Friday, March 31, 2017

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.

Monday, March 27, 2017

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.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

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.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Brussels sprouts

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

Saturday, March 18, 2017

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.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

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!

Sunday, March 12, 2017

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.

Friday, March 10, 2017

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!

Thursday, March 02, 2017

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)