When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

Archive for December, 2012

Zinnias

Thursday, December 20th, 2012


 

Zinnias, 18H x 24W inches graphite on paper
Zinnias, 18H x 24W inches graphite on paper.

Using an eraser just as much as the graphite, the composition is roughed in to fill the page. Smudging creates dark tones – some are removed with different sized erasers, and some areas are detailed. Initial plans were to create a drawing with about 4 inches of grey tones bleeding into a colorful central square to be drawn and painted with watercolor pencils, similar to Chrysanthemums, with borders more defined, but I like this one without colors. Plans always need to change according to what the results are dictating.

Deciduous Forest

Friday, December 7th, 2012


 

Deciduous Forest, 12 x 16 inches watercolors on paper

Deciduous Forest – Washington State USA – 12H x 16W inches watercolors on paper, sage green mat

Thumbnails below: 1. resist medium applied, dried and first paint application 2. peeling off the dried resist after painting dark hues of sap green 3. stage 02, after peeled off resist medium, before more paint 4. an idea occurred to use the pulled off rubber pieces as 3D effects in future paintings, probably best on canvas.
A while back, I had visitors attending a show of mine peel off the rubberized medium in the same fashion, revealing the flowers on “Flowering Shavingbrush Tree”.

  Deciduous Forest?, 9 x 12 watercolors with dried resist medium - in progress   Deciduous Forest, peeling off the dried resist after dark hues of sap green   Deciduous Forest, after dark hues of sap green and peeled off resist   Idea to optionally attach peeled, rubberized pieces of resist medium as leaves

Flamboyant Tree flowers and seed pods

Thursday, December 6th, 2012


 

Flamboyant Tree flowers and seed pods, 9 x 12 inches oil pastels on paper

Flamboyant Tree Flowers and Seed Pods – Chapala, Mexico –  9H x 12W inches oil pastels on paper, white mat