A Franklin on a Patriotic Day

Photo:"A Franklin on a Patriotic Day"; Watercolor and Ink on 11" x 16" Paper
Available for purchase.

Here's the latest I finished last night.  It's a little off in a new direction.  I took several photos of this 1926 Franklin that I saw on the 3rd Avenue bridge in downtown during a 4th of July car show.  I was just fascinated with listening about the guy who owned it talk about the engine and how because of the specialty of the steam-powered engine he had to go up to Minneapolis area to have it serviced.Then he talked about the restoration that he had to do in the interior.  I found myself taking photos from several angles with my phone.  Later as I got to looking at this particular photo of the back.  I liked the Cedar Rapids skyline that was showing in the background.  It simmered for a few days and this was what came about.  I put extra flags into the piece with a couple of them on the car itself.  I still may do others of this Franklin car.  It's a very unique car.

A Ford and Veteran's Memorial...

Here's a latest that I put together.  It's based on a photo I took during the 4th of July car show in downtown Cedar Rapids.  I found it fun to do a loose version of Veteran's Memorial Building in the back ground.  It's one of my favorite buildings in the downtown area....

Photo:"Green Ford with Veteran's Memorial"; 11" x 14" watercolor and ink on 140lb. cold press paper.
SOLD!

Thanks for stopping by and I welcome any comments you may have!

Buick Roadmaster Convertible...

It's been awhile since I've had a chance to post something on here.  I'm still painting but things get busy sometimes.  Here's a watercolor/ink that I finished about 2 weeks ago.  This is based on a photo I took at Good Guys Car show a couple of years ago when it was in DesMoines.  I believe it is a 1952- 1953 Buick Roadmaster Convertible. Enjoy....

"Buick Roadmaster"; Watercolor/ink on 11" x 14" paper.
SOLD.

I'm currently working on a commission of a Harley Motorcycle that I hope to share with you soon.  Thank you for stopping by and please feel free to email me with any feedback you may have!

Happy Holidays!!

I wanted to wish all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  All of the Christmas orders have been taken and filled... I put the finishing touches on the last one this last Thursday night.  I had quite a few this year and here's some that I know have already been given out before Christmas that I can share with you....

"CCR Customized Motorcycle"; Watercolor and Ink on 11" x 14" paper.

"Blue Fairlane, His Baby", Watercolor and Ink on 11" x 14" paper.

"His 56 ", Watercolor and Ink on 11" x 14" paper.

The two above were for the same person and were commissioned by his family at his request.  I designed them so that they can hang side by side.  I've seen both of these cars at local car cruises and they are amazing.  There's more commissions that I can't show here yet because I don't want to ruin the Christmas surprises.  There's dogs, a cat, and a house.  I'm hoping to post them after Christmas here.  Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays!

Stude 37 Inked!

I did a watercolor of this a short while ago, and I thought that it would be a fun experiment to do it in an ink.  I really enjoy the details of this 1937 Studebaker that I took a photo of last summer at Good Guys Car Show.  So here it is done in black and red ink.

Photo:" Black, White, and Red Stude 37"; Ink on 9" x 12" watercolor paper.
SOLD.

I welcome any feedback you may have and thanks for stopping by!

A 60 Polara...

Based on a photo I took from a car cruise that took place at the Coralville Mall near Iowa City, IA last Summer.  It was a 1960 Dodge Polara.  This was a fun and relatively fast watercolor and ink that I pulled off hopefully showing off some of my car artwork tomorrow across the street from the Chelsea Car Show in Chelsea, IA. I just hope that the rain forecaster tomorrow morning is short and sweet.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed. :)

Photo: "60 Polara"; Watercolor and Ink on 9" x 12" paper.
Available for purchase.

I welcome any feedback you may have and thanks for stopping by!

A STUDE 37

This was a quick fun one that I did.  It's based on a photo that I took at the Good Guys Car Show last Summer.  It's a black 1937 Studebaker.  I decided to just do part of the front end of the car to focus on some of the details more.

Photo: "Stude 37"; watercolor and ink on 9" x 12" paper.
Available for purchase.

I welcome any comment and thanks for stopping by!

Car Row...

Here's a fun one I just finished.  It's based off a photo I took of a row of cars from a car show last summer.  This row seemed to be cars in the 1930's-1940's.

