White Roses

Seems like I can't stop painting flowers. I wonder if there's some deep psychological reason for that. They just make me feel comfortable. Anyway, this one is a white "John Kennedy" rose. In order to create the illusion of "white", I used so many colors - gamboge, transparent yellow, sap green, hooker's green, ultramarine blue, and burnt sienna.

My watercolor blog: http://paintinginwatercolor.blogspot.com

From Dragon to Sphinx

The Dragon is one of my old pieces, and I am redoing it as a Sphinx, applying composition principles I've learned recently, such as value patterns, balance, and pathway for the eye.
The Dragon is ink and watercolor, approximately 4.5 x 4.5 inches.
The Sphinx sketch is ink and watercolor about the same size. I plan to do an oil or acrylic painting of it.
You can read more about it in my blog, Thick Air Gallery.

Is this really for Santa?" - ACEO

Watercolor on Fabriano 140lbs paper painted with Winsor & Newton artist's paint.


In the house everybody's sleeping... waiting for the old nice man. The dark is enlighten only by a candle that shines in the night. A shadow comes through the living room and reaches the ligh attracted by the sweet fragrance of the gingerbread biscuits and coffee. Maybe a taste... but: "Is this really for Santa???"

Quilted Challenge in Watercolor Group

"Quilted Hat Lady". 4x6 on cp 140# paper. From a photo I took of my niece. I love to use a photo as a starting point, and then find a creative direction to take the painting in.

Saint Martin de Porres ACEO

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2008.

Born in 1579 in Lima, Peru, the illegitimate son of a Spanish noble and a black former slave, Saint Martin de Porres is known for the work he did for the poor and sick during his life. He is the patron Saint of many things, incuding people of mixed race, Peru and public health. He is usually shown with a broom to symbolise that he saw no job as beneath him and the austerity of his life. He died in 1639 and was canonised in 1962.

Narrative Figure Study

Susan Ironing, 15 x 22, Watercolor with Watercolor Crayon

Susan Ironing, detail

Banokles ACEO

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.

Banokles is another character from David Gemell's Troy novels. He is the friend and companion of Kalliades, both being outlawed Mykene warriors. Whereas Kalliades is thoughful and intelligent, Banokles is more brawn than brain, but is good natured for the most part.

Boreas ACEO

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.

Boreas was the god of the north wind and bringer of winter in greek mythology. He was one of the Anemoi, the gods of the winds, whose parents were Eos and Astraios (the dawn and dusk gods). He was strong and bad tempered. He fell in love with an Athenian princess, Oreithyia, but after refusing his advances, he kidnapped her by wrapping her up in a cloud and whisking her away, raping her and fathering four children by her.

Preparing for Christmas?

Here I go...I've made it so far! All the birthday and anniversary , etc. greetings I've mailed this year have been watercolor paintings. Now, here's the big holiday and almost the end of 2008 and I've managed to keep my promise.

So you have to know I will be painting for the next several days while cooking a Thanksgiving Feast.

A very HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

Here's a sample. (one down thirty nine to go?)
A little Fog, a little Snow...
Happy Christmas from the Oregon I know!

The Centaur's Spear (PC version)

8.5 x 11.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.

This was a commission for a client who saw liked my previous Centaur painting and asked me to do a full body version. This is a slightly altered version that has had some anatomical details removed in photoshop.