Are you ready for a new decade as well as a new year?

From my watercolor journal/sketchbook

I'm starting out this new year with some big changes. I've switched to a Mac! I was tired of always having to stop what I was doing and re-boot or some foolish time wasting thing. I've only heard great things, from other artists, about a Mac and I am more than ready to make the switch. I've spent the last week moving from my PC to the Mac and now only need to spend some time becoming familiar with how things work.

This is a sketch I did minutes ago in my watercolor sketchbook. I'll journal later, but I wanted to make sure and end this year with a blog post.... so I had to hurry.

Lately I've been reading from some older magazines about artists, past and present, and I'm hoping to share some of what I've been reading with you. Reading about other artists always gets me motivated.... how about you?

I hope you all have had as good a year as I've had.

Here's to 2010, may it be all we wish. Cheers!

Happy New Year !

Reminisce - a sketch from 2008

This is a little sketch I posted last December. His charming manner always brings a smile to my face, dressed prim and proper, yet so soft and adorable.

I've almost completed my list of Christmas chores and have started giving thought to what I may want to accomplish with my art in 2010. Although I usally have goals I hope to accomplish I find if I tell people, I almost always fail. Like, 'the secret's out, no use doing that now' way of thinking. I've had a successful year with my art and because of that I am feeling more confident that some of my goals will be obtainable.
What about you, care to share?

• Are you thinking of some artist goals you'd like to accomplish this next year?
  
• Are you taking stock of all that you did accomplish in 2009?

Merry Christmas

Book of People - Accordian Journal

For our last watercolor class of the 6 weeks, I made each person an accordion sketchbook, approx. size of each page is 5" x 4". We started off with some un-intimidating paper and drew stick figures with our pencil. After a number of these we then progressed to using one color using our watercolor pigment and drawing stick figures. When we felt comfortable we added clothing to our stick figures. Finally, we were confident enough to use our new sketchbooks using photo references I had cut out of from numerous magazines. We proceded to add a fully clothed watercolored figure (with no facial details), one to each page in our new sketchbooks.

I found out later, when I had mentioned that we were going to paint people in class 6, a couple of students thought they might not come to that class. Some others were dreading it. It just didn't sound like fun to them. Before the class was over they all admited that it was one of the best classes.

This was such a fun exercise to do. If you haven't tried people painting yet, give it a try. It grows on you with each figure you paint.

Too many projects to do justice to any of them....

Do you ever find you have started too many projects to do a good job on any of them? Probably not, but, I find I do this often. Such as teaching a watercolor class once a week, (this has been a great adventure for me and one that I will probably offer again in 2010) planning my next blog post (I bet you find this hard to believe since I post so seldom), thinking of what I will paint for our Christmas card this year, attempting to keep the house in some what of order and the other normal things that goes on in our lives. I need to slow down and stay focused so I can finish one project without rushing. The above snow scene has been abandoned because it isn't turning out the way I had hoped. Too rushed. Notice the branches of the largest tree ... reminds me of Alfalfa on The Little Rascals, with his hair parted down the middle, *sigh.

The group of paintings above are an accumulation of whats on my desk that are going in the 'unacceptable' pile. Most are just sketches I use in my thinking process .... but, when I look at all this work I think of all the time I've wasted and yet didn't complete a thing.

On a more uplifting note, the Harstine Island annual Holiday House Bazaar was a huge success and loved by all. Its so nice to be involved in a group effort that just overflows with success as this one does.

Its been a busy and artistic November ...

I have been busy in the studio this month. Really it started in October with the preparations for the Annual Arts and Flowers week-end. They had a nice turn-out and I so enjoyed visiting with new and old friends. I also met some new vendor's I hadn't seen before ... that's always a treat!

For me it was a successful Halloween Saturday and it wasn't spooky at all. I was happy to not only sell a lot of my note cards, but this original as well.

Also .... I have also started teaching a 6 week watercolor class and we have just completed our third week ... and I think, speaking for all involved, they have been successful classes. I've taught one workshop prior to this, but a workshop is different than on going classes and I was a little timid. But, I shouldn't have been. My students are eagar to learn and have made my teaching easy. I had heard that teaching is a great way to learn and I will agree ... not only learn some new things but it has been a wonderful refresher coarse.

