first day of vacation

This painting began as a traditional looking watercolor that for me lacked any punch. The composition was off so I decided to cut it up into this funny little size. Then the fun began. I played with some of my favorite colors,turquoise,orange,pink lime green. I really enjoyed how Turquoise washed over perm.rose. I always seem to want to add lines as a design element. Not sure why it's just the way my brain works at the time. I am so looking forward to having time to paint and experiment with watercolor and then see where it takes me.

WIP

There is absolutely nothing about watercolor that is easy.There are a million different things running through my head as I paint. How can I possibly remember everything? Color mixing, lights darks,focal point, composition, style, emotion, the list goes on and on. At times the frustration can be overwhelming. What have I learned, how come I can't Get this. What is it I want. The process is never ending ..... as it should be I suppose.



I am still working on this painting it is a painting of Turks Cap Lily.Wish I had this in my garden.I need to add some dots and darken the end of the stamens and play around a bit more.

This is a sketch of Walt Whitman. I just loved Ruth's post Whitman's Lilacs, at synch-ro-ni-zing beautiful photos and a wonderful poem. Her posts are so insightful,beautiful and enjoyable. I couldn't resist that photo of Whitman and just had to give it a try.Later,I decided to paint a watercolor wash over the sketch and the colors are just so wrong. And while they are faded and old looking they are just ... YUK. So ever onward add more try it again.

Dogwoods

After adding more darks,my fingers began to,"itch".I just had to grab some additional color, some zing. So I added yellow pastel then blue a finally periwinkle. I am still thinking that I may do something more? After all it's just paper.

WIP

Spring marches on with the ever amazing parade of flowers. What a season. The Dogwoods are just finishing up in Michigan.

I'm going to leave this painting for now and do some gardening. Hopefully when I return to it I will be able to continue to keep the color transparent and fluid. I need to add more darks and the flowers and background need to be developed .

Summer Vacation

I rescued some of the old Dick and Jane readers from the trash and now have about 10 of these old classics. My painting is actually of Sally the youngest of the family. The pre-primer consists of about 17 words and beautiful crisp pictures of a the gang playing outdoors,chasing dogs and cats and even watching t.v.. The print date is 1962.

Mothers Day Wishes

Flowers inspired from a magazine photo. Sort of random and unplanned,pastel and watercolor. Not sure what I think of it. One thing for sure is that it is spontaneous. I definitely need to plan more and work on composition. There is always something to strive for,that's what makes watercolors so inviting.