Around the Corner

'Around the Corner'

5" x 7" watercolor on aquaboard (will not require framing behind glass)

$65 plus $7 shipping



Earlier this year me and my son (who's crazy about dogs) went to a dog show. His favorite part was the agility course and my favorite part was the cute fluffy dogs! I found this one spot behind the scenes where I could take photos without being noticed (or being in the way) and that's where I saw this lovely Golden Retriever girl.

She was getting all gussied up to go into the ring but she kept her gentle eyes on me the whole time I was there. And I wasn't exactly close to her either! I was using my long lens so I was pretty far away, but still she watched me. I wonder what she was thinking.

In other news, last Friday was my oldest son's birthday, he turned eleven years old. Happy Elevensies my sweet boy!

Birthday hugs :)

His requested birthday pie (apple of course), that's a lot of candles! I didn't keep track I just stuck a bunch on there to light that baby up! :)

We're full on in Christmas preparation mode around here. Brodie went out and bought some small trees for each of the boy's bedrooms and tonight Grandma is coming over to help decorate. So naturally I had to make a delicious and sugary treat to go along with the festivities. :)

I'd share but. . . well it's kind of hard to do that through a computer screen. But trust me it's delicious!! Have a great week all.

All Things New

'All Things New'

5" x 7" watercolor on Ampersand Aquabord

$100 plus $7 US shipping

 

I've spent a lot of time lately going through my stash of photos and organizing them (Ha! no really, I'm trying), looking for that one image that shouts at me to paint. I found some of my youngest son when he was a baby, and then some I had taken of him just a few months ago and I was shocked to see the change in him. He is so grown up now (that's not him in the painting above just in case you're wondering). Makes me a little sad. He's my baby, my last, and it's hard to see him grow up so much right before my eyes, although the new changes are fun too of course.

 

Then I found these photos I took of my darling nephew over the summer. He was about a year and a half old, and he had that look of wonder at everything he saw around him. And his beautiful brown eyes are what called me to paint him. I have a few other shots of him I will be painting too. He was such a great little model. :)

 

Now about this aquabord. I've been wanting to paint with my techniques in watercolor on a surface that won't need framing behind glass, and also bigger. I envision a certain wall in my home with three 24" x 24" portraits of my boys, on cradled aquabord with out glass or frames. So, here I am trying aquabord again.

 

And I liked it a lot better this time. I think I'm getting the hang of how this stuff works. And the best part is that the finished painting still feels like 'me'. Where as when I paint with acrylics or oils it feels like I'm trying somebody else's clothes on that don't fit quite right. I enjoy oils and acrylics for a change of pace, but they don't feel like me. At least, not yet. Maybe one day I'll feel differently.

 

One tip I found useful for using aquabord is to use a very wet brush with mostly water and not a lot of pigment, and gradually build up color that way. Which actually is how I paint with watercolor on paper too. :)

 

Until Thrusday! Huzzah!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sunny Spot (WIP)

"The Sunny Spot" - work in progress

8" x 10" watercolor on Aquabord

Sometimes I reach a point with my art where I'm not exactly sure what direction to take. I have a hundred ideas roaming around in my head, drawings completed, and watercolor paper stretched and ready to paint on, and yet. . . I can't really seem to find my way to express what I'm striving to. To capture the image with my hand that's so vivid in my head.

When that happens I press forward. I keep making finished drawings that are waiting to be painted, I pick up halfway finished works that I set aside months ago hoping to feel a spark to get them finished this time, I look through photos for that one perfect image that's calling me to paint. I do this knowing that eventually I'll find what it is I'm looking for, and I'll be able to paint without inhibitions or fears once again. 

It's not really a block. . . But it's close to it. That's where I am now. And that's why there's a sudden rush of work in progress pieces on my blog. :)

This piece is close to being finished, I just need to strengthen the colors and fine tune the details. I plan to leave the background white because I really like the shape of his little seated figure in that spot of sun. 

There's just nothing like painting sun kissed baby skin. It's the best thing ever. :))

Until Thursday my friends! 

Trust SOLD

'Trust' SOLD

5" x 7" gouache on aquabord

click here to bid

Synonyms for trust: confidence, hope, faith, belief, conviction, expectation, dependence, reliance.

Definition of trust: 1. assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something 2. one in which confidence is placed 3. hope for the future

Every time I lock eyes with my dog I see this trust there that I don't see with anyone else. Her trust is absolute, with a very childlike faith. She believes that I will always be there for her, that I will do my best by her. And when I see her watching me with those soulful eyes, or feel her soft muzzle rest on my feet while I paint, I think of how lucky I am to have someone who believes in me so much with a faith that is never failing.

Trust is a powerful thing.  

It's something every artist must have. Not the trust of someone else in what you can do, or who you are, like my sweet dog, but trust in yourself. The belief that what you are doing, whatever you're doing, matters. That it will have an impact with someone. That it will bring you whatever it is you're looking for that made you want to become an artist in the first place.

That you can succeed. However it may be that you define that word for yourself.

That's where true confidence begins. Inside you, not from the approval, or acclaim of anyone else. It all begins with you.

Huzzah. :)

Until Tuesday my friends.