I am still working toward the annual Holiday House Bazaar, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, here on Harstine Island. I have some new display panels I'm anxious to use to exhibit my work. I've used a bi fold pegboard to display my work for the last number of years, but, I think these new panels will showcase the richness of my work much better. I will have some new note cards of my bird series and I'm hoping to have a new painting done that I will use for my annual Christmas card on display ... I'm running late on this project!

Busy, busy, busy!

Some preliminary work for a painting...

Here are a couple of preliminary thumbnail drawings I did today.

I love the green upward movement of the trees with the formation of the clouds in the background. I think this would be a fun painting to attempt in a loose style that I'm always wanting to master.

Autumn leaves are all around ...

I'm finding it hard to believe that Autumn is in full swing and that we only have about 9 days left of October. This year seems particularly beautiful with more gold and yellow leaves with some occasional red hues thrown in. We are also enjoying the mild temps we've been having ... this makes walking in amongst the leaves a lot more enjoyable.

During the first week-end of October, Harstine Island has an Apple Squeeze celebrating the season with fresh cider, numerous crafters and a country band. This also marks the last of the Farmers Markets for the year and although I didn't participate in any of the earlier Farmers Markets I did take advantage of this event and set-up my tent this week-end. It was beautiful out and there were a lot of folks enjoying the days events. Along with my note cards, I had taken and displayed a few of my newer works and was so pleased when someone bought my "Jarrell's Cove Store" painting.

Lately I've been asked if would consider teaching some watercolor classes and I've heard from so many artists that this is a great way not only to share your knowledge with others, but to grow as an artist also. Sooooo, I'm in the process of deciding what all I need to do to get ready for this latest adventure. Please, I accept all suggestions ....

Where I'll be:

• On October 31 from 10-3, I will be at 'Arts and Flowers' here on the island for their annual open house. I'll have a few new things as well as my cards to show. Drop by if you are in the area.....
• Also, on November 28th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. I will once again be at the annual Holiday House Bazaar here on Harstine Island. This is a huge event that everyone looks forward to....

Hope to see you soon .........

This constant, unproductive preoccupation with all the things we have to do is the single largest consumer of time and energy. ~~~ Kerry Gleeson

Summer sketching ...

I can't remember when I've had such a busy yet relaxing summer. The fact that I refused to put pressure on myself to paint any masterpieces has certainly helped. I do have plenty of projects I'm working on as far as the way I keep records, photo's of work and other parts of the business side of art. And while all of these are time consuming they are very rewarding when I accomplish these tasks and can cross them off my list.

Although I haven't been doing much serious art recently, here is a recent sketch from my 8" x 8" sketchbook I made some time ago. I used Arches 14o lb. paper with mat board front and back cover and I had it spiral bound at Kinko's.

Can you 'beet' this weather ...

It was another hot day here and although I haven't been doin' what I think I should be doin', playing around with watercolor on the back of some printer paper made me feel I was at least doing something in the studio today.

After we had bought some beautiful fresh beets in a local farmers market this week-end I was tempted to do a watercolor sketch... problem was I had already eaten them when I came up with this idea. Today I found a picture to work from. Whew, it's not easy once the subject is long gone. *wink

Finding My Creative Mood: Trying to Get Back in the Groove

Although my last commission almost painted itself, after coming back from vacation I am finding it hard to get myself back in the art producing spirit. In order to over come my less than creative mood, I thought that in preparation of my other commission I should just paint something that I've been wanting to explore to get me creatively energized.

Back in May, I mentioned that I wanted to explore water and reflections this summer. So I looked through some photo's I had taken on our vacation and found a photograph of some water and rocks that looked challenging yet if I cropped it down it may not be impossible for me to paint. So, on the back of a used ready to throw out really awful painting, I took my pencil and roughly drew out an 8 inch square and proceeded to draw what I wanted to show in my painting.

In the first photo you can see where I've started my drawing and have started masking out the areas I wanted to keep light.

