2 x HONEY

Selling the painting, A Taste of Honey, from the Honeybee series made me want to do another similar piece to add to the series.  So I have started this one.  

This one is also on gold gessoed paper with some stencils of a hive in the background.  It's painted with watercolor and some gouache.  I didn't want to make it exactly like the one I sold so added another little bee.

It's 11 x 15" and I'm calling it

2 x Honey

THE HONEYBEE SERIES - PART 2

Bee Warned

Bee World

Squadron

The Little Visitor

The Messengers

Bee in Magnolia

Bee Card

She Works Hard for the Honey

2 x Honey










This is all, for now!

THE HONEYBEE SERIES - PART 1

Running Out of Time

The Last One

Summer Bees

A Taste of Honey

Bee Quilt

Bee Cycle






Elizabeth asked that I put all the Honeybee Series paintings together to easily see in one place, so I am working on that.  For some reason, I'm having fits trying to fit 3 across (I just can't make it work) so will put this into 2 postings with all the paintings down the left side.  You can click on an image to enlarge it.  I am trying to put them in the order they were painted.  

FLYING TO SINGAPORE

My friend and Pilates instructor, Kelli, is buying this painting this week.  It's always fun to sell a painting. 

It's obvious that I am not painting for the money.  I don't ask much for my work (in fact, I sometimes think people see my work as "less" because I don't ask for thousands of dollars).  This is my choice.  I would rather my work be out there among people who like it than ask thousands and not sell a thing while everything piles up in my little art room.  

So...everything I have painted is for sale, including my Honeybee Series paintings.  They are reasonably priced (often under $150) because they are unmatted and unframed (matting and framing them always adds to the cost - and putting something in a juried show always adds to the cost because you need to put a good price on those works to get the attention of the judges - yes, it makes a difference.)

This painting is about 10.5 x 14.5 inches on gold gessoed paper.  I spray sealed it after the painting dried so it won't smudge.  Kelli will be packing it in her suitcase and it will be flying to Singapore!  Have fun, little bee, in your new home :)  And thanks, Kelli, for loving one of my pieces enough to purchase it.

I know many of my blogger/art buddies sell their work and I wonder:  does it still make you feel good to sell a piece even if you don't get "big bucks" for it, or is it more important to how you feel as an artist set a high price on all your work and then sell less frequently?  Do you feel like you are not honoring your work if you set a low price on a piece?  It's something we all have to work through if we want to put our work out for sale.

I will miss this little honeybee and her trip to the honey dipper, but I can paint another (as the artist, I retain the copyright for the piece even though this one will be far away).  In fact, I have something else already begun.

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE HONEY 2

This one is finished.  I don't think I'll add anything else.  

Painted collage paper and watercolor on Arches 140# coldpress paper



She Works Hard for the Honey

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE HONEY

Working more on the collage and watercolor piece.

She Works Hard for the Honey

watercolor and collage

THE MESSENGERS

Added some words and this one is done.


The Messengers

watercolor on Arches 140# coldpress

YOU SOMETIMES DON'T KNOW HOW SOMETHING WILL TURN OUT

This painting began like this with a loose, pale wash of color on the drawing and then...

I put a little bit more color on, but was not that happy with the next stage so washed over the whole thing with a weak wash of gesso/water/acrylic gel medium to start over.

In starting over, I used watercolor crayon and watercolor pencil as well as watercolor pens at the end to outline the shapes.  

As you can see, I cropped it closer to focus on the center and the bee.  

ANOTHER FINE MESS

Well, I worked on the magnolia with the bee and really worked and worked and - can you say OverWorked???  It happens.  Especially when I'm not focused enough.  

So...how to fix a bad watercolor painting that cannot be wiped back to white?  Make it so it can be wiped back to white = get out the white gesso and gesso over it lightly enough to see the drawing underneath and start again.

That is what I did, drawing a bit heavy-handed but I'll work around that later.  I think this will be a mixed watermedia piece now = watercolor with watercolor crayon and watercolor pencil added.

Hang in there and we'll see where this goes!

SOME STARTS BUT NO FINISHES + NO DECISIONS

I seem to be making a lot of starts but not finishing anything.  So, I'll just share the starts and, hopefully, I'll finish this sometime soon.  

Another magnolia with a little honeybee inside.  


There is something very appealing about this first wash of colors.

But, of course, you cannot leave it that way and must darken and shape things as you move along.  


This is on a half sheet (15 x 22 inches)
of Arches 140# coldpress paper.

I think I'll call this one 
Little Visitor


I think I may be starting a lot of things as a way to not choose anything for any of the upcoming shows = displacement activity.

GREATER CINCINNATI WATERCOLOR SOCIETY SHOW, AUGUST 2017

The postcards and newsletter reminder for the upcoming GCWS show came out.  I am so thrilled that my painting, AMI Morning Leaves (which won first place last year) is on the front of the postcard and in the newsletter.  These little successes make me want to continue whenever I get down or wonder why I keep painting.  

There are several entry forms on my desk right now for juried shows - and for the 2017 GCWS show.  So far, I haven't been able to summons the energy to get it together and some are due this month.  It's now or never this year...

Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society Summer Show

Exhibit Open August 4 - 27

2016 First Prize Winner

This show of watercolor works will vibrantly reflect the expertise of the 80 members of the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society. Connect with the artists and their art at the free reception: 

Meet the Artists Reception
Sunday, August 6, 1 - 4pm

Engage closely with the works of art that range from colorful landscapes and vibrant still lifes to other imaginative topics. Awards will be given during the reception.

Juror for the exhibit is Rachel Wolf, the editor of "Splash", a North Light publisher's book showcasing the watercolor products of hundreds of artists throughout the world. She will award three financial prizes plus several honorable mention ribbons.

Gallery hours are 10am - 2pm weekdays (closed Mondays) and 1 - 4pmon weekends, through Sunday, August 27.

COLLAGE STUFF

Tore some painted paper up into shapes and glued them onto watercolor paper with acrylic matte medium.  We'll see where it goes from here.

HAPPY 150TH BIRTHDAY CANADA!