A Hot Pinkie!!

I'm dreaming and painting bikes as the snow continues to fall outside.  It's just a bit of a case of " cycling on the brain".  Here's my most recent painting that I call "A Hot Pinkie!"  Enjoy!...

"A Hot Pinkie!"; Watercolor on 14" x 17" on Paper.

I used a bit of poured watercolor on the background of this painting.  Then, I used some puddle painting for the bicycle. I will admit that this picture doesn't quite do the original enough justice.  One of these days I need to take a photography class.  I would love to hear any feedback you may have!  Thanks for stopping by.

A Doorway & a Dog...

(***Editor's Note- I held off on putting this write up due to problems with Google blog and MS Internet Explorer not playing well together.  But I guess that problems have been resolved.)

It's been awhile since I have updated and added any paintings.  I'm sure some of you have been wondering.  Currently, I'm taking a bit of a break from traveling.  I had hoped to have more time to do some painting while I was traveling but that has not been the case.  But I have been lining up quite a few photos that I would LOVE to translate into a painting.  So here I am catching up on posting of some paintings that I have managed to fit in here and there while on my road trip. 

This doorway is based on a photo that I took while I was in Taos, New Mexico.  I love the adobe colors and there always seems to be these bunches of peppers hanging around.  I started with a flat wash and then used puddle style of watercolor.  So here is my translation of a Taos Doorway...


Photo- "Taos Doorway"; watercolor on 9" x 11"paper

Next, here is a painting that I did of a friend's dog.  I have been holding on a copy of this picture for sometime and one night in a hotel I decided it might be fun to give it a try.  I did it in a puddle style of watercoloring; mixing the colors together in small "puddles" of water right on the paper.  Here's the result and she did indeed think it looked like here cute little pooch.

Photo: "Sad Puppy Eyes"; watercolor on 8" x 10" Paper.

Another Painting Break...

I took a day of on my BIG Adventure at my Aunt Lindy's house and did a bit of painting while doing some laundry too; talk about doing some multi-tasking!  I did a couple of more scenes based on photos I took while in Washington State.  One of these is based on a photo I took at my girlfriend Jean's wedding of her guest on the beach and the other is from photos that I took at Port Townsend, WA.  Both of these are on 9" x 12" paper and are a bit of puddle painting.  Enjoy!

"Mother and Son on Beach"; watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper.

"Tickled Pink Shoppe"; Watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper.

I welcome any feedback you may have and thanks for visiting!  Please feel free to read more about my BIG Adventure traveling at my other blog....click here.

A Painting Break on Whigby Island...

I've been on the road on my BIG Adventure for 11 days now and I've really been keeping busy with other things.  I have not managed to find as much time as I thought for painting.  So when I woke up one morning while visiting Whigby Island and it was cloudy and cold; I decided it was a good enough excuse to take the day off from sightseeing and stay in to do a bit of watercolor painting.  Here's  what I did during my day off from sightseeing...

"Honesty Flower Stand"; Watercolor on 9" x 12" paper.

All over Whigby Island there are stands that are not tended by people they just put the flowers or sweet corn or other vegetable/fruit out with a box to leave the money in.  It just boggles my mind because coming from a large city where something like would never fly.  It is almost like it hails from another time.

"Libbey Beach"; Watercolor on 10" x 15" Paper.

This is based on a photo I took on Libbey Beach which is on the west side of Whigby Island.  It's the first watercolor I've done of a beach scene and painting the rocky beach was a bit of a challenge to figure out.  But it's always good to have room to grow and learn.

Ollie Oxen Free!

I've been in the process of preparing to move and have had my hands mostly full with packing since getting back from RAGBRAI but I did manage to get a watercolor done of a friend's dog.  This is Ollie and he is a Jack Russell Terrier.  He is a real cutie and he knows it too!  He also HATES to wear sweaters but his Mom seems to love to put him in sweaters during our snowshoeing excursions.  I feel like he's saying,"Mom, this sweater? ... Please take it off before ALL the other dogs see me!  They are going to think I'm a sissy.  PLE-ASSSSE!"  This is my first attempt at doing a dog in watercolor and I think it turned out rather well.  My friend was pleasantly pleased with it too.  Here he is... Ollie Oxen Free!....

