Cardinal & Pinecones

We've all been working on experimenting in class. I arranged the last 2 classes to play with paint and walnut ink and see what happens. It's fun to play and just think about nice colors and textures. Cardinals & Pinecones started out like that. I was originally thinking forest but then I thought of adding the cardinals and pinecones over the original texture. There are several layers which add depth to the colors. The pinecones look really great over the turquoise paint. I used gouache and white acrylic ink for the added white areas.

"Cardinals & Pinecones" • Original mixed watermedia on 100% rag paper • 11" x 15" • SOLD

Woodland Fantasy

Trees—one of my favorite subjects to paint! Because...they're individual, flexible, and have personality. To me, trees are very much like people and I think of them that way as I'm painting them.
Color—complicated, luminescent, always changing. In this piece I layered watercolor, acrylic ink and gouache and just a little brusho. This Shizen handmade paper is very soft and soaks up the paints which makes it ideal to use acrylic inks as the color is a bit stronger. When I accomplish the layering as I want, the color has more depth and interest. Because this is handmade paper, each edge has a deckle.

"Woodland Fantasy" • Original mixed watermedia on handmade 100% rag paper • 9" x 12"

If interested in purchasing click HERE.

New Pieces!

New Pieces!!!!!!!!
This sunflower piece is is painted with very saturated colors! It's a combination of acrylic inks, gesso and watercolor. I enjoy sharing the joy of these flowers with you!
If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

"Sun in Flowers" • Original mixed watermedia on 100% cotton paper • 11" x 15"

This piece has a little different color combination. I loved adding the leaves to this scene. There's a little iridescent piant here and there.
If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

"Kingfisher in the Autumn • Original mixed watermedia on 100% cotton paper • 11" x 15"

MIxed Watermedia Sunflower Paintings

My mixed media sunflower workshop was September 12 which arrived faster than I thought it would. I figured that I should have something to show for this workshop and the morning of the workshop I  finished "Petals & Leaves." The tricky think about beginning with an ink wash is trying to bring out the surprise image of the piece without obliterating the ink wash! It's kind of like - I do one thing and that leads to another thing and another until the piece resolves. It's hard to make those first brush strokes!!!!! I loved the movement of this piece and the surprise purples!
"Sunflower Talk' was from the demo that I did at the workshop. The inks looked great but I just couldn't see an image. I nearly gave up on ever creating something from this ink wash. But little by little it came together and has the freshness from the original ink wash. I'm always amazed by how these pieces turn out!
Someone asked why I would ever want to begin with acrylic ink. It's very brilliant and the colors are strong. When I go over the dried ink with watercolor, the ink stays put and if I change my mind about the watercolor I can usually scrub it off because it's on top of acrylic ink. I think the layering of acrylic ink, watercolor and acrylic ink is very special and looks different than just watercolor. Essentially the ink is opaque and the watercolor is transparent. Layering opaque and transparent paints can make for interesting effects. I also like that when finishing the piece I can use tinted white ink to cover areas or add sparkle.

"Petals & Leaves" • original mixed watermedia on 100% cotton paper

"Sunflower Talk" • Original mixed watermedia on 100% cotton paper

This piece is available for purchase. Click HERE for details.

Beach Bird Exercises

I've been trying quick paintings in my sketch book with limited colors and a big brush. It's been really fun and is a good warm up for my painting session. Below are 2 of these exercises in acrylic. My other rule for these is to draw them free hand as I'm painting them.

Still for a Moment

Kingfishers are very entertaining to watch. They are very active birds and aren't still for very long. The love the water and the little fish and places to perch. When I find them I usually only hear them as they're flying away laughing. This piece is about the small moment when this bird of lovely colors is still.

"Still for a Moment" • Original acrylic on 1/5" wrap around canvas, painting continues on sides, ready to hang  • 6" x 6"

If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

Lupine Fantasy

Lupine have always seemed rather like  common flowers to me and it's taken me years to truly appreciate them. They work beautifully in this piece standing tall against the colorful backdrop of oranges, reds and browns. There's iridescent paint on and around the flowers in this mixed watercolor and acrylic ink painting.

"Lupine Fantasy" • Original mixed watermedia on 100% cotton paper • 11" x 15"

If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.