Watercolors

It's been an Interesting year!

2011-12-21T23:27:00.000-05:00

I'll say it again.....its been an interesting year. Quite a bit was accomplished and I am on to a fresh start for the new year. Cleaned up my studio, have some new ideas and new projects. I feel like I am just now getting started with what is to come in the future. This is a good place to be.

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas around the world. Thanks for the interest in my art and the comments. Happy Holidays!

Photos from my Solo Show at GM Design Center Gallery

2011-11-02T21:56:00.002-04:00

It was a success! Beautiful gallery location over looking the lake at the GM Tech Center grounds and in a beautiful building built by Aero Saarinen. And to top it all off, I had a prestigious guest at my opening, Balthazar Korab. Famous photographer and architect who worked for Aero Saarinen in designing the building that is the headquarters for GM Design. What an honor! As the photos show my watercolors looked great and attracted a good turn out. Thanks to all that helped in making it happen for me.

Solo Show-GM Design Center Gallery

2011-10-04T11:32:00.000-04:00

I am having a solo show coming up this month at the General Motors Design Center Gallery. This is my first solo!

Thanks to the GM creative design department, this is the poster that they designed to announce the exhibit. They incorporated my Reflections III painting to use as the background for the type and design. It will be running from 10.20.11 thru to 11.28.11 with the opening reception on 10.20.

I will let you all know how it goes.

Commission for the "Love Bridge", (Ponte Degli Scalzi) Venice, Italy

2011-08-14T20:05:00.004-04:00

How would you like to be proposed to? On a bridge named Ponte Degli Scalzi in Venice, Italy? Well it did happen for a lucky couple and I have been commissioned to immortalize that moment in watercolor. I wish I could have taken a trip there to gather my reference photographs and sketches but such a luxury does not always exist. Thank god for the internet for supplying the necessary views from the bridge on the Grand Canal in Venice.

Maybe next year............I will be the lucky the girl. To go to Venice, I mean. (or maybe for something else.) Any way, I hope for the best for everyone. Just as long as Linda & Tony are happy that is all that matters. And who is Linda & Tony?? There will be only the special few who know.

10,000 Views!

2011-07-22T10:32:00.004-04:00

Well I just crossed the 10,000 mark of how many views there have been to my blog! I thank all the avid watercolor artists out there interested in the medium and curious to see someone else's approach. I believe a lot of the exposure was due to being on the cover of International Artist Magazine along with my crazy cousins who have discovered an artist in the family. LOL to all the cousins! I love that they have taken such an active interest in my art. But beside all that, I truly feel that with the onset of the internet and how we are able to network globally, has given us the opportunity to learn and enhance the quality of our individual artwork.

I have been taking a brief break this summer and recharging the creative batteries and I will soon be back putting my various ideas to paint. I can only hope to keep this all alive and interesting as I have found the blogs and websites of my followers to be equally as interesting.

To all my international followers and people that have sent me emails from other countries and locally, I thank you for your compliments and it has been exciting to be discovered overseas.

Michigan Watercolor Society 2011

2011-07-02T15:50:00.002-04:00

Here are the photos from the 2011 Michigan Watercolor Society Show. The painting shown above the logo for MWS is the painting that took the highest award. All in all, it was an interesting show highlighting the talent in the State of Michigan. I have had people ask me how large My "Going Green" painting is. With me standing beside it, now the proportions can clearly be seen.

There was a good showing opening night with about 200 to 300 in attendance. I'd like to personally thank my cousin Linda and her husband Tony for coming in from Ann Arbor to lend support and interest. Also long time friend, Dale, who spiffed himself up to mingle with the art crowd in Birmingham.

Also thanks to Jerry Bowman. Glad to have met you and talked with you for such a long time. Your watercolors are awesome.