By the time I took the second photo I feel I'm feeling I'm in over my head. I knew at this point I should have added darker first washes before I took off my masking. Really get what I wanted from the start. I don't us masking too often and I think I just forgot to think during that step of my painting. I was feeling a little frustrated by then and decided to start on the rocks. Later I realized I really shouldn't have. I would have done better to continue adding depth to my water area, finish that area and then move on.

When I started working on the rocks I lost most of my pencil lines yet should have stopped and drawn them in so I wouldn't wander aimlessly. There are so many factors I should have considered ...

Below is the painting. Along side the painting you can see my photo reference. I cropped the photo about middle bottom for my painting. I'm not going to continue. It's too far gone for that, but I have accomplished finding my creative spirit once again. Just getting started at a painting seemed to make me want to keep painting. Also, because I do want to do more work involving water I'm feeling confident that I could paint this again and do a better job.

Yes, mission accomplished!

What's the hardest subject to paint?

Toddler - watercolor, 8"x 6"

After finishing the dog commission I posted last week, I think, by far, that a portrait has to be the most difficult subject for me to paint. Because we have met this person or studied the likeness we strive to make sure they are recognized as that person. The features need to be recognized by friends and loved ones. The portrait needs to be personal. And that's why I think they are the most difficult subject for me to paint. But, when I see work done by talented artists such as portrait and figure artist Peggy Habets they make it look so easy.

This painting is of an adodrable grandaughter of a woman I worked with, one of my first portraits done a few years ago.

Where did I go wrong?

Looking back at a sketch I'd done a few years ago I have to wonder what this was all about. I hadn't finished this sketch when I put it away for the day ... week, month, ok, truth be known it's been 3 years since I've picked it up. And now when I attempted to add some finishing touches I'm pretty lost. I had neglected to make some important notes, such as:

• Time of day. Was it morning, afternoon or evening? I should have written this information in a margin.



• What direction was the sun coming from? A small arrow in one corner of the paper would have helped with this. How could the sailboat be in that much shade?



• What was the temperature when I started this sketch? It appears to be a hot sunny day by the color of the sand and shadows of the trees in the sand, but, I really don't remember. Another small note in the margin would have helped.



• Where was this? It looks familiar to me, yet I can't remember the name of this cove.
  

As you can tell, I'm not in the habit of taking notes when I sketch, but, I think if I would write some improtant facts down on my sketches it would in turn help me 'see' those important details in my paintings.

Do you have any suggestion's as to what else I should note when sketching? Do you take notes when you sketch? Are your sketches an important part of your paintings?

Beau - Commission completed

Beau - watercolor aprox. 8" x 9

Matted to 11" x 14"

I've completed my commission of Beau. I was pleased with the results of this portrait and although I don't often do portraits, this one came together pretty easy. He's a handsome Australian Sheep Dog and it was a pleasure to try to capture his look on paper. Note, he has one eye that is pink and the other is black.

A Tribute To Vincent Van Gogh

I received this in my mailbox while I was away. If you haven't seen it yet I think you'll enjoy it as much as I have.

"Starry Night A tribute to Van Gogh . The song was a tribute to Van Gogh. This is so worth sitting and watching....You'll marvel at the song and paintings! I Heard the song many times before, but until I saw this presentation, I was clueless that this song was written for Vincent Van Gogh, as a tribute by Don Mc Lean, in the?seventies.It is rumored that Van Gogh's painting of the 'starry nights' was painted during the time he was in an asylum and that he sold only one painting during his lifetime as he was not recognized. That's perhaps what caused him to fall into an abyss of depression which eventually led to his suicide ......... how tragic to have felt so hopeless and misunderstood in spite of being so gifted! Sit back and be enthralled by the works [paintings] of Vincent Van Gogh. "

Home from holiday...

Seal - looking cute, bumming for some herring in the northwestern inland marine waterwasy of Washington

It's been a wonderful 3 weeks on vacation, but it's now time to look over my photo's and see what I can use for painting references (not to mention getting back to work on my commission's). I took a lot of photo's that should help me learn more about painting water. Here's a photo I took of a seal that was asking for herring from some fishermen. Isn't he cute? He might make a good painting subject don't you think?

