Color Garden Studio, Art by Loretta West

Keepin' On - new painting step by step and Southwest Art Magazine.

2012-02-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

Lots happening right now: preparing paintings for competition, getting more aquainted with pastels and collage in order to teach both in March. Because I found myself straying away from certain subjects if they looked too difficult to draw, I started taking a classical drawing class once a week from Joe Kronenberg: http://www.kronenbergart.net/ which involves severe concentration and a few hours of home work, but I'm learning tons and I love to learn and then teach it. The study of art is so limitless which is one of the things I like about it.

I also have a photo of a painting included in the Special Landscape Issue of Southwest Art magazine, their February 2012 issue, so be sure to pick one up.

Here's a peak at my current project and the steps to get there. Many hours of planning can go into a painting, not always apparent in the finished piece.

Last summer we were sailing on our boat on Lake Coeur d'Alene with friends. One of whom was sitting with a big hat on just ahead of me. I was so taken with the composition, the light, the feeling of summer relaxation, that I took a picture of her. I knew it would make a great painting as soon as I took it. It reminded me of a Homer painting. So it stayed in my to do list for a few months. In the meantime I changed to a new computer and switched all my photos to an external hard drive as my old computer was not reliable. Proscrastinating as usual I didn't yet get around to copying the photos to my new computer. Then my external hard drive crashed creating that marvelous sinking feeling....oh-oh! The files could not be recovered, and I was sad as the photo I wanted to paint from was lost. Lucky for me my husband had many of the same shots on his system, including this photo, so happy days again. Bill saves the day!! And yes, I have learned a great lesson here, some where.

Anyway, the painting:

Here is a shot where I am working out the abstract designs and the values in my sketchbook. I use grey scale felt pens to work out the values. What I'm trying to work out is what are the abstract shapes? In this case, triangles mostly. Lots of artists use photoshop for this, but I like to draw it out, as you can't become too familiar with the rendering of subject.

I am also working out What is my What and Where is my What? A theme from Catherine Gill's Powerful Watercolor Landscapes which I am reading. http://www.catherinegill.com/index.php

In this case I want the figure (my what) to be off center and to have all elements point to it and support it. By looking at the photo upside down I can more easily see the shapes.

From here I did a mock up for colors. I used water color, inks and pastels to work things out a bit more.

I have a good idea on where to go now, thinking I would like more interest in the sky on left side to counterbalance the activity on the lower right.

So still not the final one, but messing around with more possibilities, I did a higher key painting with watercolor and acrylics...getting close to the end one here, but not quite right yet, have shadow allignments to work on and other stuff. So I'll start again which I hope will be the last one, we'll see....

Until next time, remember to ask What is what and Where is my what?

New Ideas for a New Year!

2012-01-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

I have had this painting drawn out in my studio for some while now. It is a personal painting of a certain time of life. Each element represents something meaningful to me: The water...emotions. The trees...protection. The rocks...life's obstacles. The birds...guides. The sky...hope. The girl...learner, traveler.

I waited until my mind was clear of other noise before beginning.

For another change I am trying out watercolor art board to see how it reacts to poured paint as it is rigid and may not buckle (I am hoping).

Using new gamboge, rose madder and ultramarine deep for my first pour. Got my set up all ready on the floor, complete with value study...must have map to see where to go. Set up only walked on once by dogs who are now banished for time being. Very happy to have on my old pouring shoes again!

This is after the first pour, interesting how this paper resisted the paint on the edges, needed some encouragement with a little water spritz.

After the pour off of the excess paint, I added some more things in the water area, which will hopefully leave some interesting marks....feathers from a barred owl which I found out walking.

I also added squiggles in a whirlpool design....from a Zen teaching which describes how all life is little whirlpools in the river and how it is swept away, reentering the larger flow. The teaching is from Charlotte Joko Beck: Nothing Special: Living Zen.

Now to lunch!

Fun with Food Coloring!

2011-09-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

Seems like it's been a very short summer. Did a bit of everything, painting, plein air, sailing, gardening and family visits, even got some reading done on afternoons when it was too hot for anything else.

Been in an experimental mood lately. Using watercolor as a base I've been adding other mediums like acrylic, colored pencils, ink and now food coloring. Yes, food coloring! It can create some great effects.

I ordered Karlyn Holman's book, Watercolor Without Boundaries after watching her informative videos online. Within it are so many great ideas to try and expand upon. One of the techniques was the use of food coloring taught by Cindy Markowski. I was in a hurry so only found the gel type coloring at the grocery store, but thought it might be fun to try it.

First I gathered leaves from our yard and placed them on some arches 140lb cold press paper. I did four small samples to try different techniques.

First I layed out the leaves on the paper and traced around the shapes with pencil and watercolor pencil, so it would be visible when dried.

I then wetted the paper with water and using small syringes with diluted food coloring in them, I plunged the pigment on the wet paper.

I then layed the leaves back on the paper using the outlines I had drawn before. I also squirted the gel coloring right from the tube to see what would happen.

Then I put a piece of plexi glass on the whole mess and stood on it!

I then place buckets of water on them and left them for 24 hours to dry. They would have dried faster had I remembered about the sprinkler system!!

Here's what it looked like under the plexi, made me excited and I wanted to lift up the plexi, but had to wait )<:

Blurry photo, but the dogs thought I had placed some water at perfect Lab height for them to drink!

Here's what it looked like after I took of the plexi, still needed a couple of hours to dry, will remember about the sprinklers next time.

I then used negative painting techniques to paint around the shapes and bring out other shapes I saw in the background. I also used watercolor pencils to so some outlining in places. Not bad, for the first efforts. Will try with pine needles next, got a few of those! Think that will work well with the gel color.

Wine & Watercolor!

2011-06-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month I was asked to lead a watercolor class at a local winery, Latah Creek Wine Cellars. www.latahcreek.com The winery provided the food and wine and I the subject painting and instruction. I came up with this little painting at right, "Tuscan Country". Colorful but easy for the beginner.

The pictures at the bottom of this post are what the students did. They had no painting experience what so ever and look at what they turned out!! Fabulous job!

I had a great time teaching this fun class/event. If you would like me to teach at a similar event you are planning at your business or home, please drop me a line or call my cell at 509-995-1647 and we can discuss the details.

Look for me or my work at the following venues this summer:

July 22 - 5:30 - 8:30 Art for the Animals, Tinman Gallery, Spokane, WA Exhibition and Art Auction to Benefit Riverswish Animal Sanctuary, buy your tickets through this website: http://www.zvents.com/z/spokane-wa/art-for-the-animals-exhibition--events--182936126

July 29 - August 23 - Opening reception, July 29 5 -9 p.m. Peter Pan Invitational, Tinman Gallery, Spokane, WA

August 5,6 & 7 - Art on the Green, Coeur d'Alene, group show with CDL Art Assoc.

As always, your comments are appreciated.

Yoho part 3 - The unifying ink.

2011-02-25T16:56:00.000-08:00

View up road from cabin in Field, BC. Wonderful fall colours.

One less than stellar day we drove into Banff and did the tourist thing, recalling many good memories. I spied this wonderfully coloured Meadow off the parkway on the way back and managed to do a tiny sketch in the rain.

Much better weather for sketching on the shores of Lake O'Hara.

Art shot on early morning slippery hike to Lake Oesa.

My dear one having a read while I paint at Lake Oesa. He's a true gem!

One of Bill's shots on way back down from Oesa.

A start to try to do the scene he photographed justice.

After many blunders, I decided on the unifying ink technique. Most painters are familair with the unifying wash...well, I call this the unifying ink. It's my ace in the hole when all is not turning out as I envisioned. Anyway, I like it more now....It's called Mountain Suite VI...hope you like it too.

Yoho part 2

2011-02-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

Part of our return trip from Larch Valley included a reviving pint at The Train Station pub in Lake Louise with our new hiking buddies. This was the view from the pub entrance of Temple Mountain with a raven flying by. I've seen it so many times, yet never tire of it.

Our final day of hiking was a long one, along the Iceline trail in Yoho Valley. It eventually skirts the bottom edge of the Wapta glacier. This was the summit of our 2200 foot climb that day with a view of 1200 foot takakkaw falls across the valley just behind me. Quite a personal feat as 2 years after big surgery. Proud of myself, I am. Pat on back, pat, pat.

A break to take in the view down the valley to the south.

The edge of the glacier and terminal moraine.

More edge of glacier shot.

After another climb up yet another moraine at altitude. I was pretty tired at this half way point, but we pushed on to do the whole circuit.

