Autumn Poem

This is a watercolor on hot press paper. I scraped out the trees while the wash was still wet. This method is really cool because some of the background color shows in the area that is scraped. I left a lot of the original wash untouched. I always feel like I've accomplished something really artistic when this happens because it's so easy to cover that beautiful original wash. I also left a lot of light areas. This can be hard to do! I added accents to the trees and used a little acrylic ink to clean up some of the edges of the trunks. I'm very pleased.

"Autumn Poem" • Original watercolor on 100% cotton paper • 15" x 11"

If interested in purchasing this piece, click HERE.

At Home Among the Oak Leaves

Painting my first piece on handmade paper (Woods of Magic) was such an incredible experience that I thought I'd look for more handmade paper. This piece is St Armand's wood grain finish paper. There's a subtle int of the wood grain texture that shows a little bit in the piece but more so in the scan.
This paper takes paint like a dream. I started with acrylic inks and they went on so incredibly smoothly and looked so beautiful after they dried!!!!!! The paper has a softer finish and seems more sensitive to the paint. After I put on the ink and it dried, I continued with watercolor and finished with more ink. There's some iridescent ink in the piece and it sparkles when the light touches it just right.
I love watching and listening to the chickadees and also all the autumn leaves all over the ground. So this piece combines two of my favorite things to paint!!!!!

"At Home Among the Oak Leaves" • Original mixed watermedia • 10" x 7.5"

If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

Woods of Magic

I recently had the opportunity to paint on a piece of handmade Shizen paper which is very textured. I of course painted a landscape with trees! The paper accepts the paint like a dream and the texture really adds to the watercolor. I spattered with acrylic inks and used some iridescent ink as well in the finish. Painting on this piece prompted me to buy some more handmade paper and I currently have several washes waiting to be revisited and finished. The paint just rolls on this kind of paper and the texture is awesome!
Thanks to Ketty for this opportunity!!!!

"Woods of Dreams" • Original watercolor on handmade Shizen paper • 9" x 12"

Because this is handmade paper the 9" x 12" size isn't consistent. The top is a little narrower. All of the edges are deckle edges.
If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

Wise Old Tree

A tree with a lot of character!!!!! This piece started as a watercolor. I scraped out some lighter areas and added branches to the tree. I finished with a little acrylic ink. I like the sense of atmosphere and the implied distance.

"Wise Old Tree" • Original mixed watermedia on 100% cotton paper • 11" x 7.5"

If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

Rhythms

It's been really neat seeing the leaves fall from the trees. All of the sudden the tree trunks and branches are showing in between the leaves. I feel like I've never seen this before!!!!! I've been painting a lot of trees lately and this is one of them!

"Rhythms" • Original Watercolor on 100% cotton paper • 11" x 7.5"

If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

Natural Vitality

This weekend has been Portland Open Studios and my studio is one of the studios!
Besides visiting with folks on the studio tour I've been painting too! Most of my recent tree pieces have been fall colors but I wanted to do a change-up with this one and go with greens. The colors bounce and you can just feel the energy!

"Natural Vitality" • Original acrylic on gallery wrap canvas, painting continues on sides, ready to hang • 8" x 8"

If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

Sky Reach

One of my newest paintings! These trees are inspired by the aspens in the Columbia Gorge which  grow skinny and twisty due to the conditions in the gorge, I suppose. I have been really loving creating different color combinations based on autumn color palattes.

"Sky Reach" • Original acrylic on 3/4" wrap around canvas, painting continues on sides, ready to hang • 14" x 11"

If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.