Michigan Watercolor Society Show

2011-04-30T20:28:00.004-04:00

My painting "Going Green" has been chosen to be part of the 2011 Michigan Watercolor Society Exhibit for 2011. This is the first time for me to do something locally and I am excited to see the show. Miles Batt is the Juror for this show and will be giving a lecture the night before the opening on May 20th.

Stay tuned for further postings about the show.

Venetian Gold on Front Cover of International Artist Magazine

2011-03-12T19:20:00.003-05:00

About a year ago, I received an email from Vincent Miller Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of International Artist Magazine in which he was interested in doing an article about me and my watercolor art for the magazine. There was a file sent as to what kind of information they were looking for and the structure of how to send everything to the magazine. I was just getting back to work about that time after a long layoff from the automotive industry here in Detroit and still going to school to pursue my digital art and animation degree so I didn't send it off right away. About three months later, I thought I should pursue this and plug along with getting all the package of information they wanted me to submit. I got it all done and sent it off to Australia where the magazine originates from.

I have been busy. Very busy. It crossed my mind a few times but thought maybe they decided not to do anything with it. I went out to my mailbox this last Thursday after getting home from work took out the mail, carried it into the house and let it sit there for a few before I went through my mail.

I had to do a double take when I got to my April/May copy of International Artist Magazine. I took one look at the cover and I was at a complete loss for words. There was my painting "Venetian Gold" on the cover.

It took me by surprise! Thank you International Artist for the honor!

Art Book

2011-01-25T20:37:00.002-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

The latest technology makes it possible for an artist to publish their own art book. How great is that!

Linge de Maison

2010-12-28T23:35:00.002-05:00

This is it! Linge de Maison. Which means household laundry in French. How appropo with laundry hanging out the window to dry. I added more texture and enriched some areas with another layer. Now it is no longer a WIP.

WIP 3

2010-12-27T20:51:00.003-05:00

I am close but I still want to play with it for awhile. I get an idea of what I am trying to achieve and sometimes it comes together and sometimes it comes close. Still adjusting some affects. Will let you know when I am satisfied. When you get to certain level with your art, you would think that it comes easier but I am seeing that each painting poses its own challenges. I want to see what I can still make of this painting. I could leave it to the point it is at right now. Maybe I might, who knows. Later.

New Watercolor WIP 2

2010-12-05T11:44:00.002-05:00

Progressing on my painting, I have now worked out more texture on the building facade and have put in more detail on the shuttered windows. I also added the wrought iron balcony with pots hanging from it. One thing I can say about both France and Italy is that they do make there windows interesting will all the things they put on display. Still much to work out.

New Watercolor WIP

2010-11-27T00:33:00.002-05:00

Hi! It feels like a long time since I have been able to sit down and concentrate on my watercolor painting. Life gets in the way of what I should be spending all my time working on; that being my painting. Work and school for me have taken me away unfortunately. For all artists out there, you know what I am talking about. And now that I have more of a following, I feel it necessary to produce which is a good thing. Enough about that. What I have here is the start of a new composition and hopefully a new series of paintings (3) of exteriors that I found interesting in the South of France. I have decided on an elongated size to add interest and emphasis. This particular building was one that I came upon in the old part of Nice, France. I love the texture and age of the building and the things that the residents hang outside of their shuttered windows. There was a French Linen shop below. You will see as I develop the new painting.

The Launch of my new website

2010-07-09T22:46:00.004-04:00

It's official! I now have my own .com! I have been working on this site for sometime and I am thrilled to have it up and running thanks to the technical people at GoDaddy.com.

After taking a semester of Dreamweaver, the result is now having the expertise to not only create my own but also to offer my services to others. Click the title of this posting to link to it. Any comments are welcome. You will find that I have included several links to other watercolor related sites that I have been personally involved with. So if any of my fellow artists would like a website designed for them or would like to refresh what they already have, feel free to contact me.

