Exercise - Twenty Steps to Sketching and Painting Anywhere and Everywhere

I hear so any excuses for not drawing, for not painting, for not being in the right place for inspiration.  Bah!  I plug my ears.  Everywhere and Anywhere provides more than enough information, though maybe not inspiration, to draw and paint.  No more excuses!  Put on a pair of baggy pants with room in the pockets for a small sketchbook, a pen (or pencil) a waterbrush and a mini Altoid Tin with three pans of watercolor or gouache paint. That's all you need!

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Walk out your back door.... take twenty steps.... and draw.  Take twenty more steps .... and draw. Take twenty more steps .... and draw (paint, too).  Just do it!

 
Exercise - Twenty Steps to Sketching and Painting Anywhere and Everywhere

Four Day Workshop with Don Andrews

Pushing to a new level in a four day workshop with Don Andrews....

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I have admired the paintings of Don Andrews for years.  His colors sing. He  creates strong design through his use of shapes and values.  I've spent many nights re-reading his book Interpreting the Figure in Watercolor.  Though he is articulate, nothing compares with watching him lay the paint on the paper!

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This painting began as an exercise on the third day, experimenting with granulated washes using abstract shapes leaving a few strong shapes unpainted, exposing the white of the paper.  After applying several layers of granulated washes, the white shape began to suggest a figure.  In the studio, it often takes me hours of throwing, splattering, washing off and tilting before a figure will emerge.  Twenty minutes after applying the first strokes of vivid pigment to the paper, the Medicine Man appeared.  I suggested the eye and mouth before packing up my paints for the day.

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Detail of Medicine Man's head in two stages

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During the first part of the fourth day I softened some edges and suggested more subtle form.

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Medicine Man - two stages

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The differences between the second and last stage may not be obvious at first glance.  The last, careful touches made a world of difference through my eyes.  Of all the painting I did over the four days, this is my favorite.

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Painting:  Medicine Man - watercolor - 9" x 13" image

 

 
Four Day Workshop with Don Andrews

Color Scheme Game Kit (Duplicate)

The Color Scheme Game Kit includes a laminated color wheel, two laminated templates to create your own color wheels, twelve laminated templates to play The Color Scheme Game, one mini game card, one twelve-sided die, one ten-step value scale and directions to play both The Color Scheme Game and the Extended Color Wheel Game. I have laminated the template sheets, but you must cut them out. To fix a template to the color wheel I use a push pin and a wine cork (not supplied in the kit) It is not necessary to fix the templates to the color wheel.

I developed the game to learn more about color, color mixing and color schemes. It forces me to use new combinations of colors in my paintings. I start each day with a throw of the die.
Color Scheme Game Kit (Duplicate)

Exploring New Territory in the Bay Area of California

My recent trip to California was fabulous.  The Watercolor Techniques Workshop at Riley Street Art Supply in Santa Rosa was filled to capacity.  I'm proud of how hard they worked and how courageous they were with their paintings.  Excellent work ladies!  It's not easy to let loose and break through barriers of preconceived notions.

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Of course I had to begin my trip sketching Hangar One at Moffett Field.

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Hangar One, Moffett Field, Mountain View, California

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Hangar One, Moffett Field

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And a trip to the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.....

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Philippine Coral Reef Aquarium

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As always, staying with Joanie Springer and her two lovely kitties in Santa Rosa was a treat.  Joanie introduced me to the work of John Lovett ...  I turned her into a plein air painter! (Maybe) .

Matanzas Creek Winery inspired by the work of John Lovett

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I met up with Nancy Roberts at Mount Diablo where she shared her favorite plein air spots with me.

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Nancy Roberts and the beginning of her plein air painting

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The next two days were spent wrangling and roping with my cousin Jacque and her wonderful hubbie, Herman.

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Herman's Roping Cowboy Boots, with and without spurs

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I rented my car for an extra day and visited Lick Observatory, stopping at the pull-offs along the switchbacks to paint.

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Along the road to Lick Observatory

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My only regret is that I didn't get to paraglide with Mike...... hopefully in September .....

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I'm reorganizing my blogs and simplifying my life so that I spend less time on the computer and more time with pen and brush in hand.  Please be patient with me as I sort it all out.  Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Exploring New Territory in the Bay Area of California