Ode to a Lemon

Today I decided to do a series on the Lemon, I thought I'd call it "Ode to a Lemon". Odd, but I guess I didn't know what the word ode really meant? Dictionary.com says an ODE is: A lyric poem of some length, usually of a serious or meditative nature and having an elevated style and formal stanzaic structure. Then I googled "Ode to a Lemon" and up pops entry after entry on a poem by Pablo Neruda titled "Ode to the Lemon".... I'll share a small part of that poem at the end of this blog entry, if you care to read it.


#1 Pencil in Sketchbook

I decided today that I'd do a study with my one lone lemon. The first photo is done in pencil

#2 Dip pen and Noodles Ink on Card stock.

I have long admired those of you who do pen and ink and all that wonderful cross hatching. I'm not patient enough. Or, to be more accurate, I wasn't patient enough today. I may give it another try some time.

#3 Watercolor on Stonehinge Print Paper.

I had some left over 5" x 7" pieces from some lino print projects and thought I'd try it. Turned out I was satisfied with the way it handled the water. It was a good experiment.

#4 Pastel on Mi-Teintes Pastel paper.

I don't think I'll ever get use to having my fingers all dry and chalky. I clean my fingers constantly because I can't help but use my fingers to blend.

#5 Is Charcoal on brown craft paper.

I wasn't happy with this either... How do you get a bright lemon to look that way with charcoal? I couldn't get it to look the way I wanted.

#6 is Oil on some Canvas paper

Or anyway I'm assuming it's canvas paper..... I seem to accumulate single papers, a sheet at a time. I should have written what it was on the back so I'd know. Another lesson learned.

Odd, I just noticed that the two mediums that I enjoyed working with the most, the watercolor and the oil, both had more detail or depth to the paintings. I must have felt more comfortable working with them.

Ode to the Lemon

by Pablo Neruda

Out of lemon flowers

loosed

on the moonlight,

love's

lashed and insatiable

essences,

sodden with fragrance,

the lemon tree's yellow

emerges,

the lemons

move down

from the tree's planetarium

Delicate merchandise!

My first (ever) oil painting

For some time now I've thought I'd like to try oil painting. I had some 8" x 10" canvas boards, (I'm not sure that is the proper name for them), and a few brushes I thought may work. I purchased some oils, some linseed oil and found some helpful step by step instructions on Joe's blog. In the first photo you see where I've toned the panel with a mixture of cad yellow and aliz. crimson, plus some white acrylic. That was as close to the yellow ocher Joe used in his instruction's. Also you see a photo I was using as a reference.

This photos shows where I have done a rough sketch of my picture (and I use the term very loosely) with my homemade vine charcoal.

At this point, in the photo above, I was suppose to be blocking in the major shapes. I think this is where I start to get overwhelmed and begin to think that I've not done my blocking in correctly. I was already beginning to get nit-picky.

This is where I've stopped for the day. I can't seem to get a close-up of it today because of a glare when I photograph it ... maybe tomorrow it will be a little dryer and I'll edit this post with a finished photo.

I'm pretty satisfied with my first attempt, but feel I may do some touch-ups tomorrow.

I still need to:

1. Learn what brushes to use where. I seemed to want to use only one brush and had to force my self to try one that would work better.
2. Remember that I can use either the thinner or linseed oil to mix with my paints to aid in painting. I think I used way too much paint, when I could have used a thinner application.
3. Learn not to mess up my whole pile of paint to mix a color.
4. Figure out what to do now with the paint left on my palette that isn't used.

Harstine Island Farmers Market

This is my area with my card rack, table and peg board props.

The last two weeks, or there about, I've been so busy with packaging my Giclee's and Note/Greeting Cards and printing up business cards etc. in anticipation of my first time selling in an open Market. Today, that day finally arrived. It was a beautiful day with sun shine and not a cloud in sight. My husband had an early meeting to attend and wasn't able to help me set-up at the market, but my neighbor (and good friend) offered her help. It was much appreciated to have another woman's eye for detail.

