Poppies!

                                                          watercolor on Yupo 26x20

On the way to Cistus Nursery last month, my sister in law said "I wish you would paint some flowers". As luck would have it, there was a magnificent stand of poppies right by the parking lot. I drew them and took pictures. Here you go Norma, it looks like summer! It was deeply satisfying to paint those flowers, this landscape painter hungers for all things not green, especially red.


work for sale in my studio

Tangerines and Tulips - class demo

                                                     mixed watermedia on paper 24x18

My demonstration from the class today.
Even though I`m not a still life guy, I wanted to work from something directly and show that the challenge was fun and rewarding. It was. With 16 sets of eyes watching and with constant, engaging conversation, nonetheless, it coalesced into something recognizable. It was an interactive experience with suggestions offered and acted upon. Painting always has a miraculous quality when it goes right but it seems especially amazing when this happens in a teaching situation. Yet I hear this is actually common. Something is afoot!


updated available work in the studio

Camellia

The demonstration painting I did for the watercolor class this morning. I asked everyone to bring in something to paint. Since it`s April, we all brought flowers. I set a sprig of camellias in front of me and drew a quick sketch of them in water soluble graphite. Then I began adding color. In short order I was at the classic dilemma, the figure ground relationship. Leave everything empty and white except the flowers? Or try to integrate those blank spaces into a relationship with the subject? That is easier said than done. Working light to dark in transparent watercolor, I think it`s best to begin much bolder than comfortable, knowing the white surface is distorting. If something unequivocal is laid down early, it can set the tone for the whole process. Determining values becomes much clearer.
watercolor, acrylic and ink 13.5"x13.5"


some available work

Poppies

From the turn of the century. I`m sure I was just craving red when I chose this atypical subject.
watermedia on paper 19"x13"


available work

Magnolia Collage

watermedia on Yupo 6"x8"