Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Ghosts


I painted this along with the blog Different Strokes from Different Folks hosted by Karin Jurick. This past week the subject was white pumpkins. It had kind of an aerial angle and there were 3 pumpkins but I found it tricky to compose. I decided to play and be real lose on hot press paper. Parts of it are successful. :)

Gone Fishing

DETAIL
This is a watercolor on Favini 180lbs artist paper. It's painted with Winsor & Newton artist paints. This piece is made for the "SPAM and trout" EBSQ Art Show. It's taken form a reference photo I took this summer while I brought my sons fishing in a mountain lake. We don't have SPAM here in Italy so I had to substitute the plastic tin we had just follow the "strange " title of this month's show. I'm not here to tell how much We all enjoed fishing and eating the trouts this summer, what I really didn't like was to have to put the worms on the hook.!

Monday, September 29, 2008

"Pumpkin Ladies"



Watercolor ACEO of 2 ladies dressed as witches, guarding the pumpkin patch. Composition inspired by Gainsborough --guess he won't mind if I "boroughed" it!

Bid on this ACEO!

Gordon Apples















Gordon Apples, 8 x 11, Watercolor

These came off our tree and into the studio, a detour on the way to being something delicious!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Live Oak Tree and Bluebonnets


Don't know which is more popular here in Texas - the Live Oak trees or the Bluebonnets. Both are a gift and a treat for our eyes. Painted in watercolor, of course.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Yosemite Paintings

As promised, here are some larger watercolor paintings I did while on a painting trip this summer with my painter friend and neighbor, Martha, and two other wonderful artists, Teri and Betty. We took a workshop there with artist Fealing Lin who did great demonstrations and critiques. Can you see the influence (probably not, but I did get a lot from watching her paint!)?

Half Dome (above)



This was perhaps my favorite spot in yosemite - the rushing water filled your eyes and ears!




Happy Isles






It started to rain, so we took photos and went inside to work on the pieces.


Half Dome in the Mist

I'm a new blogger do visit when you can!
http://hillarymillerart.blogspot.com/

Helikaon ACEO

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

Helikaon (Aeneas) is a prince of Dardania, and his father is a cousin of King Priam of Troy. He fights with Hector and is a hero of the Trojan war. In Gavid Gemmell's "Troy" series of novels he is a major character, and has a ship, the Xanthes.

www.marksatchwill.com

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Hayley


This is a miniature I just finished for a miniature show. It's the most detailed small painting I've ever done measuring in at around 2.5 sq. inches. :)

The Great Debate


Thanks to this months group Challenge at WnW, I painted this american quilt and pears and it's supposed to represent the three parties and the upcoming elections and all the debates coming up. It's 8x12

Berri ACEO

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


Berri's distinctive hair colour and skin markings act as a warning to predators that she won't taste nice if they try to eat her!

http://www.marksatchwill.com/

Monday, September 22, 2008

Galahad ACEO


ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.
Galahad is the son of Lancelot and Elaine of Carbonek - however, as Elaine has used magic to seduce Lancelot, by disguising herself as Guinevere, he abandons her. It is only later that when Galahad is grown that he is reunited with Lancelot, who knights him and takes him to Camelot. On arriving he sits in the "Perilous Seat", a space at the table reserved for the Knight who will discover the Holy Grail - usually to sit in the seat is fatal but he survives. Arthur then asks him to remove the Sword from the stone, which he does. Of the three knights who take up the Quest for the Holy grail, it is Galahad who succeeds because of his sinless nature and chastity.

Starfish ACEO


ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.
A mermaid using a starfish as a hair decoration sits sparkling in the sunlight.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Mr. Swiss


This is a quick watercolor portrait I painted with the All Media Events Group on Wetcanvas. It measures 4 x 4 inches and took about 50 minutes.


Thursday, September 18, 2008

Lone Daisy


It does look quite lonely don't you think? Kinda like me lately, now that the boys are in school full time! :(

Blossom ACEO


ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.
Blossom's hair changes colour with her moods - as you can see today she is feeling a little blue.

Odysseus ACEO


ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.
In mythology Odysseus is the son of Laertes, King of Ithaca. He is one of the heroes of the Trojan war, recognised for his cunning and eloquence. It is he who comes up with the idea of the Trojan horse. After the war his journey home takes 20 years and is the basis for Homer's Odyssey. Along the way he encounters the Lotus Eaters, the sorceress Circe, the Cyclops, Sirens, Scylla and enters the underworld.

Agamemnon ACEO

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

In mythology Agamemnon is the brother of Melenaus, husband of Helen of Troy, and joins his brother in the war against Troy, and is a major figure in the war, though not always in a positive way, offending both the goddess Artemis and the hero Achilles along the way. He takes King Priam's daughter Cassandra as his prize when the war is won. While away fat the war his wife Clymenestra takes a lover, Aegisthos. When Agamemnon returns they murder both him and Cassandra.

www.marksatchwill.com

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Postcards from Yosemite




Thank you to Erika for inviting me to show you some of my watercolors here on the Daily Watercolors Blog. I've enjoyed looking at all the beautiful pieces on this site. Here's a few postcard paintings from my recent Yosemite trips.

The first two are about 4 x 6, and the last one is about 3.5 x 5 - it's painted in the little tiny sketchbook with the little tiny travel palette that Erika gave me when I was in Arkansas. Number one is the bridge at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley. Number two is the vast walls of Yosemite Valley, and Number three is Birch Lake at Camp Mather, just outside of Yosemite.

This is my very first blog post ever! If it goes well then I'll get more adventurous and post some larger on-location paintings I did on this same trip.

Thanks for looking!

Hillary

http://www.hillarymiller.com

Mermaid's Tears ACEO

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


I don't know why this mermaid is crying - they are highly strung, contrary creatures, prone to tears - but I know she will collect the tears, allow them to dry and then when they have hardened and crystallised, make jewellery with them to sell.


http://www.marksatchwill.com/

Belle Rose ACEO

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

Another female/fashion type portrait ACEO.

www.marksatchwill.com

Doctor Who


4.5 x 7 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.
A fun painting of Doctor Who, his assistant Rose and his arch enemy, the Daleks.