Small Potatoes

Recently, I have been extremely busy. A lot of changes, new challenges and demands, while I am waiting for these life events to sort themselves out, I decided to dabble in watercolor. I love the way you can draw a simple shape in clear water with a brush, fill it all in with water. Add a dab of color here, a different color there, let it blend. Turning the piece at just the right moment and letting the colors mix and add value.

I have just completed a series of miniature paintings. Very easy set up and clean up. Pack it all in a rucksack and it is hidden until the next time you have a moment. Planning, an acquired skill.

Happy Halloween Week

It is that time of year....no not the kick off to the holiday season. The weekly challenge was to paint a zombie. I had a photo of two relatives at a zombie walk they attended a few years ago. Taking clear gesso, I applied a coat to a copy of the photo. After it dried, I painted over the faces and enhanced the details with gouache paint.

It was different, fun and think it turned out pretty awesome for two zombies.

Time

Time.....on time or a lack of time. Make time. Time passes. Time is up.
I did a series of very small paintings one day this past week. I did the best with the time I had. Time is a gift. Use it wisely. Spend it with some people.

Big Sky Challenge

I knew that this was going to be a favorite challenge. A sky filled with different characters of clouds have always been an inspiration. I lived in Florida for awhile and the clouds are breath taking, frightening and ever changing.

I grew up near the Great Lakes and live close to Lake Erie at the present time. It is a wonder to watch the ominous clouds come rolling in off the Lake in the Fall. I am thankful to live here, there is such beauty even in the darkest sky, you just have to see. I love how the dark, purple greys play off the bright foliage in the Fall in the first painting. The middle is a photo of a sunset I took in the early spring. The last painting is a very small study of clouds using a gouache paint set that I seldom use. I like the chalky thick look when used without water. This was a thumbnail for the final painting. I could paint clouds and beaches all day. Maybe when I grow up.

October

Importing a photo taken by my son, I turned this ordinary crow into a Halloween raven. Sketchbook pro is a entertaining app for the iPad. Summer has blown by, that is what happens when your daughter gets married.

The past few days have been rainy, cool and welcome.

Birdman

I just did not know what to call this painting or this post. Summer is almost gone, this summer has been like no other. I settled on Birdman. One of my all time favorite tv shows from the past, was St. Elsewhere. A favorite character, written out tragically and early in the series, was the Birdman.

I am reminded a lot lately, how swiftly time is zooming by. I am very aware of it, and yet it will not slow, only speed up. I recently read a book about the Earth rotation slowing down and the resulting time increase. Didn't help.

I am hoping to adjust to this new lifestyle with the challenges it now presents, with an open heart.

Water Balloon Challenge

I'd really like to thank Carol Marine for coming up with this weeks challenge. Painting water balloons. They were a challenge, getting shadows and values on translucent objects. I placed them in a sunny spot, hoping the water areas would show.

The more important lesson is how much fun water balloons can be for a good sport. Filling these up with water really brings out the inner child. Good memories of childhood and summers gone by. It also helps if you can run fast.