SOME VACATION PHOTOS FROM ANNA MARIA ISLAND

Just a few pictures taken while visiting Anna Maria Island in January (we were there in December and just had to return before this winter made us crazy).

Anna Maria Pier.  
A restaurant at the end and a dock where people fish and birds flock (pelicans, herons, little ruddy turnstones, etc.)

This was the view from Bay Beach, where we walked and saw...

Lots of little white ibis, walking along the shore and eating crabs.

Those same white ibis (I think) surprised us by showing up outside the house we were renting in Holmes Beach (just outside of the Anna Maria city limits), hanging on the wires going to and from the houses.

It was rainy and a bit windy and that little one on the lower right is having a problem with balance! ha ha  This was taken from our front steps.

Someone's boat had run aground on Bean Point (the northern end of AMI), and we saw it like a ghost ship while walking the beach on a foggy morning.

Because some people will feed wildlife, no matter what you say, this great blue heron and wood stork were hanging out around the neighborhood because they were being fed by a neighbor lady.

And something sweet to end this post - mini macarons I bought at the Olive Oil Outpost on one of the days I stopped for a cafe con leche there.  I have seen these in blog posts but never had the chance to try one - pretty good but I think I'll stick with chocolate :)  They were pretty enough to paint, though - which is another post! 

ANOTHER LITTLE PAINTING FROM AMI

Again, a little painting in the Stillman & Birn watercolor sketchbook using my Holbein watercolor travel kit.  


Some beach finds I picked up from a walk on Bean Point on Anna Maria Island the day before.  Models on top, painting on bottom.


Another day in warmth and sunshine with a cafe con leche and then a walk on the beach.  How wonderful it was to get away from below 0F temperatures for a while.

WHILE WE WERE ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND...

I was glad I took my little Holbein watercolor travel kit because I painted a few days while we were gone.  I usually would paint something in the morning that I'd picked up - or that had inspired me - the day before.  This is in my brand new Stillman & Birn watercolor sketchbook (such lovely watercolor paper in the Beta Series - a lovely, smooth feeling when painting on it).

Sweetie gave me a birthday card with these two lovey birds on it (a photo he took when we were on Anna Maria Island (AMI) in December - so this was my first reference and inspiration.

Here is the finished painting with one of my travel brushes and a little piece of fake sea glass on the paper.


Aren't they sweet?


Then we drove up to Sarasota to see the John and Mable Ringling estate, art museum and circus museum.

DANIEL SMITH'S SHADOW VIOLET WATERCOLOR PIGMENT

I had enough questions about the Shadow Violet I used in the last sandpiper painting that I thought I'd get some information together for you about it and then you can choose to buy (or not buy).  I don't get a kick-back or a commission or a discount from Daniel Smith - it's just sharing information and I like the color.

So - the color I used for the Sandpiper (see previous post) was only Daniel Smith's Shadow Violet.  It is a lovely granulating and separating color that separates into the 3 colors that are used to create it.  

It's made from a mix of:
Pyrrol Orange PO 73
Ultramarine Blue PB 29
and
Viridian PG 18

For some reason, when you put it out on your palette it's a dark violet grey color.  Then, when you add water to it, it separates and lightens and it becomes really beautiful.  

It really has become one of my favorite colors for backgrounds and other greyish things where I don't want to mix my own colors to get a nice greyed look.  

Another fine color from Daniel Smith is Moonglow.  Now isn't that a luscious name?  It's a mix of the same Viridian + Ultramarine Blue, but they add Anthraquinoid Red (PR 177) in place of the orange.  It is a darker, more intense color, but still separates and greys out beautifully.  

As you can see here, it's more violet and can go really dark, but you can see that Viridian peeking through like you can with Shadow Violet.  

So - your choice.  You can get one, or the other - or both!

SANDPIPER AT ANNA MARIA

This little one, with his legs in those positions, looked like he was dancing.  Pretty little sandpiper of some kind.  Very greyish so using only Shadow Violet as the body color.

No drawing, just painted in the background water around him, leaving some whites where he would be, then painted him.  More to finish to darken up some areas and delineate the water from the shore (he's right on the edge).

I think this one is called a Red Knot, brown in the summer, but grey in the winter.  I really don't know the wading birds all that well so to me they are all either egrets, herons, pelicans or sandpipers (although there are many different sandpipers).

Painted on 140# cold press Fabriano watercolor paper.