Lucky for us we had a nice cozy cabin in nearby Field to crash in after a long hiking day. We had done the same trail about 20 years ago and got to return to a cold tent, so this was royal comfort in comparison. In this shot my feet are getting much needed attention. It only took 4 mos. of physical therapy to get over this hiking week!

Sublime Beauty - Yoho 2010

2011-02-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

Last fall we took a weeks holiday at the Yoho National Park, BC. Here we are at Lake Oesa after an early morning hike on an icy trail having a warming tea break.

I got right down to business and started sketching with hat and fingerless gloves on.

Sketching on the edge of Lake Oesa

Lake Oesa, early morning.

Falls from Lake Oesa outflow, I think they are called Victoria, if I remember correctly.

Reflections in Lake O'Hara

More sketching while waiting for the hikers bus

We did a tourist thing and walked up to Larch valley. Making friends with two other couples. One of the couples were on the tail end of world tour for a year. Lots of adventurous stories were told on the trail.

The rest went exploring and I stayed and sketched.

The Larches of Larch valley.

More views of Larch Valley.

It's Still Pouring

2011-02-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, I figured I wasn't quite done. I added in some more details and changed some elements, so now I'm done.....well.....yep, it's finished!

It's Pouring Color in my Studio

2011-02-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

Back in November I started pouring paint for this landscape. I've used frisket as a resist and have poured the three primaries.

Here it is after it has dried but the frisket is still on it and is the lighter sections.

I poured what was left over from the paint being poured off a mixture of the three primaries which gave a nice dark for the water.

This is after the dark had dried.

I then started paiting directly usind negative painting techniques for the marsh grasses, much fun!

Here's a close up of the marsh grass.

I tweaked this painting over several weeks. Scrubbing out high lights here and there. I think I'm finished now. Though you never know. It's called Wolf Bay Moon Rise II and it is 18 x 28 inches.

Color Garden Studio, Art by Loretta West: Crop Options Part 2

2010-06-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

Color Garden Studio, Art by Loretta West: Crop Options Part 2

Crop Options Part 2

2010-06-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing the weather has been so wet and cold as it has kept me in the studio working on a few pieces that have been sitting around "almost done" since early spring.

To continue on my previous topic about cropping and finishing. I continued on this new painting entitled "Sky Pocket" of the Dry Falls/Sun Lakes area of Central Washington.

I have decided (finally) on the below cropping. I also lightened the distant cliffs pushing them back further in the painting to create more depth and adding some atmospheric interest.

Of course now I can see a few other little things that need to be adjusted, but I will be done today (I promise) and will post it on my website when complete.

I've learned (again) about the importance of having good reference. The little picture on my phone just wasn't big enough and I had not had time for a sketch of this particular spot when I was there. Oh well, some times you just have to do it anyway and maybe that's where more learning happens.

When the sun did shine this week I headed east to Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to do some plein air (out door) painting. While small kids played in the freezing lake I painted on shore with a jacket on as it was only 66 and the sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds. I spent a couple of luxurious painting hours there and loved every minute.

Before I left I dropped into The Coeur D'Alene Olive Oil Company www.cdaolive.com for their delicious Lemon Reserve olive oil then visited some galleries, just popping into my top favorites www.theartspiritgallery.com and www.devingalleries.com . Great exhibits, be sure to take them in if you are in the area. The summer season is under way there with lots of people for a weekday.

In other news a new art gallery has just opened near my home and studio in downtown Millwood. They are selling some of my work. The Millwood Gallery is at 9009 E. Euclid, 1/2 block west of Argonne Road. The new owner, Teresa is having a Grand Opening on June 26th, but is currently open regular hours which are: 11 - 6 Wednesday to Saturday and 10 - 2 on Sunday. Telephone: 927-2222. Please stop on by.

Crop Options

2010-06-09T14:35:00.000-07:00

In painting, it always seems to come down to decisions, decisions. In my last posting I mentioned that I thought cropping would improve the landscape of the Dry Falls, WA area which I am currently working on. So with the help of technology I can play around with different parameters before I change things permanently. If you don't have the tools to crop on your computer then you can use a couple of "L" mats to achieve the same desired effect.

So lets look at the painting as I had left it:

Here is crop option number 1. I've brought in the right hand side a bit. But, this takes my eye to the right and right out of the painting. This is because the sky line goes down instead of up which does not hold the eye in the "bowl" of sky.

Crop number 2. So now I've left the width and lowered the top. This makes it more intimate and helps to hold the gaze in towards the focal point and not off to the right. But, there's always a but, I don't like that the top of the cliff on the left has been cut off.

Crop number 3. I've raised the top a bit, between the photo above and the original image.

Now a dilemma. By keeping the top of the cliff on the left in the painting it takes my eye out of the painting. I kept it because I loved it's luminous quality. Yet, the painting works better as crop #2. Oh well, too bad, but the remnants will make nice book marks!

My husband walked by and his trained photographers' eye suggested Crop number 4 for comparison. (this process is sort of like trying on shoes) He is so often right about these things.
Okay, I like the feeling of narrowing this creates. However because of the straight line at the sky on the right, again I am taken out of the picture. So, it's back to the paints to work on that line. Either adding another step or an upslope on the right. I am also adding some of that tan brown colour to the vegetation on the left in some of the places where I've scrubbed out.

Color Garden Studio, Art by Loretta West: Is it finished?

2010-06-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

Color Garden Studio, Art by Loretta West: Is it finished?

Is it finished?

2010-06-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

I often ask myself "Is this painting finished?" My answer is a more of description of a feeling than something technical. If I look at a painting and look and look and look some more; I either get a satisfied feeling that it's done or a nagging feeling that something is just not quite right. So in either case I put it away for a while and then look at it again in a few days. If I still feel satisfied, then it's done in my book. Now, someone else looking at it may think otherwise, but there are always more opinions than works of art out there, so I don't loose sleep over other people's opinions.

Here's an example of a painting I am working on which is taken from a the plein air paint out I did with friends in the Dry Falls area of Central Washington State. First I had to overcome a technical challenge because the only photo I had of this scene was on my phone and after much scouring on the Internet there was no way to get them off the device, so I need an upgrade there. Anyway, glitches aside, I worked from the image on my phone which was about 1.5 inches square. Tiny! So in this case I had to rely on my memory and also the feelings and sensations from that super plein air day.

After a week, I got it to where I "thought" it was done and even signed it! But every time I would pass it in my studio, something just didn't "feel" quite right. So I would correct values and add bits here and there all the while that nagging continued.

I truly believe in serendipity. Most of these "answers" come to me when I am not looking for them. So this morning over breakfast I was reading the July/August issue of the Artist's magazine, which I love to read cover to cover. (http://www.artistsmagazine.com/) I read an article on Richard McKinley entitled Shimmering Water, Quiet Light. The picture of the painting High Desert Symphonic had the answer.(http://www.mckinleystudio.com/)

Looking at his painting I had a "that's it!" moment. Under the cliff on the left it was just too jumbled and uninteresting and my eye kept skipping over it. It needed more light similar to how McKinley had treated his scene. So I got out my trusty scrubber brush and scrubbed out some paint on that side. Also doing a bit on the right for balance. I used 300 lb. paper so quite thankfully it can take a lot of scrubbing and abuse and still look fine.

So here is a shot of what it looks like right now with the lighter left hand corner. I have also taken a close up of this corner so you can see the results of this scrubbing. It helps to take a photo of your work in process which can enable to you see things from a different perspective.

Am I done now? Well, not quite. I need to darken some of the scrubbed area a bit, so that it blends in and doesn't shout, "Look at me, I'm over here" quite so much. In doing this blog I accidentally did some cropping of my photo which I liked. So my next step after the touch up is to play around with the cropping tool in Photoshop to see if less sky will make for a stronger composition. Luckily when you paint on paper, scissors can be a saviour.

So in the next installment we'll look at cropping for better effect and see how that goes. One art judge said that he wanted to see the struggle that the artist had with a painting. Well, I would not disappoint in this case!

P.S.

Just found out that my profile is being featured on http://pleinairartists.ning.com Happy Day!

Color Garden Studio, Art by Loretta West: Dry Falls

2010-05-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

Color Garden Studio, Art by Loretta West: Dry Falls

Dry Falls

2010-05-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

The spring weather has been changeable this year, but maybe it always is that way. We went from summer temperatures to heavy winds yesterday bringing in freezing temperatures over night. All this makes for some challenging outdoor painting experiences.

