Ok watercolor artists, what do you recommend??? Watercolor paints that come in the little tubes or a set with a bunch of little dry squares or circles, like what we all used in elementary school, but you know, more professional and expensive? -Jill
Self Portrait
My one and only watercolor. I bought a set when I moved from California to Idaho to try to cheer myself up and painted one picture of my old house on my head, with my 2 little bird boys standing on top. I’m not sure why I didn’t do more watercolors and I lost my set.
I’ve seen so many fun watercolor paintings recently on your blogs that I’m inspired to buy a new little set of watercolors and give it another try. You all are inspiring!
(I posted this a few months ago…with a long sad story and a bunch of pictures)
Rhino Portrait
Just for fun. I’m thinking of painting an animal alphabet. I painted this pink Black Rhino a few months ago and hung it on the wall to dry and then painted my nephew and hung him to dry and noticed the 2 together. It made me laugh. I had to specify that it’s a Black Rhino because my son is something of a rhino expert.
The struggle is real
Is there a painter out there that hasn’t struggled through the start of one painting or another? Or struggled through the middle of it to push through the awkward teenager stage? Or lost steam towards the finish and petered out? Have you felt the let down of finishing a painting, even one that turned out better than expected? The let down of finishing and then looking ahead to a scary new blank canvas? Uncertain about whether or not you can do it again?
I read a post yesterday about a watercolor artist that painted the same image 6 times to get it how he wanted it. I understand that so well.
The struggle is real. 2 days ago I started this beach scene. I struggled with the composition moving one of the figures to 4 different locations until it finally felt right. When I first drew it out I was sure I wanted the girl with the light blue shirt to stand on the far left front and center. But when I had it all sketched out with the initial blocking in of color, something wasn’t sitting right with me. The 3 figures across the front were perfectly spaced and creating a diagonal eye line off in the wrong direction. The diagonal feel of the water moves from bottom left up to the right. But their heads created a line from top left to bottom right. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but something just wasn’t right. Also, she was too close to the edge and blocked you from moving into the painting.
Composition is like that isn’t it? When you see a good composition it just feels good and comfortable, you move right in, your eye moves to the intended objects, and all is well. But when something is off, it’s off and it’s hard to put your finger on what it is.
So then I moved the little guy in yellow in the back over to the other side and put my girl back where he is. Then moved her down an inch. Then moved her to where she is currently. I’m going to keep her there for now to see if she gels.
What do you think?? More breathing room now? More space?
I always take pictures along the way because I can see the whole composition better and all at once when the image is tiny on my phone. So here she is in the other locations.
I talked with my friend who is a wonderfully well respected artist about the composition and we decided that this is a good placement of the figures.
My son is playing a beautiful piece by Dussek right now. He practices the piano every morning while I write my new posts.
Work of Laura Lecce!
Hi everyone! Today I’m sharing the beautiful work of Laura Lecce. If you remember, I’m going to share the work of one of my fellow artists once a week. I have really loved seeing what people create and want to share. I wish I could share everyone’s art all at once. I had a hard time choosing which of Laura’s posts to reblog. I have enjoyed seeing her photography from her travels, but this great landscape caught my attention when she posted it. To me the painting has a hot and surreal feel to it, I love how the hills are glowing red and how that back hill arches down and disappears in to the sunrise/sunset. This is one of her great quotes:
“I am happiest when I am allowed to collectively live my life as a scientist, artist, photographer, writer, and many other things. I believe that hobbies and other interests are the essence of what makes people unique.”
I agree. Nice work Laura! Jill
Unforgiving (acrylic on canvas. 36″ x 24″) – Art by Laura Lecce
A hot and burnt landscape of fiery red hills with a river running dry. A lone brittle tree struggling to survive in a desolate and unforgiving environment. What chance does the tree have to flourish, when the land is so unsupportive of life…. Is this my future?
This painting took me a very long time to finish. Sometimes I feel like I have a certain idea in my head as to what I want to paint and then try to force that idea into a painting. This one had quite a few evolutionary changes along the way, and finally I had to stop fighting it and just allow it to be what it wanted.
Auction Piece & Marathon Monday!
Done! Off to be framed today. I’m so happy with how this little painting came together, it’s simple and sweet, and I hope it will appeal to a parent or two at my daughters school art auction this Saturday. I’ll let you know how it does!
I drove by the peak the other day and thought about how when you are right in front of it you can’t see the much taller hills behind it because of the angle and perspective, but if you look from a mile away you see that there are huge hills that loom over it from behind. Interesting.
