Small Potatoes

Recently, I have been extremely busy. A lot of changes, new challenges and demands, while I am waiting for these life events to sort themselves out, I decided to dabble in watercolor. I love the way you can draw a simple shape in clear water with a brush, fill it all in with water. Add a dab of color here, a different color there, let it blend. Turning the piece at just the right moment and letting the colors mix and add value.

I have just completed a series of miniature paintings. Very easy set up and clean up. Pack it all in a rucksack and it is hidden until the next time you have a moment. Planning, an acquired skill.

Happy Halloween Week

It is that time of year....no not the kick off to the holiday season. The weekly challenge was to paint a zombie. I had a photo of two relatives at a zombie walk they attended a few years ago. Taking clear gesso, I applied a coat to a copy of the photo. After it dried, I painted over the faces and enhanced the details with gouache paint.

It was different, fun and think it turned out pretty awesome for two zombies.

Time

Time.....on time or a lack of time. Make time. Time passes. Time is up.
I did a series of very small paintings one day this past week. I did the best with the time I had. Time is a gift. Use it wisely. Spend it with some people.

Big Sky Challenge

I knew that this was going to be a favorite challenge. A sky filled with different characters of clouds have always been an inspiration. I lived in Florida for awhile and the clouds are breath taking, frightening and ever changing.

I grew up near the Great Lakes and live close to Lake Erie at the present time. It is a wonder to watch the ominous clouds come rolling in off the Lake in the Fall. I am thankful to live here, there is such beauty even in the darkest sky, you just have to see. I love how the dark, purple greys play off the bright foliage in the Fall in the first painting. The middle is a photo of a sunset I took in the early spring. The last painting is a very small study of clouds using a gouache paint set that I seldom use. I like the chalky thick look when used without water. This was a thumbnail for the final painting. I could paint clouds and beaches all day. Maybe when I grow up.

October

Importing a photo taken by my son, I turned this ordinary crow into a Halloween raven. Sketchbook pro is a entertaining app for the iPad. Summer has blown by, that is what happens when your daughter gets married.

The past few days have been rainy, cool and welcome.