Featured on: Chris Beck Blog

2010-06-16T12:43:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone! This must be my lucky week! I am being highlighted on Chris Beck's blog. I see that I already have a few new followers and I would like to say a collective welcome to my blog! I'm sure that I will be equally interested in checking out all of your paintings as well. So for those of you that have not discovered the above links to Chris's blogs, do so and you will be pleased.

All you have to do is 'click' on the title to this post.

"Venetian Gold" in Splash 11

2010-06-12T12:02:00.006-04:00

The new edition of "Splash 11-New Directions" is out on the bookshelves! My painting "Venetian Gold" made it into this book because of the new direction that my paintings are taking recently.

The quote by Anais Nin is one that I supplied keeping in theme with the book. The quote reads:

...."and the day came when the risk it took to remain all tight in the bud became more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

This is so true in many areas of life. We don't care for change but in order to grow and blossom, you have to move forward even when it seems painful and scary to do so. I recently went through a scary time of uncertainty, not knowing what was going to happen in my life, but you have to trust the universe to help you out along with yourself. I'm happy to be a part of this wonderful book and I feel that the design and layout of this one is the classiest in the series. Check it out yourselves.

Discover & Download

2010-04-09T11:59:00.006-04:00

"Discover & Download" is finished! Accept for a few "twikings" here and there. This painting shows a snapshot in time back to 2007 to Times Square in New York City. This was the year that I won the Gold Metal from the American Watercolor Society. Many photos were taken of the city at that time. What drew me to this one was the abstract design. Each window which shows reflections of the city or the times we live in had a contained abstract design which made a whole composition of abstraction. I wanted to show the energy of the city in this painting.

For the most part, it is finished but I might just make a few small, subtle changes.

International Artist Magazine is Out!

2010-04-04T12:54:00.003-04:00

The April/May edition is out with my painting on page 13. Along with the painting is an artist statement about my inspiration, design strategy and working process. And of course, contact info. I am happy to be going international with my art especially when I see that I have people following my blog from across continents. Spring is here!

Progress

2010-03-26T11:59:00.003-04:00

As you can see, I am developing reflections of the city in the windows. Lots of detail and I am pleased with the progress. I have developed the MTV images in the bottom row of windows.

Start of a new painting

2010-03-21T19:24:00.003-04:00

I have started a new painting. This one is from a scene in Times Square in New York City. Between myself and a friend, we took several pictures all over the city in two recent trips there.

As you can see, it is appearing to be the building in Times Square that displays the "Lion King" advertisement. I have a habit of taking on complex paintings with detail and this will not be short of plenty of eye candy. Its the composition that will give it its sense of activity and size. Possibly you will get an idea of how I work. I did the initial drawing with my reference coming from the above mentioned photos all around the city. From there, I am laying in washes of color, starting with the main focal point of the Lion King sign. I then move on to some of the graphics shown in the windows below—gradually building up tones. I make a color chart for myself of the watercolors that I have in my collection and spend time picking out the palette of colors that I want for this scene. My paintings are time consuming, but the results are to my liking.

Latest News Bulletin! Made it into International Artist Magazine!

2010-01-18T20:08:00.004-05:00

I just received word that my painting "Going Green" is going to be published in International Artist Magazine April/May issue. It is part of their flowers and Gardens competition. Now I have to get busy and write some info about the painting i.e. inspiration.

The Series

2009-11-03T12:25:00.005-05:00

Here so far is the series of glass watercolor studies that I have completed.

Glass Reflections III

2009-11-02T13:40:00.005-05:00

After spending more time on my digital work and not enough time on my watercolor painting, I have completed number 3 in my series of glass studies watercolor paintings. This is one of a Murano glass bowl by Fratelli Tasi in Venice and of Paper Nautilus shells that I happen to be lucky enough to have in my collection of interesting objects. They are rare finds in that, they rarely wash up on beaches because they are delicate shells that crumble before being able to do so. If I have my facts correct, they are shells from baby octopus. They are related to the Nautilus shell family.