Me, in the thick of conversation with a customer about watercolor.

This little Farmers Market is located on Harstine Island at the local Community Club and only open from 10-12 on Saturdays. Today there must have been approximately 25 vendors selling their wares (wish I would have counted ). I have been working diligently to be prepared for today, and was a bit nervous when I left to set-up before the Market opened this morning. I felt it was a positive adventure, one I'll do again. I received some helpful suggestion's and came home with more money from sales than I had expected. It was great ... no booth fees, close to home and the support of my many friends who dropped by during the morning.

Things I'll do different next time:

• Consider using a canopy. Three of my friends have now offered the use of theirs and I'll probably take them up on the offer as the summer continues .... or at least get to the market early enough to grab one of the few shady spots.
• Take something better to use as a change drawer. I hadn't given this much thought, but ended up using a make-up bag. It worked fine for only two hours but I'll try to come up with something different for next time.
• I should have made more packs of cards. I sold individual cards for $2.25 each, Packs of 6 for $12.00, and the packs sold very well.
• I need to paint more "local" sights.
• Next time I'll arrive at least 1 hour early. TodayI arrived 45 minutes before the market opened.
• Place price tags on each pack cards instead of relying on one sign to tell the price of all cards.
• Also, I will take a photo of all the vendors. (aha... maybe that would make a nice subject to paint.)

Ahhh, en Plein Air

This is my Plein Air set up, overlooking beautiful Hood Canal

Lately, I haven't had a lot of motivation where my art work is concerned. I felt stagnate and could tell I had lost that once exciting feeling I use to have with my work. THEN........ I heard about a group of Plein Air artists that meet every two weeks. I've always wanted to join a group of Plein Air artist, but never had the opportunity. Then I met the person who started this group when we were both entering our work at the Arts Association Annual Spring Show, and I begged to join in on the fun.

I'm the artist on the bottom left hand corner.

I neglected to ask permission to post their names and photo's so you only see the backs of this great group. (I'll ask next time.) I'm told the group varies from 2 to 8 artists on different outings. This particular outing there were 4 of us.

The group met Tuesday morning on beautiful Hood Canal. About a 45 minute drive from my house. The weather was pretty nice with a few occasional clouds that would hang over us and chill us, then the sun would come out again and all would be fine.

So, this new group has given me the boost and motivation I've needed. I'm not much of a landscape painter, but hopefully I'll become better if I continue on more outings with the group.

Honorable Mention

I was the proud recipient of an Honorable Mention award at our local Art Association's 17th Annual Spring Show. This show was filled with exceptionally good art and our judge, Ned Mueller had to have a tough time choosing Best of Show.

This entry, White Lilies, is a small watercolor measuring only 6" x 6", double matted with a 5" wide border. The frame is metal with a slight lavendar color to it, and measures 16" x 16".

Home-made Vine Charcoal

Who'da thunk that I could make my own vine charcoal? Awhile back someone mentioned making their own vine charcoal and continued to say their favorite wood to do this with was Madrone (Arbutus). Then they went on to say they just wrapped it in tin foil and placed it in the fire place. So I found a Madrone tree, grabbed a small branch dried it out for a day or so, then proceeded to wrap it in tin foil and placed it in the fire place over night.

The next day this was what the Madrone branch looked like. I was worried that as soon as I touched it that it may all fall apart, but it didn't. It was very solid. I'm not particularly fond of the turn out, as it seems almost too hard to make a mark on paper. I'm wondering now if it was because I left the Madrone bark on the branch, because after I draw with it a bit it becomes easier to make a mark. Maybe if I'd have taken it off it would be easier to use. But, on the other hand it isn't messy at all, and my fingers stay nice and clean.

Here you see a small piece of the charcoal I've broken off for ease of use, and some scribbles. I think it was well worth the effort and I'll probably experiment with some other woods in the future.

