I sure hope we did not go from Winter directly to Summer, and skip Spring. Was really hoping for a few days of warm, not hazy, hot, and humid weather.
So, I had the idea to do a series of Spring-esque version of my neighbor's tree. Each to be done in watercolor with a different ink. For this, the first series, I decided to use silver shimmering ink. It is tough to see in the orange tree (and easiest to see in the purple tree), but each of the inks shimmer when hit with light. Originally, I was going to do these on 6x8 inch 140 lbs watercolor paper and fold them in half to make cards to give out. Instead, I used the 4x6 and made post cards. Will probably do a few more using watercolor and sheening inks. What do you think cool or cheesy?
My neighbor's tree, now in technicolor!
Watercolor and Diamine Citrus Ice ink
Watercolor and Robert Oster Fizzy Lime ink
Watercolor and Robert Oster Violet Clouds ink
Woodpeckers are starting to take a toll on my old friend. Mostly we get Red-bellied and the occasional downy wood peckers feasting in the old growth woods. Last week a rarely seen Pileated woodpecker went to town on my favorite tree. It acted more like an axe beak, hacking wood chips on an upper branch. Giant, gaping holes are testament to the damage.
Watercolor, Pen & ink on paper
Done using Diamine Damson ink (a grayish purple ink) and a touch of watercolor for emphasis.
I have long wanted to visit DC when the Cherry Blossoms are blooming. It appears like this year will not be the year (predicted peak bloom will be next week). But in honor of the upcoming National Cherry Blossom Festival, and a longing for Spring, here is a simple watercolor of those wonderful, beautiful trees.
Watercolor 6X8 of 90 lbs paper
This past Sunday was a beautiful day. The perfect day for a hike and a painting. For this piece I once again used the elegant writer pens for the initial sketch. And unlike the eagle, I added watercolor over the top of the activated pen. This marks a bit of a departure from my normal style (what ever that is) as this looks more surreal than anything else I have ever done (which is kinda cool). There is a bit of "mud" where watercolor wash met still wet pen ink (I need to be more patient) but over all, I am quite pleased with this.
"activated" elegant writer marker and watercolor on 9X12 140lbs paper
That calender may say it is Spring, but the weather is not quite Spring. Returning to Duke Farm to paint in the freezing cold (literally; more on that later) seemed like a good idea. I have not painted much of late and needed to be outside, so off to Duke Farms I go. It was supposed to be in the 40's this morning but was 25 degrees when I stepped into the park (the iPhone weather app, apparently, does not always tell the truth). As I set down to paint and started mixing the colors, ice crystals began precipitating out of the wash as the water, literally froze on the pallet. It would have been cool if it was not so cold. Ice crystals clung to the brushes and glomped on the painting, making the process somewhat strange. I completed 90% of the painting on site and added finishing details in the cafe. All in all, it turned out well, but I truly wish for Spring to really begin.
Watercolor, Pen & Ink on 140 lbs block 9X12
Despite teaching biology in college, I have been accused of a having a willful ignorance of local flora (there is a running joke that I call all small flowering trees dogwoods). While that may be true to an extent, I am not that bad. But here is where I fail to disprove that hypothesis. In our side yard, we have both rhododendrons and rose of sharon growing. And of course, I call them both rose of sharon because, well, it amuses me (sad but true).
Below is a painting of said rhododendron in said side yard. This painting is a rather large and has the distinction of being the first painting on my new en plein air easel and tripod set up (see below). I was very excited to finally get to use my new kit, it makes me feel like a real artist.
Watercolor on 140 lbs watercolor block 12x16
I did a simple hike in Washington Valley Park and for the first time brought tube paints along with my Pocket Palette (dried paints). It was crazy windy by the East Branch Reservoir where I set up but the sun was warm. With the wind whipping by, I had to work fast. The result was this groovy, abstract painting. I love the juicy washes in the sky and the evergreen trees using the tube paint. I can see why many Urban Sketchers bring tubes along with them on site.