I happen to get my hands on them from an acquaintance who received them from a friend living in South Africa and saw them on the beach and sent them through the mail to him. He didn't know what to do with them and asked me, the artist, if I would want them. Of Course!

I love the play of light on glass that is why I have done a series called Glass Reflections. They are abstract in nature but yet representational. Any comments on my latest addition is welcome.

Followers of my Blog

2009-10-14T11:32:00.002-04:00

For those of you that follow my blog, I apologize for no new watercolor entries since June of this year. My focus and attention has been on my training as a multimedia artist. If you click on the link to the Digital By Design website, you will see the work that I have been doing. But enough about that. This blog is dedicated to the art of watercolor painting. I have a work in progress going on right now and it is close to completion. I will post as soon as it is done. I do not want to rush it even though I want to keep a steady pace with my fine art.

There will be news to follow as I am being published in "Splash 11-New Directions" coming out next year. Promise to post something new soon.

Going Green

2009-06-27T18:16:00.005-04:00

The painting that I have been posting on my blog in stages is finished. There might be some slight twiking here or there but will be minimal. You have to know when to quit. I find that after I finish a piece, I can't really see it anymore. I have to get away from it. This was one of my largest paintings that I have ever done. You learn something with each one. I believe I will call this one, "Going Green".

Progress

2009-06-20T09:54:00.005-04:00

Slowly but surely, this painting is coming around. More of the background is developed and the seeds are becoming more detailed. Also, I am intending to create a more blended affect up at the top which will travel through to the large background area above the hydranga. That will be my last section to do on this painting. This painting is large, 30x40, as the hydranga itself is almost the size of my head plus a small another one so if that gives any idea of scale, is why it is taking some time. But so far, I am pleased with the results.

TWSA Show

2009-06-07T20:42:00.004-04:00

Well I am back from Kenosha and the TWSA show. Some very interesting and good art and some that were a matter of taste. This is me with my painting. The gallery was first rate along with the placement of the paintings. While I was there, it was rainy and cold. For June, this seems strange. So much for global warming.

The highlight of my night was getting to meet John Salminen. We sat together for dinner and had some interesting talks. For those of you reading my blog who don't know John Salminen, I will post a link to his website under interesting websites on the right. You will see why he is a prominent and leading watercolor artist of our day. For those of you who do know, know that I was lucky to have had the opportunity to talk with him.

I also saw the works of of Cheng-Khee Chee up close. He also attended the dinner. It was good to see Judy Morris again and hopefully we will run into each other again. I will also have a link to their sites as well.

Progression

2009-06-05T21:05:00.004-04:00

Before I go off to the TWSA show in Kenosha, I wanted to post my progress on the "Going Green" painting. I'm starting to develop my dark green in the background and layering in the seeded eucalyptus.

Latest WIP

2009-05-21T15:35:00.007-04:00

I am working on a "going green" painting. This is just the start of a rather large watercolor. The flower is a Hydranga. Just starting and documenting as I go.

The American Museum of Natural History

2009-05-21T15:23:00.006-04:00

On my trip to NYC, I met up with an artist friend that works as a staff artist at The American Museum of Natural History. I got a behind the scenes tour at the museum of where the exhibits and dioramas are worked on. All extremely interesting. What was an interesting connection was how similar materials are used in the creation of show cars for the auto industry. Animals are carved out of dense foam, clay armatures are created and fiberglass molds are used. There is an area where airbrushing is used and areas of casting certain parts.

Check out my link to Joi Bittle-Knights website to see some of her extraordinary work.

Accepted into TWSA

2009-03-07T09:07:00.007-05:00

Just heard word last week that my painting Reflections 1 will be part of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America show for 2009! TWSA has strict regulations when it comes to paint materials and technique. Such as, this show is strictly for artists who work in transparent watercolors only. No opaque, no acrylic, strictly transparency. I really favor this idea because when it comes to "watercolor societies", it was my impression (before I became involved) that that was what they were all about. For most of the others, you can use acrylic, tempera, casein or a mix of several just as long as the paint base can be diluted with water. And you can also use yupo paper or canvas panels made for watercolor along with of course watercolor paper. But to me, if you are going to do something on canvas to have it look like an oil painting, why do you want a watercolor to look like a transparent oil painting?