Major League Baseball

Last night we were privileged enough to attend a major league game between the New York Yankee's and the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners may have lost, but if you've ever attended a Major League ball game, just being there is thrill enough. This is a watercolor sketch of a major league baseball player ... though no particular player at all, just the essence of the game.

Mostly with this watercolor sketch I concentrated on shapes. I wanted to show the action of the player -I wasn't focusing on color... If I were to do it over again, I'd pick some blue-greys along with some warm sienna's.

On another note.... some of you who have subscribed to my blog and hope to receive the updates in an e-mail, are not receiving them. Mostly this is because you have not yet replied to the verification email sent to you by Feedburner to complete the subscription process. Unverified subscriptions are not active subscriptions. Because Feedburner verification emails get sent from this catchy (not) email address: "donotreply@emailenfuego.net", people sometimes miss it or it goes into their spam box. So, please check your spam and junk mail. If by the end of the week you have yet to receive an update I'll e-mail you personally incase you have already deleted this information and we can start over again.

Another experiment ...

Maybe it's the nice weather, but lately I've been wanting to try other mediums and materials ... spreading my wings maybe.

The photo's here are of a house that always catches my eye when I'm in the neighborhood. The front of the house faces the water, and is surrounded by vegetation, some beautiful well manicured shrubs and flowers. I have not done it justice, believe me.

The test/experiment was to use a crayon in the appropriate color then use watercolor paint on the top of that, allowing the the crayon to create texture. In the first photo, you see where I've drawn out the image in pencil, then used crayons in a light manner in the appropriate places.

In this second photo (on the right) you see my first washes of watercolor. You see a little of the texture if you look closely... some on the porch overhang and on the grey cement wall on the bottom right... and maybe in a few other places ... if you look closely.

Then lastly the finished experiment. I've added more value to the surrounding foliage. If you look closely you can see some texture. I think if I were to do this again I'd use a little more crayon. Not using too much as to fill in all valleys of the watercolor paper, but maybe just a bit more.

Do I seem a little crabby lately ...

SOLD

Have you noticed that crabs seem to be on my mind lately?

This is another dungeness crab that I've tried to capture in a loose manner. My work ususally is so tight, that I need to make a concience effort to loosen-up. The support for this crab is regular brown craft paper, upon which I've used charcoal to draw the shape of a crab, then using pastel to create the middle and light values... then back to charcoal to make the shape of the legs - then a touch of brown conte' here and there.

What I learned with this painting/drawing:

• The craft paper was not very forgiving. When I wanted to blend the colors, the paper just held on to the pastel ... such as the white on top of the crab back. I was going to blend the white lines ... it just sat there, not blending.
• Craft paper has a great brown color that I find attractive, so I may try pre-coloring some watercolor paper to paint on.
• I'm not sure I will ever become comfortable with the dry chalky feel of pastel and charcoal.
• I love the look of charcoal.
• I would like to become better at using pastel ... even if it is messy ... I have some artist friends who really are masters of this medium and I so envy the look they can achieve.

Watercolor sketch

HAPPY MAY DAY EVERYONE

This is a fast watercolor sketch I did this morning ... knowing that sometimes I work happiest when I am not concerned with the out come. I usually work slowly and each stroke of the brush pretty well thought out ... for the most part I am happy with the work I finish using that method but when I just want to play, this is my favorite way to handle watercolor - loose and free, a splash here a splash there.

Oregon Junco

Another sketchbook watercolor . I seem to be doing everything but the important things I want to accomplish. Maybe soon I'll get back to my full sheet that is sitting on my easel with a little bit of color on it. It could be the weather that keeps me distracted... spring seems to be here in full swing. Sunny one day and rainy the next or rainy in the morning and sunny an hour later.

More spring sketching

Spring rhododendron's are showing up all around now, giving me yet another flower to watercolor in my sketchbook.

I'm really happy with my new "subscribe" link over to the right of the screen. One subscriber tells me it really works great. Once you subscribe by placing your e-mail address in the box, the next day after I update my blog you will receive an e-mail from me, Nancy Van Blaricom: fine art, showing the new post to my blog.