Illustration's, who me?

sketches for a children's book -Nancy Van Blaricom

Although I have not been doing any of the art work I had originally thought my summer would be filled with, mainly water scenes, I have been busy with some new commission's. I have been asked to illustrate a children's book and since I know nothing about illustrating, let alone illustrating for a children's book, this has brought on a lot of research. I've been reading everything I can find that might help me and I think I'm off to a pretty good start. Here is a photograph of a few of the sketches I've put down on some office card stock, just trying to get some idea of what the characters may look like.

Also I have a commission to paint a portrait of an Australian Sheepdog.

I have a full plate don't you think?

Sketchbook Sailboat

Sailboat in Marina - sketchbook

I think this summer will be a time for enjoying sketching and exploring water and reflections. I have two books on the subject of painting water and I will be trying a few of the demo's in both Lakes and Rivers , and Painting Water where I will try to capture some of the scenes around me.

Artist's Award Ceremony & Reception

Saturday I attended the Peninsula Art Association's Artist's Reception and Award Ceremony where I was thrilled to receive 2nd place in watercolor for my small Great Blue Heron painting.

Great Blue Heron #1, 5" x 5" watercolor

SOLD

There are so many wonderful artist's here locally that I was truely surprised when I found out I had received this award. I couldn't be happier.

Not quite finished ...

Beach Rope Swing - 10.5" x 15" gessoed 300lb coldpress watercolor paper

This is a painting I briefly talked about having started back in March on the 17th. Today after working on it awhile I see I'm starting to obsess about every little detail, so for now I'll stop.

This paper came from a block that had not been properly sized and watercolor is absorbed immediately... instead of throwing it away I decided I'd gesso the front and see if I couldn't be used that way. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it ... but need to remember that the paint doesn't sink in at all now ... making it easy to lift off.

A watercolor from my sketchbook

Another sketch from my sketchbook. I used ballpoint pen to sketch it out and watercolor from my small traveling palette. I love the bright colors of this IKEA umbrella. It even makes a rainy day more cheerful. I thought an umbrella sketch seemed very appropriate considering all the rain we've received lately. I added the color splashes after I finished the sketch and I think this time they took on a look of rain drops.

The last of my bird series ...

Common Merganser: watercolor 5" x 5"

I think, for now, I'm done with my bird series. I find it hard to concentrate on painting the birds with my usual uptight detail painting style if I'm also wanting to paint more loosely.

I also have another painting started with the drawing down on the watercolor paper and some whites saved with masking fluid, but now I'm anxious to try to paint it looser than normal tendency's. Wish me luck.

Thumbnails and value decisions

Today while sitting in the house looking out at the rain coming down I thought how nice it would be to be out painting en Plein Air on a sunny day. As I was looking out the kitchen window I noticed the contrast between outside and inside the house. I grabbed my 50% grey Prismacolor Pen and a black Sharpie to sketch the contrast in value's.

In this sketchbook photo I used the white of the paper for my whites and lightest values, then the 50% grey pen for the next value, and lastly the black Sharpie to indicate the shadow/darkest value.

I painted this using only my value sketch as my guide. This was an enjoyable exercise for me. I really had to think when choosing my colors that were back lit and in shadow. I'm not sure I did a good job of showing this, but when I converted this watercolor to black and white, below,

it seems pretty true to my original value thumbnail.

Start to finish Watercolor

SOLD

Jarrells Cove Store-watercolor 8" x 10"

I decided to put contour (modified) drawing and paint to a test. I wasn't sure if I would be able to make a complete drawing using the contour method and have it resemble anything when I completed the painting. I tried to use a loose method, which is always a challenge for me.

This is my reference photo. This is a little store at a nearby marina. There is a lot of green going on, but still l like the photo.

I ususally don't take advantage of thumbnail work, but decided I'd try a few, working out my values and colors.

This photo above is where I stopped. I let it set a while wondering where it was missing "something".