I am a purist. All my paintings have been done with transparent watercolor. That is what I like about watercolor. For this society in particular, even painting somewhat opaquely will not be accepted. My painting is simple, but it does show the transparency of the medium and I believe that is why it was chosen.

The show is going to be held at the Kenosha Public Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The opening is June 6, 2009. Judy Morris, who in my book. is one of the best watercolor artist around has been included in the 2008 edition of "Who's Who of American Women"," Who's Who in the World 2000", and" Who's Who in the recent addition of Who's Who in America". Wow! That is a lot of Who's Who!

Study in Glass

2009-01-07T20:06:00.003-05:00

Here is "Glass Study 2". The second in my intended series on glass. These objects were placed on a mirror so as to achieve a lot of reflections. The material that is swirling around the glass objects was a gauzy, unique scarf purchased while in New York at one of the top museums there. I find that the museum stores carry some very interesting scarfs with interesting and different patterns that I use in a lot of my watercolors. In this case, it has added an abstract background.

I like using light to achieve different feelings and effects. I believe now that after many years of painting with my favorite medium of watercolor that I am starting to achieve just that.

Sentinels

2008-11-01T10:07:00.008-04:00

One would think that I was of Italian or French decent what with a lot of my subject matter being inspired from these two regions, but I am not. This is the painting now in completion in its rough cut, unframed, unmounted stage. Once I have that wrapped up I will post it on my blog.

I would like to make note of some of the colors that I used as a record for myself and in case anyone was wondering. The statue of the lion has an unusual palette of Windsor Emerald, Sepia, Davy's Grey, Windsor Violet and little touches of a VanDyke Brown in some small areas. A lot actually for a stone statue. But when I see a stone statue, it has many colors to it depending on the time of day and because of environmental factors over centuries. The pillars in the background also have an interesting combination of Sepia and Caput Mortum Violet. The sky is of very lite wash of Raw Sienna to start out with and then using Green Gold and Indanthrene Blue.

The framing of the scene which is from the entrance of the Palazzo Vechio directly across the street from the "lion" is Indanthrene Blue with a wash of Davy's Grey to "weather" it down a bit. the "lily" pattern is done with the Raw Sienna and a little VanDyke Brown. I used "Cheap Joes" American Journey Coastal Fog ( which he sent for me to try out) for the detail in the white frame area. The marble pattern in the background was using a wash of the sky colors and also Ivory Black.

So that is what I used and how it all turned out.

No. 2

2008-10-05T21:47:00.010-04:00

Here is my progression on my "Lions of Florence". Now I have been working on the mane of the lion and also laying in some flat washes in the stone pillar in the background. The mane takes a lot of patience and an eye for detail.

Now it is just a case of continually working the mane and laying in the pattern of lights and darks. Below is a close-up.

"Lions of Florence"

2008-09-30T19:36:00.006-04:00

I am working on a new painting with the subject being the lion statue found in Piazza Signoria in Florence Italy. I am going to post this one in stages and show how it is developing. There will be several lion images in the painting when completed.

To show how I am working it so far, I have put a thin wash of Windsor Emerald on the statue to set the kind of stone under color that I want to show through. I then am developing the lion's face first as this will be the focal point of the painting and I want to get it right and take my time. Gradually his mane is being worked on surrounding his face. I am incorporating a design element into the painting which is also a part of Florence design and is also found in Piazza Signoria. It is the frontispiece that is across the entrance to Palazzo Vechio. It will definitely be a painting inspired by Florence and will be an addition to my collection of not only classic italian themes but also sculpture.

