Our scruffy black stray cat, Deiter, has always been an interesting subject. I drew him quickly here, on a pillow, but as soon as he noticed me watching him, he got up and sat on my feet.
So I took some pictures and worked from those. When he sits, he more closely, sprawls, as if he’s broken a hip or leg, that healed badly.
Oh how wonderful to have the time to paint again. I will even go the the figure class in town this evening! I am restoring myself.
Today I did two things that I haven’t done in too long.
I rode a horse, thank you Kathi and I’m embarrassed to admit, I can’t remember your horse’s name … Jack? Great pleasure to ride, even if only at walk, after a two year (I think) break. I look forward to the next time. Don’t think I lost too much. The trot will tell me more.
And I got the paints out again. The persimmons on the shelf beckoned. I made a mess and had a ball. It’s amazing how I get so deep into it that I can’t see what I’m doing at all. And then I step back and sometimes am pleasantly surprised. Other time, not so much.
To beginning again in 2012!
Well, I’m giving a new website a try. I suspect it’s a printing company that has found an interesting way to market their wares. I love the internet for its ability to inspire new ways at looking at old problems.
So Fine Art America is a site that I give digital images to, and they offer prints of those pictures to the world-wide webful of humanity. I find the site rather clumsy in its organization, but they have so many images, I understand the dilemna. They will print a picture on a greeting card or canvas, even give you framing options. I’ll betcha many artists are also buying prints and cards from them to sell at shows. I can’t quite figure out if it is a good deal, but it certainly is a great service for me. I doubt I’ll make too much money this way, but every little bit helps! And it’s nice to make them available.
Take a look and let me know what you think. I will continue to upload images and feel free to suggest pictures you like. I can make most paintings available, even those I’ve sold. I just have to ask the owners if that would be OK. I will also continue to figure out the site so that my work has a better chance of being seen by more people.
I’ve painted “Black Forest” Kabocha Winter Squash before. (Click the “Squash” in the “Most Viewed Tags” to see older work in oil.) These are gouache on illustration board.
I’m considering having cards made of some of my vegetables. Anyone interested in cards?
I live in a beautiful spot. The vineyard is turning red. The rain will knock off leaves and it will be bare in a short time. It’s nice to capture it yet again, this time in gouache. Not quite done, but I love the background trees. I’ve done this view many times and I think I’m getting a feel for it now.
I painted this a few years ago in oil. It's always fun working in compliments.
I felt compelled to draw over the gouache with pastel. I really like these.
I have painted most of the day. Yesterday we drove to an artist friend’s studio in the middle of nowhere. I was so excited I couldn’t wait to mix up some luscious colors and see if I can put something down.
But first I felt the need to tackle these pears a second time, as a warm-up exercise maybe?
I have been working with the gouache in ways that I’ve never tried before now. The landscapes inspired by our drive into the wild back roads of Mount St. Helena I’m looking at as studies for a larger oil painting. The gouache is great at finding good color and value as reference. It reminds me of wood block or silk screen prints.
I also added the foreground to this painting from several weeks ago…the freshly dragged riding arena, which were such a fun element to the rest of the lovely creased fields.
I’ve been working small, on watercolor paper cards. They are fun and quick and I don’t care too much if they turn out as originally planned. I keep learning from them, about color and value. In all cases, I worked on three at a time, showing you just the one I like the best. I find that works well, allowing for drying time between colors. 
The last image is of a plein air landscape I started last week at my friend Patti’s house has an amazing view, looking down onto the Petaluma plain. I didn’t get very far but loved the colors and shapes. I don’t think this medium works for me as well in this circumstance. I might try adding some pastel on top of this one. But next time I stay at Patti’s I’ll probably take oils, though I sure love the water clean-up!
Which do you like better? I’m sure enjoying this medium. I need some new colors. I don’t have a good red yet. The study on top was done with just 2 colors. A great exercise for me. And excellent way to use this medium that is so valuable in stressing flatness. Achieving dimension with value is my goal. I’m learning.
I was blown away watching Stuart Shils doing a monoprint. It’s worth watching if you have some time. I’d love to have the gouache be as sticky as that ink appears and able to be pushed around like that.
We have a wonderful view out the dishwashing kitchen window. During the day I have spent too much time staring in awe at the way the light effects the scrubby trees, open meadows, rock-slide areas, the endless variations of color and texture as it describes the solid massive shape in front of me. I have been trying to capture it for many years. And not ever been truly satisfied.
I have tried again today in an attempt to further my exploration with gouache. I admit to being rather disappointed last week tackling peppers one day, delicata squash another and not even bothering to post. I’ve looked at video on-line to learn how to better use the medium and not been particularly inspired by what I saw, as I want to work more spontaneously. The tutorials I watched showed the capability of the medium in very tight pieces, not at all what I want to explore.
Though this painting is fairly representative, it certainly lacks the drama the hillside can sometimes show when the light and clouds are at play. It was a flat light day, a day anticipating rain, anticipating change. I’m not unhappy with these results. I’ll post some prior attempts.
