Studio Workshops and Stay 'cation'

I've said it before but we are having the most wonderful weather this summer. Today was warm but the humidity was low and the breeze is brisk ;)

Spent the day weeding the garden, sitting on the deck and enjoying  life.

I plan to teach a couple of workshops this September and will vary the lessons. This particular painting was not painted from a photo but if it were, I would interpret it this way and that is the lesson. The demo is just an example of the process.

Loving my neighborhood and my stay 'cation' here by the beach :)

Studio Workshops Fall 2014

*Painting from photos

I will supply simple photos and we will break them down step by step beginning with a value 'map'.

this area to the right, which is a fence, 

did not read well

so I reworked it

classes will be held at my studio in Rockland, Massachusetts 

*dates to be announced

contact me @

wendl15@verizon.net

Try This at Home

"Old Glory"

6x6 oil on panel

I am on what's known as a 'stay-cation'. There is no place I'd rather be than home during the summer, and this particular summer is one of the best ones, weather wise, that we've seen in a while. 

YES! Perfect New England summer!

I've been spending my days on our deck under a shady umbrella, painting. First up were my mother's little garden gnomes who live with me now. She loved for me to refresh them for her and of course they had a lot more panache after a meeting with me and my brush.

But, our sweet little shed, the purple trim painted by my husband, has been calling to me and yesterday I answered the call. Actually, the flag is my favorite part.

Mama's Garden Gnomes in progress

Girl in Surf- sketchbook drawing

Girl in Surf

sketchbook 6x6 

nfs

Very unusual low humidity and cool breezes have been the norm this summer and I spent yesterday on the beach basking in the glory of it all. Sketching on the beach is difficult because everything is moving but last night I did this drawing from one of my photos. I would like to point you to my fellow artist and friend Jody Regan whose sketchbook is a treasure of beauty. Enjoy!

Rockland Harbor Jetty

Sunset Sparkle

6x6 oil on panel

What else can I say here?

The Gallery

Dowling Walsh Gallery

6x6 watercolor

I thought I was using removable frisket while painting this piece but it turned out that the stuff I bought is NON removable. Who knew? Anyway, it gave the first pass an interesting look so I added some more and just finished the painting. This is my interpretation of 'Interior' which is this months Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge. Meanwhile, I'll be looking up using non removable frisket to see what the point is. I'm sure there is one.

Tripping

Red Mud

5x7 watercolor sketch

We're off for a few days to see some art and soak in the beauty of Maine. I'm bringing my watercolors and sketching stuff and Don is bringing some books. I don't want to miss the Connie Hayes show at Dowling Walsh Gallery and of course, visit the fabulous Farnsworth Museum home of the Wyeths. This little sketch is of a scene in Pictou, Nova Scotia. Love the red mud!

Irena Roman Workshop

I took a watercolor workshop with the fantastic Irena Roman at the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury.
Her method is to create the background of the painting by wetting the paper and pouring color over it. The way the color takes on the paper can be manipulated by tilting and moving the paper while the paint is wet. She also uses masking fluid to keep whatever she wants to either stay white or light. Check out her work here.
So, this is the one piece that I came out with and the glass is shown as it appeared when I peeled off the masking fluid. I could re mask and paint over some of the white but for now I like this as is. I'm pleased with the colors and even like the effect of the space where peeling off the masking tape separating the painting from the drips of paint from the pour.
I'm stoking my inner abstract artist ;)

mixed color in plastic cups

Irena showing one of the paintings

Delicious

\

"Sea Breeze"

6x8 watercolor and ink

I'm a traditional painter and I like that kind of work but, for quite a while now my inner abstract artist has been trying to emerge.  I love fabric and paper art but the thing is I don't have a vision of what I want to create.
This month's GirlsJustWannaPaint challenge had me thinking about what, besides food or drink, is delicious and I am most viscerally affected by scents. Lilacs, my mother's perfume, smoke from a wood fire, autumn leaves, but one of the most affecting scents is the ocean breeze.
This piece began with light washes of watercolor on 140 Hot Pressed Arches paper. I used Holbein silver watercolor. Talk about delicious colors, Holbein has an exceptional range.
As I worked, I mixed a little of the silver with my color and although the effect isn't as obvious in this photo, it really lends a lovely shimmer to the whole painting. 
With this non traditional approach I was uncertain as to whether to add to this and at this time I prefer it as is. The beauty is, that I could take this further a step at a time, which is how the journey begins.
I feel like I cracked the code!

Stepping Out

"Snowy Egret"

6x6 WC

SOLD

I painted this little watercolor on a 6x6 block that I just couldn't resist buying. The paper is very smooth and slick with sizing but I like how I can move the paint around on it. The washes stay wet and the paper doesn't buckle.

A  birdwatcher friend was highly amused when I told him how I reminded myself that this bird is a snowy egret. Snowy egrets have yellow feet and to make that association was to think 'don't eat yellow snow'.  I know, but it worked ;)

Last Sunday I had the most fabulous day out visiting friends and artists at the annual North River Arts Festival. Despite the gloom and doom weather forecast both days ended up sunny and beautiful.

These photos of the Puppet Parade say it all!

The NRAS bathing beauty and her cabana

can you see who's inside?