Photo: "Car Row"; watercolor and Ink on 9" x 12" paper.
Available for purchase.

I welcome any comments you may have and thanks for stopping by!

Stingray Blues...

I just finished this for a surprise 4th of July birthday present this last Friday.

Photo: "Stingray Blues"; watercolor and ink on 9" x 11" paper.
Commissioned Piece

A wife wanted to surprise her husband with a painting of his 1971 Stingray.  It was a fun project to work on.  I worked up four different layout drawings and she rather had a tough time deciding on which one.  But finally got it narrowed down to Option #1 below.

It's always fun trying to surprise someone with a piece of custom artwork, or at least I think it is. :) Thanks for visiting and I welcome any feedback you may have!

Split Front Bumper...

It's been almost a month since I've put anything on here.  Yes, I've been bicycling with the nicer weather and painting has taken a bit of a back seat.  This is a fun piece that I've been working on bit by bit. It's base is a poured watercolor, then a bit more regular water coloring, and then some finishing with red ink.  I call it "Split Front Bumper". The base car is a 1970 Z28 Camaro that I did some commissioned artwork on last year. The idea has been "simmering" in my mind for awhile of collage of doing a little something different.  Here's the little different....

Photo: "Split Front Bumper"; 11" x 14" Watercolor and Ink on paper.
Available for purchase.

I welcome any comments and thanks for stopping by!

Yellow Nomad Dreams...

I took a photo of this car last Summer when I was at the Swisher Car Show in Iowa.  I really fell in love with this beautiful 1955 white/yellow Nomad.  I could easily see myself cruising down a two lane highway in it.  The "station wagons" have always had a special place in my heart.  No surprise there when you consider I've had three different station wagons and they always have room in the back to stow a bicycle which is my first love. lol

Photo: "Yellow Nomad Dreams"; watercolor on 11" x 14" paper.
SOLD.

I think it's ironic that just as I am finishing up painting this beauty, I end up seeing the same car at the Houby Days Car Show.  It's a small world sometimes. lol I gave the gentleman a business card and asked him to check out this site within the week.  But I got so enthused after seeing the car again that I went home that evening and finished the painting.  Here's some photos of the painting in process...

Photo: Prelim background work and sketching.

Photo: About half way done...

Photo: Almost there...

Thanks for stopping by and I welcome any comments you may have!

"A Royal V Eight"

I finished another painting this last weekend.  This has been on the back burner for almost a year.  I've played with the idea of doing this painting shortly after I took the photos of the 1954 Dodge Royal V Eight at one of the Thursday night cruises in Cedar Rapids early last Summer.  In fact, while I was playing with this ideas for the Demon painting came into being.  Then, I ended up getting some other commissions and other projects.  This painting ended up getting set to the side.  Now, I finally had the time.  Here it is...

"A Royal V Eight"; watercolor on 16" x 20" cold press paper.
Available for purchase.

It was fun playing with a bit of a different style on this one too.  I welcome any comment you may have and thanks for stopping by!

A Green Thunderbird

With Jazz, my black lab, finally getting more settled in.  I'm finding more time to paint.  While she chews on a rawhide, I'm able to sit quietly in my studio.  I finished this painting the other night.  It's based on a photo that I took last Summer while spending the day at the Good Guys Car Show in Des Moines Fairgrounds.  I believe it is a 1964 Thunderbird.  Here's the painting...

Photo: "Green Thunderbird"; watercolor and ink on 11" x 14" cold press paper.

And here's the photo of a photo that I based it off of...

Photo of a photo of the car at Good Guys.

Thanks for stopping by and I welcome any comments you may have!

Demon Four Pane...

The dust has finally settled and most of the boxes have been unpacked from my move.  In fact, I’m preparing for a little housewarming get together soon.  BUT the really important thing is that I managed to find my good camera and I was able to take some photos.  Here it is, in its entirety – The Demon Four Pane! 

"Demon Four Panes- four 8" x 11" paintings on paper.

 Here's them individually...

"Demon Logo"; watercolor on 8" x 11" paper

"Demon- Rear End"; watercolor on 8" x 11" paper.

"Demon- Side View"; watercolor on 8" x 11" paper.

"Demon- Front End"; watercolor on 8" x 11" paper.

P.S. Mr. Motorhead was VERY please with his paintings!  Thanks for stopping by and I welcome any comments!