"Ollie Oxen Free"; Watercolor on 10" x 13" Paper.

Here's Ollie in a candid shot just before Halloween this last year.  Diana Ross- Eat your heart out!

Photo- Ollie putting Diana Ross to shame!

Thanks for visiting and I would LOVE to hear any feedback you may have!

Happy Father's Day!!

Here's wishing all of you Fathers out there a Happy Father's Day!  I've been waiting before I posted this painting until it arrived at my little brother's home in Iowa.  I did it as a present for him for Father's Day.  I was trying to make it a surprise.  It features my two nephews standing in front of a car at a car show.  Here it is... 

"Boys-N-Cars"; Watercolor on 9" x 11" Paper

I rather got a kick out of how both of them are standing with arms folded; kind of like--"Yeah, we are tough!"  I did this painting in the puddle style of water coloring; mixing all of the colors on the paper.  I also used a limited color pallet-- phthalo blue, phthalo green, and permanent rose with just a bit of meduim yellow to do the skin tones.  I hope you like it little bro!  Happy Father's Day!

Back to Biking with Peace, Love, & Flowers...

The Groovi-ness continues, as I prepare for the Little Red Riding Hood Bike Ride in June.  I'm planning on having a little booth with some of my art on sale.  The theme for Little Red this year is Groovy!  Here's my latest creation keeping in with the cycling and groovy theme...

"Back to Biking with Peace, Love, & Flowers"; Watercolor on 12" x 16" Cold Pressed Paper.

On this painting, I used a combination of styles.  I did a couple of layers in watercolor pours for the background, the bike seat, the bike seat bag and seat post. I used puddle painting for the rest of the bike.  I limited the colors to yellow, permanent rose, dioxazine purple, and a watered down liquid red watercolor.  I think the ladies at Little Red will like this one!  Would love to hear your feedback and thanks for stopping by!

Another Girlie Duo...

The weather cleared up last night and I had enough time to get a 22 mile bike ride in and then put the final touches on this little bicycle composition too!  Talk about having a wonderful evening!  I'm calling this one - "Another Girlie Duo".  Some of you may recognize this; yes, it is a redo of "A Girlie Duo" that I did almost a year ago.  Only the "Girlie Duo" was done with a limited color pallet.  This Girlie Duo, I just played with a bit of puddle mixing and had fun with it.

"Another Girlie Duo"; Watercolor on 6" x 8" Cold Pressed Paper.

I hope the FUN shines through!  I welcome any feed back or comments you may have and thanks for stopping by!

"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 Porhces, No.86 & No.87"

It was a productive weekend and I managed to almost get three new porch paintings finished.  The third one is about 3/4 of the way done and will probably be finished in the next day or two.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.86"- Watercolor on 11" x 14" Yupo

There was a wonderful warm Fall sunny afternoon when I took the photo of this porch.  It seemed the whole world was a glow with this warm glow of yellow light.  Yes, I was again on my bike and riding along with my camera.  Then I saw this HUGE spider in a web on the porch.  I felt I needed to do some Halloween decorated porches and I thought this one would be a fun one to do.  This is puddle painting on yupo and I just had FUN with this painting.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.87"- Oil on 8" x 10" Canvas

I took the photo of this porch about a month ago and have been wanting to paint it.  I remember it was on a warm Sunday afternoon that I was biking through this neighborhood.  There was SO many flowers and a dappled sunniness that this porch caught my eye.  To view the progress of (or to purchase one of) 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  I welcome any feedback you may have and thank you for visiting!

"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.82"

It was a sunny warm Fall day when I went by on my bicycle and saw this porch.  The angle of the light made the evergreen shaped spirals dramatic and I thought they would be fun to paint them.  It was fun and here it is number 82...

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.82"; Watercolor on 12" x 11" Paper

I started to do this painting in the wet-to-dry method but then as it dried I switched to the puddle style method to work on the foreground with the spiraling topiary and the pot of golden mums on the porch. I really had fun with this painting.  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.  Thanks for stopping by.

"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.80"

In between, cat sitting for a friend and catching a cold this weekend.  I still managed to get a porch painting done.  Here it is...