It took me a while but I figured out 

who was underneath this outfit ;)

It was 'Honorable Mention" winner Sally Dean 

with her fantastic mosaic "Amelia"

Island Getaway

Little Gasparilla Getaway

6x6 watercolor

Watercolor throwback to our trip to Little Gasparilla Island in March. 

This little cottage is literally ON the beach!

Adding Color to a Three Step Value Study

Cottages at Twilight

5x6" oil 

This is the final version of the three step value exercise 

and also my 'Nocturne" painting for Girls Just Wanna Paint. 

I included the grayscale version as well. 

If you're having trouble with values and who doesn't, try this. 

Three Step Value Study and A Feature

 Step One: two values

I painted this twilight scene from my neighborhood using a burnt umber value study. The first step is just the lightest and darkest values. In the second step I wipe out the middle values leaving the lightest and darkest and in step three I added color but you'll have to tune in tomorrow to see the finish. That was not an intentional tease but there is so much glare on the photo that I just can't post it ;)

Also, check out Barbara Stroud's eclectic art, food and style blog. Barbara lives in Charleston, South Carolina, is widely traveled and is a big art lover who has featured some wonderful painters on her blog. I was truly proud to be featured two years ago today! Go there to see a link to that post and wonderful shots of Charleston which is a city I can't wait to visit! 

Step Two: three values

Tiny Paintings

Red Barn 4"x4"

oil on planel

It seems like winter is just going to hang on here in New England so this painting of a red barn in the not so long ago snow seems appropriate. I'm used to being a snowbird and yesterday as I walked the beach in wind whipping 45 (feels like 30) degrees, I thought about Naples but, it was 91 degrees there. Is there no happy medium?
This is a tiny painting and it's leading you to more tiny paintings by Sharon McGauley, an artist from Maine and the Cape. I love how her tiny paintings look so BIG!

Angel Foods

"Angel Foods"

12x12 oil on birch panel

Provincetown has always been a special place to me. Located at the very tip of Cape Cod and surrounded by dunes and water, its natural beauty and shimmering light have long attracted artists and seekers of nature.

My sister and her family lived there during the late 70's and early 80's and I have always found everything about this town, enchanting. 

I visit regularly to paint and enjoy and to participate, in PAAM's member's shows and events. This is my submission to their annual 12x12 silent auction which runs from April 25th to June 26. 

"Angel Foods" is a funky market which is actually across the street from the Art Association. I always admire their front window and it seemed just the right format for my painting. 

Bay of Fundy Monolith

Bay of Fundy Monolith

4x10 Watercolor

I've been working on hot pressed paper which I love for its smoothness but I bought a little 4x10 block of Arches 140 Cold Pressed paper and I found that I liked the way 

the paint takes to the surface. 

It may even be better.

Don and I are heading home to New England tomorrow. It's been a great and much needed get away.

Wheeling Gulls

Wheeling gulls

 6x6 oil on panel

I've been paintings birds and working in a 

 sketchbook/watercolor journal of sorts which 

is a new thing for me. 

More of those paintings to come.

Palms

Everglades Palms

6x6 oil on panel

Had a sweet day painting by the Marco Island bridge yesterday. This is just a sketch of the shoreline at the edge of the Everglades.

It was a bit overcast and windy which is my favorite kind of Florida weather! 

Peaches and Peonies

Peonies and Peaches 

9x12 watercolor

Well maybe they aren't peonies, but the point 

was to have a good time with my watercolors and ink pens. 

I did the drawing without a reference 

and the fun part was the paint.

I'm here in Naples, Florida with family and friends 

and it's been a wonderful change of pace. 

Sun and fun :)

Cold Storage Beach

"Cold Storage Beach"

5x4 sketchbook watercolor

Sketchbook watercolor of a lovely meadow at Cold Storage Beach in Truro.

Perfect Pair

"Perfect Pair"

3x5 watercolor on arches 140

More watercolor sketches of my back yard birds. I am really enjoying the winter here at home. 

Gulls in Flight

Gulls in Flight
10x14 watercolor on Arches 140 hot press

Experimenting with watercolor here in between filling the bird feeders 
and shoveling a little snow ;)

Magic

Magic

5x5 watercolor & ink sketchbook painting

The painting in yesterday's post was referred to as "magical" 

in some of the comments. I don't think the "Girls" meant to spill the beans but "Magic" is this months GJWP theme. 

I'm captivated, this winter, watching the array of birds 

coming to my well stocked feeders and the pair of Cardinals

 is most magical to me. I think of them as my Mama 

visiting me every morning in the guise of her favorite birds ;)

Makes me happy.

Cardinals in the Snow

"The Missus"

watercolor on arches hot press

It's my thing to see more color than may actually be there, when I paint and although this female Cardinal is looking a bit tropical, I really see these colors in her.  The male's incredible scarlet color is arresting but the beautiful golden feathers of the female are complimented by dusky purple grays and rusty maroon tail feathers. She really sparkles. 

I'm loving watching all these birds in the snow.

Shark Tank

"Shark Tank"

6"x12" oil on panel

I'm really happy with this one :) I love the colors and the movement. Yup, I do.

Narcissus

"Narcissus"

Watercolor 10"x5"

The scent of the Narcissus bulb, their tall foliage and white flowers add a warm touch to winter.

I'm going to order some more to grace our "bird" window. 

the "bird" window