Monday, October 10, 2011

"Greater Yellowlegs" watercolor 5"x7" $85

The birds I paint are always more alive at the scene and this Yellowlegs was very active: in and out of the side marsh of the Connecticut River and lifting its legs gently through the shallows and dipping its head and prominent bill in and out of the water and more.
Still a painting can express our emotions towards the entire scene and more importantly jog that one memory years later. We all will see some differences;colors, shape, values and paint that which we see. However in the end they are all accurate because it is the memory and a work of art. 

Sunday, October 2, 2011

"Tufted Titmouse" watercolor 4"x6" $85

Against the vibrant fall colors, this little grey bird with the large dark eyes flew back and forth to my feeder and put on a show when the chickadees tried to get a sunflower seed. One would be on one side and the other at the opposite side. The feeder gets me painting with each new bird sighting. I often get the question and comment in my classes that they just don't paint enough. I suggest they get a feeder and spend a half hour each day, with coffee in hand watching, then painting the new sightings and be done!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

"Common Loon" watercolor 4"x6" $85

I visited a friend at her family's cottage in Owl's Head, Maine.
It amazes me that even with a small watercolor the colors are true to the new landscape I'm painting. The colors which I selected, seemed random but I do believe it is the intuitive human eye which is so good with color not our brain. Before the watercolor is photographed, it can seem insignificant, hardly worth saving with all my studio paintings towering above this piece of paper. Once in a photo I see it as others would-a work of art.