Before everything wilted and fell off, I decided to do a second painting of the Peruvian lilies by themselves!
The Peruvian Lilies demanded a solo portrait!
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Category Archives: From Life
Informal Watercolor Sketch of Granddaughter
My 3-year old granddaughter and I were painting together during a recent sleepover. She was very engrossed in her art, studiously dragging her wet brush through EVERY block of color before applying the resulting ‘mud’ to her paper. Rather than fret about the growing mess on the palette I decided to paint a quick sketch of her as I looked down on her efforts. Did another quickie the following day from a different angle; different clothes made her look older. . . .
Goin’ for It! Watercolor on paper. 8″ x 10″ 
My sweet studious little model . . .
Quick Watercolor of African Violets
I did a study of some of my African violets yesterday, using a ‘split primary’ color palette (warm and cool red, yellow and blue tube colors + white). I found it virtually impossible to capture the near neon magenta of the flowers, but did my best with what I had, rather than digging for another tube color.
Fun with Compositions
Our most recent Ed Praybe session called for considering types of compositions ~~ various ways to position the components of the painting so as to produce an intended effect on the viewer. We each selected two objects and then experimented moving them around to see how many different ‘stable’ or ‘dynamic’ compositions we could produce. We then painted one of them, using our primary triad of yellow, red and blue.
For homework, we had to paint three objects into a stable composition and then reposition them and paint a dynamic composition. Still using the primary triad color scheme.
Watercolor experiments with the primary colors
Recently our class with Ed Praybe focused on painting a wide range of hues using only 3 colors – a ‘primary triad’ of red, yellow and blue. As you may remember, I’ve used such severely limited palettes many times, but only in oil paints so far. It was fun to try it with watercolors.
We did a test painting, blending the three colors before applying them to the paper. Our homework was to paint three versions of a still life setup: one monochrome to analyze the value (light and dark) structure of the scene; a second in which we mixed the colors before applying them to the paper; and a third in which we applied single color washes; let them dry completely, and then painted additional single color washes on top. This last technique creates new colors as the several layers combine optically.
Test case, pre-mixng yellow, red & blue before painting. 7″ x 5″. 
The set-up for the series of paintings. Note how the water in the glass distorts the shape of the apple behind. Neat. 
1st version, a value study using only ultramarine blue. 5″ x7″. 
2d version, pre-mixing the primary colors before applying. 5″ x 7″. 
3rd version, applying successive washes of single colors to produce different colors. 5″ x 7″.
Some Scary Selfies
Took an online workshop recently from Zoey Frank ~~ ‘self-portraits from observation’. It was weeks long – with almost 300 students (critiqued by five or six assistants). I didn’t get around to finishing the one self-portrait I started – just made a couple of smaller studies . . . before giving up in boredom at my composition.
1st composition – too cutsie by half (or two-thirds). Oil on Arches Huile paper. 6″ x 8″. 
2d composition. oil on Arches Huile paper. 6″ x 8″. 
Enlargement of 2d composition, 1st pass. Oil on linen panel. 16″ x 20″.. 
Documenting what I was ‘observing’ in 2d composition. 
Second pass on the enlarged painting. Not sure if/when I’ll do more.composition, first pass. oil on linen panel. 16″x20″.
I’m now taking a watercolor class with Ed Praybe. He tasked us with doing THREE monochromatic self-portraits during one week – facing front & diagonally to each side. Under the short and specific deadline, I produced these three. Warning – it’s impossible to smile AND paint simultaneously, but . . . here they are anyway.
Ten Small Studies in Three Values ~~ Black, White and Gray.
Here is the series of monochrome studies, all 6″ x 8″, done during the workshop with Bernie Dellario. Such a concentrated repetition of that exercise was useful in helping us spot values quickly.
Flower Girls at the Beau. Oil on Paper. 6×8. 
Max and Stash at the Market. Oil on Paper. 6×8. 
Roxie and the Window. Oil on Paper. 8×6. 
Birds on Break. Oil on Paper. 8×6. 
Chef Chaoun Morocco Alley. Oil on Paper. 6×8. 
Smokebush against Trees. Oil on Paper. 6×8. 
Koi Pond. Oil on Paper. 6×8. 
Scotch Breakfront. Oil on Paper. 6×8. 
Cannas, Bamboo & Joe Pye. Oil on Paper. 6×8. 
Racing on the Potomac. Oil on Paper. 8×6.
It’s been awhile ~~ here’s my latest painting!
I just finished an intensive four day workshop with outstanding local artist and teacher, Bernie Dellario. We were expected to make up a ‘color chart’ exploring the ways in which 3 tube colors (yellow, red & blue) + white could mix together to make virtually all the colors you might want.
We also painted ten 3-value monochrome paintings; ten 3-value color paintings; and a plein air painting which we then translated into a larger ‘studio painting’ (hopefully retaining the 3-value structure of the studies). Here’s my 16″ x 20″ studio painting of our cannas, through which we can enjoy our neighbor’s yard.
Here are the initial monochrome and color studies. Note that I included the bushy Joe Pye plant (?) in the black & white study; left it out of the color study; and then re-inserted it in the larger piece. Am glad I did – it’s now my favorite part of the painting!
B&W 3 value study. 
3 value color study.
Final Post on Day 7 ~~ Shells and Pearls
It was Day 7 (and I was in a chatty mood): Hmmmm. Here’s a little still life I did day before yesterday. Dear cousins want oysters & pearls for their daughter’s new office. This was the first take; am now working on something bigger with a single oyster. Will share when it’s done.In the meantime, what are your thoughts on my current dilemmas: I set the oysters up on a white tablecloth (bottom photo), but the first cut was perhaps too monochrome & bland; so in the next pass I pushed the cloth toward lavender. I think it may now be ‘too too’. The background behind is probably too similar. Finally, the cloth, as painted, is wonky & needs to be reshaped & redone in any event. Ideas, y’all???
Sharing Recent Facebook Painting Challenge
During my hiatus on the blog, I posted from time to time on Facebook, so I’m going to update my postings here to include that material ‘for the record’. A painting buddy challenged me to post seven paintings in seven days. Here’s what I offered for Day 1:
Challenge accepted. I’ll start with one that’s different from my usual style ~ some abstracted shells done in a class at the Yellow Barn last year.
