PORTRAIT

 On Stonehenge Aqua hot press 140# paper.  The paper helps “mold” the features in a portrait so I like it for that - and am getting used to the difference in it and the cold press paper I normally use.  

STONEHENGE AQUA HOT PRESS PAPER - DRIED BERRIES VERSION THREE

 Another version, this time on 12 x 16 inch Stonehenge Aqua hot press paper.  

DRIED BERRIES

 

Finished, but I think the shadow shapes are too dark (I admit, I took a phone call while I was in the middle of the shadow shapes and didn’t take as much care as I should have done).  So got a few splotches in what should have been a clean, solid shape down the middle.  Oh, well.  

Should I try again?  I probably would end up with something even better…but do I have the patience to start over on this one?  We’ll see.

PLANNING

 

I tried to paint this painting without planning - so started again with a sketch on tracing paper to work out in my mind where elements were placed.  Then, using the sketch as a guide (but not tracing onto watercolor paper), I sketched it all again (without the shadow shapes) onto a half sheet of Arches cold press watercolor paper.  

Started putting in the dried leaves and then the stems.  Added a light cobalt blue to the dried berries (which will be a dark blue-black when finished).  I will put in the shadow shapes when I’m happy with everything else.  

More planning on this is giving it a better chance of being a success.

DOES THIS SNOW MAKE ME LOOK FAT?

 

Another little fat Northern Cardinal.  They aren’t really fatter during the winter, but fluff themselves up to keep warm.  The males are redder during the winter - apparently, the females like their males with a bit of flash :)

ABSTRACTIONS - REACTIONS TO COLORS AND SHAPES

 A bit strong in shapes and color - another abstracted piece while listening to Angela Fehr’s Watercolor Bootcamp online course (just 2 days but full of good stuff, especially if you’re a new painter).  

I realized that I posted this in this position but I didn’t paint it this way.  I painted it in landscape view - like below.

Is it a good abstract if it works in any direction?

Or does it work better in the portrait view so it’s more like a tree trunk shape?

ABSTRACT PLAY

 An abstracted bit done while listening to Angela Fehr’s Watercolor Bootcamp day 2.  I never just put color down and play but she does recommend it and she is so loose, you want to try :) 

We are getting quite an ice and sleet and freezing rain storm in our area.  No snow yet but it’s coming.  Whew!  Sounds like it’s in a swatch throughout the US right now.  

BUMBLE

 Bumblebee on a fourth sheet Arches rough 140# paper.  Added Chinese White to the wings.

WISHING WELLNESS

 Just a card painted for a friend who is ill, wishing her well.  Not my initial idea but revised from a card I saw in one of my stacks.  I liked the yellow and red ones so left out the pale violet ones on the original card.  Strathmore watercolor blank cards come in handy but, for some reason, I always end up with more cards than envelopes and I don’t know how that happens.  

BUMBLE

 A bumblebee - from a photo taken this past fall at the Campbell County Extension Center garden.  This is a small piece of coldpress paper - less than a postcard size.  Thought it would be cute to add it to a letter or card sometime.  

REDPOLL

 A few mess-ups with this one.  Did it without drawing and then it needed something so put the tree in but messed up her/his legs so added Chinese white watercolor straight out of the tube with my fingers to make it look like snow.  These are Redpolls and we don’t have them here in KY but saw this one in a bird magazine and liked it. 

Could be a lot better and maybe I should lightly draw the birdies before trying to paint them.  Would really like to get looser with my bird paintings but not there yet.  

Had our first real snow (1.5 inches or so) and now I know it’s really winter - not that it matters as I cannot walk anyway (I mean, not much and certainly not for a mile or so walk) but the leg is healing.  It just hurts at the ankle and swells up so having to ice it and do my PT exercises often to build up the strength in that leg/ankle.  Not there yet.  I wonder how long this will take to “recover” from the broken bone? 

CAROLINA WREN

All puffed up for the cold weather, a little Carolina wren on a limb.

CUDDLY-FISH?

 Little postcard sized painting on Stonehenge Aqua hotpress paper.  Not a cuddly-fish but a cuttlefish :) 

Think I will buy more of this paper - another block - because I am liking the way it lifts and you can move the color around (plus it really emphasizes the granulating colors).

Have you ever tried it?  

I am having problems commenting on some blogs - especially Debbie’s blog.  I am reading and watching your posts but, for some reason, I try to post and it gives me an error message.  I imagine, like most things with Blogger, it will “fix” itself one day - but I wanted you to know if you haven’t seen me posting it’s not because I’m not trying!!  

HANDSOME BOY, OTIS - TAKE TWO

 

Painted this one on the Stonehenge Aqua hotpress paper and I like it better because I could shape the hairs better by lifting off color.  Still just using Lunar Black except for the eyes and nose - and the background.  

Didn’t use the whole sheet (it’s in a block) so painted a little something else on the “scrap” piece - but you’ll have to wait for that one to be shown!

PAPA RED

 Papa Red is all puffed up to keep warm on this winter day.

On our drive to Physical Therapy Monday morning, I saw over a dozen in a driveway along the way - so many Cardinals and not sure what they were doing there.

BERRIES OR SEEDS

 Another winter berry plant - not sure what this one is.  Guess I’m enjoying the reds and oranges during these cold days and nights.

NOT A BIRD

 Winterberry pods and seeds.

BLUEJAY WATCHING

 Just a pretty bluejay.

MAMA FLAMINGO

 Mama flamingo with a new egg.

No rhyme or reason why I’m painting these - just printed out a bunch of bird photos I had and am going through them.  

Posted this on FB and it sold :). I did fix the shape of the egg, signed it, getting it ready to mail out as soon as the check is in my hand.  Haven’t sold anything in ages and it feels pretty good.  

10 x 14 inches on Lanaquarelle 140# cold press watercolor paper.  

RED AND YELLOW WING ON A BLACK BIRD

 Blackbird singing in the dead of night…

Love the bright, colorful flash of a redwing blackbird’s wings just before they take off.