Enjoy the Ride!

About 3 months ago, I moved into a new place and I'm now finally getting to a point where I want to start hanging things on the wall.  It's not that I have a shortage of paintings to hang on my walls.  But sometimes it's nice to have a variety of things on the wall that have cute sayings or to have other unique items among the paintings on the wall.  Well, in the search for some cute quotes or sayings that I could find on-line for my wall, I found a shortage when it came to bicycles among the quotes.  Most of the quotes had a bicycle and the quote of "Enjoy the Ride!"; which was fine but I just wanted something a bit more.

And so, with drying time happening during a commissioned piece that I'm currently working on, I decided to do my own cute quote with bicycles.  The nice thing is that this way I could plan what I wanted said, choose the colors, and put as much bicycle in it as I wanted.  Little by little, it came together.  I have always enjoyed the quote that "Life is a journey", and I kind of like the "Enjoy the Ride" with the bicycle.  So with those two quotes in mind I laid in a background of a combination of flat washes and alternative methods.  I used a bit of scotch tape here and there to remove color; along with some masking fluid.  I used objects to apply the masking and just kind of played around with it.  I had fun and this is what came of it....

"Enjoy the Ride"; Watercolor on 12" x 18" paper.

I was pretty happy with this and I think it should look good in my living room decor.  Thanks for stopping by and I welcome any comments you may like to share.

"100 SLC Porches, No.97 & An Upcoming Show"

I'm getting closer and closer to finish this 100 Salt Lake City Art Project.  It's exciting as well as gratifying in actually finishing a project; rather a sense of accomplishment.  This porch was suggested by my former oil painting teacher who lives just up the street.  Thanks Melodie!  It was a wonderful suggestion and I wish I would've spotted this porch earlier in the year because I imagine these flower beds would be gorgeous with flowers.  But here it is...

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.97"; Watercolor on 12" x 12" Paper

For painting this porch, I decided to keep it to a limited color pallet.  I only used cerulean blue, indingo blue, golden yellow, and permanent rose.  I started off with one layer of flat wash and then finished with the puddle style of watercolor.

UPCOMING SHOW...

I'm in the process of working out the details and will be trying to contact some of those that have all ready purchased their porch paintings.  It looks as though there will also be some live music as well!  It should be a fun little event where everyone can see all 100 Salt Lake City Porches in person. 

Prelim plans for...

Saturday January 14th  from 2-6PM

Please save the date! 

To view the progress of the 100 Salt Lake City Porches Art Project (or to request a purchase), click here.  I welcome any feedback you may have.  Thanks for visiting!

"100 SLC Porches, No.96"

I've been eyeing this eclectic porch for a while now and trying to figure out which time of year to do.  You see, the straw man that resides on the porch changes accessories from time to time- season to season.  Also, in mid summer the front yard raised gardens are in full glorious bloom.  It was hard choosing which version to do.  I chose this latest version that I took a picture of when I cycled by about two weeks ago.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.96"; Watercolor on 12" x 16" Paper.

 
My other dilemma was trying to choose which method of painting it would be best.  I was playing with the idea of doing it in an oil but I've opted to do it in watercolor.  I started with a couple of layers of flat washes and then worked in the puddle style of watercolor painting.  To view the progress of (or to purchase one of) 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  I welcome any feedback you may have.  Thank you for visiting!

"100 SLC Porches, No.88 & Playing With Alternative Methods"

Here's No. 88 of the 100 Salt Lake City Porches, which I finished late last night...

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.88"; Watercolor on 10" x 14" Paper

I spotted this porch while out driving during my lunch hour about a week before Halloween.  The porch was surrounded by orange leaves and pumpkins.  The black cat had sparkles on it and shimmered with each light breeze in the noon day light.  It seemed to tease and beckon me.  There were quite a few cutely decorated houses along this quiet street in the Sugarhouse neighborhood.  I did this painting as a series of flat washes that I slowly built up upon.  If you would like to view the progress of 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.

Last night in my Wednesday water coloring class (taught by Colleen) we went through alternative methods; or as Colleen likes to call it-- "painting with the kitchen sink".  I painted this scene below with some of those methods such as: cutting when wet, using rubbing alcohol, applying wax and table salt, pressing saran wrap, and sponging.  I felt like a young kid in an arts and craft class where there was no wrong or right answer to doing things.  I was having SO much FUN just experimenting.  Not too sure about the finished product but HEY! I had a good time in the process of it...