OH, BOY! ANOTHER WINTER STORM!

Yes, folks, another winter storm is on it's way.  We are supposed to get icy conditions (up to 1 inch of ice when all is said and done) - and once that is laid down nicely, Mother Nature is going to frost is all up with about 3 inches of snow.  Schools are closing early and I hope businesses have the sense to do the same.  Fortunately, I get to stay inside and safe.  Perhaps paint something.

Had watercolor class for the first time in weeks today!  It felt strange being back in teaching mode but it was good to be back, too.  

We had to cancel the GCWS meeting and Carol Carter's trip over to give the guest artist talk - just too nasty and scary when listening to all the weather predictors.  But Carol and I have rescheduled for June so the watercolor society will get to see her then for a one-day talk and showing of her beautiful paintings.

For today, stay safe and warm, wherever you are.  

LITTLE GOLDFINCH ON LANAQUARELLE

Another version of the little Goldfinch on
Lanaquarelle 140# cold press paper
6" x 8"

Still no drawing, just looking.  I didn't muddy up his feet in this one and left out all the extraneous trellis bits that ruined the first one.

HOME AGAIN

Well, my Sweetie flew me away to Florida again for my birthday.  Born in 1957, I turned 57 this year.  How is it possible that I am this old?  Well, there is no denying it when I look in the mirror!  I guess I can worry about looking older or I can worry about something else.  I told Sweetie I am such an excellent worryer and that the only thing I don't have to worry about is always having something to worry about!  

I told my sister I'd bring back some warm weather from Florida, and I did - it was 52F when we landed at CVG airport!  Rainy yesterday and today - but it's not 52 anymore - and another snow expected today, just in time for everyone's Super Bowl parties.

I have lots to do the next few days, getting ready for Carol Carter's visit Tuesday evening (she is coming to give the guest artist program to our watercolor society Wednesday morning) - weather permitting (but it doesn't look likely, with icy weather predicted for Tuesday evening!!!).

I did take my Stillman & Birn watercolor sketchbook (a beautiful surface to paint on!!!) and my Holbein travel kit and some pencils - so have some small things to share because I did paint once in a while before heading out in the mornings to the white sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island :)  Sweetie got some bird photos for reference, too, including white ibises we didn't see last time in December.  I will miss seeing the white egrets, the white ibis and the sandpipers of all kinds.  


Winter still has KY in its talons and won't let go. Stay safe and warm, my friends.  And thanks for all the birthday wishes.  It was, officially, January 26th.  I am a winter baby - and have always disliked winter.  Hmmmm....something not right about that! ha ha

Have a great Sunday, wherever you are - and especially if you are travelling today.

GOT PRESENTS?

Had a really good dinner at Mom's and some presents (art books and mysteries!!! yay!!!) for my birthday in January!

I got several art books, and am especially loving these two by Shirley Trevena (one from Mom and one from my sister).  They know what I like!  And I'm taking my time going through these, reading and learning.  Shirley has such a vivid color sense and definitely has a style all her own, not caring about perspective but putting shapes where she thinks they look best.  It must be fun to watch her set up a still life and then paint it, making changes as she goes.  

I got the latest Daniel Smith sales catalog and knew immediately that it was a Shirley Trevena painting on the cover - she does have a signature style.  

Happy Groundhog's Day!!!

SOME YOU WIN, SOME YOU LOSE

The great white egret painting came along so easily.  And then this thing was a struggle all the way because of the wire it was hanging on - and those little pinkist grey feet.

Perhaps I just didn't think it through before painting it.  Again, no drawing, just painted the bird and then what was around it - bits of a trellis he was holding onto.  I didn't give the trellis any depth or roundness.  So cut it off at the top.

When it doubt, crop it out!

This would have been 11" x 15" but with the crop off the top, perhaps it's more like 11" x 11"??  A little male goldfish in the autumn when his feathers were beginning to go duller than the bright gold of summer.

GHOST BIRD FINISHED

I did add a bit darker on the bill and around the eyes.  Nothing else done to this one.  I like it and it was so simple and easy - just flowed.  That's what I want (but rarely get) when I'm painting in watercolor.

11" x 15" Fabriano 140# cold press watercolor paper
Ghost Bird


This one is my favorite so far.

GHOST BIRD

Another one painted without drawing.  Letting the brush build up the shapes and the pigment build up the values.  I thought about painting more on this, but I like the ghostly look of this Great White Egret.  