Spring

Watercolor sketch in sketchbook.

Grape Hyacinth

I find this is the time of year that everyone is sharing plants with each other.

This is a sketch of some grape hyacinth.

I'm finding that I'm not very motivated today to work on the important things that need to be done today if not sooner ... I have 15 days to finish a full sheet painting I'm working on to enter in the local spring art show and some of those day's are planned with other events. Also the Farmers Market that I plan on selling some works at this summer will soon start and although I have some inventory I still need to expand on that quite a bit. Meanwhile I'm finding myself getting distracted with other things. But....Today I will:

• get the first signs of the image on the full sheet of paper
• print out 2 more cards and package them
• work at putting the greeting cards on my web-site (I worked on this yesterday but was not happy with the layout... but I'll work to see if I can't come up with something I an happy with.)

Flowers on my deck

With the signs of spring all around I couldn't resist buying some geraniums for my front deck. I purchased 6 a couple of weeks ago ... they have a very pretty hot purple-red flower. The colors of the foliage is not as sick and washed out as my sketch/watercolor shows. I found it hard to make up a pretty green with my small watercolor palette I use for sketching. I guess I should just stick sap green in there an use that, changing the value as needed with either water or another color, but I really would like to mix my own - then again, half the problem seems to be that I use my water-brush, so very little mixing is done on the palette it's self.

Lavendar Iris

Its the time of year when most of us are so looking forward to doing some gardening after being house-bound through the long winter months.
This small watercolor is from my sketchbook. The book is approximately 5.5" x 8.5" and the paper is somewhere between smooth and having some tooth. So although its takes the watercolor fine, the page buckles a little. At first I didn't care for that, but now I've grown to like it ... feeling the familiarity pages filled with sketches and odds and ends taped/glued to the pages.
Have you noticed that I seem to vacillate between a loose painterly watercolor style and more realistic ... I enjoy them both, but this doesn't help sell paintings to go back and forth.

The tulip fields of Skagit County

Yesterday we were in the middle of some beautiful tulips fields about 100 miles north of where we live. People come from all over to see the beauty that not only takes your breath away but keeps you smiling the whole time you see them.

Fundraiser...

"I'll be home soon, Mom"

painted surface: 15" x 22"
framed size: 23.5" x 29"

On April 27 at Harmony Hill, overlooking Hood Canal, in Union WA, Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services is once again sponsoring an art show/auction. This is Turning Pointe's major fundraiser for the year, as well as a chance for South Puget Sound artist to really shine. Being relatively new to the area this is going to be the first year that I participate in this show/auction/fundraiser. I will be donating a painting I did of my grandson's first school bus ride ... I've tried to capture the look of innocent anticipation and excitement on his face that I saw that day. This watercolor painting I think is appropriate to the show in the fact that so many young children are effected by domestic violence and innocence lost. The call to artists quoted 13 domestic - violence related fatalities in the past two years in our county alone ... how very sad. I hope my painting brings enough money to the services to help in some way.

Garlic Clove

I love seeing the paintings of the garlic clove by oil painters. Making it look almost heavenly - the transparent thin layers of the dried outer skin looking so beautifully transparent. For some reason I almost always prefer seeing the garlic rendered in oil than watercolor... maybe it's just the difference in experience of the artists. I thought I'd give it a try today. The first composition I attempted was of a head of garlic resting in a small saucer type bowl ... it was so pathetic that it's now in the trash, waiting to start a fire the wood stove later. Although I certainly wouldn't enter this into a contest, by any means, it's much better than the last attempt. Possibly it's just a matter of taking my time and "looking"... as with most art.

Two pears

I enjoy seeing paintings with fruit in them, but as a rule I forget to do anything with fruit but eat it ... by then it's too late. Although to paint a pear with a couple of bites taken out of it would make an interesting enough prop. I need to remember those sorts of things when I'm asking myself "what can I make a fast painting of"?

