Value Study

Value Study

Watermedia

This is a demo that I gave at my art club.  The emphasis was on values.  Mainly mid values and small lights and darks.  The original painting was lighter in value than this is.   I'm glad to be back, since autumn chores took up so much time.   Like other artists, I am going through a dry period.   So, motivation is sparse.  I am starting to get excited again since I treated myself to a load of new colors.   Just playing around with color mixes  starts to get artistic juices flowing again.  Onward!

Sumacs By The Road

Sumacs By The Road

I love the hot colors that these trees become in the autumn.  They are delicate and act as an umbrella, casting delicate shadows.

Begun

Begun

Watercolor

New beginnings begun.  Onward.   I used gesso'd w.c. Paper.  It gave it a nice texture.

People's Choice Award

People's Choice Award

Oil,  30"x30"

A welcome surprise!   Two awards at one show,  I was overwhelmed!
I painted this using a palette knife.   I just love oils for this technique.  Like frosting a cake!

Shell Study

Shell Study

Watercolor

I'm fascinated with the colors and shapes.  I've used both gesso'd and plain paper.  I love exploring all the subtleties of color in the shadows and shells.

A Winner!

A Winner!

Watercolor

The painting took first prize at Michigan,'s Thumb Area Artists Exhibition.  I was obviously happy about it.  Paintbrush mileage is paying off.

Pen. & Zoe.

Pen. & Zoe.

Acrylic,  24"x24"

Photographed at the place of its birth.  My wonderful companions.  An exploration of color and gesture.

The Great Storm

The Great Storm

Acrylic. 24"x48"

Painted for Port Huron Museum's(in  Michigan) forthcoming exhibit on the great storm of 1913 .

Kathy's Cat

Kathy's Cat

Acrylic.  12"x12"

I loved the luscious colors of her coat. The smoky grays were a challenge. I've improved the color and refined the colors.

Hyde Road

Hyde Road

Acrylic ,  30"x30"

This was accepted into the TAAE exhibit in Michigan.   Some of my local area scenery.

Workshop paintings

 Cat Study

Acrylic

The last assignment of Kimberly Kelly Santini's color workshop in Traverse City, Michigan This past weekend.  We got to put into practice all of the lessons that we struggled with and I think they really worked.

Value study

Acrylic

A difficult one for me, as most of the values were to be 50% to white.  Several light sources made for an interesting background.  The paintbrush had a good workout!

Abstract

Abstract

Acrylic

I layered a lot of colors and used opaque veiling.  There are a lot of metallic glazes that a photo can't pick up.

Red

Red

Watercolor

This was a workshop exercise at Mark Mehaffey's workshop, this last week.  It was a riveting experience.  The work is on Yupo paper.   Because of its non absorbency, color effects and techniques are amazing.  One could spend a lifetime exploring the possibilities.

Languishing Lily

Languishing Lily

Watercolor

This was about all I could draw in this heat.  The flower looks a lot less wilted than I was.

Opossum Jaw

Opossum Jaw

Watercolor

Love those bones.  The shapes and colors of the bone were inspirational.  There is staggering beauty in everything under the sun.

Milo

Milo

Watercolor

A posthumous portrait of a dear friends' companion.  This was painted on a new kind of paper called "TerraSkin".   It is suitable for a lot of stuff.  I like the minimal absorbency and color retention.

Butchie

Butchie

Acrylic

A memorial portrait of a beloved companion.  The expression is precious.  A heart matter.

Driveway Study

Driveway Study

Watercolor

Went "up north" on a holiday.  The north wind was blowing off the lake, but a warm haven from the breeze was found by the garage.  The sun felt wonderful while I painted this Plein air study.

Crabapple Branch

Crabapple Branch

Watercolor

A quick contour drawing of a beautiful branch of leafs.  The early summer vitality of the branch inspired me to investigate it in depth.

Looking North

Looking North

Watercolor

A nice west wind ruffled trees and water.  A summers dream.

Sally's Bento

Sally's Bento

Acrylic. 11"x14"

To commemorate a memorable and aesthetic noon day repast.

Becoming

Becoming

Watercolor,  12"x12"

I'm enjoying the gessoed watercolor paper.  The absorbency is limited, color behaves differently,  lifting is fabulous.  I'm exploring the use of white as an additive.  The play of transparent/ opaque color is fascinating.

Guarding The Ways

Guarding The Ways

Watercolor. 12"x12"

Most photos of Indians are stiffly posed and very serious.  A sense of dignity prevails.  This was painted on gessoed paper, which has less absorbency, thus keeping colors more brilliant and providing a different texture.

Plein Aire on the Beach

Plein Aire on the Beach

Acrylic on paper.

