Window Santa at Crown Center

I LOVE spending time shopping AND painting at Crown Center during the holidays!  The window scene at Occasions is a little slice of Christmas heaven - so, of course, I HAD to paint it!  With ink I sketched the scene, and then took my watercolors to it.  As I worked, the lovely voices of a children's choir wafted up from the main entrance.  Christmas magic is in the air here at Crown Center!  Painting number 4124 in 4124 days. 

Doorway in Batik

Doorway in Batik
watercolor batik on wasabi rice paper, 6x8.5

This crazy textured watercolor paper is an experiment for today's "batik effect".  Brought to me by a friend, I'm not sure of the name of it - but it is full of little strings that wind upon it's surface.  It accepts the paint relatively well, and also accepts the hot wax.  The wadding and cracking phase are a little more difficult, as the paper feels more like cloth than paper, but it does work.  The second layer of dark paint floats well over the surface, but the "cracks" are not as linear.  I did go in with a TomBow pen for a little definition to certain parts, and the results are pretty cool.   These pens are water-based, and can be manipulated with a wet brush.  One end is a fine point and the other is a brush tip, making them wonderful to use in many different applications.  I use them here by only lightly brushing the surface of the paper with the side of the brush tip, barely skimming on color where needed.  This results in a very natural look, not a sharp, marker "coloring page" look.  It is a great way to get my painting where I want it to be, when the results vary from the desired effect.  In fact, this painting was one of my least favorites, until I started "tweaking" it!  This painting makes 1058 in 1058 days.

Hollyhock Garden

Hollyhock Garden
Pastel over watercolor on paper, 7x10

We had a wonderful workshop today hosted by our Tri-County Art League.  Cathy Kline shared her technique of pastels over watercolor.  I used 140lb cold pressed watercolor block, and first marked out the whites with a white crayon - for sparkle later.  Next, I used the drawing gun as a resist, applying this with a plastic palette knife.  I started with my darks, then worked into the various colors of the garden with my watercolors.  Most of these were painted in transparent colors.  Once dry, I removed the drawing gum and painted the highlights in.  After this was dry, I popped in a little pastel color - dry, right over the top.  It gives a wonderful dimension to the painting, especially because it visually sits on top.  This was so fun playing with my mediums in a different way!  I think I'll be taking these with me out of town - fast, compact, and fun!  I do love to experiment!  Painting number 901 in 901 days :)

at the workshop...

In the Hydrangea Garden

In the Hydrangea Garden
Oil on wood panel, 14x11
Lake Quivira Paint Out
purchase here

This lovely garden scene is near the front door of the Lake Quivira clubhouse.  The day was heating up, and there was only one little patch of shade for me to set up my easel, to capture the composition that I wanted.  These are the first blooming hydrangea that I have seen - so of course, I had to paint them!  Painting number 890 in 890 days :)

Spring Along the Avenue

Spring Along the Avenue
Oil on unstretched canvas, 6x4
4/100, The {100} Artists - auction bid here

My first chance to get to my easel was late today.  Teaching two classes, boxing and shipping out two paintings, and the regular daily housework tied me up all day.  So, the easiest option would have been to choose a really comfortable subject, and let the paint flow naturally.......Nope!  Instead, I went with another painting in The {100} Artists theme, with substrate I am going to make myself like, a size so small as to make any building scene difficult, and of course a subject I want to push myself to excel in!  Crazy!  I rarely take the easy road when I could learn something instead.  Go figure. Painting number 821 in 821 days.