"Basketed Bright Pink Bike Along the Strip"; Watercolor on 10" x 15" Paper

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

"100 SLC Porches, No.84 & No. 85"

Now that Halloween is over I can get the paints back out.  I had almost 50 bicycle riders show up for the Halloween Costume ride that I lead this last Saturday.  If you would like to see some pictures and read about visit here.  I managed to finish up two porch paintings last night and here they are...

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.84"; Watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper.

This porch is rather hidden in a neighborhood up in the Olympus Cove area of the Salt Lake Valley.  I liked how it's kind of Frank Lloyd Wright inspired.  The stairs up are at an angle and then there are these red metallic lion statues that sit on each side of the door.  This painting is a series of flat washes where I used yellow ochre, cerulean blue, and a mixed red.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.85"; Oil on 16" x 16" Canvas

One Sunday afternoon I spotted porch #85 on a bike ride down in the area of Draper which is in the very south end of the Salt Lake City Valley.  It's a very modern home of wood, cement, and glass that's situated at a 90 degree angle from the street.  I prepped part of the canvas with just a bit of yellow acrylic that I thinned down with water.  I wiped on the yellow on in the sky area and then quickly wiped off.  I wanted to leave quite a bit of the canvas untouched and white.  I think it plays well with the modern edge that the home has.  When I painted this I chose to limit the pallet to the colors of olive green, a warm orangey Indian yellow, and cerulean blue.  To view the progress of (or to purchase one of) 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  Thank you for visiting!  I welcome any feedback you may have.

"100 SLC Porches, No.83"

I've slowed down a little on this project.  Recently, I've been planning and prepping for a Halloween Bike Ride.  This is the 5th year I've held the bike ride.  I've had to put my paints away while I had the carpets cleaned and parts of my apartment deep cleaned.  I usually have a social get together at my place afterwards; which last year I ended up with a total of almost 30 people in my one bedroom apartment.  It was rather cozy.  I'm expecting more this year.  But here's No.83....

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No. 83"; Watercolor on 10" x 14" Paper

This porch is just down the street from #82 and I really wanted to focus on the light with this porch.  I started with a light flat wash of lemon yellow and slowly built up with a series of flat washes.  I did two more flat washes with the lemon yellow increasing the value each time.  I, then, did two more flat washes with phathlo blue increasing the value each time.  I then did a small light wash with dioxazine purple.  Then, I finished with a bit of puddle style done with almost straight pigment of the phathlo blue and dioxazine purple.  I welcome any feedback you may have.  You may view the progress of (or to request purchase one of) 100 Salt Lake City Porches Art Project, click here or click on the blog page tab above.  Thank you for visiting!

"100 SLC Porches, No.81"

On this porch, I was entranced with the cute white light and the flowers surrounding this porch.  I chose to make the house lighter.  The actual house color is a charcoal gray on the shakes.  It is very close to the same color of home I grew up in.  It also had shakes.  My mom had this special blend to get just the right shade of charcoal gray; not too dark (its not a black) and not too light.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.81"; Watercolor on 11" x 11" Paper

 This painting was a bit of an experiment for me.  I did a series of flat washes on hot pressed paper.  I had never tried doing a flat wash on hot pressed paper.  Generally, hot pressed paper doesn't absorb the water quickly and water tends to puddle; which makes it excellent for puddle painting.  After doing the flat washes, I then finished off the painting with a bit of puddle painting.  To view the progress of (or to purchase one of) 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  I welcome any feedback you may have.  Thank you for visiting!

"100 SLC Porches, No.77"

Back to the 100 Salt Lake City Porches, and here I start off with a wonderful yellow Victorian that resides in the lower Avenues.  Yes, I know it's another yellow house(which I favor), but I think that you'll see that this is a very unique porch.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.77"; Watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper.

I started this porch painting with a series of flat washes in yellow; building and building on the yellow.  Then, I switched to some puddle style watercolor painting to finish it all off.  This weekend, I did managed to get out in the car and on my bike to scout out some more potential porches.  So I guess, I need to get back to the project.  To view the progress of (or to purchase) 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  Thanks for stopping by and I welcome any feedback you may have.