This is the same as the first photo....... finished after adding some value here and there. I am pretty happy with the results of my drawing. It may not be photo realistic but it has something I am pleased with. I wish I had taken a photo of the drawing before I added some pigment. I will definately continue with my contour drawing.

The last of the sketches ....

for awhile that is. I did these two pages in my sketchbook on the 5th of this month. This time I had added some line shading to a couple on this first page and some watercolor to this second page, the sketch below.

Sketch of my husbands feet on the reliner - as he naps

Working from Charles Reid's book still, I am now into the section were some measuring is suggested. As I start measuring I think that will make my sketches more recognizable. Still, even in these latest sketches I notice that I'm not taking my time when I sketch, as I would normally. True contour drawing, where the artist focuses on the outline of the model and not taking their eyes off the subject ... convinced that the pencil is touching the subject you are looking at, is different than what I'm trying to do here. I am doing modified contour drawing where I glance at the drawing at intervals noting relationships of sizes lengths ... and angles.

Lin had asked in my last post, "how do you turn off your 'it's wrong' mind???!! ". Wonderful question Lin. After my first modified contour sketch, I was thinking 'I recognize this, but as far as looking like the subject, it looks like a 2nd grader sketched it (no offence to those 2nd graders), then, almost in the same breath I said....... that's what this work is all about, learning to see and draw with out getting the proportion's perfect. Exact proportions would defeat the purpose of me doing the contour drawings. The contour drawing should add life, excitement and joy to my work. Hope this helps Lin. I guess it's just my personal journey at this time, *wink.

Just noticed that where I've placed the date of the sketch in the top photo, I wrote 2-5-08. Geesh, it's a little late for me to still be hooked on 2008 isn't it?

Contour Sketch - from an older photograph

I decided, still reading from Charles Reid's book "Pulling Your Painting's Together", to attempt his first assignment in the book. He suggests we find an older photograph with diffused light ... (I've tweaked this photo in Photoshop so you could see it) and start drawing outside shapes. Then also try drawing only the inside shapes I see. After my attempts, I can't say it looks like the photo, but it is "expressive". He suggests that you try doing the same drawing numerous times. I think that I need to pay attention when I attempt something I've read in a book. I forge ahead and do not read it thoroughly. I was suppose to, in the second assignment, avoid drawing outside contours. Just keep my pen on the paper as much as possible and concentrate on the shape. Show small details in some places (where you want people to look) and leave them out in others. Seems it was all or nothing with me on this one ... *wink.

Another Contour sketch

This time I found my prop in the pantry. I chose this Folgers Instant Coffee jar because of the bright recognizable container . To keep this from getting too serious I decided to do this sketch standing up with the sketchbook in one hand and my pen in the other hand. I didn't spend time with measurements. I wanted to get down some lines, keeping my pen on the paper as much as possible and not trying to make this a "correct" drawing, yet, as Charles Reid says, make it an expressive drawing. I think while it may not be accurate I've accomplished what I set out to do.

I find contour drawing so freeing. In researching contour drawing the other day in my art books I didn't want to sit down and work in my Nicolaides - The Natural Way to Draw book or my Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain or my Key's to Drawing book .... but I did remember seeing in my books by Charles Reid's his wonderful contour drawing approach. A year ago or maybe two now I purchased his "Pulling Your Paintings Together" . In the beginning on page 9 he says "When you do a contour drawing, you must think of your pen or pencil as being on the model, not the paper. You must concentrate totally on the model, the drawing itself, good or bad, doesn't matter. This doesn't mean that you're slashing about with your pencil. On the contrary, you're working slowly, with great care, totally absorbed in your subject. For once this communion is gone, you will never have more than a passable drawing." "In contour drawing, it's also important to attach the subject to background shapes with out explaining all the subjects boundaries. " In this sketch above, I decided afterward to show some magazines and binders that were on the table .. as well as the edge of the table. All too late I think. I'll take note and try to remember this in future contour drawings.

For now, I am thinking I'll work through this book. Maybe you can expect a book review in the future.

I have a lot of trouble getting my scans to show the light colors in my sketches and watercolor paintings. For instance, the light shadows past the shadow you do see ... I've tried just about every thing I can think of. Do any of you have this trouble?

