BOTTLEBRUSH

I'd never seen a painting of a BottleBrush flower, but I'd intended to try one for quite a while. They are such unusual flowers. Along the stem, there are many tiny yellow flowers, from which the red bristles fan out. They provide an opportunity to use such delicious reds.

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Glazing Study

Glazing Study, Watercolor, 8.5 x 11

This was a workshop demonstration of glazing - creating layers of transparent watercolor. The blues and purples that were the first layers come subtly through the other layers, and pop out in the foreground as the lighter stalks of weeds and grasses.

Harry

Harry, Watercolor, about 12 x 12

This demo piece was painted during one of the watercolor workshop that I have given from my studio. Martha - friend, neighbor and student - asked for a demo on painting fur in watercolor using her hairy friend Harry as the subject. Sadly, Harry left us last month. He is fondly remembered!

THREE WATERING CANS

Occasionally I get distracted from painting flowers, but my attention doesn't stray very far. I love old rusty metal watering cans. They turn into works of art.

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MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM

Magnolia blooms are so graceful. Their evolution is so interesting - they turn into the oddest seed pods. I used Rose Madder Genuine for this blossom. It's a tricky color to use, cause it tends to granulate unless you are careful. Some artists like granulation, though. I used a wonderful Schmincke color on the stems called Transparent Brown.

Please visit my watercolor blog when you have time: http://paintinginwatercolor.blogspot.com

Tango

Since it's been so long since I shared, I thought I would post the painting I did for Illustration Friday. It's 8 x 8 on cold press. I experimented with some alcohol spatters in the background and it left dark bubbles so I spattered some water droplets to get some white ones, too. It came out a little more subtle than I wanted but in the end it worked.

YELLOW AND WHITE IRIS

I've been on a sort of Iris kick lately. They eluded me for so long, but finally I feel like I'm getting a better grip on them. For this painting, I used WN Transparent Yellow and Gamboge. They're really the only yellows I ever use. Most of the other yellows are somehow jarring to me. Anyway this one was alot of fun.

Rosella Imp Fuchsia

7.5 x 10.5 inches, watercolor, 2009.

These beautiful fuchsias are from my garden and have gorgeous white and pink blooms.

Sarracenia

7.5 x 10.5 inches, watercolor, 2009.

Another form of sarracenia from my collection and probably a hybrid.

Sarracenia Purpurea

10.5 x 7.5 inches, watercolor, 2009.

One of the carnivorous plants from my collection, this is Sarracenia Purpurea, or the purple pitcher plant. The leaves grow in a rosette and form pitchers with flared collars that catch rain water. The nside of the leaves have small downward-pointing wet hairs which insects slide down to drown in the water below. The plants then take nutrition from the insects.

Landscape

11 by 14 inches on Arches Paper.

Pansy Orchids

8 x 10 inches, watercolour, 2009.

A painting of beautiful miltonia orchids, also known as pansy orchids. These were on display in the Glass House at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, UK.

Miniature Dahlias

11 x 7 inches, watercolour, 2009.

A painting of some pink and yellow miniature dahlias from my garden.

King Priam

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2009.

In mythology Priam was King of Troy. He had fathered over 50 children, among them Paris, Hector, Cassandra and Laodice. After Achilles kills Hector and refuses to return the body, Priam leaves the safety of troy and enters Achilles camp to beg for the return of his son's body. Achilles relents and Hector's body is given a proper funeral. Priam is later killed by Achilles son Neoptolemus during the sacking of Troy.

Keys of my home

ACEO 3.5 x 2.5 inches
This is on E-Bay offered with free shipping

Patty, Watercolor, 16 x 16
From the last life-drawing day...until we resume in September.

Corpus Christi Church

8 x 6 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2009.

A commissioned painting of Corpus Christi Church, Collier Row, Romford, London. I find buildings and inanimate objects much harder to paint than figures!

Stealing Candies - NFAC

I listed today in E-Bay NFAC (Nibblefest art Contest) this paint.
The NFAC is monthly themed art contests. Contests run from the 20th to the 27th of every month. All artwork is listed at 99¢ with no reserve!

This is my entry.


"Stealing Candies" 5 x 7 inches Watercolor on Fabriano paper.

The Young Faun

5 x 7 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2009.

A young faun with a mischievious glint in his eye.

Heidi

4 x 6 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2009.

Portrait commission of a sweet little dog.

Watercolor Study

I often create a watercolor sketch that is a study for a larger silk piece. This watercolor, about 5 x 15, is a study for a silk piece that is 24 x 72. You can see the larger silk piece next week on Hillary's Blog.

Erinvor

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2009.

A portrait of a beautiful Elf Prince, Erinvor.

Self portrait #2

Hello my friends! I've made a second self portrait attempt and feel much more successful this time around. Using a photograph didn't hurt either. 6 x 5 inches

Wabash Purple and White Iris

I love the name of this Iris --- "Wabash Iris". It reminds me of an Iris in a tuxedo. This one makes me very happy, because it is definitely in the direction that I want to go. It makes me feel like I'm making progress. I never realized how complimentary purple and green could be together.

I'd love for you to visit my watercolor blog at http://paintinginwatercolor.blogspot.com