Just a touch of purple -

and a hint of icy pearl.
Purple Landscape

Summer!

Nothing says Summer like a little bunch of Daisies, 90 degree weather and firecrackers!

Always Just one more thing...

Doesn't it seem like there's always just one more thing to do before the day is done?

Well, it was really a "long day" but obviously there was more to do.

DSFDF Week 37 & 38 Challenge - Summer Vegetables

What fun! In time for the picnic season, here's a little platter of lovely summer veggies.

Thanks to Karin Jurick and her Different Strokes Challenge. This is the most fun I've had painting an ACEO in quite awhile.

Look for it here.

Enough?

We've had a sunny spring and a wonderful thing is happening at my house. Most of my orchids have flower spikes. It's a big event- one hasn't bloomed in a couple years. I'm excited and hopeful that my yellow phaleanopsis will be one of them.

But is it enough?

Apparently NOT! These are pictures of my new baby. I loved the dark color with yellow green edge and spots. The back of the flower is pretty, too.



























It gives me something to paint while I wait for the others to bud and flower.

It's SUNNY again!

...and I just Love it!

Open Up!

Yes, California poppies have crossed the border and grow in Oregon!

What is this?

I took the picture and painted this flower but haven't a clue what it is. If you know, please leave a comment.

I'd be forever grateful.

Not sure what it is...

...but I loved how it looked. Another flowering tree but I never see any fruit.

It was just the perfect excuse to use opera.


Watercolors on Etsy

Little Bits of Summer

Golden Years

It's been so beautiful the past few days, sunny and not too hot. Perfect weather.

Got me thinking of summer...so here I am at the beach reading the latest Charlaine Harris in the southern vampire series. Not to worry, sunblock in use!






Beach Buck

When I take a break from the book, I'll search for a few shells to add to my collection.









Summer Sunset
This maybe better than fireworks...the perfect end to an excellent day!

Maybe it's just bad timing...

bad weather?

When I go to the beach, there's always a weather event.




First time I visited Oregon, the beach trip was a real wash out. Even lost an umbrella.
Well not really lost, more like destroyed by the wind gusts. We were soaking wet from the rain.
It was still a very good day.


After I relocated here and took a few visitors to the beach, we all froze walking out to the tidal pool to see the sea stars and anemones.

It's been wind, rain and snow ever since.

The one thing I know is the beach is beautiful no matter what the weather.

Sailor's Delight

Watercolor greetings.

Too Much Farm Town...

I am so not a fan of routine games - you know, the sim type where you live a life with all the drudgery included but do it on the computer.

Why spend time doing virtual chores when there are real ones piling up?

So, I end up playing Farm Town on facebook. It reveals some OCD tendencies BUT I make virtual money. I am hooked and it obviously has had a bigger impact than I realized.


Not really, I have several old tools hanging around the house. This is a 10 x 14 watercolor version of 3 of them.

More Watercolors on Etsy

Slice of Life...Spring Break?

It's Spring Break here in Oregon and the weather has been - well - Oregon like.

The latest challenge from Karin Jurick and the Different Strokes from Different Folks blog is Beach Family.

I was thinking of a more tropical location than the reference photo suggests. Take me to Florida at least and the Bahamas would be even better.

So here's my wishful thinking entry. Tropical beach and the cast of thousands are elsewhere.

How do you feel about food with a face?

This painting is based on a photo shared by Loredana.
Thanks Lore for the photo and reminding me of my trip to Italy so many years ago.

It was Spring and I was a "worldly" 17 year old, on my first trip without family.
Several friends - in a student group taking a tour of Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Limited free time but certainly enough for me to wander and explore.

We arrived in Florence on Good Friday and weren't able to find anyplace open for lunch. Between 12 and 3PM everything was closed.

By suppertime, I was starved. I eagerly ordered fish and what I thought was 2 glasses of wine. Exchange rate was much better, so I got 2 bottles of Chianti, one glass and a bunch of curious glares.

Shortly thereafter, the waiter delivered family style vegetables and a plate with my dinner looking at me. Well, with one eye anyway. It was a first for me. I had fish or seafood every Friday night and this was the first time it had ever looked back at me.

I guess that way you never dine alone.

Meal or Snack?

My personal favorite - Food!

I only remember that "california roll" was the sushi item at the Marriott concierge buffet.

In other words, it isn't something I'd order but was a perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine and brief break before heading out for dinner.

What can be wrong about bite sized morsels?

In case you didn't recognize it - it's another fun challenge from Karin Jurick and the Different Strokes from Different Folks blog.

Hot and Cold

It was a big day for organizing - cleaned and loaded my little palettes and kept watching the weather.
It was an adventure movie. Snow then sun. Hail, rain and sun. The illusion of warmth was there but the reality was pretty darn cool.