Last Saturday I met a group of plein air painters at Dry Falls State Park in Central Washington State. A great destination if you are ever in the area. Fabulous basalt cliffs formed in an arc where there were once falls 3.5 miles wide and 400 feet high. Our fearless leader, Lynne, showed us how to get to the valley floor where we painted in the wind, rain and sun for an afternoon.

Here I am in the middle with Kathryn on the left and Pammy on the right. You can see the wind is blowing strong in this photo. Sun burn? No, but wind burn.

I did a couple of small sketches and here is one I call: Notch at Dry Falls. Enjoy!

Celebrate Spring!

2010-03-30T16:11:00.000-07:00

Today, I bought a couple of packages of sweet pea seeds to plant at Easter. This is on advice from an old neighbour in Calgary (where gardening was a constant fight with altitude) who always planted his peas at Easter on a south facing garage wall and they would be lovely come July. I try to make it a ritual, though usually I plant them in May sometime. I figure since I've purchased the seeds I am well on my way to making it happen. Well, that's the plan anyway.

It's been a long time since I've posted, I know. I guess I've been busy, though not with too much out of the usual. Looks like I left off with the New Year's at Nipika painting which is now finished and can be viewed at http://www.colorgardenstudio.artspan.com/ under the Nipika tab.

So what have I been doing? I've been practicing my plein air (out door) painting technique. I've joined up with a friend and we tour around the area set up, throw paint and laugh a lot. She got me to join a plein air painting site where you can see my neophite plein air work at: www.pleinairartists.ning.com/profile/LorettaWest . Just click on photos. It's a great site to converse with other folks who like to paint in nature. There aren't too many of us in Eastern Washington, but we are mighty. The photo here is of one I did last week of the Mission Street Bridge over the Spokane River. I would have had ducks in it, but I couldn't draw as fast as they swam! This is done with ink and watercolor. A skill I have yet to master.

This April I go back to school for a short while to learn some new techniques and hopefully to bump my work up a notch. I do love painting on my own, but it is always good to get new ideas and keep things fresh by consulting others.

Well my shoulders are stiff from too much computer work, so I'm done for today. I'll leave you with this poem by Lucille Clifton:

The earth is a living thing

is a black shambling bear

ruffling its wild back and tossing

mountains into the sea

is a black hawk circling

the burying ground circling the bones

picked clean and discarded

is a fish black blind in the belly of water

is a diamond blind in the black belly of coal

is a black and living thing

is a favorite child

of the universe

feel her rolling her hand

in its kinky hair

feel her brushing it clean

Until next time...Enjoy the spring! Enjoy the Earth!

The Christmas Train

2009-12-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

We've had a few busy weeks traveling and then boarding the old Christmas train, preparing for the big event. Almost all ready now, after a marathon weekend of baking, decorating and card writing.

Recently, we spent about ten days in Stockholm experiencing some of their Christmas traditions. The Christmas season starts for Swedes the first Sunday in Advent where candles are lit in the windows and there are special concerts in the churches. It continues until well into January. It is certainly a different atmosphere than in this country. There seems to be more emphasis on family gatherings, though the shopping areas were also busy. They were all so excited about the Julbord, which is a big Christmas buffet with many special foods. These dinners start on Advent and continue through the season. Some of the restaurants and hotels host the Jul dinners. Where we stayed, there was one each night. It looked fantastic. There were different kinds of herring, salmon, shrimp, lamb, reindeer (yes, they eat Rudolf and he tastes good) and of course potatoes, they are BIG on potatoes. We couldn't eat enough to satisfy the price of one of these dinners, but were lucky enough to be served some great leftovers on the breakfast smorgasborg the next morning. I gotta tell you that I wasn't sure about herring at first, but I was quickly made a convert. If it's done right, it is good. I had it curried, pickled, just about every which way and I loved it.

There is a living museum called Skansen near downtown. For Christmas they put on special exhibits and have a Christmas market which are stalls set up where they sell ornaments, glog (mulled wine), gingerbread, craft goods, cheese etc. Many people told us about this place and that we had to go, as it was a real highlight of the season for them. When we were there, darkness had fallen and they were dancing around the Christmas tree to music, young and old. They were hopping back and forth and I found out that they were doing a favorite frog dance, it looked like so much fun!

What's really nice is that things are decorated, but not over the top. They have candles burning everywhere starting in the afternoon, as it gets dark early that far north. There are big candles with large wicks burning outside shop doorways. Some also put evergreen bows on the doorsteps so that when you walked on them, their sent was released, lovely... heavenly. A good friend of mine who has been to Scandinavia a few times described Christmas time there as... cozy. Yes, that is how would describe it too. Cozy. A good Christmas memory has been made.

I took my paints with me, but it was pretty cold and damp to spend much time outdoors. Occasionally the sun shone, but not for long. In fact when it was up, it didn't get too far above the horizon. We were fortunate to find a hotel which was on a lake with a nice park. One afternoon the sun shone and so I sat on a bench and painted the lake scene, exactly as I saw it as there wasn't time to do much thinking before my butt froze. Then after that we did a lot of walking around the old town and visited quite a few museums so no time for painting. The art museum had a lot of Swedish painters, of course, so it was interesting to become familiar with them.

I love to travel, buy my body is at heart a "home body" and it loves to be at home with family and in the studio. That's a fact which I live with, my mind is a traveler....body isn't. So after my body clock returned to this time zone, I started another ski season painting, hoping that maybe painting snow would bring it here. This is a scene from Nipika, which is near Radium, B.C., Canada. A friend is skiing ahead and our two dogs, Rory and Libby are racing along side him, causing the usual ruckus.

I drew this in my head several times while on the long flight back from Sweden and so it came out easily onto the paper. I then used masking which is a light blue colour to mask all the whites I wanted to keep. Paying special attention to the snow kicked up by the dogs. I then mixed some light colours and applied them lightly after wetting the paper fully.

Then I gave more detail to the mountains and started putting in the shadows which fall across the ski trail.

Then I moved to the trees, giving them some colour and shape.

From there I started to paint the figure and the two dogs, the fun part!

I continue to keep working this, tweaking here and there. Stay tuned for more coming soon.

Easy Christmas Cards

2009-11-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

I started making these cards this week upon a request from my Mom for an easy card project. I use Strathmore watercolor cards which are currently on sale at Spokane Art Supply, by the way.

First off, decide which way your design will be horizontal or vertical. I'm doing a Christmas tree for this demo so I oriented the card vertically. I then tape the edges with blue painters tape (available at hardware stores) or you can use masking tape. Just be careful when you take the tape off or it may rip your card. I tape it so there is an even edge which acts like a frame around the subject.

To make a template, you can use plain paper or in this case I used an 8 inch diameter paper cake doily, available at Micheal's or anywhere they sell cake supplies. I folded the doily in half. I then drew one half of a Christmas tree onto the doily.

Using Sharp scissors I then carefully cut out the design through both layers. And then opened it up and I had a complete Christmas tree image. Using the same blue painters tape I then taped the tree design to the card. It will overlap the card, but that's okay.

Using very thick watercolor paint I then coloured in the tree and the lacy holes with paint and allowed it to dry. You could use just about any medium to paint with, crayons, markers, watercolor crayons etc. What ever you prefer.

I then removed the template and using small dots of accent color I finished the card. In this case I used bright, thick watercolor paint and gold acrylic paint.

I also made a bell template and made this card:

Change and Second Chances

2009-11-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

I've been contemplating change these days, change of seasons, life, views and how much we need to have it in our lives. It seems that as soon as I make a proclamation that something is just so I am already the hypocrite as there are so many variables to every situation. I have been working on a larger leaf painting, having sold the other two. This one is called Autumn Breeze #3, only because I couldn't think of a better title.

It's the time of year when I get more introspective and reflective, read more, naval gaze and brood more. Clearing out. Opening the metaphorical windows to the autumn breezes. This morning I was reading a Mary Oliver book while eating breakfast and came across this poem which says so much about this time of year and it relates well to this current series of paintings.

Last Days

Things are

changing; things are starting to

spin, snap, fly off into

the blue sleeve of the long

afternoon. Oh and Ooh

come whistling out of the perished mouth

of the grass, as things

turn soft, boil back

into substance and hue. As everything,

forgetting its own enchantment, whispers:

I too love oblivion why not it is full

of second chances. Now,

hiss the bright curls of the leaves. Now!

booms the muscle of the wind.

I looked and looked at this painting this morning, not quite right, I kept thinking, what's wrong??? Took a photo to find the flaw and instead liked it more. And if it is not right in the end, like the poem says: "I too love oblivion why not it is full of second chances." Wishing you lots of second chances.

