twigs & Silver Falls

Upper Title: twigs

Pen & ink with watercolor, 3/2008

Image: 2.5" x 4.5" Mat/frame: 5" x 7"

Lower Title: Silver Falls

Pen & ink with watercolor, 3/2008

Image: 6.5" x 4.5" Mat/frame: 10" x 8"

Upper painting: For as small as it is, this painting critiqued well due to value and color changes.

Lower painting: I was there but the weather didn't cooperate for painting on site. With snow still on the ground, thank heavens we were in the Conference Center within Silver Falls State Park near Silverton, Oregon. The park is known for its ten magnificent falls.

even on a cloudy day

Title: even on a cloudy day

Watercolor, 2/2008

Image: 21.5" x 14.5" Mat/frame: 29" x 23"

Received "Honorable Mention" at 2008 Clark County Fair's Fine Arts Show.

Always on the search for new subject matter, sometimes using shared resources. This painting is of a 17 foot catamaran and is based on a race my son-in-law attended. He races a 16 foot, two person Hobie Cat catamaran.

c.p. & shells

Upper Title: c.p.

Pen & ink with watercolor, 1/2008

Image: 4.5" x 2.5" Mat/frame 7" x 5"

Lower Title: shells

Pen & ink with watercolor

Image: 5" x 3.25" Mat/frame: 7" x 5"

These little paintings were created free-hand. Since I prefer tracing or transferring using a projector, this was a real stretch.

geometric - curves

Title: geometric - curves

Pen & ink with watercolor, 11/2007

Image: 3.25" x 6.25" Mat/frame: 5.75" x 8.75"

A workshop focused on how to use found (math and engineering) shapes to create designs and movement.

self-portrait 2006-08

Title: self-portrait 2006-08

Watercolor, 2006-08

Image: 9.5" x 8" Mat/frame: 14" x 11" Property of artist

This was a class exercise and it was amazing that over half of the class skipped this day. Many gifted professionals recommend that a self-portrait be painted each year but my last attempt went to the scrap heap!

black straw hat

Title: black straw hat

Watercolor, 8/2006

Image: 9.5" x 7.5" Mat/frame: 14" x 11"

Ever since I started painting with watercolor, I've considered doing a series of hats. It still may happen. I like that painting the hats allows for various textures to be seen.

fedora & red belt

Title: fedora & red belt

Watercolor, 8/2006

Image: 9.5" x 7.5" Mat/Frame: 14" x 11" Property of artist

The mystery of this resource drew me to paint it. The tweed was enhanced by the use of salt.

3 pears: 1

Title: 3 pears: 1

Watercolor, 3/2006

Image: 7.5" x 9.5" Mat/frame: 11" x 14" Property of artist

This painting was one of the first paintings I completed from my own resource - pears laying on slate table's bamboo runner.

Artist's statement:

My work in traditional translucent watercolor painting reflects a study in simple shapes and textures. I prefer to paint directly with colors mixed primarily on the paper rather than using many layers of glazed color. Using this method allows me to have more control over hard and soft edges while still giving me the option to add more color after the painting is dry.

A newly revisited technique deals with pen and ink along with watercolor. Strong value statements may be made with inclusion of ink. Add to this traditional watercolor and the result is a bona fide mixed medium.

...in the beginning

…in the beginning – no I don’t think we want to go back that far. We need not discuss a variety of art projects in high school, first time around in college and private gallery lessons.

Fast forward to 2005 when my husband announced he would definitely retire as soon as he was eligible. The upside was he wanted me to join him in retirement – to be available to travel, go to lunch or shopping, run errands, etc. whenever we chose. The possible downside was filling an enormous amount of time.

Not wanting to be like many I’ve known in the workforce who said, “I’ll do it when I retire,” and then not doing anything, I began thinking about what could fill a large portion of my retirement.

Art has always been a part of my life – even drawing me back to college mid-life. Watercolor had always been there as something to explore further so with retirement I signed up for my first class.

I’m still at it and still delighted to be painting, taking classes and learning.