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)

Forests

« Previous Entries Next Entries »

Kaniksu National Forest

Tuesday, March 7th, 2017


 

Kaniksu National Forest, Idaho - 14 x 20 watercolors

Kaniksu National Forest, Idaho – 14 x 20 inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed. 20H x26W inches approximate size framed. Detail images:

  Kaniksu National Forest, upper left detail   Kaniksu National Forest, upper right detail
  Kaniksu National Forest, lower left detail   Kaniksu National Forest, lower right detail

Clearcut, Tillimook OR

Monday, March 6th, 2017


 

Clearcut, Tillimook OR - 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb cold press

Clearcut, Tillimook OR – 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed. Framed size 27H x 33W with white mat, white wood frame with crackle finish. Detail images:

  Clearcut 01, upper left detail   Clearcut 01, central left detail   Clearcut 01, upper right detail
  Clearcut 01, lower left detail   Clearcut 01, central right detail   Clearcut 01, lower right detail

Clearcut forest, Tillimook OR

Tuesday, February 28th, 2017


 

 Clearcut 01 detail, watercolors Clearcut 01 detail, watercolors

 Clearcut 01 details, watercolors – work in progress details

Mt. Walker Rhododendrons

Friday, February 17th, 2017


 

Mt. Walker, WA Rhododendrons, 15H x 22W inches WC on 140 lb cold pressed premium

Mt. Walker, WA wild Rhododendrons, 15H x 22W inches WC on 140 lb cold pressed premium. Details:

  Mount Walker WA Rhododendrons, central left detail   Mount Walker WA Rhododendrons, central right detail

Cedar Branches Abstract

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013


 

Cedar Branches Abstract, 18H x 24W inches Oil pastels on 100% cotton paper
Cedar Branches Abstract, 18H x 24W inches oil pastels on 100% cotton paper, white mat.

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

Birch Stand

Friday, November 30th, 2012


 

Birch Stand, 12H x 16W inches watercolors on 120 lb cold pressed premium paper

Work details: 1. applying resist medium 2. working with the challenge of a limited palette, watercolors were also dripped down the page. Tomball watercolor pen adds more details.

Applying resist medium Birch, details

Birch Stand, 12H x 16W inches watercolors on 120 lb cold pressed 100% cotton paper. Framed size 22H x 26W inches.

Bigleaf Maple watercolors

Sunday, November 4th, 2012


 

Big Leaf Maple 12H x 16W inches watercolors on 140 lb 100% cotton paper

 Big Leaf Maple near Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island, BC Canada, 12H x 16W inches watercolors on 140 lb 100% cotton paper. Framed size 22H x 26W inches.

Missing routine

Thursday, October 11th, 2012


 
The Campsite, watercolors, total size 24 x 30 inches professionally framed The Campsite, 24 x 30 inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed premium
I finally brought my watercolor paints back from my son’s place in Canada, where I left them so they wouldn’t freeze on the 5-day drive back west last November. Driving again, I’ve just returned from this year’s visit, when I gave my grandson a one-of-a-kind fabric book hand-made for his first birthday, Colors for Cameron. I plan to make him something special every year.

So, with a couple of new brushes and 12 x 16″ paper block, and now with the rainy season upon us back in Oregon, I look forward to establishing a routine of painting again. Invigorated by a summer full of gardening and flowers, the stunning scenery across America this time of year, plus reviewing archives of work I haven’t seen for ages, I’m all set to splash out some new watercolors. Our Portland house is a renovator’s dream/nightmare!, and we’re not out of the woods yet. Attempting to focus more on art than house, smaller paintings are more manageable and less of a production than my typically large canvas paintings…however, I’m curious to experiment and see how watercolors behave on primed canvas at some point!

Framing on Northern Delights 02 update

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010


 

Northern Delights 02, acrylics painting 24 x 36 inches with 36 x 48 inches canvas frame

Northern Delights 02, 24H x 36W inches acrylics on canvas, adhered to a 36H x 48W x 1D inches canvas. Mask/resist medium was used to maintain white spaces and pure colors in both sections.

The central painting was started in 2006, and the framing was resolved today – a perfect example where some paintings just need to hang around for a while before they are well and truly finished. The scene of the central painting is extended onto the larger canvas, initially intended to have the same style. However, after stopping for a coffee break then coming back with fresh eyes, I actually like the clash of styles. I always say that art is the best place to exhibit any rebellious tendencies! Besides, formal frames can sometimes cut off the energy of a composition too abruptly. Every painting does not need a frame, but finishing the edges should always be considered.

« Previous Entries Next Entries »