So, my most recent painting. This is from a photo I took of the Golden Gate after being down below at Baker Beach and walking (climbing, scaling?!) back up that hill. I stopped at least three times to rest. Afterwards I followed the path over and walked over (and back) the bridge.

I am happy with most of the painting. The only thing that I am disappointed with is my not sticking with a simpler palette of colors. I intended to have it read more holistically, so not a set of different parts with their own color palette. But, as is my habit, I got a bit too focused on trying to replicate the photo. The most difficult part was the rocky outcropping on the middle-right. I remember that rocks and stones are difficult when drawing with pencil or charcoal, but they are even worse in watercolor.

The easiest part (and probably the most satisfying) was the foreground - lots of splattering paint, sponge use and a little bit of masking.

Sultan, the labrador

 

This is Sultan, the labrador retriever. He is a service dog for a woman who takes archery lessons at the same place I do, and is the sweetest dog in the world. 

So, I thinks this image is actually better than the watercolor (that might just be my hyper-critical inner monologue talking). It is unbelievable how difficult it is to show hair/fur. Even smooth fur - god knows what long fur might be like to depict. Hmm...maybe my next challenge....

I know, I know....it's about freaking time!

 

So, this is from the last class. It is from a photo that I found online of the St. Charles streetcar in New Orleans. I had some photos from my visit during Christmas, 2021, but they were pretty awful. So, I used this one instead. 

I overworked the painting quite a bit, (those stupid trees!!!!), but at least I learned the difference between opaque and transparent paints!

What are you painting …

 Well, this turned into a nice portrait of my neighbor’s garage! What I thought was the background kind of grabs focus imo. Or maybe it just balances the foreground table and chair. I think I was influenced by seeing the Van Gogh exhibition…not so much by Van Gogh but all those Seurats and Signacs with their little dots of color. Just wish the flowers stood up better to the other elements of the painting…

Papa and Baby Leaf

 Did a bit of tweaking here and I think it is crisper.  Even muted that ultramarine background a bit, not that I think it needed it, but sometimes I listen to my public.

Elaine O. — June 24, 2023

So, I finished the balloon study, featuring both mylar and traditional balloons)...

... in preparation for this painting. As you can see, it features balloons across much of its surface, but they're in motion and a little blurry. I probably should have concentrated on face studies! At any rate, I'm having some sizing issues with the paper, so this may end up as a study, too—which really frees me up.

11" x 14"

Second Chance Plantitas

Using the black pen marker, I redefined my previous Plantitas painting by highlighting shapes of the leaves to differentiate each plant carried by each plant lady!  I created new forms for background flowers & added colors to the sun dresses!

Second Chance Tree by Ss

 This painting has 3 reincarnation! First: as Leafy Tree with Giraffe Head during the 5 minutes exercise.  Second: as a Flower Tree with Branches & Undefined Floral Color Marks. Third: Using Black Pentel pen,  Tree with Floral & Branch definitions, & Droopy red flowers, Bunch of Bananas & other Fruits, a purple snake head, a Cobalt Violet arrangement, with a steady light green wash! The black pen ink provided the lines & shapes of the landscape & made the subject matter tight and focused! The snake head was a happy accident!

Half Shell Part I and a Peony Bud

 The griller guy might not be finished. Not so fond of the “pastelly” looking colors on the hood or that big pan of whitish stuff in the foreground.

more leaves

 Another cropping of that second leaf.  You know what I like to do best is take a tiny brush and dab down paint and then return with a wet brush and sort of melt the dabblings, then come in and dab with another color and then the wet brush and so on and so on and doobie doobie doo on all morning with the cat napping in a chair across the room because nothing bores a cat sooner than that infernal dab dab dab while the finchies drop by for a little treat, and we are all having a great time.  Just great.

Alan summer 2

 I finished my watercolor on Yupo of a live oak grove in Ocean Springs. I like the looseness of this. 

I began a watercolor on hot press of irises. I mistakenly used hot instead of cold and that’s going to change the methodology that I use. 

Elaine O. — June 17, 2023

Between paintings, I reverted to my usual—experiments of the "I wonder what would happen if I..." variety. Using a familiar subject, I tried two kinds of water-soluble ink, both for drawing and touch-up. I got them flowing with watercolor, glazes, water and misting. I also used a gouache glaze to simulate the cloudy window. And, in the end, I like the casual energy and the way this walks the line between painting and illustration.

9"x12"

Next, I'm considering a painting with balloons and realized I have no clue how to paint them. So I dashed off a direct watercolor study, featuring both shiny mylar balloons and translucent traditional balloons. I see more practice ahead!

9"x12"

Bubblegum girl…

I was going to edit this photo but then I noticed Quinnie peeking over her shoulder and thought it was too cute to change! Not sure this is done, but it is pretty close

.

This isn’t terrible but it isn’t great either. Composition is half the battle in landscapes imo,. The best ones have big shapes and/ or connecting shapes. I think I could change a few elements here, like putting the trees and stuff surrounding the house in more shadow so they’re all similar values & making the water look more like one big shape…maybe I’ll work on it some more

The yellow leaf

 Pretty happy with this.  Might blot some of the azo and perylene green background to lighten it a bit.

 

Alan summer class 1

 Well here we are again. So nice to see you all again and do art with you.

Continuing with Walter Anderson’s king  

I’ve finished cutting all the glass shapes. Now I have to tediously copper foil and lead all these piece’s and square them up before soldering. This will take a lot of time. I could paint several watercolors in the time it takes me to do the work. But it will be beautiful after I adjust everything. Maybe I can finish it before class is over  

Here’s a little watercolor on 140 coldpress of a view of the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi as seen from the best oyster bar on the Gulf. 

If I did it again, I’d spend more time getting the building straight. 

I painted a quick sketch on Yupo of a live oak grove on the Gulf coast. This is on a trading card size. I was trying to figure out the logical sequence. 

I kinda liked it. 

Next I started a full sized version on Yupo. 

I think it’s a good start. 

Elaine O. — June 10, 2023

This is St. Gregory the Great church in Chicago. If you're a follower of our blog, you already know what an architectural jewel this is. Here, I concentrated on a small detail in the sanctuary but couldn't help catching a lot of other elements and textures in the background, so I kept them less defined. I like the composition and the candle; I even like the intricately carved woodwork—and you know how I struggle with browns!

11" x 14"

It was good to be back with everyone and meet a new crop of beginners. It's going to be a good season!

A leaf of another hue

 

This leaf is similar to the one I finished on May 1.  The May 1st was in blue and green and this one will be yellow to red.  Each of those segments between the major veins will have a different treatment, unless I decide to do something else.  You can see three different stages of mosaic going from top to bottom. This will take some time.