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Tuesday evening, at the NW Watercolor Society meeting, I saw Mike Svob demonstrate his method for acrylic painting. He laid in all his darks with black gesso. Then he threw on a riot of color in what seemed like a random way. In so doing he had established his darks and his mid-tones. Then we went into the painting with paint mixed with white to introduce the lights and high lights. It looked like fun, and seemed logical. He said he does this also with watercolor by laying in the darks with acrylics and then proceeding with watercolor. So last night I decided to use his method with watercolor. It was a really enjoyable process, and I am happy with the result. I think I will do some more paintings in this way. The Ray for the Day is "Can Cart".
So here's the famous sink, all hooked up. I really am so pleased. It is not only useful for cleaning up art tools, it is also useful for cleaning and preparing my studio for the Kirkland Artist Studio Tour which is happening 1 1/2 short weeks from now. And because I think a photo of a sink can't be too entertaining here is my Wednesday Night Watercolor, the Ray for the Day is "All Geared Up". (in more ways than one, I guess)
The Closet as it was
And now!
No painting going on in my studio this past week because I am doing a little remodeling. I've needed a utility sink in here for 3 years. At last it is here. Now that I am oil painting I really need an "art sink" for clean up. Just doesn't seem right to clean oil brushes in the kitchen sink. But to put in the sink I had to figure out where to put my desk. I had an "aha" about an under utilized closet, and decided to build my desk into the closet to make way for the sink. I am pleased with results. Since the Kirkland Art Studio Tour is just two weeks away, I am also in my annual clean up the studio frenzy. The Ray for the Day is the before and after of the studio reconstruction.
So cherry pie has been on my brain lately. It could be that I have put myself on a weight loss program. More likely it is that some dear friends of mine are on a quest to find the best piece of cherry pie in New Jersey. This is a serious quest, and my friend is a serious writer. She has a blog called Jersey Pie and it is wonderful to read. www.jerseypie.blogspot.com, in case you are interested. My pie quest friend's mother is also a good friend of mine, and at a dinner party recently she read parts of Jersey Pie and then produced, for our enjoyment, a succulent and beautiful cherry pie. The crust was flaky and tender, the cherries plump and plentiful, the tang/sweetness ratio just right. I went off my diet. I also could not resist taking a picture of my slice, and I have been dying to paint it. The Ray for the Day is "The Slice."
SOLD
A couple of years ago my Dad took me to visit a friend of his who lived out in the country near Battleground WA. He wanted me to see his old farm equipment collection. And what a collection it was! These wonderful old, rusty, who knows what they were used for pieces of equipment were arranged nicely in his front yard. Each item was an art piece in and of itself, and the whole collection was quite awesome. The sun was out and the shadows were great and I had a wonderful time taking photos. For several years I have thought of painting these objects. Last night at my watercolor group I did the first one. The Ray for the Day is "Olde Wheelie Dealie".
Earlier this week I attended a Women Painter's of WA meeting in Edmonds, a small town north of Seattle. After the meeting I was very hungry, and remembered a restaurant there that has really fabulous French onion soup. So, of course, I went there. After eating my delicious soup I was on my way to the rest room when I noticed the chef in the kitchen. He looked like a painting wanting to happen. I felt very nervous to ask him if I could take his photo, but asked a waitress who made a scared face and then pointed to another waitress and said "she is his daughter.....ask her." The daughter also made a little grimace, and I was about to leave when she said, "Wait! you could not take it while he was cooking, but there is a little lull right now. I'll ask him." I waited nervously, but then was summoned to the kitchen where the very interesting looking chef was most gracious. They all told me they want me to return and show them the painting when it is finished. So, the Ray for the Day is "Contented Chef".
Several months ago a woman contacted me by email telling me she had seen my work and liked it very much. She wondered if I would make a watercolor painting of her son. You know by now that I find commissions very hard. How can I depict these people in a way that feels like them to them, and still make my own painting? I told this woman I could not promise a likeness, but would work for the feeling of the moment, this special place in their lives, the atmosphere of the day, and something about the relationship between the mother and son. I like my paintings to evoke emotion rather than to be factually correct. I hope this painting works for her. As in all my commissions she is under no obligation to purchase the painting. So it has been a dip back into watercolor. I'm now planning my next oil painting. The Ray for the Day is "Me and My Shadow."SOLD
While waiting in a Seattle restaurant for a friend to show up for lunch the other day I (as usual) began to see painting compositions around me. Since I always have my camera with me, I took a few photos. Before going to the restaurant I had gone to Utrecht Art Supply Store to buy oil paints (Gamblin) and supports for oil painting. I bought both linen and canvas covered panels. This painting was done on a linen covered panel. So far (in my short history as an oil painter) I prefer the firmness of a panel to the "give" of stretched canvas. I absolutely love the feeling of the brush gliding the oil paint onto the panel, and the lushness of the pigments. The Ray for the Day is "Lunch Date".