Planning

2009-10-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you don't know it, but making art takes a large amount of thinking. Some ideas I've had in my head for literally years waiting for the stars to align when it will be alright to let it out. Well, this particular idea didn't work that way at all.

I woke up one morning last week and thought, I would like to try that Stephen Quiller 300 lb paper that my dear Mom gave me this summer. It has a nice warm yellow tint. Okay I'll do some landscapes from photos since the weather was too turbulent for plein air. I got out some of my photos from the summer of great Rocky Mountain scenes. Then I thought I'll warm up first with some lovely fall leaves, just something quick to loosen up. Well, that "quick warm up"has turned into two paintings and I am working on a third larger one. One thing leads to another and who knows, maybe I won't get the juice from leaves and return to those landscapes, but for now, this jazzes me up and so I do it. Simple as that.

Here's the second one that I finished today:

Here are the two together

Although I didn't look at the first one while painting the second, they sure look like they belong together and make a nice pair.

A number of readers have told me that they like to see my process, how things get painted. With these I first lay the actual leaves out on a white surface playing around with different designs. I then turn a light on the subjects from the top and side which give me short shadows. As in the below photograph. Then I draw the composition on the watercolor paper.

When I started these paintings, I had plans to keep the background white and not paint it in. Well, a few tiny drops of paint got here and there and I thought, jeepers now I'll have to pick them out with a sharp edge what a pain that will be. Being somewhat on the lazy side, I then thought, hey, what if I put speckles every where in the background as I was going to put speckles on the leaves anyway. This is something the Chinese painters call Happy Dots! Well, voila! That turned out great, it filled the negative space nicely and solved my wayward paint problem too. I patted myself on the back. Happy Dots all around! Oh, and, thanks again for the paper Mom!

Peaceful Fall

2009-10-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a long while since I've posted but it was a very busy summer with lots of fun and travel. I did not do much in the studio and instead painted in the field as much as possible.

This morning I lay awake thinking I would head outside and paint today but the weather would not allow it. The leaves on the trees are so very beautiful right now so I went around our house gathering the most colorful and interesting. I especially loved the way that the maple leaves have green tips. Lots of arranging resulted in this painting. Name to come later once I activate that side of my brain again. I could be on a roll here as there are a lot of leaf subjects around at present and I like how it turned out.

Baby it's Hot Outside!

2009-07-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know what the weather is where you are, but it has been cookin' in the inland northwest these past several days. Nearly ninety in the shade again this afternoon which makes the studio sauna like to work in. I'm a northern gal and I don't do heat, but I do air conditioning!

I took a great plein air workshop with Stan Miller in late June at his sister Lois' beautiful home and retreat center, over looking Lake Coeur d'Alene Idaho

(http://www.scharelant.com/) . Stan's masterful work can be seen at http://www.stanmiller.net/

I found a nice breezy spot away from the rest of the students and painted fast and loose sketches of a meadow with the lake beyond.

I've continued with the plein air experience this summer as a way to unwind after teaching classes. One of the classes I teach is to a great group of seniors at a retirement community in Coeur d'Alene. After the class is over I keep driving east to sit on the dock by our sailboat under the umbrella and take in the scene. I love to feel the rocking of the water and make small paintings. The upper one is the view from the dock towards Tubbs Hill and the other is my geometric take on the color of water.

Well, time to put the steak on the bar-b. I will be at Art on the Green tomorrow (Friday, July 31st), with the Coeur d'Alene Art Assoc.. My work will be on display with the other members work. Hope to see you there! Keep cool.

Almost Summer!

2009-06-16T08:00:00.001-07:00

Sedum, Autumn Joy

Summer solstice is just around the corner and the garden is in fine fettle. I photographed some sedum in the early morning bright light for this painting. I started in a wet into wet technique for the leaves and took more time than usual on the darker elements, practicing lost and found edges where the shadows meet the leaves. Apparently there are more different shades of green than any other colour. Over 300. That can make painting greens a real challenge for the artist. I used a very limited pallet of about four or five colours which kept the confusion to a minium.

This was fun to paint and I am very happy with the outcome. This one I may save for competition.

Whirl Pool

If you recall last summer, I started this painting on watercolor canvas using paint and collage techniques. I applied gold leaf which was finicky to use, but it worked out fine. I "think" I am done here. Yes, looking at it again, I would say I am done. Some times it takes a few months to complete a painting. I have to turn it against a wall for a while and then when I look at it again, the answers come.

I read a bit from Nita Engle's How to Make Watercolor Paint Itself this morning: "If, on the other hand you have no drawing, you tend to work inward with the paint trying to delineate all the detail. This makes the painting lose power and become scruffy-looking rather than free." I hope I have achieved free and not scruffy in this painting....your comments would be most appreciated. What do you think?

Wild Flower Power

2009-05-06T18:03:00.000-07:00

Here is how our dogs begin their day. Doggy Yoga - Doga- relaxation pose. They are particularly good at that one.

Followed by a walk at a new to us wooded area near the house with lots of wild flowers.

In particular the wild Balsam Root is blooming all over this time of year.

My husband took this great photo of some Trillium near Iller Creek last weekend. While the dogs did their best to trample his subjects.

These are just a fraction of the violets blooming in our front yard.

The work continues on the red tulip picture this week, however slowly. The ampersand surface is a bit of a challenge to work on, though I made great strides today. It confirms for me again why water color paper is still the best to use. They can try to come up with facsimiles which don't need glass framing, but it's just not quite the same to use and the subtleties are not the same. It just doesn't water off as well or as smoothly as I would like it to. I probably need to get some more instruction on how to use it properly. Not giving up yet.

Almost done, still needs tweaking.

Tulips!

2009-04-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

We are having a long spring which is good for the flowers as they will last longer in the cooler weather. In our front garden there are planted some large red emperor tulips. With the sun on them this week they were almost too bright a red to look at.

I took several shots and found this photo to be of interest because of the shapes of the petals and the slit which is made in the top. Plus I liked the peek-a-boo quality of the angle just showing the pistols and stamen.

Stashed away in my studio I have a 20 x 16 inch cradled piece of Aquabord which scares me at times as it is a bit tricky to use and I have had so-so success with it in the past. Well Heck, I thought, jump in or it will just keep collecting dust! So I began with a very wet surface allowing the paint to move, though it required more water than it would have on paper. Several oops later and I have the first layer on. We'll see how it goes. I am getting quite a series going of red flowers, don't know why, just attracted to them, like a bee. There is also a challenge to getting the reds just right and I'm getting close. As Cezanne said on his death bed: "I'm only now beginning to get the hang of this..."

We planted strawberries last weekend. It was great to work in the dirt, digging holes. I've had to put a fence around the ones in the back yard so the dogs keep out and those pine needles we keep to over winter roses are now doing double duty as "straw" for the strawberries.

Bill West photo

Took some more pictures of the Labs just hanging out as usual while I work away. Libby likes to keep her legs crossed when she sleeps and Rory well, he likes to chew to work out what ever is going on in his doggy brain!

I read a good article in International Artist this week about a gal who juxtaposes realistic oil painted subjects against printed backgrounds as she was a former fine art printer. You can see Gail Gash Taylor's extraordinary work at http://www.manitougalleries.com/searchresults.php?artistId=3331&start=1 I just want to reach out and stroke the horses she paints, beautiful!

Day After Earth Day

2009-04-23T07:40:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was Earth Day and I listened on the radio on and off throughout the day. There was a lot on Global Warming of course and what we all could do to improve the situation. Gains and losses were recorded. I have no idea what the true cause is and how much we are contributing to what may well be in part a natural phenonmenon. Though I do think that we have to stop destroying habitat with our constant hunger for "improvements" and allow nature take it's course as it was designed to do. What I do believe is that the Earth is changing and has for millenia and will continue to change long after we are gone from it. I also believe that the Earth is constantly attempting to balance itself just as our bodies do and we need to accept that as a process and not fear it.

As I was walking our Lab Rory in the spring wind I thought mostly that I didn't want to feel guilty for living as I do on this planet. I try to be ecologically responsible, not because it's trendy or because I am afraid of the future of life on this planet, but simply because I LOVE and RESPECT my home which is this lovely Mother Earth.

When I got home I took out a sheet of Lexan and created this piece pictured above where I painted flowers for continents. I imagine a world of vibrant peaceful life, which of course gets very little attention, as crisis is so much more marketable. I call it simply "Home".

On the flip side, Monday was the first Creativity for Kids class and we made sketch books. I had a good time and I think the kids did too. Looking forward to next week.

