A Groovy Red Bike...

"Cycle of Red, Yellow & Tye Dyed"; Poured Watercolor on 11" x 11" Cold Press Paper.

Yes, you may recognize this bike as being in another form in another painting.  Yes, it is based on the same sketch as the "Green Betty" painting but I thought it might be fun to do the same bike as a poured watercolor.  I also had new liquid watercolor paints that just came in and I was itching to try them. 

But I really did this poured watercolor with a bike ride in mind.  This year's Little Red Riding Hood Bike ride has a Groovy theme. What's Little Red Riding Hood Bike Ride?  It's an all female bike ride that takes place in the beautiful Cache Valley in Northern Utah.  This bike ride has been going strong for 25 years and has gained popularity.  In fact, when it opened registration this year, the available 3500 slots sold out in less than 2 hours.  I'm going to have a booth at the ride this year.  I thought it might be fun to display some of my bike art along with some of my bike art on cards.  So thus I am gearing up, or cranking up (bike terms), with some bike art to show.  In other words, you'll be seeing more bike art in the next couple of months.

A Bike with a Red Rock View...

Here's a painting that I did last night in my watercolor painting class(my teacher- Colleen Reynolds).  This month we are working on landscape watercolor painting especially the wet watercolors on dry paper.  I had this black & white copy of a photo that a friend emailed me from a bicycle trip he took in Southern Utah.  I thought it fit the bill and on top of it of course, it had a bike.  Yes, it's Spring time and I've got biking on the brain. :) 

Here is what I call "A Bike with a Red Rock View"...

"A Bike with a Red Rock View"; Watercolor on 9" x 12" Cold Press Paper.

I chose to capture the Red Rock in pale pinks(Permannet Rose) and purples(Dioxazine Purple) with just a touch of Yellow Ochre.  I used Prussian Blue for the sky and bike.  I kept to those four colors for the enitre painting.  Mixing those four colors made for a wonderful black and even more amazing grays.  I welcome any feedback you may have and thanks for visiting! 

An Ode to Buddy the Cat...

"Mom's 10 lbs. Butterball"; Oil on 11" x 14" canvas board.

Some of you may remember this oil painting that I did back in November of 2010.  It was done as a gift for my Mom.  It's a painting of Buddy, who I'm sorry to say passed away this last week. Buddy was my mom's spoiled cat for a little over 8 years.  If you would like to read more about Buddy the cat visit this link.  It's a write up I did on my other blog.

Coffee & Cycling...

Outside of painting and my love of cycling, a close third is coffee.  I find it rather fascinating that I've never done any paintings with a cup of joe in them.  So this last week, I opted to do a painting of a cup of coffee.  You'll see why I call it "A Cup of Lovin' "...

"A Cup of Lovin' "; Poured Watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper

Then I, of course, did another couple of cycling themed paintings.  Here they are...

"Purple Cycling Gal"; Poured Watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper

I was a bit disappointed with this one after I took off all the masking.  I wasn't as careful with the details of her face and it appears she has a pointy nose and her mouth looks like a huge snarl when in fact it was a big smile.  Well, I might try this one again and see if I can do better.  But I'm very please with how the rest of the painting turned.

"Cycling Buds"; Watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper

This painting was based on a photo of Diane and myself  while on a bike ride last summer.  Diane had taken the photo while we stood together during a break.  It was one of those beautiful days where the two of took the day and decided to take the challenge of a good climb.  A wonderful memory and I gave the painting to Diane as a present.  Though, it really seems to emphasize my pug nose.

3 More Poured Watercolors...

I started these while at watercolor painting class on Wednesday night.  I had hoped to get in a bike ride on Saturday but with wind gust of 61mph I opted out.  Winds like that and bicycling do not mix.  Thus, I found myself indoors, working on poured watercolors during a Saturday afternoon instead of the planned bike ride.  But that was okay and I still had fun.  I really do enjoy doing poured watercolors.  I used the same colors on all three of these pours-- yellow orche, meduim cadium red, and phthalo blue.  It made it easier for paint mixing and pouring.  I welcome any feedback you may have and here they are...

"Breaking Dawn"; Poured Watercolor on 9" x 12" Cold Press Paper.

"In Bloom"; Poured Watercolor on 9" x 12" Cold Press Paper.

"Garden Wall"; Poured Watercolor on 9" x 12" Cold Press Paper.

Poured Watercolor Scenes

This month in Colleen Reynold's watercolor painting class we are focusing on poured watercolors.  We are using the Leslie Redhead's method of poured watercolors.  The poured watercolors I've been working on this prior week are all from photos I took this last summer up in Helena, MT.  While there for the 100 Helena Bike Ride, I went sight seeing in the picturesque downtown area.  Here's poured watercolor versions of the downtown area....

"Sole Sister's Clock"; Poured Watercolor on 8.5" x 10.5" Hot Pressed Paper

"Barne's Jewelry"; Poured Watercolor on 9" x 12" Cold Pressed Paper.

I'm finding I still need to work on my mid-value ranges in the poured watercolors.

"Road Warrior 2- The Sly One"

This is the 2nd painting of the Road Warrior series.  I refer to this one as "The Sly One".  It's his expression that makes me think he is sly.  I imagine him as the cool confident type that has a game plan figured out for the entire bike race.  He uses the down hills and those pace lines to his advantage.  Then, at last minute he pulls out all stops and sprints to the finish line.  Here he is "The Sly One"....

"Road Warrior 2- The Sly One"; A Poured Watercolor on 12" x 16" Hot Press Paper.

 Meanwhile, I've been referring to the first of the Road Warrior Series as " Building Anger".  He looks like he's near the end of the bike race and he's trying to use his anger as a final push to the finish line.  Even more amazing to me is that the first one has sold and the paint isn't even dry!  Let me know what you think of the title.  Here's "Road Warrior 1"...

"Road Warrior 1- Building Anger"; An oil on 12" x 24" Canvas- Sold!

"Road Warrior 1"- An Oil Painting

I put the finishing details of this painting on early Sunday afternoon, while working on poured watercolor.  A couple weeks ago I went over to a cycling friend's house and had him pose with helmet and glasses.  I took about 20 photos and am considering doing a bit of series of these.  I'm really rather having fun with doing some cycling paintings as I imagine some of you have noticed a BIT of a trend at late.  But here's the first of the "Road Warrior" paintings. 

"Road Warrior 1"; An Oil Painting on 12" x 24" Canvas

Now Showing...

Now you can see a couple of my artworks at a local bike shop!  The piece below and another can be viewed in person at Beehive Bicycles in Salt Lake City. 

"Dialed In on the Bonneville Shoreline"
Poured Watercolor on 7" x 11" Paper

I invite all of my cycling friends to go check out my artwork and this wonderful new cycling shop located in the 15th and 15th neighborhood. They feature the brands of Pivot, Surly, Spot Ajax, Ritchey and BOO.  I tell you I'm rather enamored with the BOO bike and don't be surprised if that's my next new bike!

Bicycling Art Area...

I've decided to dedicate an area to bicycling art.  It makes sense with how much I ride my bicycle (about 3,000 miles per year) that I'll have a possible abundance of art about bicycles.  You will notice a page tab at the top that says Bicycle Art; click on it and bicycling art will be revealed. Bicycle art like my latest here..

"The Green Betty"; Watercolor on 11" x 11" Cold Press Paper.