I managed to paint three today.  The leaves on the trees haven't  come out yet, so the coloring was very subtle on the twigs and branches.  The water reflected a baby blue sky.

Plein Aire on the Beach

 Plein Aire on the Beach

Acrylic

Sally and I painted on the beach today.  The weather was fabulous.  The scenery gorgeous.  I decided to stop at my under painting because it looked so Turneresque.

Looking

Looking

Watercolor

I left a lot of white paper showing.  The photo doesn't show any white.  Need to perfect my photo editing.  I snuck in some opaque white and like the effect.

Still Life With Hat

Still Life With Hat

Watercolor on gessoed paper

A wonderful set up.  Simple and well thought out.  The colors are complimentary and make for an interesting  color study.

A Winner

A Winner

Acrylic.  30"x30".

The winner of a purchase prize at the Saginaw Township State Of The Arts exhibit in Michigan.  I was surprised and happy to receive it.

The Lookout

The Lookout

Acrylic   11"x11"

I'm playing with exaggeration.  Complimentary colors are played off one another for contrast.

The Elder

The Elder

7"x7". Acrylic

I used only earth colors here.  It seemed appropriate.  I like the subdued atmosphere.

Indian Studies

Indian Studies

Acrylic on paper

I'm beginning a series of work on one of my favorite subjects.  A great way to express a wistful pathos.

Easter Hues

Easter Hues.

Watercolor

I want to paint all the lovely flowers my family gave to me.  The colors brighten my color starved winter eyes.

Joyful Colors

Joyful Colors

Watercolor

A two hour still life set up at the art club.  It is a challenge to paint all the objects into a somewhat finished state with so little time to work in.

An enemy!

An enemy!

Oil,  8"x8"

Purple red and green
Flung against a golden field
The eye is renewed

B'Gonia!

J
B'Gonia!

Oil,  8"x8"

I bought this plant at the grocery store.  The colors stirred my soul.  My foray into pastel colors.  Shades of spring!

Forest Pool

Forest Pool.

Watercolor

A study motivated by potential spring weather.  All ice is gone.  This is based on a photo.  I've tried to simplify forms and detail.

Dog study

Dog study

Watercolor

A dog named Doofus.  This was his signature look.  When he barked, the window shook.  I'm going to paint a posthumous version for one who loved him.

Me n' Di

Me n' Di.

14"x11". Oil.

My sister and I at the cottage.  I don't think we were into fish at that time.  But we looked impressive anyway.

Red Study

Red Study

Watercolor

Thank goodness for reference material.  Out of season flowers are always possible.  I enjoyed exploring the different nuances of red.

Violets

Violets

Oil 6"x8"

A dash of much needed color on my windowsill. The sun is stronger and yellower.  A high key painting is a challenge for me because of my addiction to bright and strong colors.

New Work

New Work

Acrylic.  After a Walter Foster book.

I adapted an acrylic after a watercolor demo.  The brush was a large filbert.  I like the effect.  Again,  spring colors are needed.  White has worn out its welcome.

At TheArtClub

At the art club.

Watercolor.

Went to the art club today after missing three weeks due to being snowed in.  We had some great catch up conversations.  This is Donna who sat across me.  This was a great still life set up so I took advantage of that. The water got progressively dirtier.  I caught it at the right time.

Color Everywhere

Color Everywhere

6"x8".  Oil.

A welcome contrast to the overwhelming white snow outside.   It was comforting to daub that juicy oil paint on the canvas.  It made me hungry for some comfort food.

Spring Wishes

Spring Wishes.

6"x8".  Oil.  

Looking at the white-out snow outside, I decided to add some desperately needed color to my whited-out eyes.  Spring can't come fast enough.

Sasha Baby

Sasha Baby

8"x10".  Oil.

It was fun to capture the puppy look. The expression of mischief.  It was a challenge to paint random splotches.  Much like camouflage.  This is the last of my thirty dog commitment.  I have learned a lot, as can be seen from# 1 to 30 . The series of similar subject matter has pushed ideas of composition, technique and color to a new level for me.  I hope you have enjoyed this journey as much as I have.

Bird Watching

Bird Watching.

8"x6". Oil.

Getting a better view.  Bennie being somewhat short, uses his acrobatic talents to enhance his survey of birds at the feeder.  It was a challenge to paint this small with a #5 brush, but i think it went well.

Young Oscar

Young Oscar.

8"x8". Oil.

Thought I'd try an oil a la P.K.R. After watching one of her videos.

What???

What???  

14"x11".    Acrylic.

Just threw this in to see if anyone was paying attention.

Bennie again

Bennie again.

8"x10". Watercolor.

That look!