geranium

Spent last week enjoying the warm waters of the Gulf with a friend; this week catching up on my work!
This geranium keeps calling to me, and I'm trying to make time--especially since, now that my irises are done, I regret having put them off.

St Pete

In St Pete with a good friend for a few days ...
Here's the view from the hotel!

Crocus

I'm taking another online class with Val Webb. This one is 8 Flowers 8 Ways--eight flowers each done in a different technique.

Iris

I've been doing so much work in my yard, I haven't been making much time to paint.
But my irises are almost done, so I've got to make time!
Starting with this drawing ...

Plein air

Visited Fort Dr Soto, a great state park in St. Pete, Fla. A favorite place of mine.
As I always do, I took a small watercolor set and some 5x7 paper.
It usually goes unused, but this time I actually managed to get the paints wet, which makes up, for me, for any deficiencies in the results!

Daffodils ...

The current challenge at Peintures de Evhi.
A week ago today I adopted three cats. One still runs away every time she sees me, but I'll win her over.

Magnolia

I have a magnolia that blooms beautifully and briefly. I look forward to drawing and painting the undulating flowers every year. But this year a snowstorm killed all my buds--not one bloom.
So I painted this using a couple of the many pictures I've taken in previous years.

Daffodils

I keep trying. For this one, I tried to keep it looser, wetter ... No drawing.
I need to work on varying the greens more.
Next time.

Forsythia

I love today forsythia. What a beautiful yellow, and how it stands out in early spring.
Here are a couple of free hand studies, and a bird feeder I made in pottery class.

Color charts

I was looking for frame for my color charts--eight sheets from one full sheet (22x30). Didn't find one, but did get a poster frame (24x36) ... Which works perfectly if I turn all the 1/8 sheets 90 degrees and add one more sheet.
Now I have to decide what to put on the final sheet. An exploration of grays? A color wheel?
Looking forward to finishing and getting it hung in my art room.

Daffodil wip

I've been going about this one a little more deliberately than usual.
No drawing. I paint a flower, then add another, just working my way down the page.
I had planned to add stems and or a vase, but I may just keep going to the bottom of the page!

Pjms

A few sprigs from my mom's pjm rhododendrons.
She has several varieies of rhodos, all gargantuan. For some reason they just won't grow in my yard.

Daffodils

A few daffodils painted yesterday.
They are holding up pretty well in the returned cold weather, but I think the last snowstorm wrecked my magnolia buds.

Brussels sprouts

Interesting shapes and subtle colors ... A good subject for a little practicing.

Still life in progress

Trying something a little more ambitious; trying to keep these first washes looser and wetter.
I think it needs just a bit more--darks in the daisies and a bit more development of the hydrangeas; some lifting, too, if I can manage it.
(10x10)

Swatches

Every color I have ... Except the one I overlooked: opera!
I think I'll use the last 1/8th sheet for some mixes, then frame it and hang it in my studio.

Daffodils, cont.

Working on more daffodils, and thought this one was going pretty good, but there's something wrong with the paper. This happens now and then...the paper's too absorbent and looks "pilly." Bad sizing? Too much humidity? Quien sabe.

This last one is the no-pencil-line start shown in my previous post.

I wasn't happy withe actual vase, so I

 made one up, but it's not exactly what I hoped for!

Daffodils...

My first attempt at daffodils this year. Three bloomed before it got cold and snowy.

My neighbor, who is a summer resident, has dozens blooming in her yard. As I am every year, I'm terribly tempted to go and take a few! She's not here to enjoy them, I reason, why would she mind? But I can't bring myself to do it, never have.

  (9x14) 

With (left and above) and without (right) pencil.

Hot press

A couple more still lifes on hot press.

Hyacinth

Once in a while I pull out the hot press paper.
I like it for simple subjects painted all in one go.

 

 

(15x22)

Quince

A sprig of quince from the yard.
Some things have started blooming and others are in bud and today it's snowing!

Nests

Each of these was painted using a triad--raw sienna, permanent rose, cerulean on the left; burnt sienna, winsor violet, cobalt on the left.
After the first, wet wash dried, I went back to add some darks ... Haven't gotten to the second one yet!
(9x7)

Glass

 

I bought these chunky rocks glasses at a discount store; each has a blob of colored glass in the base, which is reflected above and below.
I thought they'd be good to paint, and would also give me practice with glass and grays.
So here's the first sytempt, painted in Daniel Smith's shadow violet, with some ultramarine and burnt sienna.
Kind of a mess, imho, but that means I will be able to improve!

... forced

 (6x8)

More attempts to keep my hand in.

I'm ready to move on to another subject; these are getting stale ... But haven't discovered what that subject might be yet!

Spending some (a lot!) of time right now making swatches of ALL the colors in my possession: a mind- and studio-clearing project! 

(6x8)

forcing ...

 (5x7)

(5x7)

Little simple still lifes to help me get back in the practice of painting regularly.

Dark background homework

 (8x9)

One of the best things about taking class is having to do things you normally wouldn't (... or does that sound masochistic?)

If you search the Internet you will find many luscious paintings of desserts and pastries, but the subject never appealed to me much: what would I do with a painting of strawberry shortcake? But, I have to say, I found it fun to paint it.

I was debating whether I could/should go in and add some darker darks to define the shortbread and the cream, but 1) I don't want to lose any more of the white, which I've already lost too much of; and 2) I couldn't settle on a color, or combination of colors, for the darks. 

Decided to do nothing and wait till Monday to see what my teacher says.