Compadres

Let’s get these boots painted! Mixtures of Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) are used for the shadows. The sunlit portion is Cadmium Yellow Medium, while highlights are made of Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Lemon Yellow. The leaves of the Sweet Potato Vine cast heart shaped shadows, bringing a touch of romance to the piece! Please remember, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

I paint carefully around the sketch of the hummingbird hovering in front of the right boot.

   VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Hummingbird!

Deep Orange Nasturtiums cascade down the side of the boot behind the Hummingbird. The blossoms are blocked in first with shades of Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson and pure Cadmium Orange. Then the round leaves are painted with various mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + a touch of Cadmium Orange + White.

The shadows of the white Pansies are painted with White + Ultramarine Blue, White + Dioxazine Purple and White + Pthalo Blue.

Highlights are added with Pure White, then the distinctive centers of the Pansies are made with Dioxazine Purple.

My faithful old friends gain a second life as planters, overflowing with beautiful Angelonia, Pansies, Nasturtiums and Sweet Potato Vine. I don’t know about you but the three Hummingbird “Compadres”, attracted by the Magenta Angelonia flowers, bring smiles to my soul! Thank you for following along, I really appreciate all of your kind comments! HUGS,

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Hummers and Angelonia

The oil wash on the flowers is now dry so the wall in the background is painted carefully around them. Several mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + a little Cadmium Yellow Medium + White are used to make the adobe color.

Next I begin work on the Hummingbird at the upper right. By working wet-into-wet I’m able to keep the edges of his quickly moving wings soft. Notice the shadow he casts on the wall. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

A second Hummer joins the first and now we’re ready to paint the Angelonia these two are sipping nectar from! Come watch the VIDEO!

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Magenta Angelonia Flowers

 

Sunlight pours across the Satillo Tile floor from the upper right. A few strokes of Ultramarine Blue + White are added at the back of the floor, at the base of the wall, to make it recede. Perspective lines are dragged into the wet paint of the floor with a fine brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD + Liquin.

The canvas, still attached to the cardboard backing, is taken off the easel and placed on my taboret. By putting the unit at an angle on a small basket, I can paint the lower edge of the gallery wrapped canvas. The upper edge of the backing cardboard is braced against the wall so the canvas doesn’t move or fall.

The heart shaped leaves of a Sweet Potato Vine tumble out from underneath the Angelonia. Thanks for visiting the studio today, hope you’ll come back soon! HUGS,

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Boots and Birds

Being an avid gardener I wear out my rubber garden boots on a regular basis. Years ago Jack suggested making them into planters for flowers and they worked perfectly.

So today I’m painting a pair of my favorite, bright yellow ones filled with Angelonia, Nasturtiums and Pansies. This 16 inch x 16 inch piece will be for Gallery 1870, located in Yountville at the southern end of the Napa Valley in California.

Using a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin I add some Hummingbirds attracted by the Angelonia.

  VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Washing in the Magenta Angelonia Flowers

We’ll start painting in our next session, hope you’ll come follow along! If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy.

Please keep in mind, to move through the blog when you get the posts just CLICK on the small titles at the top of the page. The right one for the next post or the title on the left side for the previous session. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!”

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Marge’s Wishing Well

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Sleeping Kitty

Since this is for an anniversary gift a vine with Heart-Shaped leaves is allowed to tumble over the roof of the wishing well. The leaves and their shadows bring a touch of romance to the special piece.

The weathered stones are painted with mixes of Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. The crevices between them are made with MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.

Yellow Coreopsis fill the container by the red gate. The juxtaposition of Yellow flowers, Red gate and Turquoise Blue watering can provide a blast of cheerful Primary Color.

Monarch Butterflies dance around the cluster of Coreopsis. You may click on the image to see it larger.

Geraniums are planted in the terra cotta containers. Then the Salvia, hugging the base of the well, is painted with Magenta + Dioxazine Purple + White and Magenta + White. The foliage is Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

“Marge’s Wishing Well”    11 inches by 11 inches

Hollyhocks, made of Permanent Rose + White, finish out “Marge’s Wishing Well”. From what her husband said she was very surprised and overjoyed with her anniversary present! If you would like to commission a special painting as a gift please feel free to contact me in the comments section! I love collaborating on surprises! And I promise, I can keep a secret! HUGS,

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Hearts on a Gate

My first task today is to “Build” the courtyard walls using mixtures of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + White. More MUD is added for the shadow areas, extra White is mixed into the sunny portions of the wall. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may enlarge any of the images by clicking on the picture.

