Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Some progress and a new sketch.....no posts to two in one day!

Some student works

Here are some sketches done by my youngest student Jon R.( 11 YO), and even one by his younger brother Dan R.(8 YO) Am particularly liking the way Jon handled the teeth in his subject....nice touch! One sketch is in vine charcoal and the other what looks like a #2 H. 

Dan has a nice thing going with his bird and branch......keep it up Dan!  REALLY love that branch.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

WIP for Lady Linden (B&B here in York, PA)

Been trying to get this done after being sick for a few days.....got me off my deadline slot.  The leaves are nowhere near to my liking but I can "force" them to fit the harmony     Will post the bird and branches after they are done tomorrow......unless I get sidetracked by people who live with me :)   Am really, really looking forward to empty nest LOL  P.S>  please excuse the walls of my studio.....we are ripping off wallpaper and prepping to paint.


Wednesday, September 9, 2009

While Madame X is a WIP....

So....while she (Madame X ) is getting her outfit ready I have been doing smaller paintings to keep from being nervous about her.  Also, some floral designing on the side.  Just a couple of pictures for fun.

Monday, April 27, 2009






Madame X had to take a small sabbatical while new 140lb CP arrived....she complained bitterly that the hotpress was abusive :)

So, here is what has been transpiring in the wings.....This has a background of about 7 layers of Holbein cobalt, marine, burnt sienna, and raw sienna. Using water drops, kosher salt, and spritzing with a toothbrush for effects. Lifting out with magic eraser, of which I am not so sure I am fond of yet. Please do not report me to the transparent watercolour society for thinking about using white on one of the shells for a special effect. Decided to give Nick Simmons approach a try and did not tape down my paper and turned it round and round each time and sometimes drying with a dryer or, letting it dry to the bone on its own. Took a while! The very last layer was a thin one of just raw sienna and then spots of water, waiting and then some salt again.














Saturday, March 28, 2009

New WIP


Here is Madame X The beginning sketches and study, with a texture thought for the background. John Singer Sargent is one of my favorite portraiture artists. Her sketch needs more work, arm is too long, hand needs moved up.......shadow and skintone will bring out stature and posture.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Bird studies.........

Some common sparrows from our bird feeder.
Have been working really hard to understand
feathers and their structure, how they are used in flight and rest. Sure hope I get more hawk pictures soon! A good piece of advice:
learn birds in groups. I went from hawks to common sparrows and it took me a day or two to stop making these poor little birds from looking like vicious hawks LOL

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Bluebird study a WIP





Here is my bluebird study in progress. Have been bringing in samples of brush from the fields. I used a patio brick and glued a Sahara floral foam to it for supports. Works pretty well, as two of the pieces are 5' tall. Have decided on my colours and am almost ready to do it in full size. Probably about 22"x 15". As you can see, many different photos were taken and I used my photo editor to get value studies and lighting decisions. Am hoping soon to have some better photos of some hawks. Maybe if it snows there will be better opportunities for me!