"Cinema Paradiso"

2008-08-17T19:15:00.002-04:00

I've included in my videos this week, scenes and music from the Italian film "Cinema Paradiso". It is a good movie. Has sub-titles but did win an academy award at the Cannes, film festival. I would recommend watching this movie this summer.

New York City-Art Trip

2008-08-17T18:13:00.003-04:00

I have been meaning to write about my recent trip to New York which took place at the end of June. Posted down below are some pictures taken which I am sharing for a time. The trip was especially interesting for me as I got to meet some living, breathing, and working artist living in the city. I visited the studio of Greg Kwiatek, and of Gene Binder who owns a gallery in Marfa, Texas. I also met with some exceptionally good artists living in Long Island City. Hi to Nick and Joi.

I traveled with a special friend, an art collector, a supporter of the arts who made it possible to put into contact with these people. Every step of the way on this art path has lead to some very interesting times and experiences and people as I am now continuing to grow and change.

In my interesting links column there is a live webcam from Greenwich Village. Live from the Big Apple

New Painting

2008-08-03T11:09:00.005-04:00

Here is a new painting of a scene that I saw in the old town part of Nice, France. It was early morning actually on a Saturday when the outdoor markets are open. The light and the colors in Nice are out of this world and I can see why artists take up residence in the south of France. Painting is representational but very abstract. A study in linear elements. The striped pattern reflected Nice itself with the open air markets and canopys.

The shop to the left holds the memory of me going in there and walking out with a french L' Toile quilt that I could not resist. The price was too good to be true but as I found out later it cost me a fortune to have it shipped back home. I did not want to carry this on the plane with me what with all the searches and scans you have to go through. But it was worth it because of the memories. My friend, who offered to carry this for me for the rest of day, could not believe that I bought a bedspread to begin with.

Painting remains unnamed at the moment.

Pierrot

2008-07-01T22:35:00.009-04:00

This is a latest and newest painting to my mask series. Pierrot is the name of this mask as it depicts a character that is known for being sadly in love but his love is not returned. Pierrot is also known for being naive and taken advantage of by being constantly deceived. That is why he has such a sad face as if to be crying.

I was attracted to the whiteness of the face and the black accents. I placed the mask on top of a draped very colorful, translucent scarf which emphasized the stark whiteness of the mask. In the background there are fine grey horizontal lines with a vertical stripe on the right side of an interlocking chain pattern design. The mask is definitely based on a french character and once again I like to give the mask some depth and feeling. This one also, I believe, has an oriental feeling of design. It is just the way it evolved.

Amaranthine

2008-03-08T15:48:00.008-05:00

Welcoming into 2008 is the first of many watercolors to come. "Amaranthine" which means enduring all time, timeless or unfading is the name given to this painting. It also can refer to a dark purplish color which in shown in the harlequin pattern in the background. The masks are timeless and hold such a mystery to them and can change their appearance however the light portrays them or the environment they are in. I have added a black veil which created interesting shadows and patterns across the mask as well as the material underneath. Thanks to the internet, I am adding to my mask collection straight from the stores in Venice, Italy. Much art will follow this year as I intend to add to my collections of different subject matter but will always be drawn to Venice and the masks at Carnavale.

BEST IN 2007

2007-12-04T14:07:00.001-05:00

This is the Jan./Feb. 2008 edition of "Watercolor Artist" magazine previously named Watercolor Magic which will be available in art magazine sections in prominent bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders. They have included the best of watercolors for 2007. These are paintings that won a major award and they are all wonderful artists. I am pleased to be among the award winners and took great pride in a quote from Dean Mitchell regarding my painting "Venetian Gold". I respect Dean's work very much. His work is among the best.

The editior's note on page 4 has a quote from yours truly in her column. Everything is absolutely true and now I know where I stand in the international art world. This year has been the most transitional year of my life in a very good and yet sometimes unsure way. I guess that is what change is all about.

Good things can happen when you least expect them.

