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)

summer

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Multnomah Falls

Saturday, January 6th, 2018


 
Multnomah Falls, 6H x 2W inches watercolors

Multnomah Falls, 6H x 2W inches watercolors

Waterfall Fantasy 01

Friday, November 24th, 2017


 
Waterfall fantasy 01, 6H x 2W inches watercolors

Waterfall Fantasy 01, 6H x 2W inches watercolors

Waterfall Fantasy 02

Thursday, November 23rd, 2017


 
Waterfall Fantasy 02, 6H x 2W inches watercolors

Waterfall Fantasy 02, 6H x 2W inches watercolors

Mt. St. Helen’s Indian Paintbrush

Thursday, April 27th, 2017


 
Mt. St. Helen's Indian Paintbrush, 14 x 20 inches watercolors

Mt. St. Helen’s Indian Paintbrush Washington, 14 x 20 inches watercolors work in progress. The mountain and central areas may need to be darker, but I’m going to set this aside for a few days and come back to it. Lower left detail:

Lower left detail of Mt. St. Helen's Indian Paintbrush

 

Stellar’s Jays

Monday, April 17th, 2017


 

Stellar's Jays, phase 03 work in progress, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press

Work in progress, Stellar’s Jays at Nimkish Lake, Vancouver Island BC, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press. For years I’ve been visualizing a painting that portrays the Stellar’s Jay in various poses, representing general character. My Dad pointed out that Stellar’s Jays don’t usually group this way, which is an accurate view of the broader behaviour that didn’t even occur to me. Interesting! Phase 02 below and detail image – the yellow is masking medium:

Stellar's Jays, work in progress, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press Stellar's Jays, work in progress detail

Normally I don’t outline anything when starting a painting, which works fine with acrylics because it’s easy to change things throughout the process, but watercolors don’t allow for much room for error, especially if you don’t have much practice with them. Wingin’ it usually works for me because I don’t mind failure in exchange for experience, but mapping out the shapes and arrangement lightly in pencil really helps, and confidence is fundamental to painting well.

Smoky Lake Summer

Wednesday, April 12th, 2017


 

Smoky Lake Summer, 14 x 20 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed premium
Smoky Lake Summer, 14H x 20W inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed premium. 20H x26W inches approximate size framed. This is my favorite summertime memory of Alberta… miles of moving shadows across bright Canola fields and expansive, moody skies. The painting started off without the tree but needed a focal point. Detail images:

  Upper left detail of Smoky Lake Canola   Tree detail of Smoky Lake Canola   Lower left Canola detail of Smoky Lake Canola

Clearcut forest, Tillimook OR

Tuesday, February 28th, 2017


 

 Clearcut 01 detail, watercolors Clearcut 01 detail, watercolors

 Clearcut 01 details, watercolors – work in progress details

North Saanich Poppies

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017


 

North Saanich Poppies, 16 x 20 inches W/C on 140 lb. cold pressed premium

North Saanich Poppies, BC Canada – 14H x 20W inches W/C on 140 lb. cold pressed premium. Framed size 20H x 26W inches with white mat, white wood frame with crackle finish.

Watercolor gestures

Sunday, February 19th, 2017


 

Bee Balm, 4 x 6 inch watercolor

Bee Balm, Hydrangeas, and Tiger Lilies 4 x 6 inch watercolor gestures, working no longer than 30 minutes each.

Hydrangeas, 4 x 6 inch watercolor

  Tiger Lilies, 4 x 6 inch watercolor

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

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