Gearing up for shows this summer as well. I was accepted to show at the Huckleberry Festival in Priest Lake, Idaho, on July 18th. And....I have been asked to set up a booth at the Entree Gallery in Priest Lake for one or two days this summer which I am very pleased about as they are a great gallery! I have a few other irons in the fire and will keep you posted on where I will be this summer.

One More Thing

2009-04-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

I continue to experiment using plexi glass and acrylic paint. Just ordered a book on the subject, entitled Plexi Class by T. Davenport which I am excited about, no more stumbling around in the dark as I will now have clear instructions which will not stop the experimenting, but might keep me from hurting myself. (<:

Here is one I did on a rainy day, entitled A Spring Rain which is available on my website at www.colorgardenstudio.artspan.com and at my new Etsy shop which I am currently stocking.

Dog Days

2009-04-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

A lot is happening this past while and today I am just darned tired. So after warming up by deleting old emails (heavy work that), I thought I would update my blog. There was snow and hail again this week with some nice warm sun too. Here's the hail on the studio roof. I'm working away on small painting of Rundle Ridge in this photo.

We had a nice spring walk with the dogs at Iller Creek and saw lovely glacier or avalanche lilies starting to bloom.

While the sun shone brightly on our 92 pound chocolate Lab, Rory this week, I thought now is my chance to get some nice shots of him for a painting. He usually looks too dark in photos to see any features. To begin with he was sitting still until I got the camera that is. When I started shooting he got ants in his pants and started talking, as he is a talker, and then Libby our other Lab had to get in on the act too as she is a real ham for the camera. So here is what a Labrador photo shoot looks like...

Then at the end of the day they were very tired dogs and the best of friends.

In other news the Creativity For Kids class starts on Monday and we are going to have so much fun with what I have in store, very exciting. Could not have done it without the help of the people at Millwood Presbyterian, thanks for all your support! Lots of kids are interested, so with any luck there will be more classes in the future.

Oh yes and amid having fun with the dogs and gardening this week I finished a painting too and here it is, entitled Rundle Revisited...as usual it is available on my website at http://www.colorgardenstudio.artspan.com/ Keep those comments coming! I love to hear from you!

Official long underwear stowing day!

2009-04-06T16:09:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I've written as I had to get ready for the featured artist reception last Friday night. It was a good event and I want to thank all those who attended, your support is most appreciated. In this photo I am standing near my work which will be displayed until the end of April at the Avenue West Gallery on Monroe. The work to my right is watercolor on paper and behind me is the new wave for me of acrylic abstracts on lexan. Figuring out how to attach them to the white backgrounds so that they stuck and looked like they were floating was a real challenge, but it looked great with many favorable comments made by viewers.

Today I had big plans to add new art work to my website and do other office work, but the computer gods weren't happy and would not download my images. Gee that was a blow (not) as the weather outside is wonderful. Today marks a special day as I put away my long underwear, put on some shorts and then ventured outside to paint crocuses in the sun. The results were less than stellar but the atmosphere was sublime with the sun shining, the birds singing and the bees a buzzin'. Thanks be to those fickle computer gods. My fish belly white skin started getting pink so had to go back in the house to find some sun tan lotion.

After a rest up on Saturday when I completed reading "The Last Chinese Chef", which I highly recommend, though snacks are required as you will certainly get hungry while reading. We dawned hiking boots and my husband Bill and I and our two Labs made our way above Iller Creek towards the Rocks of Sharon. We hiked about an hour uphill and then turned around when we were tired of slipping around in the snow which was at a higher elevation.

Here is Bill with the two labs on the way down towards the creek. Mount Spokane (or Mt. Baldy as Bill calls it) is the tallest peak with snow in the background, where we were skiing just last Sunday.

This is Libby who loves to clown around. Here she is cooling off in a patch of snow and then she lay down in a mud puddle, while Rory the chocolate lab is off exploring some where.

Once we got below the snow line we scouted around for signs of wild flowers. Whitlow grass was every where and then Bill spotted a couple of buttercups and some soon to emerge glacier or avalanche lilies which will be blooming soon.

On April 20th I start the Creativity for Kids classes at the Crossing youth center in Millwood so that is my next project and I am noodling ideas around right now. Life's adventure continues.

Crocuses!

2009-03-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

This is a happy day! Not only because I found a new framer who can help me out of my bind and get the framing done next week, but also because my husband spotted crocuses blooming in the front yard this morning. Dispite the unsettled weather, the earth's treasures emerge in spring once more.

I finished "Sofa Pillow" and am pleased with the dreamy quality. I used touches of titanium white guache here and there and in the eye lashes with a tiny #3 brush. Good thing I got these new bifocals!

Sofa Pillow

Here's some eye candy for ya. Check out this link:

http://www.earthfromabove.com.au/gallery.html

The eyes!

2009-03-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

The weather man was wrong again today, instead of a wintry mix we had a lovely sunny day with some great fluffy clouds now and again. Got out to enjoy the sun by taking the dogs for a walk at Iller Creek. I purposely kept them away from the creek, but Libby found a dog sized mud puddle and lay down in it! So much for keeping them dry.

A sad sign of the times on the way there. I stopped off at my usual framers (Print House Gallery)to have some framing done for the show in April (just under the wire) and it was closed for good! My alternate framer is on vacation until Saturday, so I am looking for a third who can work fast. I spent yesterday afternoon matting so it shouldn't take too long to get just frames and glass done....I hope. It was a hard thing to see as it was a long term (over 30 years) family run business. My thoughts go out to them all. I hope they land on their feet. I felt a bit bummed out, but life goes on and so I turned to my easel to lift my spirits.

I danced around the painting putting in more mid and dark values, avoiding the eyes as I wanted to get them right as they are the window to the soul. So darned important in any portrait, human or animal. I was dangerously close to over working the face when I thought, just dive in....there's always white gouache to act as a saviour!

So here it is thus far, nearly completed. This dog, Libby has Cleopatra eyes, and it looks like she is wearing eye liner at times. I think I captured the expression here.

Green beer, almost here

2009-03-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

Almost St. Patricks day. My friend Larrie (yep, she's a gal) made me a great c.d. of Irish music which I've been singing to in the car. People stare as I belt out the tunes at the stop lights, I don't care, spring is here! It's time to sing and rejoice in the start of another season for goodness sake! Be like the birds and Sing! Dance as well, some old song said something like can't be uptight if your moving alright????

Driving around town this morning I saw people out doing yard clean up around the still frozen snow piles in the yards, it's been a long winter. The snow fall record is almost beaten, and it continues to snow now. I am hoping to get out and do some raking this week if there is another day added after Friday. Wouldn't that be great, to be able to add another day to the week just in case you need it? Something like wild card days which you would have a few of each year and you could add in just in case of an emergency. They would have to be limited or most of us would be on permanent vacations! There's something I need to design...I'll add it to the list.

The flyer arrived for the Creativity class for kids which I will be leading starting April 20 for four Mondays from 4-5 pm at the Crossing youth center in nearby Millwood at http://www.millwoodcrossing.org/. The class is limited to 15 children from third to fifth grade. While I have been getting ready for the show on April 3rd (yikes! time marches on) I've been noodling ideas of fun things to do with kids. Once the Gallery show is over I'll be able to give it my full attention. It is bound to be a good time for everyone involved.

Have you heard of Elephant Pooh paper????!!!! Well, I just read about it today...it's real and it comes from elephant's you know what. Check out this link to find out more http://www.mulberrypaperandmore.com/theelephantpoohstory.aspx Talk about recycling!

I am working on another painting. This one of our yellow Lab, Libby with her head on the couch arm.....I call it Sofa Pillow. She has a sweet face and does love her comforts. Her nick name is "The Princess". Right now the princess is lying on her back with her legs in the air whining because she wants me to rub her belly. This usually includes a dog hug as well. She's the only dog I know who actually hugs you with her forelegs when you pet her. The perfect tonic on a tough day.

It's not done yet and I've been working on it with pen and watercolor.

Less winter, more flowers

2009-03-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Looks like more skiing is in order for this week. We had a great ski yesterday in sugar like powder on the back side of Mount Spokane yesterday with the dogs and they have been sleeping most of today. Since noon it has been snowing steadily with about three inches on the ground so far and more is expected over night. So much for driving to framing class tonight....not into car sledding and the class was canceled anyway, so I don't feel like such a wimp.