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.80"; Watercolor on 11" x 11" Paper

This cute porch was nestled in a quiet Holliday neighborhood in the Salt Lake Valley.  It was a late Sunday afternoon when I spotted as I was out for a Sunday drive.  I could have used this one earlier in the project during the 4th of July time.  But oh well, I thought it was a cute one to do anyway.  I used the puddle style of watercolor on this porch painting.  To view the progress of (or to make a purchase) 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  I welcome any feedback.  Thank you for visiting!

"100 SLC Porches, No.78 & No.79"

I took a three day weekend and managed to get a couple of porch paintings done.  Here they are...

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.78"; Watercolor on 10" x 12" Paper.

The above Federal Heights area porch is canopied by two trees.  I took a picture of it earlier in the spring when the trees were just budding out but thought that it might be more interesting to wait till the trees filled out.  Now the trees are just barely starting to turn as the temperatures start falling.  I started this porch painting in a flat wash of yellow to help with the contrast of the canopied area and the rest of the painting.  The rest of the porch painting is done in the puddle style of watercolor painting on a hot pressed paper.

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.79"; Poured Watercolor on 9" x 12" Paper

I almost got rear ended by a BMW and a dirty look from the car driver on a Sunday afternoon car ride when I took the picture of this porch.  It was a beautiful day and the trees surrounding this house almost secluded it in shade.  I was driving slowly through the Federal Heights neighborhood scouting porches.  This yellow house caught my eye and then the symmetry around the door captured me.  I used phatlo blue, crimson red, and aurora yellow in this pour; which was done in four different pouring levels.  To view the progress of (or to purchase) 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  I welcome any feedback you may have.

"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.76"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.76"- Watercolor on 10" x 12" Paper

I love these little cottage like houses.  There are quite a few similar to this one throughout the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake.  I was especially drawn to this one because of the wildflower like landscape that surrounded it.  It feels like it's nestled in a quiet garden all by itself.  I also liked the detail of the small window above the door.  I started this painting as a pour using permanent rose.  Then I used a bit of ultramarine blue in the sky area.  Then I finished the painting with the puddle style of watercolor painting and a bit of dry brushing.  To view the progress (or to purchase one) of 100 Salt Lake City Porches, click here.  Thank you for visiting and please leave a comment if you are so incline.

"100 SLC Porches, No.71 & No.72"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.71"; 8" x10" Oil on Canvas

I remember a few years ago going by this above house and it had been gutted by fire.  I felt so bad for the people who lived there.  When I was an early teenager our house had been gutted by fire, and I hate the thought of anyone having to live through that.  But I'm glad as I went on my bike a couple of weeks ago with camera and saw that they had rebuilt and made improvements too.  I wondered about the unique clumping landscaping.  They are tufts of like long grass spaced in front of the porch area.  Might these bloom later in the season?  Or was it something like those small planter with the neatly trimmed grass that's kind of zen in nature? Hmmmm...


"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.72"; Watercolor on Yupo.

 I bike by Porch #72 three times a week early in the morning on a regular bike club ride (BCC).  I've been watching the ivy slowly fill up around and on the porch as the bike season has progressed along from Spring into Summer and soon heading into Fall.  I decided about a week ago that the ivy had reached it's zenith of porch covering and I thought it would be fun to do kind of a hidden porch.  This painting I did in the puddle style of water coloring which I always find fun to do on yupo.  I limited the colors to kelly green, indigo blue, light green, dioxazine purple, and a bit of permanent rose.  To view the progress (or to request a purchase) of 100 Salt Lake City Porches, visit this page.  Thank you for visiting and I welcome any feedback you may have.

"100 SLC Porches, No.70"

"100 Salt Lake City Porches, No.70"; Watercolor on 10" x 12" Paper

This porch painting I did as a cross between a wet-to-dry method and a poured watercolor style with a bit of puddle watercolor painting.  So I guess you could say I used no one particular style in a way. :)  I did narrow down the color scheme at least.  I used kelly green, indigo blue, and dioxazine violet.  To view the progress of 100 Salt Lake City Porches (or to purchase) click here.  I welcome any feedback you have have!