These are two Linears (calling them that because they start with strong lines and go out from there).  The bottom is the one I forgot to bring to class, and the top is one that I did just this morning, Thinking of maybe calling it done at this point.  Both 9x12.

The middle two are croci breaking through the frozen crust, which I may do more of as they continue their growth, and the second two are works in progress.  They are all 5x7.

 

February 21, 2026 — Elaine O.

Shoveling snow one evening, I realized how beautiful the streetlights were against the bare branches and swirling snow. This is my first try at recreating that feeling. It's not finished, but now I have a dilemma. It's taking a different direction than my inspiration, and there are things I like about it. So, do I follow its lead or risk ruining it by pushing for the nocturne I originally intended? I'll have to give it some thought, but my inclination is to let the painting have its way. I can always try another, right?

10" x 14"

Value

 The value studies using only burnt umber may be my most rewarding experiences in watercolor. Something happens when I don’t have to make color decisions. 

Happy with this. There are plenty of errors, but his expression tells me who is there, and and painting him I was there with him. 

Sips…

 Ghost children…I’m painting this on hot press, big, maybe 11x14…it’s just a different way of painting, but I’ve got to use up this paper!

Two small sketches, one finished, the other not.i think the top composition (Unfinished) is better, but i like the window view better in the bottom one.

The photo I’m working from is from the late 1970s —when everyone still drove bigass cars and no one believed in sunscreen. These are some bronzed bods that need more burnt sienna!

4 bookmarks and this other thing.

 Maybe a little touching up on a couple of bookmarks, and this other thing (9x12), I think it's better than when you last saw it, and I think I will leave it like this because new work beckons.

Alan Winter 8. 2026

 Once again I tried to make a painting out of one of my sketches and once again I liked the sketch better. I spent about an hour on the sketch and all day on the painting. This is the sketch.

This is the painting. Really went wet into wet and tried to simplify. 

I think that maybe the car could be better and that would help but I do like certain aspects of it. 

Back to my little exercises. 

Lamp shining light into a dark corner. Done with graphite with a watercolor wash. 

Ham and cheese croissant. Tried a contour drawing with black ink and then painted it with watercolor. Exercise was for melted cheese and another one was for bread so I combined them. 

  

A visit to the Art Institute

At last some REAL art in that stuffy old Institute.

Is this what you mean when you ask me to go bigger?

That Goff guy got a good start on bookmarks, but now, as we know, this art form has just lately been perfected.

Some trees for Sister Sara, couldn't find any windows though.

 

Tried to take Uncle Ken’s Advice

 Got rid of shocking white, added color to clear glass leaded window, some shadows, the end. 

February 14, 2026 — Elaine O.

Finished! Had a bit of a struggle deciding on a background, but I'm satisfied. I wanted the focus to be the relationship between the baby and the book he's reading. 

14" x 10"

One more thing. I know we've been talking about the difference between what we see on screen vs. real life, but there's also a difference in devices. I took photos of this on my phone and again on a higher end digital camera. Interestingly enough, one has an orange color cast and less color saturation. There are also differences in the value and vibrancy ranges. Another reason to see art in person vs. on screens.

This Old House

 Channeling Sara with a corner of my living room. The upper right corner unfinished because the leaded glass window has me stumped. 

Strong sunlight and a rounded bay. To figure out the leaded window went to my library of watercolor books and am working on exercises but now realize the image in my reference photo too small. To be continued….