A Halloween Move & Glimpse of Latest...

My favorite time of year - Halloween, and I will be moving into to new digs near the Czech Village area of Cedar Rapids.  No longer a renter, I'm becoming a homeowner.  Here's a photo of a current commission project that I'm trying to finish before my move.  I warn you, it is a poor photo.  Yes, the camera is packed and this was taken with non-internet-accessing-low-tech phone. As you can see my shadow above.  It's going to be a four pane of a red 1971 Demon.  This is for Mr. Motorhead to pay for a riding lawnmower at the new digs.  It's a big yard - I NEEDED it! Enough said :)

Photo- Prelim ink drawings for Demon four pane.

I hope to share a better photo of the real paintings soon.  Thanks for stopping by!

Comings and Going of a Black Hearst...

I saw this black Hearst a couple of months ago at a car cruise in Coralville, IA.  It immediately grabbed my attention because of the spider web detail on the head light.  It was SO "Halloween" and being one of my favorite holidays I took quite a few pictures of it.  It's a 1940's vehicle and I'm really unsure as to anything more than that.  I just thought it was rather neat and not of the "norm"; if you know what I mean.

Then, the idea of painting it came to me when I was looking through some of the car photos that I had.  But I didn't want to do it in a normal type of way.  So I played with a bit of drawing and came up with a cropped view of it coming towards you and another that's going away.  I call it the "Comings and Goings of a Black Hearst" and here it is...

Photo: "Comings and Goings of a Black Hearst"; Watercolor and Ink on 11" x 17" paper.

I welcome any feedback you may have.  Thanks for stopping by!

Pink Mercury 9...

Here's a cute little one that I worked on this last week.  It's based on a car I saw at a local Cedar Rapids car cruise night some while back and I was enamored with a pink car that was not a "Mary Kay" car. LOL!  I tried to just focus on the unique tail lights and the back end of this vehicle.  I also decided to play with a bit of cropping view of the car for something a bit different and new.  Here it is...

"Pink Mercury 9"; a watercolor and ink on 8" x 8" paper

 I believe it is a 1964 Mercury Monterey that I based the painting off of.  Thanks for stopping by and I welcome any feedback you may have!

Shawn's 1970 Camaro...

Shawn is a friend of Mr. Motorhead, my boyfriend, and I was rather excited when he asked if I would do a painting of his car.  Shawn has a 1970 Z28 Camaro that is a beauty.  It is a Sea-green color with black striping with a bit of pin striping.  It's in mint condition and I just jumped at the opportunity to paint it.  Here's the finished painting...

The challenge with this painting was narrowing down on a layout.  The front grill and the split bumper is very unique to this car.  I wanted to do it justice.  But at the same time, I wanted to do a view of the whole car.  Mr. Motorhead and Shawn were playing with a few ideas one night over dinner and the idea of a two shot of the car came into being.

I did three different lay out drawings for Shawn, but he had a hard time visualizing it.  So I took the one that he seemed to like the most and did an ink shading drawing of it.  That seemed to help him out with what it would look like.  Here's the ink shading drawing that I did...

This really was a fun project to do and it went relatively quick once the layout was figured out.

Thanks for stopping by and I would love to hear any comments or feedback you may have!

Alien Grill Grin...

I sometimes am at a loss on how to name a painting.  This particular one was based on a photo of a close up I took on an older model classic car's grill.  It was taken during another car show that I attended with Mr. Motorhead, my boyfriend.  But I didn't know enough about the type of car or year to use that as a name.  Yes, I guess I need to ask more questions while I'm taking photos than just learning all this car stuff by osmosis. I am guessing that it's a 1930's or around there by the hood but that's all I can figure out.

Here I am at a loss for a title and I hate having "Untitled" and a number after.  Not my kind of thing; its too vague.  Then I had an idea, I would put a photo of it on Face Book and see about suggestions for a title.  Thus, a title for this painting emerged.  It's called "Alien Grill Grin".  A few of the people on Face Book thought it had a bit of that "Alien" Giger feel about it.  I'm unsure about that and will let you decide.  Here it is....

"Alien Grill Grin"; Watercolor and Ink on 10" x 13" paper.

It was rather fun to just focus on part of a car, and don't be surprised if you see more of these types of paintings in the future.  I welcome any comments or feedback.  Thanks for stopping by!