Abstract Flowers

The quick study was so much fun to paint. Bold colors, slow drips and a stencil to create a  pattern on the vase.

Getting Fancy Didn't Pay off!

Hi There,
 I just looked at the post that I sent out yesterday. My " Bird of Paradise" painting is followed by line after line of pale yellow stripes. That was my attempt to place a background color behind my text. FAIL! I will have to contact my Blog Support Staff ( Yes, that is YOU Dianne) to see if I can fix it.
Stay tuned!

Bird of Paradise

I think that creating a painting is like opening a  present. With much anticipation you unwrap your gift to see whats inside. The present might be something that you have been expecting or it might be something that is a complete surprise.

A heavy piece of blank watercolor paper is like that present. In my mind, I know what I am anticipating my finished painting to look like. As I put paint to paper, my gift slowly begins to appear, much like the unwrapping of that present. What my finished picture looks like is always a surprise! That is the beauty of watercolors, they often have a mind of their own. When I work with watercolors there is hope and anticipation and magic, LOTS of magic.

 When I started to think about creating this work, I knew that I wanted to use the same materials that I enjoyed using when I created my duck painting...  Glossy pages of colorful magazines, acrylic paints and of course, watercolors.  I began by painting the image of the flower. There is nothing quite as magical as a Bird of Paradise in full bloom. I then used both acrylics and watercolors to paint the foliage. I finished off with the soft painted paisley background. I worked on this on and off for 2 weeks. Life's obligations always seems to get in the way of my creative time. 

The Happy Artichoke

Creating a painting is a learning process. Lessons are learned...some remembered. What I learned from this artichoke painting is --Do Not Begin a Painting in One Year and Finish it 4 Years Later! Its not that its a bad painting, its just that I feel that its not a super successful painting. It looks to me like the green areas were painted by one person and the purple areas were painted by someone different. Actually, that's probably true as my painting technique has changed over the years.  As long as I learned something while creating it, I am happy.

Creative Inspiration

While cleaning up my IPad photo folder I came across this image of a piece that I had created a while ago. Looking at it again reminded me of the enjoyment that I experienced while coercing my supplies to become a proper composition using paper, glue and paint. It was created with cut magazine pieces combined with watercolors. The fine watercolor details of the painted birds juxtaposed against the abstract greens of paper and watercolor vegetation have inspired me to create another work in this same style. I hope that it will be suitable enough to share. Stay tuned........

Designing Denim

It seems as though denim jackets are back in vogue. My girlfriend happened to have an OLD one ( shoulder pads still inserted) hanging in the back of  her closet. I asked her if she would like me to customize it for her. Her answer was "OF COURSE" combined with a "YES PLEASE!"
 I rooted around my box of acrylic paints and found colors that reminded me of her.  The finished product is seen above. Remember---"Everything old is new again"

Key West Rooster

A visit to Key West will include a feathery surprise. There are roosters and chickens strutting everywhere. The history of these feathery occupants is interesting -but, to me, not as attention grabbing as the colorful subjects themselves. 

Where I Paint

I know many artists who paint with watercolors.

 Some are super tidy and keep their painting station and watercolor pallete wiped clean and paint free after every creation. As I wait for the next lightening bolt of inspiration to hit me, my pallete , pools of dried colors intact, waits for a splash of fresh clean water to bring life to my next blank piece of Arches watercolor paper.  

Do you think that you would be a clean or a messy pallete person?   

watercolor

Here is my newest watercolor

This was painted in a watercolor class at The Centers for the Arts at Bonita Springs. My favorite artist, Michael Domina, was the instructor. Michael teaches classes in both Florida and Massachusetts. A unique thing about Michael, as an artist, is that his color palette consists of only the three primary colors.

Jewelry Organizer

This year's project that I lead in the Gateway Artisans group is a jewelry organizer.  I was inspired by several projects that I had seen over the past year. The frame was purchased at Good Will, primed and painted. Hooks and knobs were purchased at various craft stores. Assembly was pretty easy, once I located the sheets of  perforated metal at a local hardware store.

The frame is spray painted with a generic silver color. Did you notice how the earrings are attached?

If you guessed drapery hanger hooks, you are correct!

I love crafts with functionality. 

Maybe it will inspire you to purchase more jewelry for yourself.