What do you think?


Ghost Bird
11" x 15" 140# cold press Fabriano watercolor paper

WHICH FINCH IS THIS?

This is either a house finch or a purple finch.  I'll have to check the bird book to find out.  They are reddish on the head and breast but it's a dull red - definitely not like a Cardinal's stop-sign red colors.  I like the heavy beaks of the finches - such tough little things!

Since I was feeling a bit braver, I painted this one on a fourth sheet (11" x 15") Fabriano Artistico 140# cold press watercolor paper WITHOUT drawing beforehand.  Just drew him with the brush and slowly put down the colors and shape.  His legs could be a bit darker but I'm pretty happy with his look :)

Have you ever watched the movie, The Big Year?  It's about 3 men competing to discover and document the most birds in one year - a cute movie, it shows a lot of birds and what some dedicated (and slightly crazy) birders will do to see them.  Maybe I should think about painting a Big Year without all the travel :)

A LITTLE SANDPIPER

Here's the little cute sandpiper, by herself.  She thinks she looks just fine :)


On Lanaquarelle 6" x 8" 140# cold press watercolor paper from a pad.

Don't Get Your Feet Wet

BRRRR

One of our weather guessers hates the term Polar Vortex, although everyone is using that term to describe the bitterly cold temperatures we're having - again.  Oh, I am so tired of this winter already!!!  How about you?  If you are in a place of warmth and sunshine, please share some photos and perhaps we in the frozen north can dream a while...

Another snow storm came through yesterday - about 3-4 inches in places with blowing snow and then the cold - 4F  Tuesday night.  High of 17F today.  Crazy!!!  I hate to cancel watercolor class again :(

Thank goodness for the Australian Open - have you been watching?  This is a craziest year with so many unexpected winners.  I have to say, it's been fun fun fun to see some of the top seeds on the woman's side overthrown and some newcomers (how about that Eugenie Bouchard and her Genie Army of boys who are crazy about her? ha ha) come forward.  Makes for an unpredictable and exciting Open this year.  

And so far, Roger is still winning!!!!  Come on!!!

CATTY BIRDS

I don't know what these birds are - water birds, perhaps sandpipers of some kind.



Again, working from the background forward, saving the best for last - the birds :)

I'm calling them
Three Piping Plovers
On 1/4 sheet (11" x 15") Fabriano 140# cold press watercolor paper.


The two to the right look like they are trying to walk by the other one without being seen :)  They are saying, "Well, she's put on the holiday weight, hasn't she??"  Sandpipers can be sooo catty!

TUFTED TITMOUSE WITHOUT DRAWING

Another little one done without drawing on Lanaquarelle 140# cold press watercolor paper, 6" x 8"  

I actually like the larger one better this time - perhaps it's because there is more warmth in the larger version.

EIGHTY HOURS

My sister worked her fingers to the bone this holiday season and just look what she made me!!!

A lovely afghan in 4 shades of blue!  She said it was 80 hours of work, and it will be my favorite thing in the livingroom now.  I have it draped over the back of a chair so when I'm not using it to snuggle on these cold winter days, I can look over and see it.  What a wonderful present!!!

She made my Sweetie and her sweetie a lap afghan (shorter than this one) but I asked for one a bit longer so it will cover my tootsies when I snuggle on the sofa so she had to make an extra piece for this.  She made a terry cloth robe for our mother, too - guess she was busy!!

GOOFY

Done using the previous painting as a guide and without drawing.

Unfortunately, this one looks a bit goofy to me.  May have to try another one.  Not pleased with the background, either.  
Well, they can't all be good! ha ha

On Lanaquarelle 140# cold press watercolor pad 6" x 8"

WINTER MAKES ME BLUE

Another frosty, cold, snow-predicted day :(  Winter makes me blue (and not in a good, colorful way).  I'm watching the Australian Open and finding new admiration for the women, especially, who look like they are about to fall over on the court - and have a crying jag - but keep toughing it out in 107F heat!  Unbelievable!  But what else can they do?  The match between Sharapova and Knapp was one of the best for sheer determination to not quit until the end!  

Slammin' Sammy Sosur may have a big advantage, being a native Australian.  Let's hope she fights the good fight.
And Roger is still in it :)  I know, I'm still dreaming of another major title but I'm not alone!  ha ha

Wherever you are, stay safe and regulate that temperature!  Heat up or cool down as best you can...