So onto spring and flowers. I am working on another amaryllis, am I in a rut? Not yet. With this one I started with a pouring technique. When I started working on it some more today direct painting with a brush, I thought things were going pear shape and almost turned it against a wall. With just about every painting I do there comes a point where I think I've ruined the thing which is the point where I give up caring about it so much, which in turn leads to a loosening of my style and interesting things start to happen. I wonder how many artists experience the same thing?

With this one I thought that it was getting too dark, but then I pushed the darks with some juicy violet and it created a nice drama and moodiness, though darker than I intended. Still have to work on it some more, but now it is going in a more interesting direction.

Here is Yin Yang thus far.....

A Bee's Eye View

2009-03-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

Well, spring is stalling here, as we have blustery weather and more snow has fallen. I bought some primroses last week on a whim of the promise of spring. Put them under cover on the front step the night before last and in the morning they were frozen, pot and all. They are tough little plants because when I brought them in to thaw each one survived, but I bet there aren't any bugs on 'em!

We have crocuses and tulips poking up where the snow has melted. We have no lawn in the front yard only garden, much more enjoyable in every way. We were rewarded again for our planting efforts when a flock of Robins landed in amongst the leaf litter this morning. They were sorting through the dry leaves and scratching at the ground eating some sort of insect or grub in the ground. Dozens of them, but too well camouflaged for photographing. If we had kept the lawn I don't think that would have happened.

Back to the hibiscus flower painting as previously mentioned. I struggled with folds and wrinkles trying to get the values just right. I think it will look good for the show in April. Here it is, a bee's eye view of a flower which I call: Radiant Sunset.

Sun shines again

2009-03-04T16:08:00.001-08:00

Hi from Spokane where the dismal wet weather predicted earlier has resulted in a beautiful sunny day. I am getting prepared to be the featured artist at Avenue West Gallery for the month of April, starting with a reception on First Friday, April 3rd.

So this morning I was working away as you can see by the mess I've been making:

I was being so very disciplined, keeping my mind focused and off the sunshine blasting in the windows. After an hour or so the whining got to be too much and so I put the two dogs in the car and off we went for a short hike at Iller Creek. Well, it was just what we all needed.

I took this shot thinking that it would make a good study of branch shadows on snow.

This is what the dogs thought about my art shot.....eat it!

After a good slog through slush, snow and mud it was back to the studio. To work for me and a nap for them!

Here is what I am working on which will (fingers crossed) be good enough for the April show when it's finished.

Cusp of spring

2009-02-25T15:04:00.000-08:00

The snow is melting in the rain. Sun would be the preferred method for melting, but rain will do the trick. It is even starting to smell like spring outside. My studio window faces south and the herb garden just outside, is the first to show signs of life. I have been checking it daily and today under all the organic debris I see signs of vibrant green! I do love to ski and sit by a roaring fire but by about this time of year, I would gladly trade in ski boots for sandals.

This past weekend I took a ink and watercolor class at the Corbin Art Center here in Spokane. It was instructed by Shirley Bird-Wright whom I've painted with before. As usual her class was fun and informative. You can see her other workshops at her website: http://www.shirleybird.com/

Our class painted the same image of a colorful parrot, perfect for a winter's day. First we drew the image on the watercolor paper then lightly drew in lines with permenant ink using a fine felt tip pen. We then painted in all that wonderful color which is the best fun for me and a great antidote to winter. After it was dry, we continued to outline the darks using the ink. What is always amazing to see in these classes is that even though each student is given exactly the same image to paint, each painting is completely different. Thanks to our Lab Rory, mine was smaller than all the rest of the paintings, as he has been helping himself to my watercolor paper making the workable area smaller, yum. I am just about done, but here is the painting thus far:

Now, back to winter. I am also working on another Nipika painting, though this one features a skier (my husband) and our two Labradors, Libby and Rory.

The process continues and I hope to be done today.

Keep checking back for more paintings, and don't forget to leave a comment.

Finishing touch

2009-02-16T17:11:00.000-08:00

I spent part of the weekend and today, looking at the painting, Indian Summer and kept thinking the background was too blue. So I added a glazing of indigo and Voila! This is the drama I was looking for and I feel much better now. This is available on my website at www.colorgardenstudio.artspan.com

In other news....The gallery, of which I am a member, Avenue West had a invitation only gala of wine and chocolate last Friday night, which was very well attended and by all accounts a great time was had by members and patrons alike. You will want to be on the mailing list for next time we have an event. Go to www.avenuewestgallery.org and click on mailing list icon to be included.

Old and New Directions

2009-02-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

The robins have been busy cleaning off the mountain ash berries in the yard and even though there are still piles of snow around, spring is on its way.

I have had a studio spurt this past while. After a wonderful trip to Nipika, a Nordic Ski lodge in the Canadian Rockies near Radium, B.C. (http://www.nipika.com/) this past New Year's, I had a good look at the photos we had taken. This was from sort of a set up shot as I had asked my husband and a friend to ski up the hill back to the cabins while I took some photos. It had been a great ski in the sun shine with a blue sky which it seems only mountain areas can produce.

Here I am working on "A Nipika Afternoon" in my studio.

The finished painting is available for purchase on my website at http://www.colorgardenstudio.artspan.com/

Well, that was nice, but enough of winter, I thought. I searched through my photo collection to come up with some reminders of summer. I found a great one of some orange lilies taken last year in our garden. Here is the painting in progress:

Below is the finished work: "Indian Summer"

So onto something new, as I like to keep life interesting. A few months ago I had bought some remnant Plexiglas from my framer to paint on using acrylics. You paint on it sort of backwards. The first layer is what you will see when you turn the painting over and then you just keep adding layers and textures to develop the painting. While on a recent trip to Victoria, BC, I found this cool stamp with Chinese characters, no idea what it means in English, and I hope it's not offensive. O<: Anyway, I brushed the stamp with gold, orange and red acrylic and stamped it on the plexi for the first layer. Then using a epoxy scraper I spread more paint on top once the first layer had dried, continuing in this vane until I thought it was done. The photo below is with a flash (kinda obvious), but this shows the iridescence that I was trying to achieve. (Thanks for the gold paint, Mom!)

This is a close up of one of the sections where you can see the characters more clearly and the lines from the putty scraper, a very handy tool.

Here is the completed painting against a snow background which gives a completely different effect depending on whether it is against a dark or light background. It was cloudy today, but I bet it would just sparkle on a sunny day. I definitely have to get more of this plexi stuff. I feel an addiction coming on.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

The snow continues here in Spokane this new year. However, warm temperatures are upon us which should cut the snow banks down some what. Hopefully enough to see around corners again.

We had a fun filled winter vacation, part of it spent at a nordic ski lodge near Radium, B.C., which is called Nipika. It is our fifth visit there and always great fun skiing and skating. This is a picture of the guest cabins and skiers at Nipika.

We had a nice view of the mountains out the window of our cabin, so I was able to do some sketching while there. Working on some Nipika paintings in my head right now.

We stayed in a nice cabin with a wood stove, this is an interior shot. We were snug as two bugs in a rug. Their website is: http://www.nipika.com/

I am back in painting action and continued on the mountain painting below. I took my trusty white India Ink and spattered snow flakes, which seemed appropriate for this weather we are having, though they are not too visible in this shot, oh well. Spray Valley Mist is now complete.

With all this winter weather, I wanted to depict the snow in a new way, jazz things up a bit. I had viewed an online class given by Jean Grastorf and in it she showed ways of using wash out tape, which is clear and removes easily as a resist in a painting. So I thought of hill shapes and came up with the following.

This one is called Winter Moon. I had done the preliminary shapes but thought it needed something more. I am interested in the art of Northwest Coast First Nations peoples and thanks to my kind husband have a few books on the subject. From looking through these books I got the idea of using a moon form.

So, I am on a roll, and I thought this must work just as well on clay board as it does on paper, so I tried another one, which is not quite finished. Still thinking on it, but this is what I have so far....

I had done the sky in a fairly plain manner and didn't like it so I thought, hmmm, this reminds me of Canadian painter, Ted Harrison, a favourite of my Mom's. So looking at his work on line gave me ideas for the sky here. Still working on it, so stay tuned for more.

Let it snow!

2008-12-18T13:10:00.001-08:00

We are having a large dump of snow in Spokane, it has snowed over two feet in 24 hours and it is still coming down. At 7:30 this morning, nearby Mount Spokane reported about 30 inches down and still falling. Would be great for skiing if we could get up there.

Lucky for me we have very kind neighbours who have cleared the driveway, dropped off milk and have checked in by phone to make sure I am snug as a bug in a rug. The snow is supposed to taper off today and maybe by tomorrow I'll be able to get out to do some grocery shopping. Here is a photo from the studio today.