I'm just hoping these flowers will soon be blooming. That reality is just blades of green - no buds.

Old and Unappreciated

Antique Fruit Jar Opener/Wrench


I'm drawn to old and rusted things. Familiar and well used old tools.





Pink Lady





Chipped old enameled cups...






Crank Calls






...and things outdated and replaced.

a page from my watercolor sketchbook

I love iris and white flowers in particular. The ones that grow in my yard (make note I didn't say garden) are many colors but none of them are just white.

This page in my sketchbook was done based on a photo shared by Mary Lewis Williamson.
Thanks, Mary!

It's not moving! Must be a still life...

WHITE SHINE
The February Challenge in our Watercolor group was fraught with opportunity - or - loaded with potential for personal growth. Lots of lovely choices but nevertheless, you had to paint a still life.

How hard can it be? Smack a pear and some flowers on a table, drape a tablecloth behind and paint away.

Several artists posted photos of still life set ups and I truly loved the clean look of one photo. It was pretty much white and red with a clear little vase. With watercolor, the white is the paper. How Sweet it that? Sign me up!

So I did a little outline drawing of the vase and flowers on my watercolor paper. It's my usual routine. Just outline the shape and confirm placement, then paint.
Not so much.

I started mapping the whites, marking subtle color changes in the vase and then marking the highlights and reflections in the shadows.

Then I took my dip pen and frisket out and spent a great deal of time applying little blobs and lines to preserve the whites.

For a mostly "white" watercolor, there were tons of pencil marks. Painting didn't take too long but then I felt the need to remove the pencil marks. I used my trusty plastic eraser and was successful getting the annoying marks removed. Some of the color changed/lightened so I did a little more painting.

This is where I ended up.

I want to Thank Lori Andrews for sharing the photo that helped me to create WHITE SHINE

Rare Portrait Sitting

Woody
It's a rare and unusual event when a duck sits for his portrait. Truth be told, this guy didn't sit.
First, he napped afloat with his head tucked.
Next, he woke and paddled around checking out the rest of the community.

Luckily, I snapped a couple photos to piece together his portrait.
It's up for sale because he wasn't interested in it, said it was his bad side.

Hold Over?

Safe Harbor

Haven't held a brush in such a long while, I'm hoping this will hold me over for just a few more days...
I was matting and framing some of my work to strew about locally and ran across this in the closet. It was already matted and sealed in a clear envelope - just like it was destined to be sent somewhere.

I was so pleased to find it - like a lost child.

It moved me to cut some full sheets to quarters so I can begin again when all my obligations are met.

SNOW - the other four letter word

SNOW
Let me tell you how I really feel...

Snow is so white and covers the decaying fallen leaves. It's crisp and clean and recalls to mind white linens. It's bitter cold and interferes with my travel plans, even when I haven't any. I am so done with snow. The romance is over. SNOW is just another 4 letter word.

...another "self portrait"

Just call me 'hard boiled' and fond of the BLUES.

Karjalan Piirakat - Watercolor mini

Karjalan Piirakat
Finnish Pastry ready to eat! Not so much, really a little painting measuring 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.

Nothing like food to get the creative juices flowing.

Different Strokes ...

San Francisco Victorian

Painted in response to the week 21-22 challenge at Different Strokes for Different Folks blog hosted by Karin Jurick .

Image measures 4.5 x 6.5 and is done on a watercolor paper greeting card.

Just Waiting for SPRING

Hibiscus
I know it isn't far off, the bulbs in my yard have popped up a little bit of green...can flowers be far behind?
As I think of the crocus, hyacinth, narcissus and tulip starts I remember the vivid coral hibiscus that grew in Florida. I may not miss the hot humid weather but the flowers were just gorgeous. This one is on a 5x7 watercolor greeting card, ready to mail.

Wish I stopped...

...long before I got to this point.
I am disappointed that the background has washed out all the colors in the white flowers.

But, I am still learning, isn't that great?

Gas Free

...and you never have to wash it either!

It's another greeting card for a special someone - a favorite little trucker!

In the works

Gradually growing into larger work, this one is 12 x 16 in progress and will be matted at 11 x 15 give or take. Need to decide on a background and I'm not sure how dark I want to go. I like a mid value background so I can play with a cast shadow but a deep color would surely make the white orchids pop!


If you have an opinion, comment and share it. I'd love to hear your ideas.

Tulip

Warm thoughts.
In a month or less, the crocus should be up. Not long after that, narcissus and daffodils followed closely by these wonderful lily tulips. They even last a long time when cut and placed in a vase.
This watercolor painting is 7 x 10 and would be lovely matted and framed to 11 x 14 or even larger.