Spring Scents

With more snow again today on the West Coast I had to keep reminding myself that spring is just around the corner. Thus, this little painting of a bumblebee checking out the spring flowers just had to be done.



"Spring Scents"
3.5" x 2.5" watercolour
© 2008


I painted this guy with mostly my Daniel Smith paints (I added a little bit of burnt sienna). There is even a little touch of iridescence paint in the tips of the flowers.

From the Sketchbook: Crabapple Tea

I got my last order (well, for a while anyways) of Daniel Smith paint... this time it is the Jazz Alley Triad which is comprised of Indigo, Deep Scarlet, and Quinacridone Sienna. I took a break from my apple painting tonight to do a little playing with these colours and I do dare say that I absolutely love them! I now own twelve wonderfully delightful colours.



watercolour and ink sketch
© 2008

Apple Slice, A Work in Progress Continues

I got a little more done on this this weekend. I'm getting very close to being completely done with the green apple (I am sure there will still be the odd tweak here and there yet) and I've turned my attention to the red one. The highlights are giving me some grief on this apple... they seem pasted on, or, perhaps I'm just being too picky. Either way,there is still a bit more work left on it.



"Apple Slice"
20" x 16" acrylic on stretched canvas
© 2008

Signs of Spring 2

With yet another winter storm coming through the area, I just needed to paint this one. Ahhh... warm spring breeze... and flowers, and hummingbirds. I know, spring will be here soon... but with the snow falling it just doesn't seem like it is soon enough.




"Signs of Spring 2"
3.5" x 2.5" watercolour
© 2008

Little Hummer

I was playing around with my Daniel Smith watercolours again tonight... and the more I play, the more I like them. This painting was done almost exclusively with my new watercolours except for some touch of indigo to the darkest areas. You can't see it in the scan, but I also used some of my duochrome saguaro green colour for a hint of glitter in the feathers of the hummingbird.



"Little Hummer"
3.5" x 2.5" watercolour
© 2008

More Progress on "Apple Slice"

I got a little more done on this painting... mostly at the top of the apples. I've been adding some of the details with the reflections and the colour variations near the stems.


"Apple Slice"
20" x 16" acrylic on stretched canvas
© 2008


Looking at the photo, I can see a couple of areas on the green apple that still don't quite look right. As well, I still have to tackle the the highlights on the red apple yet too. I think the hardest part of this painting is going to be knowing when to stop fiddling with it and to call it done.

From the Sketchbook: London Phonebooth

One of the things I have been enjoying the most about my sketchbook is the feeling of painting without pressure to produce a sell-able painting. It has been allowing me the confidence to try drawing objects that I wouldn't normally try. For example this London/English phonebooth (reference photo from the ever large Wetcanvas Image Reference Library).



watercolour and ink sketch
© 2008


I have actually been trying out a number of different city scenes and am thinking of trying a little plein air style sketching in the new future (going to let the forever rains go away first).

Apple Slice, Work in Progress

Here's a preview a my newest large work in progress. I'm working on this one, albeit slowly, applying lots of glazes and layers to get smooth transitions in the colours and shadows. I'm really happy with the way the green apple is shaping up, and there is still many layers left on the red apple (have to add better highlights on it). I'll add updated photos of this one as I progress on it.



"Apple Slice"
20" x 16" acrylic on stretched canvas
© 2008

Snack Break

I have been working on these little paintings (using my new watercolours of course) in between layers of paint on one of my large paintings. Well, one of my many incomplete large paintings to tell you the truth. I've been making good progress on it and perhaps soon it'll be done.



"Snack Break"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour
© 2008


But enough about that painting... This little guy was a fun challenge to paint. I actually started him prior to my new paints. I couldn't find a good brownish colour to do his fur in and then my tube of quinacridone deep gold arrived and I knew just what colour to use. Have I mentioned lately how much I love that colour?

From the Sketchbook: Arizona

One from the sketchbook tonight. I'm throughly enjoying the new paints... especially the quinacridone deep gold. This deep orange adds an incredible richness to my paintings. It is a part of the "Toucan Triad" set available through Daniel Smith and I highly recommend it to everyone.



watercolour sketch
© 2008


A few years ago I went on a wonderful (and yet too short) visit to Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding area. I was awestruck by the incredible number and sizes of the cacti... this having been my first trip to a desert. I'd love to go back the area and spend more time photographing and painting the desert.

Jewel

This is my first full (albeit small) painting using my new Daniel Smith paints. The colours used include: transparent pyrrol orange, phthalo turquoise, duochrome saguaro green, quinacrodone deepd gold, deep sea green, natural sleeping beauty turquoise, burnt seinna, and a rose colour (I honestly can't remember what it is called).



"Jewel"
3.5" x 2.5" watercolour
© 2008


I've been doing more work in my sketchbook as well... trying out some small scale paintings that might just become larger paintings. I'm trying to come up with a good composition for a painting above my couch. I got a couple of good possibilities... I'll scan in some of the work from my sketchbook this weekend and share.

Cruising Through

I love the pose of this chickadee... it looks like he has stopped just long enough for a quick pose before taking off to the sky again. I've also noted that this is my 40th miniature chickadee painting!



"Cruising Through"
3.5" x 2.5" watercolour
© 2008


I've been playing around with my new watercolours in my sketchbook (yup, I've sketched in it nearly everyday) and absolutely loving them. I've almost completed a mini painting using most of my new colours... I'll definitely be posting that one tomorrow.

Signs of Springs

I was so excited when I opened my mailbox this afternoon... my new set of paints was in!! Yah! Now I have nine new colours to play and explore with. I can say right now that I am truly going to love painting with these watercolours... the colours are so rich and vibrant.



"Signs of Spring"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour and ink
© 2008


We are under yet another snow storm warning out on the west coast which inspired me to paint a little of the spring to come. I know we don't have English robins on the west coast... but I love painting their cheeky looks.

Curious Chickadee

I was playing with a combination of ink and watercolour today and I really like the way this miniature painting turned out. Sort of a cross between an illustration and a painting... a definite do-again technique wise.




"Curious Chickadee"
3.5" x 2.5" watercolour and ink
© 2008

Ocean Visit

One more crow for me, and then I think I'm going to take a break from them. The crows are a big challenge to get all the different details on a black bird.... without only using black.



"Ocean Visit"
3.5" x 2.5" watercolour
© 2008


This painting is actually based on a photo I took just a couple days ago down on Acadia Beach in Vancouver, BC. Beautiful beach... just a tad bit too cool to stay out too long.

Magical Sunset

I'm trying a slightly different combination of colours tonight... a little brighter than my last few paintings. Actually, I just wanted to try painting a crow tonight in front of a brilliant sunset. I had quiet a bit of fun with this one just letting the colour mingle and dropping water here and there for some cool looking texture.



"Magical Sunset"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour
© 2008

Little Robin Redbreast

Happy New Year! Another year has come and gone and I suppose it is a time for setting some new goals. I don't always write down or commit to new years resolutions.... but on my previous trip to the art store I found myself looking at sketchbooks. I do have lots of those... but no small ones that would fit into my purse. So, on of my goals is to try to sketch something everyday. I may work on that goal and expand on it as time goes one, but I am going to start simple right now.



"Little Robin Redbreast"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour
© 2008


This is actually my last painting I made in 2007... just haven't had a chance to post until this morning. I was playing around with my new Daniel Smith watercolours (no, not the ones I've ordered, still waiting on those). The colours I got are Undersea Green and Moonglow.... they are so much fun to play with and I love the granulation that happens as they dry.