Daisies ATC

These daisies are from the bouquet Cooper brought for my daughter on the day he asked her to marry him.  I have captured them in ink and watercolor in memory of the day. I like India ink for the initial sketch, and I'm zooming in on the daisies, omitting the others.  The petals are lighter at their middles and more pink at the edges.  This paper is thinner than normal, as all handmade papers vary in thickness, color and surface, and one never knows what the next paper will be like.  It is just like the box of chocolates!  Painting number 2008 in 2008 days.

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Red Shed Daisies

Red Shed Daisies
Watercolor on paper, 10.5x7

On the first morning of our Door County plein air trip, I woke up early - just after 4:00am.  Excited to be there, I jumped up and got ready before anyone else was up.  There were 8 of us rooming together in a loft sharing one bathroom, so staggering our schedules was essential!  Our place set back in a heavily wooded area with these wonderful wildflowers right off the patio.  I had to capture them.  It was so much more humid here - that I had to wait for the drawing gum to dry, and then I had to wait on the watercolors to dry.  It took me far longer than normal to finish this, due to the weather!  Once finished, I felt like I could relax.  With the first painting of the day under my belt, I would now be relaxed while scouting a new location with the girls.  I guess it was like warming up for the day!  The watercolors allow me to quickly knock out a painting, when I only have a small painting window.  I don't really know why they are so fast for me, perhaps because I have no preconceived notions of how I want my painting to look?  I just let the colors unfold in their own tale of whimsy on the page.  Maybe, I should get a watercolor journal......this painting makes 581 in 581 days.

Lazy Daisies

Lazy Daisies
Watercolor on paper, 7x5

Today, I am exploring an untried watercolor paper - Strathmore rough surface 594-3.  I love the surface!  I wet the paper first, dropping on juicy paint - and allowed them to spread and mingle.    When it came to rubbing off the drawing gum, this paper was harder to get the gum off of.  I had to really apply pressure with my fingers (REALLY missing that rubber cement remover today).  I also tried some new colors - antwerp blue, perm blue, blue violet and perm violet.  The perm blue is that bold blue in the shadows - I like it!  And guess what.....I found another container full of watercolor paints!  I wonder if I will ever get to trying them all out?  I have three different palettes, all loaded with watercolors needed for specific workshops I have attended over the years.  I am trying to use these colors all up, and them I will load with new colors in earnest.  I do hate to waste anything, so I will diligently use up what is squeezed out on the palette.  It is pretty cool to just spray with water and have the paint come back to life.  I can't do that with oils or acrylics!  Painting number 557 in 557 days :)

Daisies and Clover

Daisies and Clover
Watercolor on paper, 7x10.5

The grass is high in the pastures and sprinkled with wildflowers!  It is the perfect time for getting some wonderful wildflower paintings in - before the hay is cut!  For this painting, I applied the drawing gum with a heavier hand - which increased the time it took me to remove it after the background painting.  I am using transparent watercolors, although I have a good selection of both.  Why?  I honestly don't know, except that I like the way the colors work together and next to each other.  With my very small watercolor experience, I am just exploring my way through the methods by trial and error.  This is very unusual for me - because I am one to read all I can about a subject before jumping in!  This was is SO much more exciting!  I am constantly surprised at how the paintings progress!  And the colors I am leaning toward - they are so wacky for me!  Why do I do this?  Again, I don't know, I just feel like it pushing colors next to one another that will vibrate with energy.......even if I don't see it in front of me.  I know, its crazy!  What fun it is to just let my imagination run wild!  This painting makes 534 in 534 days - now, on to more experiments!!!

Wildflower Party

Wildflower Party
Watercolor on paper, 7x10.5

Surprise!  Yes, there is actually a watercolor on my blog today!  I am truly on an artistic adventure today at a watercolor workshop given by Barbara Neth.  I have very little watercolor experience, and the medium is a very daunting one for me.  Jumping in with both feet, I simply love a challenge!  Using Pebeo drawing gum and the plastic chisel end of a brush handle, I "painted" the gum in haphazard lines, squiggles and petal shapes. No sketching, no planning, just application with reckless abandon!  Once this dried - which took a while on such a rainy day, I brushed on color with a round watercolor brush.  Getting the water/paint solution right was a constant experiment, especially since I don't use mediums at all with my oils.  The uncontrollability of the watercolors was exciting and scary at the same time!  I could lay down some paint - but with a mind of it's own, it would start moving!  Once the paper was again dry, it was time to rub off the resist.  I was surprised at how much effort this took!  It went on so fast - I may not have used so much had I known I would have to work to get it off!  When off, I then went into some of those white areas with fresh color, trying to leave some white for the highlights.  Who knows if I am done or not - but I sure do like the luminosity of the watercolors on the page.  SUPER fun to experiment like this!  Painting number 526 in as many days :)

Vintage Daisies

Vintage Daisies
Oil on panel, 6x6
sold - print available here

Dreaming of summer, I am painting the daisies of a season past.  I planted two new varieties of these babies last year, and I am looking forward to their abundant blooms next summer.  I have many flower beds, but decided to give these a place of honor right next to the front porch - so I hope they don't let me down.  If they do, I will be transplanting them in the fall to a lesser location!  I wanted to put a dreamier, vintage spin on the otherwise vibrant color of these daisies.  Things are looking better for my dad, where each day he grows little stronger - strong enough to go out to breakfast yesterday and today.  I never would have thought it possible last Friday.  I am counting my blessings today.  This is painting number 374 in 374 days and Day 9 in the 30 day painting challenge.

Into the Garden

Into the Garden
Oil on panel, 12x16

Today's painting was painted in old town Overland Park at the floral design shop of Craig Sole.  This is part of the Stems plein air event - which runs until June 2.  At every turn at this cottage, there is another painting - and the interior full of fragrant flowers is simply heaven!  I took several photos for reference - for interior paintings on a rainy day.  I worked a little larger today, so the painting took a bit longer to finish.  (And my start was slower - stopping at Homer's for a delightful cup of tea and a cookie!)  I love the layers in this garden landscape - foliage, flowers, iron and structure - and the path to pull the eyes right into the painting.  The shasta daisies are in full bloom, irises abound further in, pink clematis climb the pole, and a beautiful coral hibiscus embellish this garden path.  A feast for the eyes - it has been a joy to paint this lovely landscape on such a beautiful day.  This painting makes 139 in 139 days.