I had purchased these two pears to have pears and some cheese for after dinner instead of a heavy dessert - then only to have to come up with a something different because the pears were still too hard. There is some light colors representing a window that the scanner just refuses to pick up ... just as well, it really didn't help the painting at all.

Vinca Minor

I had a very creative enjoyable day. I was able to get two more greeting cards printed ( that means 12 of each subject ), also being full of creative energy I was able to get a wash on a full sheet painting I'm working on. It will need a few more washes to get the perfect color I'm after, but I'm starting out very light and will end being a nice soft even light foggy wash.

With the sun shining and all the signs of spring around, I couldn't resist getting out and doing a little gardening. One of my favorite ground covers is Vinca Minor - Common Periwinkle. It is a pretty evergreen, with little blue flowers. It makes a nice ground cover in shady locations or under woody plants. Some people have said that the Vinca Minor plant can be pretty invasive, but when I've planted this before, it did just what I had in mind... being a ground cover under huge Cedar trees where nothing else would grow. Also, I was able to get some geraniums planted in some pots by my front door.

Maybe my daily 2 mile walk is finally giving me some energy.

A little birdie ...

This little ceramic bird has been in my possession for so long that I can't remember exactly when I got it. It was in a secondhand store, and seemed to be calling my name to buy it. Its a very plain little bird with very few details, drab in color ... and yet so very sweet looking. I always keep it in my studio perched on the speaker to my computer. I used an HB mechanical pencil and watercolor, in my nearly completed sketchbook. It was a great day, very much looking like a perfect spring day. The bird and the weather were a natural go-together.

Huckleberry Branch

Today I surprised myself by remembering to pick up something to sketch while on my daily 2 mile walk. After walking most of the way with friends, I walked a couple of blocks by myself. I found myself with only a few bird sounds as background chatter. The Huckleberry bushes are profuse around here and lately I've noticed there are a lot of tiny pink blossoms on most of the bushes. This is exciting news ... possibly some Huckleberry Jam or pies in my future. So naturally I felt compelled to bring home a very tiny, wee, small branch.(do you notice the guilt in my voice for having picked some possible berry's in the making?)

Also, I think I'll admit to you all that I realize sketching and painting with the cat laying on my lap in dim light watching Jeopardy isn't giving me the best results.

Is it a nut ... is it a fruit?

Reference.com says that the ACORN is the "fruit" of the oak tree, actually a specialized nut borne in a cup-shaped structure. So, guess it's both a nut and a fruit ... huh? Sometimes facts just confuse the issue.
I keep forgetting to pick up something on my daily 2 mile walk to sketch ... I'm pretty sure that's because I walk with anywhere from 6 to 8 other people and we are talk, talk, talking ... but today while looking for something else in my studio, I found these beautiful large acorns that I had gathered last summer while at a family reunion. A number of us grabbed a hand full to take home. Wonder what the others did with theirs? These were fun to sketch with my pencil and paint with my water-filled brush.

Broken twig ...

I wasn't going to post this but then I looked at the date and realized that today is the last day of February and it would be nice to post just one more for the month ... you know, to go with one of my "goals" of posting/journaling more. I broke this branch off a dead tree because I thought I would like to see if I couldn't show the moss growing on it, but I was in a hurry and didn't try very hard ... maybe later I'll give it another try. What you see down the center of the page is where I cut two pages out to make room for pasting objects in my sketchbook to allow room for expansion. ... boy it sure shows up good in this photo, huh?

Just one of many ...

This is just one of many sketchbooks I own. I have some large ones, some very small ones, some hard bound, some soft bound, some with great quality paper, some with such poor paper I think the manufactures should be ashamed of themselves ... but my quandary is why do I start so many sketchbooks and fill very few. In fact I can only think of one that is completed. I love it ... poor quality paper and all ... because it is finished. This one has a corigated brown cardboard cover with brown paperbag type paper and appears to be hand bound. I did this drawing with some inexpensive "decorating chalks" ... or so the plastic container says. I thought it would be fun to do the whole book with little chalk drawings. There are only two sketches in this book and the date on the drawing says 10/21/03. So much for filling it up fast, huh? I'm pretty close to filling up one that I used to show the last two watercolor sketches. I'm now wondering should I fill up one of the others that is only partially full, or start yet another one.

