In Living Color 39 - Moonlight Lily

It might seem strange that I would list this painting under In Living Color but it actually is a watercolor where I just use one color, Payne's Gray.  Ever since I painted the monochromatic chicken posted earlier, while working under my first teacher Louise, I have wanted to try doing another painting using that technique.  This painting was a lot more challenging than the chicken, was a great exercise in color value, and I really like the results.  The original color photo, if I recall correctly, was one I found in a Birds & Blooms magazine.

Midnight Lilly
Watercolor
11"X15"

In Living Color 38 - Nemo's Friends

My next painting was the inspiration of Karen.  We were sitting at the kitchen table one day going through magazines and I was looking at a copy of my husbands Scientific American.  I found a picture of Nemo's friends and when Karen noticed it she asked if I would paint it for her.  The next thing I know I'm making an enlargement from a 1 1/2"X2" photo.  I started the painting while Karen was still in Florida but due to the slowness of my work I didn't finish it until after she left for Utah.  But eventually it was completed, framed and shipped to her as one of her Christmas gifts.


Nemo's Friends
Watercolor
11"X15"

In Living Color 37

One summer before I left the beach house classes we had our daughter Karen, who lives in Utah, spend a few weeks with us which gives her mother a little vacation and some time to herself.  I would always take Karen to class when I went and she loved the opportunity to do art along with the rest of us and get a lot of attention in the process.  Here is a picture of Karen enjoying class and a couple of art pieces she completed while there.

Karen

 

Karen's Art - Drawing

 

 

Karen's Art - Watercolor

 



 We had a good time!

In Living Color 36 - Butterfly

After going out on my own I started this painting and I was very pleased with the outcome even if it took me forever to figure out the process and to complete it.  I remember spending a long time just deciding how to do the back ground and at least that much longer getting the nerve to paint it.  I knew that once I started the background I needed to complete it in one sitting so it would be cohesive.  This will not be a new picture on the blog as I've used it on the sidebar for some time now but felt it needed to be included in the body of the blog as it fell into place among the others.

Butterfly
Watercolor
11"X15"

In Living Color 35

It was several years that I spent taking lessons to learn the finer art of drawing, pen & ink and watercolor but as with all good things a time comes when you feel that a new direction is needed.  I was very fortunate to have two great teachers but also felt that, at the time of this decision, I was not moving forward any longer.  In fact I found myself doing to much comparison to the teacher and other students and felt my work was not living up to my expectations.  It was then that I decided I needed to go out on my own and discover what I could do using my own choice of subjects and the knowledge that I had obtained to that point.  It was a slow process moving forward but I was determined to do it. 

Regarding this subject I want to leave you with a parting thought about my teacher Therese Ferguson, here.  She is an amazing artist and can paint just about anything with complete ease.  She has been in many competitions and has brought home the prize probably more often than not.  She and several other ladies run an art studio, Art & Antique Studio, located in Melbourne where they give lessons in many different media.  Here is a picture of Therese giving a lesson in one of the classes I attended at the beach house.

My Teacher - Therese Ferguson

And here she is with an award winning ribbon at one of the shows.

Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us Therese!

In Living Color 34 - Succulent

It seems that every now and again I find an artist that I really like and want to see if I can duplicate their style.  I found such an artist in a book at the library.  Library's are really great places!  This time the book also included a step-by-step video to watch.  What a bargain!  The artist is Birgit O'Connor here and she likes to do really BIG paintings.  I have tried a few of her works and here is one that I feel I didn't do my best and actually have not completed yet but maybe when I finish it I will feel a little better about it.  I will post the other paintings I've done of hers at a later date.

Succulent
Watercolor
11"X15"

My Favorites - My Little Buddy Solomon

I am dedicating this posting of My Favorites to my little buddy Solomon who has truly been the light of my life.  We met 18 years ago and have spent those years in a relationship unlike any other I've had with my pets.  He had the most lovable, adorable and beautiful spirit ever.  We just had to look into each others eyes and know that there was a love only the two of us could share.  He will truly be missed but will always have a place in my heart.  Love you little buddy!

My Favorites - My Little Buddy Solomon

 

 

In Living Color 33 - Vineyard

It seems that I've always wanted to be able to paint quicker and looser so every now and again I give a new picture a try to see if it can be done.  I found this picture on the cover of the April 2011 issue of Watercolor Artist and loved the work of the artist Michelle Taute.  I did accomplish my objective to paint quicker, although not as quick as I'd hoped, and I didn't do the painting justice in comparison to the original artist which I expected, but I had another fun day of painting.

Vineyard
Watercolor
8"X11"

Just Black & White 15 - Ballerina

I was in the mood to try a little drawing since it had been awhile so I pulled out the paper and pencils and worked on this drawing which I saw in a book.  It was a fun exercise for a change.

Ballerina
Graphite Drawing
9"X12"