I have been laid up for a while and so have not done any serious painting for weeks. All this snow put me in mind for a winter scene and I remembered a painting I had done last winter called "Mist Along the Spray". It was from a photo taken a few years ago when we were skiing in the same area which is not too far from the Banff/Canmore corridor in Alberta. The photo was taken at dusk which did not do much for contrast and I wasn't happy with the resulting painting, it was just too boring for me. So I faced it against a wall in my studio and let it simmer for a while on its own until I was ready to look at it with fresh eyes.

In the meantime I was recovering and watching way too much t.v.. I did catch a few art instruction programs and one in particular caught my attention; Gary Spetz's Painting Wild Places, on PBS. I liked his approach to painting and his relaxed manner. So this morning I pulled out the old canvas which is at left and started working on it using some of Spetz's techniques. I particularly wanted to work on trees as he had some great techniques there, and I need to practice trees as they are a bit of a challenge for me.

So after a few minutes of adjusting to painting on watercolour canvas again, I started to darken the fore and middle grounds. Realising that in the original painting the sky and mountains were too much the same colour. I'll keep working on this as the snow continues to fall outside and see if I like it any better. Stay tuned and keep cozy.

Summer update

2008-08-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have done a post. The heat has kept me out of the studio and away from the computer. Even with that, I see signs of fall approaching. The old japanese maple in the front yard is turning a lovely light copper color and the burning bush has some red leaves already!

I have continued to work on the abstract water painting which I started earlier this summer. I collaged on some preserved leaves and flowers. My aim is to recreate what one sees when looking at a stream. It's still a work in progress.

When we lived in Massachusetts we had a creek that ran behind our property. I would sit by that stream in the warmer months and meditate on it. It was such a living thing, always changing. In fact I became a bit smug about it, thinking about how lucky I was to have this in the back yard when many others had to buy man made water features for the same effect. When we moved away I would have packed that stream in a box, but the memory is just about as good. It is very calming to sit by a stream and the watch the water move along with all it carries. Interesting too. I would highly recommend it.

We traveled to Massachusetts this summer for our wedding Anniversary. While my husband had some business to attend to, I went to lunch with my dear friend Carol. It seemed as no time had past since we last met. Just for nostagia's sake I decided that between downpours Carol and I should take a walk down the toe path along the same stream. Well, near the opening in the woods to the trail, the skies opened and the trail had become a creek. We turned around and I had to head back to the hotel to find dry clothes. So much for nostalgia! A clear sign that it's time to move on.

While in Italy a few years back, we were staying at a castle in Tuscany which was really quite neat. I came down with stomach trouble. Was it the wine, all that lovely hazelnut cake for breakfast, or the raw beef? Maybe it was all three. Anyway, my husband who is a wonderful photographer spent his time outside taking in the scenery while I stared at the ceiling of our room. He took a beautiful picture of the evening light by the corner of the castle. I am working on this as a painting trying to capture that same light and feeling. Still a ways to go yet, but it's coming along fine.

As usual, I'll keep you posted.

Hot, hot, hot!

2008-07-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

The summer temperatures are soaring in the Spokane Valley which means that cool painting time is limited to the mornings and evenings. That time is conflicting with the best time to be in the garden and other out door pursuits, so painting has slowed recently.

I have had a few favorable comments about the water painting on the blog cover page and so was inspired to do another. This one is a little different and is some what from a dream and from a memory. The dream is where I was swimming through a winding canal with iridescent colors in the water and banks. The memory is from a long ago vacation my husband and I took to Nova Scotia, Canada. After a great dinner of lobster we took a sunset stroll along a nearby beach and the sunset was beautifully reflected in the water where it met the sand.

So on a watercolor canvas I started pouring some yellows and pinks with a light blue. I took some leave printing material and textured paper, as you can see in the photo which sops up the paint leaving a nice light impression.

The photo below is taken after I added more Prussian blue and took some maple leaves from the back yard to leave (groan, sorry for the pun) their impressions on the canvas.

Finding more petals in from flowers in the garden, I placed them on the wet paint to see what kind of impression they would make. The most interesting came from the tansy flowers, though they did not like getting wet one bit.

This is the nearly completed painting. Still some contrast to put in and more to show depth, but it's coming along fine.

In other news, the Avenue West Gallery which includes me, had their reopening reception last Thursday night and I would like to thank all those who stopped by. It means a lot to me to have that kind of support. Please do come in to see us at the gallery, it's on Monroe, just a half block south of 1 Ave. west, open Tues-Sat, 11 to 6.

2008-07-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, summer is here to stay. My husband took some great shots of our back yard irises. When we moved here five years ago there were lots of old non blooming irises. We dug out a wheel barrow full and kept the best ones. They suffered from Labrador trampling and chewing and so we fenced the dogs out of the flower beds, and this is the first year they have bloomed well. I had no idea what colours they would be and so was very surprised that they all bloomed in color groupings with few exceptions. Here is one of the photos taken by Bill, my husband.

Lots happening these past couple of weeks. The Avenue West Gallery of which I am now a member reopened yesterday (Canada Day!) at its new location downtown. The website is http://www.avenuewestgallery.org/ My work is in the back room. Hope to see you down there shopping, there are lots of beautiful items to choose from. If you send me a message through this site or my website at www.colorgardenstudio.artspan.net then I will send you an invitation to our Grand Re-opening reception at the gallery on Thursday, July 10th from 5 to 8 p.m. Wine and light food will be provided.

I did the Millwood Farmer's market again and made some great contacts. I set up my easel and had fun showing the kids (more girls than boys) about watercolor painting. Lots of questions. It is a lot of work setting up and I couldn't have done it all without my good neighbours "Team Rowley" helping me. Very grateful for such a wonderful family living next door.

Last weekend we rented a cabin on the Lost River, near Mazama, Washington. It was heavenly. We met our friends from Seattle there and spent a great time together catching up. The dogs, pictured left had a fabulous time as well, swimming in the river just behind the cabin, chewing on sticks, playing with rocks. In this photo they were into a major excavation, leaving a pig roast size hole which we forgot to fill when leaving, oops!

Maybe you are wondering if I have actually painted in the past while. Well, yes I have, as a matter of fact. Though not too much happening in the studio because of the hot weather, here I am spending a delightful morning on the Lost River sketching away. Bliss! Life IS very good indeed! In the words of our great friend, Greg, "Life doesn't get any better than this". So true, so true.

And now for something completely different!

2008-06-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was beautiful! Sunny with a light breeze to keep things cool. Even though there seemed many demands on my time, the dogs and I packed our gear in the wagon and headed for the hills for a few moments of peace. We went to a favorite spot nearby called Iller Creek. There are so many great trails there and the dogs just love it. The creek being the main attraction for them. They are labs after all. After a little huffing up a hill I set up my easel to take in the distant ranges near the Idaho and Montana borders. The birds were singing and I didn't see another soul. The perfect balm for a busy day. I am the type of person who has to get into nature or I get all weird. Painting out of doors is just the ticket for me. The dogs spent most of their time hunting the bushes and after a while were soon bored so I had to make my way down the hill to another spot with lovely lupins, but wasn't able to finish the sketch as other commitments prevailed....sigh. Another day.

This is the first time I have used the field easel in this type of setting. It is a gift from my wonderful husband and it was a breeze to use and sure beats the usual painting position which is sitting on the ground.

I find that after doing "careful" paintings which require a lot of attention to detail, that I have to loosen up again which is the painting below which I am working on at present. My Mom who also loves to paint had graciously given me some acrylic paints of hers to use. This is on canvas which I gessoed with texture and I am still working on it....I want to put red in some where and I am not sure why? Still a ways to go on this painting.

I have been watching The Impressionists on PBS and this reminds me a little of Monet's waterlily paintings. We were so fortunate to see the originals at the MFA in Boston a few years ago, if you ever get the chance, do make an effort to see them. They made me weep.

Also getting ready to do the Millwood Farmer's market next Wednesday, the 25th of June. The Avenue West Gallery which I joined is getting things ready to open on July 1st. Lots to do to help out with that.

Iris, Finished!

2008-06-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Today, I continued to get this painting finished, even though summer has finally arrived and the garden beckons me.

This photo shows me working on values. The top is a grey scale version of the original photo. Under that is my painting and on the right of this, is a red acetate which I put over my painting which shows it more as a black and white so I can see values more clearly.

This is the finished work. I am still working on a name and if anyone has any bright ideas, send them along.

