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.

Looking North

Looking North ... SOLD Watercolor 3.5" x 2.5"

140 lb. Arches coldpress

One day while standing on the dock at the local marina, looking out at the open body of water, I noticed this lovely tree. I like the way it leans ever so slightly over the water, as if to tease the water into thinking it would fall in. Some how it has roots that hang on tight.

I enjoyed painting this landscape/sea-scape so much that I think I'll look around to see what other sights here, in my own back yard, I might enjoy painting.

Since this was posted originally this little tree has tumbled over in some of our less than perfect weather.

Seagulls on the Beach

SOLD

Seagulls on the Beach 2.5" x 3.5"
watercolor on 140 lb. Arches coldpress

The rain has started and has not let up for the last 48 hours. Nonetheless  it is much needed even here in the pacific northwest where we are known for the moist weather we normally have.

We still have beautiful gold and yellow leaves on the maple trees, reminding us that we haven't had as much rain lately as we usually have this time of year.

Although I didn't want to go out and photograph birds on the beach today, I came upon a photo of seagulls I had taken earlier this summer to use as a reference for this painting.

Spring Florals in October?

SOLD

Each of these small works are 2.5" x 2.5" Watercolor painted on 140lb Arches watercolor paper

I can not believe that Halloween is almost here and October will soon be gone. It was just a few months ago Spring was here, wasn't it. I remember I was busy painting beautiful spring tulip fields. Here are a couple of small ones from that spring collection.

SOLDAt the time I took the reference photo's you could see whole fields of solid red, white, pink and mixed. They are breathtaking and you are just as in awe the next time you see these colors spread out before you in a field.

SOLD

This last one is the only painting from the Spring Floral series that I've framed.

I think I should be painting pumpkin fields now, instead of looking at these spring floral's.

Evening Sky

SOLD "Evening Sky"

Watercolor 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", Arches coldpress watercolor paper

Here, where I live, this scene is something we see frequently.

I never tire of seeing the sun's reflection on the water as the sun goes down behind a mountain.

In the far background we can see the beautiful and massive Olympic Mountains. They in themselves are beautiful any time of year. In the winter when snow covers them, they remind me of photo's I've seen of the Swiss Alps. Since it is October, maybe soon we'll see that beauty again as the temperatures drop.

My New Web-site !

Muddler Minnow Fishing Fly

5" x 7 " Watercolor on 140lb coldpress Arches watercolor paper

I'm so excited. Yesterday I launched my watercolor web-site. I sent an e-blast to friends and relative in my personal e-address book and today I'll send my e-blast announcement to those who have purchased my work before.

I spent a lot of time reading about html and writing my site without a template. Because this was a slow process I'm afraid my painting inventory has dwindled, but I'm looking forward to getting back to the pigment and paper and turning out some new work.

I've always loved fishing flies and when I was much younger I loved tying them also. Now I love to paint them. Once when I was in a sporting good store a few years ago purchasing some new flies for a subject to paint, I had arrived at home only to find I had fishing flies stuck to the sleeve of my sweater, where I'd leaned over the table to pick some up to look at. How embarrassed was I when someone noticed them and said....... "eek, you've got bugs on your arm."

Update:  this website is no longer in existence.

Calm Reflection

Calm Reflection 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" SOLD

Although this photo doesn't do it justice, it was a beautiful calm, peaceful morning, with the sun starting to shine brightly. The only thing stirring was us and a few great blue herons. When I looked at the water in front of me, I noticed a mirror reflection of the trees on the shoreline.

Calm Reflection is painted on 140lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper. Again, I left a 1" white border around the painting.

Mt Rainier

SOLD Mt Rainier 2 ½” x 4 ½” Watercolor

Mt. Rainier, located in Washington state, is majestic and always fun to try and capture its beauty in watercolor. The native name for Mt. Rainier is Tahoma. There are days when you can see beautiful colors of pink and purple on the glistening snow. Other days the mountain is barely visible because of clouds or rain.

October Sail

SOLD

Here it is October and the weather is beautiful. Warm days with cool crisp afternoons. We see a few clouds occasionally but for the most part each day is filled with a bright blue sky. Boaters are still enjoying days on the water and the sailboats are lovely in the afternoon sun.

This watercolor is 2 ½” x 4 ½” on 140 lb. Arches paper. I have painted it leaving approximately a 1” border all around the painting so that it may be framed showing some white around the painting.