It was fun to have received The Creative Blogger Award the other day, and part of the honor is to be able to choose five people on whom to bestow the award. (Ah, the power...)
So here are my five picks:
Jana Bouc: a wonderful watercolorist and an honest down-to-earth blogger who shares both her artistic discoveries and struggles in her lovely blog:
http://janabouc.wordpress.com/
Laura: the most incredible drawings, travel journals, flowing watercolors; just delightful:
http://laurelines.typepad.com/
Nina Johansson: a Swedish artist whose pen and inks with watercolor knock your socks off, mine anyway:
http://ninajohansson.blogspot.com/
Lin Frye: I don't know anyone who does more work on her art, whose progress is shared and used to support others along their creative paths. One of the biggest hearts I've encountered along the road:
http://viewfromtheoak.blogspot.com/
and last, but by no means least: our own
Kate Johnson: who has given herself away as a teacher and as a friend to so many artists, new and struggling, beginners and advanced. A wonderful online teacher and published art book writer. Beyond that, incredible watercolors, just inspiring, and fun to read whatever she write online.
http://cathyjohnson.info/
Tomatoes and Pepper
10" x 12", Oil on Linen Board
Sold at $50.00 plus shipping.
The line kept running through my head "things that are red" in answer to some quiz show question. What I really liked about this set up was the shadows, especially that little curlique up top. I'm still deciding if I like the linen as a surface or not. It somehow seems more "slippery" than normal canvas. Thanks for looking.
The Blueberry Picker
Oil on Canvas board, 9" x 12"
Sold at $45.00 plus shipping.
From a photo of my grandson Jimmy picking blueberries. He really does have skinny little arms and legs, but he's okay with that, since he knows how smart he is. Good for him! This could be any kid enjoying the fullness of summertime. Thanks for looking.
Shady lane Limited Palette
Oil on Stretched Canvas, 12" x 16"
Sold at $85.00 plau $15.00 shipping.
Going back to my limited palette work, this time using a blue orange palette. I'll list the colors for you at the bottom. This is from the book, The Yin/Yang of Painting, by Hongnian Zhang, a wonderful book with loads of information. With the blue orange palette, you get to mix your greesn, and can get some nice subtle shades. Thanks for looking.
Here are the colors, for those interested:
white and ivory black
pthalo turquoise
cobalt blue
blue violet
indigo
burnt sienna
cadmium red scarlet
cadmium yellow deep
cadmium orange
Little Boat
Oil on Canvas board, 12" x 16"
Sold at $50.00 plus shipping.
At first I couldn't get the drawing of this little boat right, and kept correcting, until I realized that it was moving in the breeze. Duh. I took a bunch of photos at this spot also, so you'll see this wonderful little boat again. Thanks for looking.
Backyard Serenity
Gladiola Stems
Watercolor on 300 lb rough Arches paper
15" x 22"
Sold at $80.00 plus shipping.
Some gorgeous stems of gladiolas from the Farmer's Market, and have they ever lasted.
The advice I'm taking is to draw tight and paint loose, so this is not as exacting in execution as I normally would do. I do like it, it turned out soft and floaty. Thanks for looking.