I am pleased with this painting and will have it ready to put in the new gallery for July. I am glad I chose a difficult subject to try this new Aquabord as I learned a lot that way. Now onto the next one.

Have a fabulous summer's day!

Iris, Day 4

2008-06-12T16:49:00.001-07:00

Last evening, we had a rather severe hail storm which lasted for about twenty minutes. It was pretty neat at first but then once I saw how many leaves were being torn off the trees, I wished it would stop. My sad little veggie patch is on the left and most survived okay, but the cucumber plants were mashed to a pulp and the tomatoes did not look too pleased. The beans were'nt happy either.

The photo on the right is our front yard taken from the cover of our front porch. The surprising and delightful thing were the smells. As the hail hit the herb garden, the oils were released and the scent was wonderful. The back yard is full of Ponderosa pines and they too filled the air with their wonderful piney smell, on into this morning.

Back to painting on the Iris today. Working in more dark values. I found myself getting just too "precious" about it when I was doing the lower petal or beard. So I took the brush with very little paint (called dry brushing) and turning the brush on it's side was able to make some exciting marks to give this painting some verve, which it badly needed. Not much drama until that point. Irises are all about showing off and that is what I am trying to portray here, along with a little movement. I usually shy away from subjects with so many folds, but I am glad I chose this subject as I am learning a lot as I paint. Will continue to work on some values tomorrow and then it will be finished.

Iris - Day 3

2008-06-11T15:42:00.000-07:00

Today, I completed the washes for this painting. I actually might be getting the hang of this aquabord stuff and am liking it more and more as I work with it. Like anything, just takes some adjusting.

As I mentioned yesterday, we had a Avenue West Gallery meeting and tentatively agreed on renting new space downtown, very near the Fox Theater. Just need the board to go over the lease with a fine tooth comb and it will be ready to start business July 1. Fortunately, the landlord is allowing us to clean up and move stuff in, starting next week if we need to. I was hoping to have a little more lead time, but realized that I probably have enough work ready to put up by the 1st. That realization came after a little "oh my, so soon!" panic moment, but I'm okay now. Will find out soon what the amount of space allowed will be so it will give me more of an idea as to what and how much to hang.

This is one of those "life circle" events for me. About five years ago I rented a small space for a weaving studio just around the corner from the proposed gallery space, guess that's just where I am meant to be. It's a neighbourhood in transition, from older hotels and apartments to upscale, trendy condos. An exciting time to be there.

I am also talking to a gallery in Nelson, B.C., Canada, who would like to show my work....more information as details are finalized. Just trying to negotiate that border hurdle.

Ever had one of those weeks where a number of your dreams and ambitions come into fruition at what seems all at once? Well, that's this week for me.....a lot of serendipity in both my private and business life, and at times I feel that I am absolutely vibrating with excitement.

Iris

2008-06-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

Good day. I started doing washes on this iris this afternoon. This Aquabord is very different to use. You can only drop the paint into the wet surface without moving the brush to close to the clay board or it creates strange marks. It was shortly before this point that I got frustrated and almost stopped, but I gave myself a pep talk and then things started happening which were unusual but I liked it, so kept going. I figure that I must like challenging myself by trying new surfaces to paint on because I keep doing it!?!

This is as far as I got today, gee looks better than I thought looking at it in the photograph which is encouraging. This might just turn out after all. The self critic is on high alert today. Down girl, down!

The weather here has not improved much, colder again. Took the dogs for a walk and could have worn my gloves. I actually saw fresh snow on a hill top above Liberty Lake which is not too far east of here. Good thing I have lots of subjects in photographs to work from, should this lack of good light continue.

On the up side our yoga class did sun salutations today to bring back the sunshine....here's hoping it works!

Tonight, my husband and I are attending a meeting of the Avenue West Gallery which I have joined as a member. We have been looking for new space to rent and tonight we vote on it. Will keep you posted as to where and when the gallery will reopen. In the meantime the gallery's website is http://www.avenuewestgallery.org/ These are good artists and artisans and I am honored to have been accepted into this group of talented people.

Iris

2008-06-09T16:47:00.000-07:00

It was cold and damp again today and I had to change my plans to paint outdoors, though thinking back, I should have gone out anyway to get some fresh air if nothing else. I had planned to paint a lovely lavender coloured iris which grows in our front garden. Luckily I had taken some pictures of it while the sun shone for a bit last week. I love its gentle hues, which match the soft weather we have had in June...well, soft sounds better than damp, windy and cold.

This is the resulting drawing. I eliminated some lines which would make it hard for me to know where I was at and muddle the concept.

This is the sketch I painted, working out what colours to use and to get a feel for the subject. I have transferred the drawing to a special clayboard, called Aquabord (not mispelled) which takes watercolours and will start on it tomorrow. I have tried this surface before but it was very hot in the studio at the time and the paint dried too quickly. I did a lot of research on how to use it and hopefully have done enough homework that it will turn out well. Fingers crossed. Until tomorrow.

Cooling off - Finished!

2008-06-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

I continued working today on the details of this painting, trying not to get caught up in the minutia therefore loosing it's fun quality.

After adding some more darks in the water and fixing some problems on the figure, I pulled out my secret weapon to add highlights and called it done! I came up with a new name as well:
Ah, Summer, because putting water in the pool for the dogs marks the start of summer and Libby just loves to bake in the sun and then cool off in the water. She must have been a beach baby in a former life.

Here is the "model" having a rest with her painting, such hard work to be cute!

Cooling off 3

2008-06-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

It was fun to put the paint down today. Here is a progression of what I did, still more to come, but a good start.

Using Peacock and manganese blues I put on the initial washes for the pool. I added some quinacradone gold, as my husband reminded me that it wasn't a pristine pool in Florida, it was for dogs and had dirt and sticks in it!

Now the daunting part for me began...

I started the figure doing the eyes first which took quite a while. Then using New Gamboge yellow, quin. gold and a little quinacradone rose, I put the wash on the dog. The only bath she's had in months. Sorry for the pun, couldn't help myself.

I then started adding some dark for contrast using Winsor Violet with quin. gold.

This is as far as I got today, continuing to put on the darker values on both the figure and in the water and a little more detail on the pool too.

The sun is shining here after what seems like too many days of rain. Spoke too soon, here comes a dark cloud, must get out to garden and walk the dogs while the sun is out.

Cooling Off 2

2008-06-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

It's the next day on this painting and I am progressing along well. Using my value study from yesterday I made a line drawing with tracing paper and graphite transfer paper and that produced this:

Notice the grid lines which I put on this small drawing, this will help me transfer it to a larger piece of watercolor paper. Around the head there are more grid lines as it has the most detail. The finished dimensions of this piece will be approximately 19 inches wide by 15 inches high. I am using a half sheet of Arches 140 lb. cold press paper.

Using the above method I drew a larger drawing onto tracing paper and then transferred that image to watercolor paper using graphite paper which resulted in the drawing below. Can't wait to start painting on it tomorrow.

Here is a shot of my studio/sun room where I work. I have a great view of our front garden where I can look out upon the squirrels, deer, quail and other birds which call our garden home. Even saw a moose once. Lots of inspiration there.

From this photo it looks like a little tidy and clean up is due. Stay tuned!

Welcome

2008-06-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

June 2nd, 2008

I am writing this blog to keep everyone up to date on my artistic happenings. I am also including some photos of work in progress which I hope you will find interesting.

I have been thinking about including our two Labradors in some paintings for a long, long time and this week decided to start. Rory and Libby are very active (when not napping or eating) and are some times difficult to photograph without much fuzz involved. Then last week the sun shone brightly and it warmed up considerably. We were out playing fetch with the dogs and as usual, they started playing and splashing around in the kiddy pool in order to cool off. I thought, now is my chance and I ran to get my camera. Rory, the older dog had left the pool, but Libby was still having fun and I managed to get some pretty clear pictures of her. She loves to shovel the water with her nose and keeps her eyes open under water looking around like a duck.

Through the weekend my mind kept going back to the photos I took and I thought of how important it was to catch the pure doggy joy that Libby portrade in her body language and on her happy face.

So this morning I began to make some sketches from the photos while the dogs begged to be taken for walks resorting to all sorts of antics to get my attention. I found two photos to use, one which showed the tail position and another depicting her happy face and was able to combine the two into a pretty nice composition. Well, at least I think so.

Here are the reference photos of Libby which I used:

This is a photo of the rough sketch/value study I did combining the two images above:

From there I then did a watercolor sketch:

Now, I can take the dogs for a walk! Stay tuned for the next steps towards a finished painting.

Please visit my website at www.colorgardenstudio.artspan.com