Practice...Fun?

Painting, drawing or  any kind of creative endevour for that matter, still involves practice...I came across some of my older practice sheets and thought I'd share them so you can get another glimpse of what we artist (sometimes) do with paint and paper.

I try to play with my surfaces and my colours, make charts to see how paints react and what to expect so when I am creating a painting there are no really awful moments, but I am the first one to admit that I am not the best at this...far from it!  I admit it. I am slightly on the, er, lazy side.... I envy artists who can do this and there are many of them who do it very well, are very disciplined and it does show.

But what I keeps me coming back to those doodle sheets is that sometimes your get really nice little surprises...like this one.....

As you can see, I had a fairly nice little chart going, but kinda got bored....but the best thing is this little ankle and boot. Isn't it sweet! I love how the shape of the sole and the bend in the boot is readable with one stroke of the brush.  I can't usually paint that simple, but there it is: Awesome little surprise.


So I keep at it, with color charts and little vignettes that decorate the corners. But I do admit, Have referred back to these charts a number of times, so I must be doing something right :-)

Then there are some color studies. It is pretty neat when you can look at a composition that was done in different colours. You can understand a bit better how much that color impacts on what one is trying to evoke within a painting. The "push" and "pull" between warm and cool colours. Many artist talk about it and try to explain it, but until you get the lazies out and do some, well, I think that's when you have your "ah ha!" moment.

I hated this one (below) when I was working on it a year or so ago, trying to get different daytime lighting effects, but after looking at it now, I can see how I was part of the way there in making an afternoon lightscape and an early morning one. Not quite 100% but there is something there that I like. And that, as Martha Stewart would say, is a good thing.

Study for afternoon vs morning light

Now, back to my commission...can't show you yet. It's a present for someone!

Pupcakes!

"Pupcakes"
4.5"w x 5.5"h Watercolour on board

I have been busy with some commission work and a special project (more news coming soon!)

I managed to squeak in with a painting for the Different Strokes for Different Folks challenge. While I finished it tonight, I was late in sending it off to Karin for posting...so you might see it there or you might not. It depends on how busy Karin is to deal with us tardy artist ;-)

Anyway, this is a cute little painting that I am sure all of you dog lovers out there can identify with...

And a little thank you to my husband, who cleverly came up with the title!

Miniature Painting-Chipmunk

"The Berry Thief"
2.75" x 3.25" Watercolour on board

Here's something to help us welcome in the summer season!

"The Berry Thief" is a miniature painting that I have been working on.
The scan is a little off, colour wise and I have some additional work to do, but I need to step back for a few days to see what has to be fine tuned.

Just to clarify, this is what I would consider to be a true miniature. This would meet the miniature requirements that many miniature artist strive to maintain:
•Minute in scale vs. life-sized. (Generally subject matter is 1/6th lifesize or smaller in scale)
•Delicate and painstaking technique that withstands magnification.
•Small in format and size. 25 inches or less for surface area.
•High in quality~ demonstrates a mastery of composition, color, values etc.

I have posted ACEOs here as well and although they are the correct size to be a miniature, I don't believe that my ACEOs are detailed and composed enough, to be a true mini {Note: Please understand that I am referring to my work, and not all ACEO painters in general}.

For more info, check out Assocation of Miniature Artists and the Hillard Society for more information and additional links.

And if you want to see some great miniature artists (to name a few), check out:
Tracy Hall,
Wes and Rachelle Siegrist,
Linda Rossin,
Bill Mundy
Gina Morton
Joy Kroeger Beckner


Happy Summer :~)

ACEO "Sunday Best"

SOLD
"Sunday Best"
ACEO 2.5" x 3.5" watercolour on HP paper

Okay, so it seems I am developing a little theme here...but this time it's Miss Kitty instead of huggable bears, although I think she is just as adorable, and all decked out in her finery. For church perhaps or a Tea Party :-D

I changed mediums here; this ACEO done in watercolour. I am trying experimenting with the pastelmat and coloured pencil at this size, but am still having a bit of a difficult time getting the detail I want. Might have to stay with slightly larger sizes with the pastelmat.

River Watch

"RIVER WATCH"
4"h x 6"w watercolour on acid free rag board

Here is my finished "wet" golden. He is taking a short break from his river swim, with the emphasis on "short". I don't think there is anything a golden loves more than swimming...well, maybe a tennis ball...

Avaliable - Contact the artist directly