The posts and beams supporting the roof over the well are made of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a tiny bit of Ultramarine Blue + White. Southwest designs are then “Carved” into the wet paint with a brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD + Liquin.

Next the Red Gate is painted. The shadows are Cadmium Red Deep + Alizarin Crimson and the lighter part is Cadmium Red Light. Hinges with Heart Shaped ends are painted over the red with MUD + a little bit of Liquin.

Wisteria cascades down the wall. The blossoms of this beautiful vine are made of Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White and Dioxazine Purple + White. The leaves are then painted with combinations of Viridian Green + Cadmium Yellow Medium.

A Spiral Sun Tile brings extra charm to the wall. My wrist is braced against the mahl stick to steady my hand as I delineate the fine details.

An old, beat up, Turquoise watering can is added at the base of the gate and we’re done for this session. Thanks for following along. Hope you come back for our next session, I’ll be painting that little snoozing kitty! HUGS,

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Surprise for an Anniversary!

My painting today is a surprise Anniversary commission based on this old Tuscan well. Isn’t it beautiful?

The size of the painted image is 14 inches by 14 inches, so the well is made a bit more petite than the one in the reference photo. The proportions of the well determine the size of the gate in the courtyard wall. The basic plan is sketched up on the white acrylic primed canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash made of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.

The Terra Cotta pots are washed in with my MUD mixture. I’ve labeled the flowers so I won’t forget the initial gardening plan.

A little tiger kitty has snuggled up by the watering can to take a nap.

My composition is completely sketched and we’ll begin applying color in our next session. The lucky recipient was presented with her painting this morning; now I can post the blog. Marge will be able to watch the progress on her special piece. Hope you’ll come follow the step by step process with us! If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy.

Please keep in mind, to move through the blog when you get the posts just CLICK on the small titles at the top of the page. The right one for the next post or the title on the left side for the previous session. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!”

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Colorful Elegance

Planting begins by filling the window box with lush Geraniums made of Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta, Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Light. The mass of red is blocked in first, then leaves are painted with mixes of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

The blue ceramic container is a perfect spot for a jumble of cheery Sunflowers. Large blossoms are first painted with combinations of Cadmium Yellow Medium + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) and Cadmium Yellow Medium.

Leaves of Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow frame the flowers. After the large seed heads in the center of the blossoms are added, we highlight the petals illuminated by the sun with Cadmium Yellow Medium + Lemon Yellow. Notice how the painted image extends on to the side of the gallery wrap canvas.

The entire surface of the floor is covered, establishing the light and shadow pattern. Then the legs of the chairs and table are drawn into the wet paint with a mix of MUD + Liquin.

Next, perspective lines indicating the crevices between the individual terra cotta tiles are drawn with a fine liner brush.

A clump of Magenta Hollyhocks nestles behind the chair on the right. The flowers are mixes of Magenta + White while the leaves are painted with greens left over from the Geraniums.

A few petals from the flowers float to the ground, adding charm to our romantic setting.

Juxtaposed next to the Red Geraniums and Magenta Hollyhocks, the bistro chairs made of Sevres Green + White absolutely glow.

The table top is made of white ceramic tile. As with the floor below, the perspective lines are drawn freehand into the wet paint of the flat surface.

“Colorful Elegance”   16 inches x 16 inches

AND…….we’re done! The “Colorful Elegance” of this romantic little bistro issues an invitation to come sit and enjoy a sip of wine. Thank you for your wonderful comments, your words make my heart smile! I appreciate all of you following my blog. I’ll be starting on a new piece in our next session! ‘Til then, HAPPY PAINTING! Hugs,

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Cobalt Blue and HOT Pink!

The rock wall is painted with several mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Pthalo Blue + White. The paint is applied very carefully around the bistro chairs and table, I don’t want to obliterate the sketch.

