Fire Blossoms

I left white paper in the wet-on-wet background and negatively painted some of the blossoms, then created others by scrubbing out color using cut edges of stencil paper and a rag.  My rag happened to be an old Christmas handtowel with some gold glitter on it, so if you get up close the painting looks like it has little bits of shiny gold dust! 

Come if you can to an artist's reception for the upcoming show "Juxtapose" by Waterloo Watercolor Group on Sunday July 8 from 12:30 to 1:30.  This painting is one of 2 that I have in this show.  It is being held at the North Hills Gallery, 7050 Village Center Drive, in northwest Austin, easy to find and plenty of parking! 

The exhibit will be up from Thursday July 5 through Sunday July 29.  The Gallery is open during regular business hours Monday through Thursday 9 am to 5 pm, Fridays 9 am to noon, and Sundays 8:30 am to 1 pm.

2011 Pearls art show

This is me last night at the 2011 Pearls Before Swine Art Show here in Elgin with my painting "Just Happened." I created this one with an intuitive underpainting first, adding an image of columbines after it had dried, by painting in and around the shapes. "Summer Breeze," above, is one of my intuitive paintings which I let evolve spontaneously without preplanning a subject. Both paintings were fun to create. Summer Breeze received a People's Choice award during the reception!

There was a big festive crowd and lots of beautiful art, including youth art, in an old historic building on Main Street. And a silent auction with great participation from area businesses, with proceeds sponsoring a youth art scholarship. I am impressed with the vibrancy and support of the community and the leadership of the Elgin Art Association in making this event a success. Come if you can to the art show, which is up through Saturday, October 22 for the Elgin Hogeye Festival http://www.elgintx.com/hogeye.asp. For those of you who don't live in Texas, thanks for enjoying our fun through my blog!

Video from Spring Show

The reception for the Waterloo Watercolor Group 2011 Spring Show, "Printemps," was well attended and showcased alot of beautiful art work. Hope you enjoy this video clip from that afternoon. My new daughter-in-law, Beth, is interviewing me and my son Jared about how this painting, Purple Mist, was created. I do enjoy the spontaneity and mystery of wet-on-wet painting!

Printemps Invitation-Corrected Dates

I saw many of the paintings submitted for this show, and they were fantastic! I am honored to be a part of the Waterloo Watercolor Group and to have the opportunity to exhibit a painting downtown. Treat yourself to a leisurely viewing sometime between May 2 and June 26, and come if you can to the reception from 2 - 4 pm on May 8.


Directions to the Corridor of Art are a little tricky: You must enter the parking garage from Guadalupe at 8th, where the Chase drive through bank is on your left. Go up the ramp, just before the light. Park at any level, then take the elevator down to LL. Parking for the reception is free. Hope to see you there!

Purple Mist

I have been having a fun time experimenting with wet-on-wet painting. It is exciting because you never know quite what you will get. This one, "Purple Mist, " was inspired by some flowers and surrounding color and light I photographed at the Dallas Arboretum a couple of years ago. I love to try to capture feeling and atmosphere in a loose painting style.

Just this morning I received notification that this painting has been selected to be in the 2011 Waterloo Watercolor Group Spring Show, which starts May 1 in Austin. More info about the show will be forthcoming!

Bird of Paradise

I painted the one below after returning from a trip to southern California last year. I was quite enchanted by the vibrant colors of the flower, Bird of Paradise, and got some really good reference photos in the neighborhood of our son's apartment, which I used in creating this painting. You can see it hanging on the wall in this photo of the reception for the Waterloo Watercolor fall show. October was a whirlwind month for me. I learned to mat and frame my art work, and entered 6 pieces in 2 shows. I am thrilled that so many of my family and friends came to view the art and to support me. I appreciate all of you who came to the shows, and all of you who who have sent correspondence through email and blog comments. All of it is very validating and exciting, and helps keep me going......and painting!

People's Choice

At the opening reception for the Pearls Before Swine Art Show, all of the attendees got to vote for their favorite piece of art, aka the "People's Choice." Near the end of the evening, it was announced that my painting Expectant Buds won the People's Choice award! I was then presented with a check from the Elgin Art Association, and in keeping with the fun and agricultural frivolity, my trophy was pearl studded with a golden pig on top! Check out the video below to see how stunned and delighted I was! Then, stay tuned and I'll soon tell you more about the winning painting....

Pearls Before Swine

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE ART SHOW 2010

These are 2 of my paintings which were accepted for the show. The show represented local talent with both 2 and 3- D art, part of the lighthearted and fun Elgin Hogeye Festival in the small town where I live. Piscine Fantasy was just that, lots of paint and water which in my imagination became some colorful fish at play. Iris Whispers started out with paint on wet paper and then a lifting technique to create the white of the irises, then a little refinement to define some of the petals and leaves. Stay tuned tomorrow when I will show you the third painting and share some exciting news!

A Glimpse of the Show

I'm really excited about the reception tonight for the opening of the Waterloo Watercolor Show in Austin. As a foretaste, here is one of the paintings which you will see.

I call this one Rose Garden. I have painted roses as my main subject before but really had fun developing this background by painting around the shapes I wanted to create.

See you at the show!

Showing up for my Art

I have had 3 paintings accepted for the Waterloo Watercolor Group's 2010 fall show in Austin, Texas! I am thrilled to be able to participate in my first show. As you can see, you are invited! Join me for the reception this Thursday if you can. The show is up through the end of October, so go by and check it out. It is really a feast for the senses!

I've been painting a lot and learning alot. If you can't go to the show, or even if you can, stay posted and you will see some of what I have been doing with watercolors. Thanks to all who have given me feedback and encouragement to show up for my art!