Mystified

After being so depressed by the loss of my most favorite companion, I got right back into painting to ease the pain.  I imagined him right here with me as he always would be near me while I painted.  

Here is a watercolor and gouache that I just completed this morning.  I call it "Mystified".  It is 18 x 24 on watercolor paper.

Mystified-watercolor & gouache-$225

Worst Day of My Life

Early this morning, after having to watch my oldest dog, Nemo, have several seizures, I watched my best and most treasured friend go to doggy heaven.  This was the hardest thing I've had to do in my life and it was the worst day of my life.  Nothing compares to the lose of a loved one.  I've lost many who where very close, but to lose a companion like Nemo will stay with me forever.  I know in time the feeling I am having today will fade, but without knowing this animal, you didn't know one of cutest, sweetest guys in the dog world.
Nemo was a pure breed Jack Russell with a rough coat of white fur and a brown mask on his face. When we got him he was only two pounds and he grew into a sturdy terrier full of energy and personality.

Nemo-11/24/2011
May he rest in peace-12/18/2011

I just loved that dog....and now he is gone....so in memory of him, I dedicate this post for my "Bubba, my Bud, my Nemo".  

Colors of Winter II

Colors of Winter II-FRAMED-$350

I have been working my way up to using a large sheet of good Arches 140 lb paper.  This painting is approx. 15 x 22 (half sheet) and a watercolor.

What do you think?  Let me know...I love to hear comments.  

Summer Breeze

Summer Breeze-unframed watercolor and gouache $75

Okay, did this one this morning....this weather is already getting me down.  So here is a watercolor and gouache, 9 x 12.  

Winter in IL

Winter in IL-Unframed watercolor and white gouache-$75

On to winter scenes, since today the sky sure looks like winter is just around the corner....found this photo that I took years ago, so I painted this watercolor and white gouache on an Arches 8 x 11 cold press 140 lb paper.  

Fall Branches II

Fall Branches II-12 x 18 watercolor and gouache unframed $150

Last one in this Fall series...12 x 18 on Canson 140lb paper.  

Fall Branches

Fall Branches-watercolor and gouache-unframed $125

Watercolor on Canson 140lb 12 x 18.  

Saplings near the Clearing

Here is another 12 x 18 watercolor and gouache on Canson 140 lb. paper.
I am on an autumn kick!  The colors are so breathtaking and so I looked back to 2009 and found another beautiful scene to work into a painting.

Saplings near the Clearing-watercolor and gouache- unframed $125

Last October

Last October-Transparent Watercolor- Unframed $150

This morning I started painting as I usually do each day (that is if I have the time) and drank my morning java with flavored cream and ice.  Three cups are usually my limit.

I have been messing around with acrylics and I am far from mastering that, but learning how to work with the medium. I started an 11 x 14 on canvas board of a large dahlia with a dark background.  It has a long way to go, so I will post when that one is completed if it is worthy of seeing.

And my watercolors are sometimes frustrating, but I continue to go back and try and work a full painting using transparent watercolor only.

Today, I did a scene that was from last October of a photo I took I believe in Libertyville, so of course, I call this one "Last October".  It is a transparent watercolor on Canson, 12 x 18, 140 lb. paper.  I used a variety of colors, which include: burnt alizrin, sepia, paynes gray, violet, indigo, hunter green, quinacridone gold, cadimuim and lemon yellow.  I usually mix my hunter with the indigo to get a darker green.  The violet, paynes gray and the indigo to get a dark deep color for depth.  And to give me my whites back, I scraped the surface of the tree trunks to brighten them.

Fall Scene IV-Acrylic and Gouache

I made an exciting discovery today!
A very good artist friend of mine intrigued me into trying some acrylic paints.  So, I went out and bought a limit color palette and started messing with them a few days ago.  After doing a few paintings, I just didn't feel they were right.  So on the third one, this one, I added some gouache paint and sealed it with a UV gloss protection so that it can be put into a frame without glass.

I call this one Fall Scene IV 2011.  It's 11 x 14 on a canvas board.  

Crossing-Gouache on Hot Press

Got a few good photographs from a plein air session a few weeks back and gave this scene a whirl.  I used hot press Arches paper and is about 6 x 9 in size.

What attracted me to this scene was the perspective of the distance you see beyond the bridge and the challenge of painting the crossing gate.

With each painting I try and challenge myself with something that I have not done before.  Sometimes that can be difficult if I have no reference material to use to work from.  I had hoped to get more subject matter that day, but found the colors to be somewhat simple instead of exciting.  The camera just can't capture some of the values and brilliance that life gives you when you paint, that's why I love plein air painting so much.

Crossing-$60 unframed-gouache 6 x 9

Fall Colors III-Watercolor and White Gouache

Fall Colors III-Unframed 12 x 18-$80

Fall in Illinois can be very unpredictable.  Some years we have lots of red others lots of yellow.  This year is the year for yellows.  But, with a little imagination, I can see those other colors coming out everywhere.  The greens are especially interesting mixed with the yellows.
Here is a watercolor and white gouache that I painted a few days ago.  I shot the original photo on the way home from a plein air session in Lake Bluff.  This was a group of trees in Libertyville, IL on St. Mary's road and Rt. 176.  

Garden Walk

Garden Walk-Unframed $130

This is a gouache painting I just finished this morning...went on a garden walk last a few weeks back and got some great photos to work off of.  

