Wood's Mill @ Deep River Park

watercolor
14" x 21"
Landscape

The challenge for the Daily Paintworks this week was to paint something with wheels. I thought of the watermill in a neighboring town. We needed to show motion. I don't know if this wheel even works anymore for producing grain. But, this is really a neat park and I wanted to share it with you. Keep staying warm...it is almost February!!

Taking Photos at Deep River Park

watercolor
14" x 21"

This is a local county park in Hobart, Indiana. It is really lovely all times of the year.

The figure I decided on 2 days after I painted the painting. I was able to lift some of my forest area to do this. I didn't want him to become the center of interest so I didn't use bright colors. I thought by making this person a photographer he would help draw your eye around the painting and then point (and shoot) back to the center of interest which is the stump with the snow on it.

Stay warm!!

Plein Air Gal

watercolor
5" x 7"
$40

This is this week's challenge on the daily paintworks site. We had to do a painting of someone sitting...who else but me? ...or is it YOU?

Hope you are painting either indoor or out. Too cold here in Indiana to be painting outside. So to the studio I go....bye for now.

Winter #2 - 2012

watercolor
12" x 22"

It is winter in Indiana. Friday night we had 9" of snow and on Sunday evening we had a thunderstorm....only in Indiana. Well the snow is all gone and maybe that is a good thing. I am sure that it will come back.

This is just one of the local barns in our area and then I kinda made up the rest of the composition . I thought winter would be a good season to paint it in. Enjoy!!

Picasso's Gift to Chicago

watercolor
14" x 11"

This is a really neat sculpture that Picasso donated to the city of Chicago. The steel for it was made at US steel in Gary. This is a fun area to visit. They some times "dress" the statue up for sport occasions, and holidays. A must see if you come to this city.

Tangerine Tango Jug

watercolor 5" x 7"
SOLD

This was last week's challenge for the dailypaintworks. We had to paint anything we wanted with the color of the year. Did you know that the color of the year for 2012 is "Tangerine Tango?" Well I didn't either. I should have known that when I bought my last purse in......yep...tangerine tango.

House Portrait

watercolor
18" x 24" matted
SOLD

I was commissioned to do this portrait of this house. The gentleman wanted this particular house to give to his wife for Valentine's Day. Yes, she used to live here and was getting home sick. Wasn't that nice of him to do this for his wife. Needless to say, once he opened the painting, he could not wait to Valentine's Day to give it to her so he gave it to her right away. lol. Sounds like something I would do.

Borders is Closed

watercolor
11" x 14"

The chain of bookstores called Borders is now closed. Other book stores have taken over a few of them. My local store is changing into an appliance store. This painting is of the one that was in the Downtown section of Chicago. My favorite bookstore was Kroch and Brentano's. There used to be one in Chicago, too. I used to go to it all of the time when I was a student at the American Academy of Art and when I worked up down. That was my first credit card. I think I still have it.

Sadly but also wonderfully, we can get good deals on books at Amazon.com, halfbook.com, and many other online stores. I guess we are actually putting these icons of book stores out of business...good news / bad news.

"More People"

watercolor
sketchbook

I am at it again and I will keep at it till I get it right and I feel comfortable enough to add people to my paintings. They are a lot of fun to do.

People Studies

watercolors in my watercolor sketchbook

Sometimes it is not about doing a full painting or a commission. Sometimes it is just practicing. I want to learn how to add more people into my paintings. I used to believe...when in doubt, leave it out....but now I am rethinking that. If I keep doing people, maybe I will get better at it. I want to complete a whole sketchbook of people. Maybe you will be in it :))

The Warmth of Winter

watercolor
13" x 29"
landscape

Instead of painting this piece with the usual white snow, I thought I would play with being a bit bold with my colors. I decided on a sunset painting. These can be a bit tricky since I am using complimentary colors and in watercolor...that spells MUD. So the technique that I use is to start with the light colors and then do layers of washes and build up my colors. That sky was not a one shot deal. It took many washes and lots of drying time. But I had fun and that is what it is all about. Enjoy!!

Indiana National Lakeshore - Winter

watercolor
13" x 29"
landscape

Happy New Year Everyone!! Boy, do these years fly by fast. I remember when I was a kid and got bored in the summer because I didn't have anything to do. Where did those days go. Last year was a good year and I thank all of you who follow me on this blog and on Face Book. Thanks to those who purchased paintings, attended classes and workshops and for attending any of my shows. You are all so special to me. I dedicate this painting to all of you in the hopes that 2012 will be peace filled for you granting you all of your wishes.