Hemlock branch

This little hemlock branch is what I picked up today on my walk ... I'm not sure if you can read the date, but obviously wrote it down wrong ... my computer telles me it is Friday, February 23,2007. Again the same scenario as the last sketchbook entry ... sitting in a recliner with my cat on my lap. By the time this little watercolor sketch was finished we were both annoyed.

A finished product.....

Lately I've been working on a vignette for a friend who owns 3 cats ... I think all of the cats are becoming elderly. I hope I've done them justice........


This is the finished product and will go in the mail today ........

I had planned on ...

For the last two day's when I go for my daily 2 mile walk, I plan on picking up something from nature, to sketch/watercolor. But once home I realize that I've forgotten to grab a twig, a cone, a weed etc. Today when I realized it had happened yet once again I remembered that a friend had given me some bulbs to plant. So this evening, while the cat was sleeping on my lap and I was watching Jeopardy, I grabbed my sketch book and tried to get a likeness of the bulbs on some unforgiving sketch paper that doesn't like watercolor.

and you thought ....

And you thought I have been doing nothing. To tell you the truth, I want sketching/drawing to be a daily habit. I'm finding that when I do sketch something I've hurried and have a poor rendering on the page so in return I become discouraged ... that in return makes me reluctant to do more. I can hear you all now saying that's part of the dues that need to be paid in order to become better. I hear you ... I'll continue. But let the record show how much pain I'm in showing these few sketches .... and you can bet these are the best. *wink*

The first, from left to right, is s blueberry plant that is not in good shape... with only a few leaves left, the only color I added is some green to a the leaves. The next is some raspberry's from memory... The far right is a lantern/lamp that has a paper shade on it that sits in my studio. It is used only in the early mornings when I awake and can't stand the glare of other lights. On the bottom left, taken from a photo, is an Airstream trailer we use to own. Lastly is a small Carmex jar. It is poorly done... the ellipse is all wrong and the jar is too tall in the drawing. But, now you know what I've been up to lately.... trying to squeeze in a drawing or two, in between other things that seem to have invaded in my art time.

Mountain Brook

SOLD 

Title: Mountain Brook

Size: 12" x 16"

Watercolor on 300 lb paper

In the coming year I hope to do more outdoor ... landscape paintings. Although I've done some Plein Air I don't do them often enough, so possibly another goal for the year will be Plein Air and landscapes. This painting was NOT done plein air, but it makes me feel as if I'm there.

Burrrrr

Lately it's been very cold here in the pacific northwest. It was in the low 20's last night, but warming up nicely to a balmy +32 today.

This painting is in memory of warmer day's.
Title: At the Top
Size: 5" x 5"
Painted on 140 lb. Arches cold press.

Another goal ...

Another goal I'm hoping to accomplish is to journal more.

This is a painting that was inspired by a trip into B.C. this last summer. I never tired of seeing the water sparkle on the water.

This painting is titled simply: Sparkle on the Water

Size: 12" x 12" square.

The painting in real life seems a little darker than is depicted here.

To be placed up for auction on e-bay soon. 

SOLD

Down memory lane ...

    

Instead of doing more decorating and preparing for the holidays, I seem to start in one direction and find myself in a completely different direction than I'd started.

Today while looking for some room to hide a wrapped gift in the studio ... moving some "collectibles" (this means things that have been laying around and collected in a corner of the studio), I came upon a number of older paintings I had done and kept. I remember enjoying the process of painting ceramics and the reflection of the ceramics in a toaster. I cropped off the handle of the small pitcher, but both the creamer and the green ceramic with the flowers were so enjoyable to paint. I'm not crazy about the rest of the painting, but gee, the ceramics were so fun to paint.

Okay, now where was I ? Oh yea, back to a hiding spot for the Christmas gift.