watercolor, 2016
available, 9"x12"
I decided to continue a sporting theme after the success of Lady Bug last week. Right now it's just fishing lures and duck decoys, but I might expand to other subjects when I get tired of ducks and plastic "fish." These are fun to do. At this size I can complete one in a couple hours. I'm also seeing a welcome fusing of realism and impressionism in spots, the "calligraphy" and "suggestion" many more accomplished artists talk about. Another interesting rabbit hole to head down.
And, if I don't see you again before Saturday, have a happy new year!
watercolor, 2016
available, 9"x15"
Hardly the festive, seasonal subject matter most people are doing this week. Just a little still life of a fishing lure. This was a quick, fun way to burn a little time and it turned out quite nicely. I'll probably do some more of these.
I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas!
watercolor, 2016
available, 11"x15"
I've done a few neon signs in the past. Most of them -- the successful ones, anyway -- were done large and as realistic as possible. So, I wasn't sure about doing this one only 11"x15" and allowing some leeway with edges and color and blooms. My biggest problem when I'm in the painting process is not standing back and looking at the "big picture," or considering the painting as a whole. I'm always too close looking at and painting details. Part of impressionism and loosening up in general is taking in the big picture, suggesting instead of showing. Precise detail painting is "showing." Suggesting is about giving the viewer the idea of a thing and letting them fill in the details. That's the place I'm going. It's funny how a realist painting with plenty of what look like details reminded me of this. But, some of those "details" actually are just suggestions, a mark here, a dry-brush stroke there.
mixed, 2016
available, 11"x15"
Virtual Paintout is in Montenegro this month. This is as close as Google Maps Street View gets to this small church on a hill at the center of an island. But I liked the view with the walled dirt road leading in.
watercolor, 2016
available, 11"x15"
This is from a reference photo I took in Charleston last year. I'm beginning to think I should have taken more shots of the horse-drawn carriages. To me, at least, they seem quite dynamic in these otherwise fairly static streetscapes.
watercolor, 2016
available, 11"x15"
An early morning scene behind a building in downtown Salisbury, NC. I was scheduled to take my daughter to breakfast one morning and went early to grab some photos of Salisbury's paint-ready downtown. I wanted to go loose, but I'm afraid I might have gone too far to the Primitive/Amateur side of "loose" on this one.
watercolor, 2016
available, 11"x15"
This has nothing to do with the one from a couple weeks ago. The reference photos were taken 4-5 miles and 2-3 years apart. Still playing with leading lines and vignetting. I'm not sure the vignette works with this one.
watercolor, 2016
available, 11"x15"
A very loose impression of a photo of a particular area of (I think) Chicago in the early 1970s.