8X8″ oil on canvas
Here are 2 stages of my little hill, looking at the 2 together I’m happy with how the sage brush in front turned out. I think the first photo should be a little bluer, the final photo is pretty true.
I’ve been looking at landscapes by Michael Workman and loving the simple elegance of his work. Check out his landscapes.
AND! The Boston Marathon is today. I’ll be tracking 5 friends that are running it. I ran it last year and the year before and will enjoy just watching and cheering this year. The people of Boston really love their race. GO Rachelle, Shaunna, Kaidree, Robin, and Jacqueline!! All amazing runners. Last year Robin, who is 65, was 2nd in her age group and ran with an elite #. Last year I ran it with my cute running partner Amanda and we both just about froze to death. Ah marathons, why do we do it??
Happy Monday!! Oh, and I’m excited to have 3 new commission pieces. They will be a fun challenge. I’m so honored and flattered to paint these pieces.
Thanks for the nice response to my last foothills painting, much appreciated. XOXO
Northeast Boise Foothills “Almost Spring”
The Boise foothills have my attention right now. They are changing from the winter wheat color to a beautiful soft green. Every day they are different. Many times during the day they have a different feel. I run out in the hills with my running group. A few days ago I took my iPhone along and took a ton of picture of the hills in the fresh clean morning light. I will paint one of those.
I took a reference photo for the above painting a few weeks ago. The hills are much greener now. This one could be called “Almost Spring.” If you remember, I’m working on learning landscape painting. In this one I tried to create a sense of space with front, middle, and back hills. Hopefully those hills in the back are staying back there and the one in the front feels closer.
I’ll post my other little Foothills painting, the one for the school art auction, on Monday. It’s almost done. Just needs to dry before I do one more thing to it.
11X14 oil on canvas
Spring Break Day 6: Mendocino Headlands
More from Spring Break 2016. Mendocino, CA. Every spring break we make the windy drive form Ukiah to Mendocino. We play on the beach where the Big River meets the ocean, eat pizza and ice cream at Frankie’s. Ethan gets a burger and fries from MendoBurger, coolest burger place anywhere, we look in all the windows of all the galleries, and then play some more. Mendocino is 3o miles west of Ukiah. Perhaps my favorite place on earth.
This is a small painting of the farthest west point of Mendocino in what I think is called the Mendocino Headlands state park. There are several beautiful rock arches.
5X7 oil on canvas
My collection of spring break 2016 paintings so far. I like how my computer organized them so the food is the main event.
Sammy, Eowyn, and Ethan in the Clouds
Yesterday I got the call I’d been waiting for, my paintings were all framed and ready to be picked up! I was so excited that I made my kids pose with the painting making my daughter late for ballet and my sons after school snack get cold. They were good sports. Great kids. I love this painting (and them too, of course) so much. Framed by local artist Randy Van Dyck. Check out his beautiful paintings. Randy’s work:
It all started with Sammy asking me if I would paint a portrait of just him, alone. And so I did. But then I had the idea of doing all three and it evolved into this. But he has his own canvas.
My reference photo, although this is not the exact photo, Sammy wasn’t smiling in this one. I took this just after Christmas last December. Ethan was standing right next to the Christmas tree so there is a weird blue light cast on him, which I love. Since then Ethan got his brace off, Sammy had his braces put on, and Lady Eowyn is as delightful as always.
Margaret Parker Brown’s work!
Guest artist. Check our Margaret’s work and her blog! I love seeing what people do and how they are inspired by where they live. Margaret lives in what must be the most heavenly place on earth. And coming from me that’s saying something because I think I’m from the most beautiful place. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas in Northern California and has no trouble finding inspiration from the scenery all around her. She does plein air drawings and paintings with mainly pastels and watercolors. Margaret, your plein air work and gorgeous photographs are an inspiration! And she leaves delightful comments. 🙂 I’m happy I stumbled across your site. Carry on! XO
My new set-up which is different not necessarily lighter because I have discovered that my pastel box weighs a hefty 10-12 pounds loaded. My tripod was a little wobbly and I am thinking that I need to buy a tripod that can handle the weight. Those pastels are too expensive to have them hit the rocks because of my tripod breaking.
The easel that you see here is one that my daughter and son-in-law gifted me a year ago. It is lightweight and folds up into its own carrying case. A keeper so far I am happy to report. I will be looking yet for a lighter pastel box. My current box is a Heilman but the standard size that doesn’t allow for the easel attachment. I am thinking of this one also made by Heilman: http://heilmandesigns.com/product/heilman-sketchbox-double/
I am about 20 minutes from this location just on the other side of the Indian Valley…
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Jill Millward Artwork 