A Chair Among Flowers

A Chair Among Flowers
Watercolor on 100% rag paper, 6x4.5
Purchase Information

I am trying something new today - painting a street scene in watercolor!  And, I am trying a new paper - 100% rag by Whatman.  Well, let me just say that the paper accepted the paint wonderfully, and I loved the texture.  Then, it came time to rub off the Pebeo, and yikes - the paper absorbed the pale blue shade of the resist!  So, where I wanted white paper showing, I now had pale blue!  Also, the rubber cement remover did not work well, so I used the rubber-like wine cork to pull off this resist - and a little color at the same time!  The cork is a subtle eraser, removing paint without damaging the paper - but I had to go back in and darken areas which had been fine until I removed the Pebeo.  It is pretty unnatural for me to paint a street scene in watercolor!  I have only used oils for this, and the method is SO different!  I think I like the results, and the french flavor of this painting - I'll just have to let it rest and see how I like it tomorrow!  I will not be using this paper for applying resists again - but it may still be a good watercolor paper.  Painting number 600 in 600 days!  Hooray!

Midnight at Mount Pleasant

Midnight at Mount Pleasant Winery
Oil on panel, 9x12
Augusta Plein Air Festival 2014

As Teddy and I were walking out of the "Uncorked 100K" social, we stopped dead in our tracks and said. "Wow - wouldn't that make an amazing nocturne painting?"  From behind us, Kathy Kessler replies, "Do you want me to make that happen?"  Of course we did!  Next thing we know, we are going to retrieve my easel and paints, and to quickly prime our panels.  Back in a flash, and set up quickly, the light was fast fading from the sky.  We had the place to ourselves on this clear, warm night in the 70's, with nothing but the amazing light and view before us.  This is pure painting heaven.  The paint just rolled off the brush and onto the panel with a mind of it's own.  The darker it gets, the less you can read the colors, and the values are key.  I really love painting at night - it is so peaceful and quiet.  All of the busy noises of the day are gone, and night descends like a warm blanket.  A few of us gathered again tonight for a quick night paint in downtown Augusta.  I'll have to post that one another time.  At the rate I've been painting, I am going to be way ahead on my paintings for awhile!  What a way to kick off the plein air season!  This one makes painting number 483 in 483 days.  Oh, life is sweet :)

By the Window - pencil study

By the Window
Red pencil on tinted mi-teintes paper

I almost never use a waxy, colored pencil.  I don't care for the way they resist blending, and I have to use very different techniques with them.  But, I do LOVE the colors at my beck and call!  The vintage mood I can achieve with these waxy sticks is worth the extra trouble.  This drawing is a study for a painting I soon hope to start.  I first went to my tinted charcoals, but there is no venetian red color - not even close.  With the buttery ochre paper, I really wanted to use none other than venetian red.  So, waxy drawing pencil it was!  The tooth of the paper is also quite large, which is not nearly as noticeable when using graphite or charcoal.  Sometimes, I get a feeling of excitement for things yet unseen, while working on a piece.  I have felt that all through the process on this one.  I want to paint it a bit larger, so I will have to wait for a day with a few hours of working time to start.  This is actually my second work of the day.  I did a small oil painting of geraniums and marigolds in the front bed.  Once done, I decided I wasn't happy with it - so I started on this tonight.  Maybe I can fix it up for tomorrow's posting.  With an afternoon party by the pool tomorrow, I will not have much painting time!  This is artwork number 190 in as many days.

The Letter

The Letter
Oil on panel, 9x12

This morning, I couldn't decide whether to paint my daughter, or cupcakes.  I decided on Michaela!  After my fairy tale like landscape of yesterday, I felt like something way more realistic was in order.  The overcast day let in a soft light, shedding a special glow from the windows.  It amazes me how different the light is from day to day on these interiors.  Same house, many of the same windows, and yet each one's lighting is so very different.  I started with a detailed sketch, before laying in the basic color masses.  Starting with her face, hair, near curtain and shadow areas, and then working out from there,  I always want to be sure the main focus is right.  Then. I work out into the surrounding areas.  The diffused lighting had me graying down all colors quite a bit.  This painting makes 72 in 72 days, and I just found out that Leslie Saeta will be hosting another 30 day painting challenge in the future - and that is what started me on this ritual of painting every single day!