July 2014

Just a few watercolors I've managed to do this month. 

Holland Power 

Shell

Desiree Gardner

The Gables

A Bed & Breakfast

 Gondolas in Venice

 Titmouse

ArchETextire

May and June 2014

Of the acrylic paintings:

"Venetian Masquerade" 16x20" stretched cotton canvas.

 "The Charles Morgan". 16x20" stretched cotton canvas. 

Mother's Day Bouquet

Now for the watercolors: 

Blushing Pear

 Dee's Rose

 Vermeer Study GWAP

 Vermeer Study GWAP

 Della Salute

 Iris

 Peachy Drippy

 Pear Stumped

 Poppies in a Crystal Vase

 Rosebud

 Yellow Tulips 

 Vines Too

 Early California 1916

 Red Poppies on White

Yellow Tigers

More Tall Ships - Bits of American History on Memorial Day 2014

I have become entranced by old sailing ships, whatever their purpose, especially the Tall Ships. One of my very best friends informed me last week of her trip to Connecticut (she was born there) and of the 38th sailing of the newly restored Charles Morgan whaling ship setting sail from Mystic seaport. Built and launched in 1841, the Morgan is now America’s oldest commercial ship still afloat – only the USS Constitution is older. 

Therefore, I decided to do a painting of the ship which is partially complete. It's been kind of hard to find anything online regarding what the boat looks like before restoration so I've cobbled many references together to paint her. Most references were paintings of her and other similar ships of the genre. You can find more information at The Charles Morgan

Also, in light of it being Memorial Day, I want to leave you with music from my great uncle, Dudley Buck. His chorale works from the 1800's included organ music of our National Anthem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEqTAArQpyo

It's still April and I have new paintings. Yay!

Still painting in watercolors, when I was doing some research and really started getting interested in the Dutch Tall Ships (pre Columbus). So, naturally, I had to paint some of the images I had seen on the Web. Not in an attempt to copy for sale, but for educational purposes.  

On the other hand, if someone made an offer on a Renoir inspired painting like the one below inspired by Renoir's "Portrait of a Young Woman in Black", I would certainly take it.

This one I call Yesterday's Section. A somewhat dried out section of tangerine on a ceramic tile. Watercolor on hot press Fabriano. 9x12"

I have another but the glass was cracked when it was being framed, so there will be a delay.

The Fourth Rembrandt

Well, Rembrandt is the idol of the month. This is my fourth watercolor version of his selfies. So, I just had to share. The reference photo was clear and didn't have the traditional darkened varnish of the typical "Rembrandt glaze", which was a darkening of the varnish through the years applied to the paintings. I have also included the others.

I actually have applied a Rembrandt glaze to paintings in some areas of some of my oil and acrylic paintings (mixture of varnish and color) to darken and make parts of them recede, and it works very nicely for that.

Rembrandt. Watercolor 11x14" Fabriano cold press. W&N, Talens & Grumbacher colors,Grumbacher, Davinci, W&N, Princeton brushes. The reference doesn't have that traditional Rembrandt glaze, which was just old varnish, so colors were more vibrant, the way he painted. Just have to finish the jewelry 'round the neck.

April 2014

 After Rembrandt's "Portrait of Johannes Wtenbogaert"

After Sargent's watercolor "White Ships"

Having just gotten many tubes of watercolors in the mail I am steadily replacing my less than student grades with artist grade ones and I'm inspired to do more. Love the Fabriano paper as well.

These are just a couple of paintings done this month. I'm leaning on a new theme, Rembrandt and Sargent. One thing that bothers me, not that I want to forge any paintings, is that the images on the web differ dramatically in color and the fact that the museums are cleaning the old varnish off the oil paintings to reveal more dramatic color underneath the discolored varnish layers. Unless you are in the museum looking at the work, you can't really be sure. I can only speculate, knowing their palette and techniques, the right ones to use. 

I was recently reminded that the way we get to be good is by painting the masters. It's true. In the hundreds of works I've done, only less than 20 were done from reference to a master painting or at least, someone well known. 

March Missions

Being obsessed by early California architecture, primarily the Missions of California dating from the founding by Fr. Junipero Serra in the 1760s to their role in the present time. Their restoration and history. The first mission was in San Diego and the last (21st) one was in Sonoma. Lots of these missions lay in ruins for many years, or were destroyed by warfare,  but many were restored and some of them still function as basilicas. Many offer weddings and other tourist interests.

So, I started with the Basilica in San Diego, my hometown. Just looking at the photos brings back dim memories of having visited sometime in my early childhood. My parents were fond of day trips to historical or wilderness places. Gas was cheap back then. I decided to do a series of them, at least until I just lose my interest (the usual reason). Some of the missions were of a standard primitive architecture, others were more ornate and sophisticated, even having bell towers which makes for interesting shadows and other details.

Here's three of the first ones: Sonoma, San Diego and Carmel followed by a fourth: San Luis Rey in Oceanside. All are watercolors 11x15" on 140" cold press paper.