"Hotel de Paris"

2007-11-26T14:51:00.004-05:00

My painting "Hotel de Paris" is a watercolor I created from memories of seeing the hotel in Monaco. The detail in sculptures which surround the hotel are amazing and when lit up at night, they create shapes and shadows that had inspired me. The hotel is beautiful and has an elegance about it. I created a marbled pattern border around this one. Probably to add a darker, sophisticated pattern in contrast to and to bring out even more of the illuminated, sculptured pattern existing in the architecture. As with most of my paintings, I love mixing patterns and shapes to created a richness not only to subject matter but also to enhance and play with color. The "ladies" which are sculpted are above the entrance to the hotel lobby and when they are lit up at night, I kinda thought that they would appeal to a male audience. And I think that I am probably right on this one. Of course comments are always welcome.

Diego Rivera Mural

2007-11-11T13:04:00.000-05:00

For those of you that have never visited the Detroit Institute of Arts, there are hugh murals that Diego Rivera painted in one of the main halls of the Museum. It was interesting to see them as a back drop to the huge party that was taking place within the hall itself. To be able to sit there sipping a glass of wine and enjoying a seafood cocktail in the midst of all this artwork was really not an experience that I had pictured myself doing anytime soon. It was like being at a fancy restaurant that Diego just happened to be called to decorate! How cool. This is another photo taken to accompany the article below regarding the gala.

Detroit Institute of Arts Gala

2007-11-11T12:37:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone from the DIA gala! It was definitely a night to remember. Interesting entertainment, interesting food, interesting art and people. I took some time away from my own artwork and painting projects to attend this red carpet extravaganza. For those of you viewing my blog and do not live in the Detroit area, the DIA has undergone a major renovation plus expansion. The museum has been under construction for the last three years and was closed a good part of 2007.

On November 10, they rolled out the red carpet (literally) for a fancy get together for anyone who was willing to pay between $2400 to $200 per ticket to attend. Detroit notibles were in attendance. And of course, I had to add my watercolor celebrity status to the mix. Why not, I say. The museum looked the best that I have ever seen.

I hope that this will be just the beginning of more cultural expansion here in Detroit. We need it!

"Saveurs de la Provence"

2007-10-11T23:44:00.001-04:00

Saveurs de la Provence translated is flavors of Provence. This latest watercolor reminds me of the linens that I bought while traveling in the South of France last year. A comment that I would like to make is that the French are not afraid to use color and they do so with a lot of style and class. This is a brand new painting that I just completed this evening and I was not sure of the final result. But when all was said and done, I am pleased with the result. Every painting has a certain mood. The lighting that I tried to convey was one of being late at night and looking for a late night snack. There is just a single source of light in the room and shined on this table with linens strewed about to create some interesting shadows patterns on the colorful linens from Provence while the "marionette" watches over the scene.

I wanted the viewer to feel like they just stepped into a French dining room in Provence. I found a fun webcam linked to a French bakery in Paris. It shows them making the breads in their ovens. The site is: www.siteparc.fr/bonneau/webcam.htm.

Not Titled (Yet)

2007-10-03T19:47:00.001-04:00

I have not titled this painting yet. When I came up with the design, I had been playing around with some decorative papers, and shells and I came up with this realistic but somewhat contemporary composition. Composition I think is really key to any painting. Even if the painting technique is not quite as sophisticated, how it is composed can make it intriquing. I need a simple, contemporary name for this painting. Maybe in time, it will come to me. Any thoughts will be taken into consideration.