Showing it's Age

Working with watercolors a bit more lately and enjoying the vibrant colors I am getting...also working with gouache...but my poor pastels are just sitting here....not very motivated to work with them lately.

Showing it's Age-Watercolor and Gouache-$125 unframed

Anyway, here is my latest painting.....enjoy! It's 12 x 16 on Canson watercolor paper.  

Wild Thistles

For the first time in my life, I am teaching a watercolor class! It has been a wonderful experience and I am not sure if they are getting more out of it or me!  It has reignited my passion for watercolors and brought attention to how much I know about watercolors and gouache painting.  I am totally enjoying the three students that I have and hope they are too.

I did these two paintings over the weekend to show the class the difference between using masking fluid and not using it.  Wild Thistles I was painted with masking fluid and gouache with watercolor on the flowers and Wild Thistles II was painted without masking, by reserving areas and watercolor with white gouache.

These are both 9 x 24 size on Canson watercolor paper.  

"From the Road"

"From the Road"-SOLD

Caught some beautiful landscape scenes from my car a few weeks back and painted this picture from one of the photos.  I loved the way the light was shining on the grass in this one.  I call it "From the Road" and it is a 9 x 12 gouache on watercolor paper.

Moored-Gouache on watercolor paper

Saturday, I got to go to my plein air group and got some great shots of an area in Antioch called "Barnacle Bob's".  It's a place where you can dock your boat and fish.  There were about 6 artists who participated that morning and it was a great experience as usual.

This is a gouache painting on watercolor, Canson, 140lbs.  Enjoy!

Art Reception-May 20th, 2011

Well, it's been a few weeks since my reception and I find myself looking back and thinking about the experience.
It was wonderful!
I enjoyed conversing with everyone who was there and had a good time showing my art.
The best thing that came out of the reception was an invitation to start teaching watercolor at the Round Lake Beach Cultural Center.  After some discussion with the facilitator, we came up with a three week, 2 hour class in July on Wednesday mornings.  It will be interesting to see how many sign up and attend.  I have been preparing a supply list and getting some information collected to share with anyone who attends the class.  With very little background in art (I didn't attend any university, mainly I'm self taught) it will be a challenge to direct my art career into something more than just showing, selling and painting.  Now I can add teaching to my portfolio! Onward and upward!

May 20th 2011-Round Lake Beach Cultural Center

Latest Gouache-Shove Off

This is my latest gouache painting. 

At the Waters Edge

Well I have been painting none stop now for a few days and this painting was the result of a challenge on Wet Canvas.  I love looking at other peoples paintings on there and trying to participate in the various challenges in different forums.  This was a "landscape" challenge and I jumped right in so to say. 

It is a gouache on Canson 140 lb watercolor paper, 9 x 12 in size.  Enjoy!

At the Waters Edge-unframed $65

"Waiting for Spring

This is a gouache on Canson watercolor paper, 140 lbs.  I call it "waiting for spring".  it is 6 x 18 in size. 

After working on several street scenes I needed a change of pace.  So, I did this painting today to remind my self that spring is just around the corner even though we are still getting snow here in northern IL. 

"Waiting for Spring"

"The Bar"

"The Bar"

This is a gouache on Canson 12 x 18 watercolor paper.  I have been working on a series of European pictures that I got from my brothers trip to the Mediterranean last year. 

Figures in my paintings

I have been working on incorporating figures into my paintings.  Yep, it gets pretty boring just painting those serene landscapes, so I thought I'd keep working on improving my figures.  Usually I end up throwing the work into the garbage, since I over work the faces, etc.  But, I think I am actually getting it. 
So here are two of my latest paintings.  They are "Out Shopping" and "Taking your Order".  Both are gouache on Canson 140 lb paper, 9 x 12. 

Out Shopping-$65 unframed

Taking your Order-$65 unframed

After the Blizzard

Painted this scene from a photo I took this morning while shoveling 18-24" of snow out of my driveway. 

After the Blizzard-$85 unframed

I call it "After the Blizzard".  It's painted on Canson 98 lb mixed media paper and is 11 x 14. 

Datura

For those who don't know what this is....me included!....it is a very interesting flower.  I painted this because of the cool way it stands up.  After the flower blooms, it takes on a whole new look. 

Datura-unframed $40

Anyway, here it is in gouache 11 x 14. 

Watching from the Window



"Watching from the Window" $40

 Attempted to make a reduction relief print over the weekend.  This time I used three colors.  Here is the results.  I used Canson mixed media paper and started with an orange/red color then added a violet color and last a black mixed with violet and red.  It is 5 x 7 in size and will have a series of 12.

Fallen Leaves

I was gonna do this one in a print, but decided it would make a wonderful gouache painting.  I took this photo several years ago and was so pleased with the shadows from the acorn pieces. 

Anyway....here is the 7 x 11 gouache on hot press Arches of "Fallen Leaves".

Fallen Leaves, gouache 7 x 11 For Sale!

Hope you enjoy!

The Collection

Worked all weekend on my first attempt at a reduction relief print.  Thought I'd do a two color to start, so here it is.  I call it "the collection". The process is this:  transfer an image to the block by tracing paper and pencil.  Then trace that with magic marker.  After the image is on the block, I start carving out the area that I want to stay white.  Print with first color as many prints in the series.  Carve some more and print second color. 

I will continue to experiment with this process working with more layers of colors and different paper applications. 

The Collection-10 prints made