Monday's watercolor sketch: contour hydrangea

It was a beautiful sunny day here today yet still this morning a little cool at 38 degrees. With the sun shinning I wanted to sketch this hydrangea plant someone had recently given us. I did this contour drawing in my Aquabee 6" x 9" sketchbook using my Noodler's Ink and Lamy Safari pen and finished with some watercolor washes. Although I didn't see any pink in the blossoms I found I kept wanting add some to the white petals I saw. What I did see was GREEN. The leaves were a variety of greens, the cellophane around the plant was clear with some green swirls and the white blossoms had an occasional green flower petal. I think it would be wise for me to make some green color charts so that I can reproduce the greens I see.

Monday's watercolor sketch

Today I decided on the second photo that Karin Jurick offered on her Different Strokes blog. I really liked this photo, the relaxed feel of the beach and the sand... the sky... all of it, but even with doing this sketch, I wish I would have slowed down some and given more thought to what I was painting ..... maybe next time.

A Sunday Sketch: Jack

Today was a good day to look through some reference material for something that might motivate me to sketch or paint. I found a photo that Karin Jurick offered to artists as her week #1 challenge. I haven't been able to keep up with these weekly, or bi-weekly challenges lately, but thought I'd try sketching her dog Jack today. Can't say that I think this looks anything like the photo, but I like that I was able to retain the looseness I was after.

Plein Air with a twist

These two works are really from one original plein air painting I did some time ago. I was never happy with the painting but for some reason I didn't throw it out like I should have. I had seen a painting in a gallery that had a similar treatment done to it where with every tonal change on the painting a gold line was drawn around it. (I wonder if the artist was as unhappy with her painting as I was with mine?) It was really quite attractive so I thought I'd see if I couldn't save this painting by trying the same method. I didn't like the original composition so first I divided the painting in two and found I liked them each better apart than one painting, then used a gold gel pen to show the tonal changes. I don't think it helped the painting much but I did enjoy the process. Click on the bottom photo to enlarge, for some reason the other photo doesn't ... not sure why.

Sketch: Another House

Another House - using aquabee

6" x 9" sketchbook

I'm still enjoying the 'no pressure' sketching. I decided I'd once again to use my sketchbook for some watercolor sketches, but each time I'm sorry because the paper isn't made for a lot of washes. I think I need to write this in the sketchbook in large letters because I always forget that.

Sketch - Sailboat on Buoy

Sketch - Sailboat on Buoy, 4 1/2" x 5"

Going through my reference photo's this one caught my eye. I was still using my 'no pressure' talk to myself, but found I was starting to get a little nit-picky. This was actually sketched on Sunday but didn't have time to post it.

Again yesterday afternoon we were hit with at least an inch of snow. This caught most of us off guard, but I was already thinking I should take some more photo's of the snow. Fortunately when I awoke this morning it was just about all melted.

Sketch: Near Chesapeake and Lagoon

Near Chesapeake and Lagoon, 4" x 4 "

watercolor sketch on Arches scrap

This house looked cozy with a light dusting of snow covering the roof and ground. I seldom draw buildings but sketching and telling myself 'no pressure' made this fun to get on paper. After, looking at it on-line I'm not sure now if I was able to properly indicate snow. Also, the odd shaped roof and the angle I took the reference photograph made the perspective a challenge ... but, I really had fun painting this.

This is another scrap of paper I had taped to the same piece of foam-core as the last sketch. After painting these two sketches I'm finding these small scraps of paper are fun paint on and allow me to lighten up and paint more loosely. I'm now looking through my paper pile to find more.

Winter Snowfall

Winter Snowfall 3" x 4" Arches Watercolor Paper

After receiving snow the night before we were happy to see sun shining on the newly fallen snow as we took our daily two mile walk.

I'm trying to get into the habit of sketching with my watercolors. This was done on some Arches 140 lb. coldpress watercolor paper I had taped to a piece of foam-core earlier last year. I'm pretty stingy with my paper, never wanting to waste even a small piece.