side yard - with the sun lighting the golden leaves and grass alike!  Later, while she and my dad were napping, I painted them with the small watercolor palette that I take with me when plein air painting.  I forgot my water container and used one of the pill cups for my water!  I was able to paint the first two layers on, and wax, paint, iron, and paint again when I got back to their house.  This was a good use of time - because I HAD to watch the World Series game with my hometown boys playing (the Royals!!) - and this kept my hands busy!  This is painting number 669 in as many days - and boy do I hope we win!!

Batik Autumn

Batik Autumn
Watercolor, ink, hot wax on masa, 8x5
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Trying to capture the autumn landscape with watercolor - which is new for me.  I have only been using the medium for three months now, and rarely in a landscape - I normally go to my oils.  After loosely sketching with my india ink pen, I fill in the local color with paints, then brush hot wax onto this.  For this one, I floated ink over the cooled and cracked wax instead of watercolor - and the ink spreads in a different way.  More blotchy, more unpredictable.  Not sure how I feel about this......I'll need to try a few more before I decide.  Painting number 665 in as many days.

Autumn in Batik

Autumn in Batik
Watercolor, ink, wax on masa rice paper, 8x5
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The leaves are really showing there color north of the river!  Another full day of painting in Parkville - and three more paintings finished.  I have just arrived home - and am too tired to worry about getting photos of my work without natural light.  So, I will have to get all six done in the morning be fore I head back out to paint.  On this painting, I am experimenting with the batik method on the landscape. This was a quick study, and the masa is more resistant to the watercolor applied after the wax than the thin rice paper.  I like the effect, but I will need to do a few of these to get comfortable with them.  This is painting number 656 in 656 days.

Teapot and Cups Batik

Teapot and Cups Batik
Watercolor, ink, hot wax on masa, 8x5
purchase here

I was asked to bring in some artwork for the walls of my favorite tea and herb shop today.  So, I set up a couple of teacups and my "Cinderella" teapot for an impromptu still life in the afternoon light.  The Royals game started at 3:07, so I watched my hometown team clinch the series with the Orioles while I painted!  We are World Series bound - and this painting will soon be headed to Life Thyme Botanicals.  This painting makes 654 in as many days and I'll be painting all day tomorrow in historic Parkville :)

Sunny Day Pumpkins

Sunny Day Pumpkins
Watercolor batik on masa paper, 8x5
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Wow - this masa paper is thick!  Well, compared to the rice papers I have been using, that is.  I have so carefully wadded up the other paintings before flattening for the cracking of the wax, but not so on this one!  I had to work it down into a ball, and do it again before enough cracks appeared to float the paint in to!  And, just look at the larger scale of those creases - all due to a thicker piece of rice paper. I think it will be easier to paint on, once I get a few more under my belt.  I have grown so used to the tissue paper thin varieties, that I hardly know what to do with a paper that holds it's shape!  I'm going to have so much fun with this paper!  Painting number 650 in as many days :)