"100 SLC Porches, No.62"



"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.62"- 10" x 10" on Paper

I'm back from a lovely little vacation I spent in Helena,MT.  Now to get serious about doing some more porch paintings.  I put the finishing touches on this painting late last night.  Yes, it's another yellow house and I will admit that I tend toward yellow houses.  They are just SO warm and inviting; and the rocking chair on this one makes it look even more inviting.  I started this painting as a series of flat washes in yellows, slowly building up the brightness of the yellows.  Then I finished with some puddle style painting.  To view my progress with the 100 Salt Lake City Porches Project visit this page.  Here's a photo that I took during the Helena 100 Bike ride that I did while on my vacation.

A picture during the Helena 100 Bike ride that went along the upper Missouri River.

"100 SLC Porches, No.59 & No.60"

It's definitely a patriotic theme with these two porches...



"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.59"
Watercolor on 11" x 14" Yupo

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.60"
Watercolor on 11" x 14" Hot Pressed Paper

Porch No.59, I spotted a while back while on a bike ride during a pretty May Day while in the Canyon Rim area of the Salt Lake Valley.  I've been saving it for the patriotic time of year.  I loved how the big trees in the front yard kind of framed the upper area of the porch.  It's more of a side porch that runs the front length of the house.  I did this in a bit of a puddle wash on yupo; which is not an easy thing to do on yupo because yupo is a very slick type surface where the water REALLY puddles up and it must be kept still till the water drys.

Porch No.60 is an older home in the Taylorsville area of the Salt Lake Valley and I thought it might be fun to do it as a red, white, & blue theme to keep it patriotic even more.  I really got the idea from a painting that my friend & teacher Colleen Reynolds did.  It was a scene where everything was blue & white except for a guy that was wearing a t-shirt that had a flag themed print on it.  Colleen added the color red to that section of the painting.  I was very fascinated the first time I saw the painting and I thought that this porch was a good candidate for this style.  I started with a light flat wash of blue and built up.  The last thing I did was add the red color.

To view the progress of ( or to purchase one of) 100 Salt Lake City Porches, please click here.  I welcome any feedback you may have.  Thank you for visiting my art blog.

"100 SLC Porches, No.56"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.56"; Watercolor on 10" x 14" Cold Press Paper

This porch is another one from the lower Salt Lake Aves area.  I started this one with a series of flat washes with permanent rose.  Slowly, I built up the pink tones.  Then I started in with some puddle painting with combinations of the colors of phthalo blue, light green, and medium yellow.  I wanted to keep to similar colors of the house which were tones of pink and teal.  I think it turned out to be a nice combination. 

I must admit that it seems I'm getting into a bit of a theme with the flags on the last couple of porches.  We are heading towards that patriotic 4th of July and I've been keeping my eyes open for some porches that have a patriotic "flare".  So if any of you see in the Salt Lake City area see a porch with flags or red, white & blue contact me and I can run over on my bicycle to get a picture. To view the progress of (or to request purchase) all 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  I welcome any feedback you may have.  Thank you!

"100 SLC Porches, No.55"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.55"; Watercolor on 11" x 14" Paper

It was a beautiful sunny day when I went by on my bicycle and this porch in the lower Salt Lake Aves grabbed my attention with the wonderful flags and pink tulips.  I started this painting with a series of flat washes and finished with some puddle painting.  What a wonderful painting to do on a rainy Sunday.  It was a productive afternoon and I hope to have #56 porch done this evening if all goes well too.  That's dependant on how long of a bicycle ride I may take tonight. :)  Please visit the 100 Salt Lake City Porches page to view the progress or to request to purchase.  I welcome any feedback.  Thank you.

"100 SLC Porches, No.53 & No.54"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.53"; Poured Watercolor on 10"x 11" Paper

In the quiet Avenues neighborhood this front porch was almost hidden amid a garden in the front yard.  It seemed to just peek out a bit between the trees and say hi as I passed by on my bike the first time.  I turned around and took a picture of this secluded beauty.  I used medium yellow, dioxazine violet, and sap green in this poured watercolor.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.54"; Watercolor on 10" x 14"

This bricked green beauty from the lower Salt Lake Aves, I started as a series of flat washes in golden tones building and building; adding more color as it progressed.  I'm really happy how this one turned out.  To view the progress of 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  I would love to hear any feedback you may have.

