Watercolor Flowers

I got a new set of watercolors and I’ve been practicing with them.

Not great but I like it.

Linked to Paint Party Friday

A Christmas Angel

Here’s a piece I started working on a while back.  When I started it she had a different face and it didn’t inspire me to finish it.  So I finally got around to re-working the face and I like her much better now.

 

 

Linking to Paint Party Friday because I haven’t partied in way too long!

PS: This painting is dedicated to my mom, whose birthday would be today. I love you and miss you Mom!

St. Clare

We started something new this week, my “husband” bought the dvd’s for the Insanity workout for the both of us. I’ll have you know there is a reason they call it the “Insanity” workout; it’s because you have to be insane to do this workout if:

1. you are over 25 and
2. you are not in shape to begin with.

I’ll bet you can guess that I have hardly been able to move. Notice who I blamed (said “husband”) because I can hardly move my arms to paint….no, it’s not my fault I’m so out of shape. :)

Well after a week I have finally moved out of the “so sore I can hardly move” stage and was able to complete the painting of St Clare. And you’ll notice that I took some liberties with the color. The original painting by Simone Martini (1284-1344) is below my rendition.

The lesson for this weeks Diary of faces class was hands, but I feel that the position of the mouth and nose and the head cloth was more difficult than the hands in this painting. 

Overall I’m happy with how it turned out.

Here is the original:

If you’d like to know more about St. Clare, visit this Link: St Clare 

I’m linking to Paint Party Friday, please the other participants. There always lots of wonderful art to see.

What a busy week.

I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to paint or post this week. It’s been a busy week. We had two birthdays this week. My G’s have a birthday only 1 day apart.  Little G is 2, and Big G is his Papa. We had a lovely birthday birthday dinner for Big G on Monday and although Little G’s birthday was on Tuesday, we’re having a birthday party for him on Saturday complete with 10 or 11 other little ones.Yikes! And we still have gifts to assemble.  Oh my! 

Here are my two birthday boys, Little G loves his grandpa, and wants to go everywhere with him.

This is what I worked on this week:

Linking to Paint Party Friday!

For you it is a Rose

Back to my colored pencils.

The sweetest flower that blows,
I give you as we part.
For you it is a Rose,
For me it is my heart.
- Quote by Frederick Peterson

And from Janis Joplin “I need a man to love”

The quote and the video have related themes of unrequited love.

I’ve always loved Janis. She passed the year I graduated high school. (boy does that date me.)  It was a sad day for rock n roll.

Linking to Paint Party Friday. Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting and for giving me a reason to finish my journal page. :)  Be sure to click the link and visit all the participants.

Her name is Emmaline

I am so intimidated by watercolor paints (not pencils) that I’m surprised I had the courage to try this portrait. Then I got to thinking….It’s only cheap paint and cheap watercolor paper so why not? Sometime ago I bought a set of Reeves watercolors ( yes the cheap, cheap, cheap …seriously cheap brand) so that I could use them for background color in my journals. I never did use them for that purpose and I still had them around.  So really what did I have to lose except time? 

I penciled in the girls face and then procrastinated painting it. I liked the drawing…what if I ruined it? “OMG”, I told myself, “Shut up and paint!” So I did, I guess I just needed a good talking to.  You talk to yourself too, don’t you? ;-)

I have to say, watercolors are a different medium from what I’m used to. It’s going to take some time to get comfortable with it.   I’m not liking the dark, dark shadows of her hair around her neck nor do I like the obvious lines on her face from a not well blended changes in skin color. But I guess it not a terribly horrible first attempt.

I did learn that you must tape your sheet down or the paper buckles badly. I had to rewet the back and place a book over it to flatten it. I hoped it wouldn’t ruin it. I also learned I need to practice drawing flowers. 

For your listening pleasure “Emmaline” by Hot Chocolate.

Be warned, it’s got some sad lyrics toward the end.

I’m linking to Paint Party Friday. Thank you Eva and Kristin for hosting the fun party. Everyone else please sure to click the link to visit this week participants.

Your Unique Spirit

Hi everyone.  I haven’t been arting it up much this last week. Don’t know why, probably just a little tired. The hot weather seems to do that to me…even with air-conditioning. Yet, I’d rather it be summer than winter. How about you?  Are you a cold weather person or hot?

This is what I did manage to work on…. I used mainly watercolor pencils for the painting and markers for the lettering. To create lettering, I used Photo Shop Elements and after printing to regular paper, I traced them using graphite paper.  Then used Pitt markers to color them in.

I had previously colored her outfit blue but had a change of heart and wanted it pink instead. I used scrapbook paper to change the color.

I’m linking this to:

And to:

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate all your sweet comments and constructive criticisms. ;)