"Kathy"

"Kathy" 8x10 watercolor on paper

I am happy to share this tribute portrait of my very missed niece Kathy.  This is a gift of mine to my sister Anna for her birthday next week :) 

A Sterling day for Starlings!

"Sterling Starlings" 20x26 watercolor on Yupo

This morning I received a call from a very excited lady who saw my this painting hanging at one of the galleries currently exhibiting my work.  She just had to have this for her office so she can look at it daily she said!  She also wants to know what else I have.  She promptly made arrangements to pick it up after our phone call :)  Wow what wonderful way for an artist to start her day!  For me it's better than Christmas since Christmas is not about us anyway ;)

Doing 30 days of painting

Poppy Landscape ACEO

I am challenging myself to just paint daily for 30 days.  I won't be painting a finished piece but I will paint something everyday which I don't do.  Well some days I take pictures all day or read an art book or peruse art websites but those too get in the way of creating.  So I painted this at 11:50PM last night lol  But it was done at 12:30 - I love that panic button!!!  This is a monthly challenged in Wetcanvas miniature group.  I had never participated in any of that before, usually I just go to the image library.

This video prompted me to do the 30-day deal.  By the way this painting is day #3

http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html

ACEO Neglected tool...

"Neglected, But Not Forgotten" 2.5x3.5 watercolor on paper

I don't take it lightly when I discover that I've forgotten to wash a brush, especially when it's with oil paint or acrylics.  Aside from the high cost of good art supplies, I strongly believe the old say, "when you take care of your tools, your tools will take care of you."  But this one brush was not the first I've damaged and it probably won't be the last!  I painted this for the Daily Paintworks Paint What You Paint With challenge :)

Solo Mio

"Solo Mio" 7x5

This too is a response to Daily Paintworks Challenge to paint the Old Mill.  One of my most enjoyable fishing experience was when I camed at the Kern River in northern California.  It was rocky and the was had nice movement.  I didn't catch a single thing but I still enjoyed it.  Anyway, that was my inspiration for my rendition of the old mill reference photo :)

Cat's Cradle Portrait of Akiko Watanabe

"Her Cat's Cradle" 2.5x3.5 inches watercolor

This a deal that developed during the DSDF Portrait project. I have always admired Akiko Watanabe's work - it's nothing short of EXCELLENT. Her attention to details that is always done with such care and impeccable skills. Her love for animals is always manifested through each one of her creations. Here is her website http://www.akiko-watanabe.com/index.html and here is her blog http://artbyakiko.blogspot.com/ prepare to be knocked over :)


So I see Akiko as an angel, most especially cats. This is why I thought I'd paint her with wings. And a pair of hands with the cat's cradle string position to symbolize that cats find comfort with her. I tried with my limited knowledge of cat shapes to paint 15 cats on her shirt. This number symbolizes an important figure to her which I will let her own. It's a miniature piece of art, but it's the biggest hug I can send right now and made with love for dear Akiko xxx

DSDF #11 Upside Down Walker and Charles Reid thoughts

"Upside Down Walker" 7x10 watercolor

Oh my, this week's challenge is pretty challenging. I laughed to myself when I turned my painting upright and I was a bit disoriented that the woman was facing the opposite direction from when I was painting her LOL! Ok, maybe you can understand more what I'm talking about when you visit this week's Different Strokes by Different Folks, a blog hosted by Karin Jurick.

I need to note that I've determined an additional benefit I've inherited from Charles Reid when I took his workshop. His painting technique has allowed me to not discriminate against most papers. In fact, I haven't encountered a watercolor paper that I can't paint well enough on. This paper is Portofino Aquarello Cartiera Magnani. I didn't like this paper when I used it the first time. The paper wasn't letting me get crisp edges; I guess not enough sizing. But I am perfectly happy this time around.