"100 SLC Porches, No.49 to No.52"

I was REALLY in the mood to paint this weekend and managed to get 4 of the 100 Salt Lake City Porches done.  And here they are in order...

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.49"; Oil on 12" x 12" Wrapped Canvas

No this is not the original painting I had planned to paint.  That porch painting is still off to the side.  This porch painting in oil came together quickly.   This sunny porch was scouted out by a friend and I think what drew us both to this porch was the ceramic tiled square areas on the lower areas of each side of the porch.  I also liked the fish mail box too.  I kept to a pastel pallet on this one.

Below Porch #50 was also spotted by the same friend.  I loved the red tree and went a bit brighter with it.  This watercolor was a combination of flat washes, puddle painting, and sponge painting.


"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.50"; Watercolor on 9" x 13" Paper

Porch #51 has an Old English feel to it.  I did this watercolor in a wet to dry method then did a bit of puddle painting to finish it off.  I kept to a raw umber, indingo blue, and yellow mix (medium yellow & yellow ochre) pallet.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.51"; Watercolor on 9" x 10"Paper

Porch #52 belongs to a co-worker who had reserved the number because it was her age.  I really think she wanted me to get more porches under my belt before I attempted hers.  I surprised her at work this morning, and she was delighted with it.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.52"; Poured watercolor on 9" x 10" Paper

Click here to see the "100 Salt Lake City Porches" Art Project page.  Check out my progress or get info. on how to purchase a porch painting.

"100 SLC Porches, No.48"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.48"
Watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper

Now this one may seem very similar to porch #13.  In a way I will admit that it is and I wouldn't be surprised with 100 porches if I end up with a bit of duplication. Though this painting is in watercolor and it shows the full porch at an angle.  Porch #13 is closer up, shows just a portion, and is done in a limited oil pallet of purples, peach, with a bit of blue. Also, this porch has a mental work that goes across between the poles.  With the flowers out front and the light, I think this porch is singing in Springtime.  I did this in a flat watercolor wash method and I think it gives it a nice muted easy going feeling.  I could spend an afternoon just passing the time on this porch!  To view the progress (or to purchase) please visit the 100 Salt Lake City Porches page.  I welcome any feedback you may have.

"100 SLC Porches, No.45"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.45"
Watercolor on 10" x 14" Paper

Quite often I'm cruising quickly by on my bicycle past this porch as it is along a hill in the lower Avenues area.  But a couple of weeks ago I forced myself to go more slowly with my camera in tow and captured it. I like to think of this porch as an understated refined beauty.  I start this porch painting with a series of flat washes in a mixed green and a watered down phathlo blue.   Then, I proceeded with a bit of puddle painting to reach the final result. I limited my color pallet for this painting to phathlo blue, medium yellow, burnt sienna, and just a bit of crimson red. 

"100 SLC Porches, No.43 & No.44"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.43"
Poured Watercolor on 10" x 14" Paper

This wonderful porch is located over in the Federal Heights area of Salt Lake City.  What drew me to this porch were the flower pots placed on each corner of the wide open porch, and the flowered wreath on the door.  I used the colors of indigo blue, medium yellow, and a 50-50 mix of permanent rose with cad. red.  I had fun with this poured watercolor and I hope it shows!

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.44"
Watercolor on 10" x 13" Paper

This porch was nestled near the Canyon Rim area neighborhood.  I chose a bit of a different approach for painting it.  I started with a flat wash of medium yellow and built from there with cerulean blue and raw sienna.  I felt that this style fit well with the simple clean lines of the porch.  There's just something about a yellow house!  I can't explain it but I seem to be drawn to yellow houses.  This porch captured my eye with its simplicity and I also liked the weather vane in the front yard. That color yellow just draws me in; maybe its from growing up with a warm yellow kitchen that always seemed to be the center of activity?  But I will try to not go overboard on the yellow, I'll try to pace myself and balance out the colors of the porches.  I promise!  But please check out the progress of the porches on this page.  I welcome any feedback you may have.  Thanks for visiting!