After painting the arch over the window the vertical sides of the opening, or jambs, are blocked in. The most distant portion of the jamb, closest to the inside of the building, is made a little bit bluer or cooler so it will recede. A few brush strokes of Ultramarine Blue + White painted over the rock color makes it cooler.

The White window sash is completely in shadow, so it’s been painted with a mixture of White + a little bit of MUD + a touch more Ultramarine Blue. Now that the window has been painted over the dark, washed in area you can see how it appears there is depth in the interior of the building. Next, two shades of Cobalt Blue + White are used for the shutters and flower box.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Bougainvillea

We’ll tile the floor and start planting in our next session. Why don’t you grab some gloves and come give me a hand! HUGS,

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Enchanted by a Little Bistro

Starting a new painting is filled with excitement. Rather than planning paintings way ahead I go for what captures my heart at the time I’m beginning a fresh piece. For this painting, that’s going to my gallery in the Napa Valley,  Provence tickled my fancy. So I browsed through my images of Southern France. WHAM!!!!! When I saw this picture of the little bistro table and chairs I was enchanted. My imagination took off…..

Grabbing my sketchbook I quickly scribbled my thoughts. I love the cobalt blue shutters and rugged rock buildings found in the region, definitely had to add those. A window box filled with Geraniums would be nice. And HAVE to have Sunflowers in a blue, ceramic container! Since this is not for a commission I don’t even ink the sketch in, I have enough information in the rough pencil sketch to solidify my idea. You may click on the sketch to see it larger.

The painting is on a gallery wrap canvas, the painted image will extend on to the sides of the canvas. In order to make it easier to handle the wet painting I’ve attached the canvas to a sheet of double ply cardboard. CLICK HERE to see how that was done. Architecture and chairs are drawn first in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.

Wine bottle and glasses are natural accompaniments!

The open area of the window is washed in with translucent (not opaque) washes of MUD + Liquin and Ultramarine Blue + Liquin. I want the underlying white canvas to glow through the translucent washes giving luminosity to the opening. When the window sash is painted over the dry wash it will give them impression of depth in the room behind.

Wine in glasses and bottle is washed in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin. Then the top part of the bottle is covered with a wash of Sap Green + Liquin. The large ceramic container on the left is blocked in with a wash of Ultramarine Blue + Liquin.

I’ll let the washes dry and we’ll be ready to begin applying opaque oil paint in our next session. Hope you’ll come follow the progress of this painting! If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy.

Please keep in mind, to move through the blog when you get the posts just CLICK on the small titles at the top of the page. The right one for the next post or the title on the left side for the previous session. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!”

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A Sense of Peace

Looka’s body is painted with mixtures of White + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + a tiny bit of Cadmium Orange and White + Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange. When painting a White bird or animal the toughest part is to get the shadows dark enough that the White highlights gleam. But then again you don’t want to get the shadows too dark because the animal doesn’t look White! As Jack would say, “It’s a fine line!” Looka’s collar is a red brown made of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Alizarin Crimson + White. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the pictures to see them larger.

Looka has such expressive eyes and ears. The entire eye is first painted with MUD, then the brown iris and white catch light are added. His spots are some of the browns from the terra cotta tiles on the courtyard floor.

The shadow of a female cardinal that’s landed on the steps to investigate Looka is now added.

Sunflowers grow around the side of the gallery wrap canvas. The large blossoms are blocked in with various mixes of Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange + a touch of MUD and Cadmium Yellow Medium.

The leaves are painted around the masses of yellow, helping to shape the flowers. Combinations of Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow are used for the foliage. A few brush stokes of Pthalo Blue + White are added, here and there, to bring coolness to the leaves.

My brush picks up some of the underlying yellow as the central disk of the Sunflower, made of MUD + a tiny bit of Liquin, is added. This turns them slightly brown. Then in the very middle I go back and make a dark center of pure MUD.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the White Hollyhocks

Sweet Looka happily lounging in the sun, surrounded by colorful flowers and visited by the inquisitive cardinal, portray “A Sense of Peace”. Thank you for following my blog and also for the wonderful comments you make. Your words bring happiness to my heart. With Big Hugs,

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