Watercolor on 140 lbs watercolor board 9x12
Here is the actual photo. It was so windy that the clouds were constantly changing and moving by, altering the shadows they threw on the trees and water below. While I painted, several college-aged kids hop across the little rock bridge in the foreground that was partially submerged. None fell in.
Slowly, Spring is starting to return. The weather is trying to get warmer. More and more birds are showing up at our feeder. We see robins, cardinals, finches, chickadees, bluejays and a few others I have not yet identified. And they make great subject matter.
This painting is a departure from all the landscapes I have done recently. It is always good to try something new. Plus, it allowed me to do more drawing before the watercolors, which was fun.
Watercolor on 140 lbs watercolor paper 9x12
The name of this Triad is called Reflections (Blue Apatite Genuine, Deep Sap Green and Transparent Brown Oxide) and it is an apt name. What lovely granulating washes the blue apatite made for the distant mounts and the deep sap green is so lush I did use my favorite, verditer blue for the sky and water.
I like the haphazard washes and energy in the water and mountains. I also like how the sky and granulated blue mountains gives it a feel of a rainy day, which are perfect days for reflections.
Watercolor on 140 lbs watercolor block 9x12
And the title also follows the great tradition of similar titles and concepts.
I have been marveling at other artists' still life paintings of late and realized that I have not done one myself in probably 20 years. And with today being the first day of Spring (although you would never know it from the weather), I figured that meant flowers.
Not that I did them justice, but they are colorful and pretty. Happy first day of Spring!!
Watercolor on 140lbs paper 9x12
The 9x12 paper is just a bit too big for my scanner and that causes some shadowing on the paper. I might have to re-scan this or take a photo of it instead.
When I went to run some errands this afternoon, there was a wee bunny just chillin' in my side yard. Imagine my surprise when he was still there when I returned, undeterred by my car pulling into the driveway in front of him. I decided to snap a few photos with my phone and paint the brave little guy's portrait.
Watercolor on 140 lbs paper 10x7
I am pleased with how the bunny turned out and the amount of detail I achieved. But I am even more pleased that I was able to layer a light wash of burnt umber and pthalo over the top of the bamboo on the side. Normally, I would not want to ruin the under drawing and left it as is. The drawing would have been all mid-tones and very boring as a result.
This winter has been tough, even for those of us who enjoy the cold. I figured since Mother Nature was teasing us with an almost Spring day (it hit over 60 degrees here) before sending us more cold, I would paint something colorful. . .and warm.
Watercolor on 140lbs watercolor block 9x12
I used M Graham watercolors for this (I bought his Shades of Summer limited edition at a year end close out sale; highland green, bismuth yellow, cobalt teal, permanent green pale and scarlet pyrrol) instead of my normal Daniel Smith. I did supplement with DS verditer blue to create a purple for the sky (I thought I would get a purple from the orange-red scarlet pyrrol and cobalt teal, but that made a nice brown I used on the beach). Funny thing is, apparently MG and DS watercolors do not mix so well. You can see the granulation in the clouds (this also happened on my palette as the mix dried). That is too bad as I like these colors, perhaps I will make a MG only travel palette.
I like the layering of colors in the beach and the dunes, probably because I allowed the paints to fully dry before laying on additional paint. . .Ah patience, it is a virue.
Spring is here. . .Finally. Was it just me or did it feel like Spring was never going to arrive? It was not a particularly bad Winter but even I, who does enjoy cold weather, was done-al la-done-done with the cold. It is time to be outside wearing shorts and sandals.
Watercolor on 120lbs paper 9x12
I woke up this morning feeling inspired. The entire house is clean, like we just moved in clean, that is how clean it is. The art room looks amazing and was calling to me. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by paints and pastels and racks of paper and art board and pads and all the supplies I have been gathering for the last decade.
I am very satisfied with the wet-on-wet technique used on the field. I even held up the painting so the water and color could just flow where it wanted. It makes an interesting effect.
And let me say, it took everything I had to go all Bob Ross on this painting and add the dark tree in the foreground. The painting needed something interesting up close, but it was very hard for me to paint over what I would normally call a finished painting. I think this means I am growing.
