Just My Size

We don't actually have any pets so sometimes my aunt and uncle are kind enough to volunteer theirs so our kids can pretend for a bit. This is a quick sketch I did tonight of my daughter with their dog, Bodie. He's awesome. He is like a soft, walking stuffed animal that loves you. What's better than that, right? He's the first dog I've ever painted, and was surprisingly a lot of fun to do. That luxurious black fur was fun to splash around. I love how he's looking up at her, and smiling. Aaaah.

I did this painting for the DPW Painting Challenge this week.

My little towhead

The lighting in this reference photo of my 2nd oldest is amazing and the way she is looking up with such brilliantly, bright eyes and pure joy... just melts my heart.

However, the painting of her white-blonde hair is causing me some trouble, and I think her eyes ended up a touch too big. The funny thing is they were honestly just right when I drew them, but the color and darkness of the shadows make them loom larger in her pale little face. I do have to admit that I don't know what to do now (which is why I'm not painting right now). I feel like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I went ahead and started painting without planning ahead even though I know better! That was partially because I just wanted to play around with the colors and be all loose. But now there's the background to deal with and a couple of night's work to ruin if I make the wrong decision. Blast. I hate it when I do that. I think it needs to be dark, at least along the side of her face to give it definition. But she's so light, that I worry a little about doing that. Suggestions?

Holiday Sale #s 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

So it's been fun to look back on these older paintings and talk about them, but I'm actually a little eager to get back to posting about what I'm working on now (because it helps me stay motivated - I feel accountable to the blog!) so I thought I'd do one last holiday sale post, with basically all the rest of the paintings I have that aren't spoken for. (Each is $9.95 shipping.)

Reflecting Impression
11 x 15 Watercolor on watercolor paper
Buy Unframed for $195

Time Ripples On
15 x 11 Watercolor on watercolor paper
Buy Unframed for $195

Of Ruins and Shadows
11 x 15 Watercolor on watercolor paper
Buy Unframed for $195

Tulip Illumination
18 x 23 Watercolor on watercolor paper
Buy Unframed for $250

Red Velvet
15 x 11 Watercolor on watercolor paper
Buy Unframed for $195

Fiery Petals
15 x 11 Watercolor on watercolor paper
Buy Unframed for $195

Holiday Sale #6: Morning Solitude in Warsaw

This is a smaller version of a commission I painted for a friend and customer. I wanted to get warmed up and figure out the perspective (which wasn't a ton of fun - so much precision!) so I did it small first and then went a bit larger for her. I love the colors. And the peaceful feeling. I would love to sit down at that outdoor cafe and watch the street come alive. Or to wake up in one of those upper rooms and throw the windows open and look down at the charming cobblestone road below. One can dream, right? Isn't it great that art helps us do so?

Morning Solitude in Warsaw is a 15 x 11 watercolor on watercolor paper.

Buy it Unframed for $215 + $9.95 Shipping

or

Buy it Framed for $250 (20 x 16 Black wooden frame with red accents, single white mat and UV protective glass) for $ + $9.95 Shipping


--Now only available at The Dalles Art Center (http://www.thedallesartcenter.org/)--

Contact me with questions or leave a comment!

Holiday Sale #5: Italian Fruit Market

I've been excited to post about this one! I felt proud of the accomplishment of finishing this one honestly. There was just so much involved and it took quite awhile. Also, I felt like it turned out like I had thought it could when I stared and stared at the photo before finally jumping in. There was something about the photo that just kept making me pause. It was in a stack of photos of Italy, sandwiched in between these awesome buildings and Venetian reflections, which were more the things I was looking to paint. But this jumble of fruit just wanted to be painted too. It kinda proved to me that those magnificent scenes were beautiful, but so was this mismatch of produce. I love that beauty can be found everywhere, even in the ordinary! Thank goodness for that! Italian Fruit Market is a 15 x 20 watercolor on watercolor paper.

Purchase Unframed for $295 + $9.95 Shipping

or

Purchase Framed (Custom-made black metal frame, single white mat and UV protective glass) for $335 + $9.95 Shipping


--Now only available at The Dalles Art Center (http://www.thedallesartcenter.org/)--

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

Holiday Sale #4: The Soft Touch

So I missed a day while I enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving with lots of family that I love and delicious food to eat! I'm grateful for both! What a wonderful, fantastic holiday. But back to "work." Like the last painting, this is one of my early florals in watercolor. I had finished my first red rose previously but I really wasn't happy with it, and just felt I had to revisit the subject. When I took the photo of this beauty in my mother-in-law's garden, I was excited by the sunlight's "soft touch" on the petals, which brought great contrast and additional color. I was much happier with the result this time. It turned out, in my opinion, lovely and cheery and interesting. Hope you agree!

Buy Unframed for $195 + $9.95 Shipping

Or 

Buy Framed (20 x 16 Dark wood frame with double white mat and UV protective glass) for $225 + $9.95 Shipping


--Now only available at The Dalles Art Center (http://www.thedallesartcenter.org/)--

Holiday Sale #3: The Garden's Joy

This one was my favorite floral for a long time. I loved the colors. I loved the ruffly edges. Didn't I say that about yesterday's painting? Turns out I like imperfectly unique petals. They're so much more interesting! And this lily, like most of it's kind, just looked so wonderfully confident as it opened up towards the sun. The Garden's Joy is a 14 x 11 watercolor on watercolor paper.

Purchase Unframed for $195 + $9.95 Shipping
or 

Framed (20 x 16 Dark wood frame with double white mat and UV protective glass) for $225 + $9.95 Shipping

--Now only available at The Dalles Art Center (http://www.thedallesartcenter.org/)--