"Venice"

2007-10-01T13:03:00.000-04:00

This painting done from images taken while on vacation in Venice is from an area in the canals where all the gondolas gather to take people out on rides. I don't know if I would have wanted to stay at that particular hotel in that area as it must get awfully noisy especially at night. This painting was done on watercolor board as opposed to paper and created a different effect. For those of you that have a Mac, there is a widget of a live webcam from Venice. You can find it at: http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/webcams/livevenice.html

"Made in Italy"

2007-09-29T17:21:00.001-04:00

Bon Giorno! Guess what these are? They are glass "candies" made in Italy. I picked them up from the island of Burano near Venice. They sell these all over Italy. All are very colorful and made to look like the real thing. This painting made it into the 2005 National Watercolor show whichs take place on the West Coast usually in a suburb of LA. This is quite different than my Venetian Gold. I used several different colors and displayed them all on a murano glass plate. Looking back, I see a lot that I could of added to the painting but choose instead to go with the white plain background. I like the fact that with all of these paintings, the objects that I have collected bring back good memories of where I was and what the day was like. Burano is a fishing village where all the houses are painted different bright colors. This is also an island where they make hand-made lace. I would recommend anyone to visit if you ever go to Venice.

"Caribbean Beat"

2007-09-29T16:56:00.000-04:00

Ever been to a caribbean island? This painting is from a photo I took while in St. Maarten and this street scene is of Phillipsburg on the dutch side of the island. Whether it is because of the different subject or because it is taken from a photo, my watercolor technique looks different. Does it look like an original Paula Fiebich? That is the question. You send me your comments.

"Afterglow"

2007-09-29T16:37:00.003-04:00

Here is my latest painting "Afterglow". Now a lot of people that have looked at this love it but have to look deeper into the painting to see what is really going on. Everybody wants me to do another painting just like Venetian Gold, I feel a need to mix it up a bit. The goblet in the center is a piece of murano glass from Italy, the scarf is from Florence (once again) and the bottle of liquer is from France. (See here is a mix of my French and Italian themes again.) Some say it is so feminine and I say yes it is, is that a problem. What I tried to capture was a sense of flowing movement. The painting is 23x30. Upon studying it, observers begin to see what I saw while painting it. I wanted it to "glow".

"Venetian Gold"

2007-09-26T23:11:00.001-04:00

This is my painting that was awarded the AWS Gold Metal of Honor for 2007. It is currently a part of the American Watercolor Society's traveling exhibit around the US. It has been to Gloucester, Massachusetts, Port Huron, Michigan, El Dorado, Arkansas, and is now on its way to Tullahoma, Tennessee. The painting was purchased by an art collector in New York City during the 140th Exhibit held last April.

Here is some background about the painting itself. I purchased the mask in Venice, Italy a few years ago and will never forget my experience of traveling there. There is no other city in the world like Venice. It is definitely magical. I tried to capture that feeling in this painting. The scarf come from Florence. It was sold to me as a Versace replica. I didn't care, I liked the design and colors. Both items came from a part of the world that I have come to love. The art that I experienced there has left a lifetime impression and I plan to go back whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Because of requests for prints of this painting, I have limited edition Iris giclee prints on Arches watercolor which I am currently selling through a gallery out in California. It is the World Art Gallery in Ladera Ranch. The website is: www.worldartpublishing.org. Contact me for further information.

The start of something big

2007-09-25T13:49:00.000-04:00

Or so I wish or hope for. Who knows where life can lead. Today I am creating my first blog all to do with art, watercolor in particular, my personal artwork and my love of anything Italian or French. These are all of my most favorite things in life and when I can combine them.....well you will see for yourself. Did I mention cooking, recipes and food also? Or fine wines? I think this all goes hand in hand with a love of creating something wonderful. I have been to Italy twice and the South of France once, but have been creating works of art many times over. I have also sampled my share of wines and enjoyed good recipes countless times. I hope that my blog will be enjoyed by those who like art, travel and cooking all in combination with each other. So let's get going....

Today, I am home working on another watercolor painting hopefully with the idea of submitting it to one of the national or international watercolor societies here in the USA. I am recently the recipient of the American Watercolor Society 2007 Gold Metal of Honor. Yes, this is true that is why this is the start of something big. But how can I out do myself now? Not all of my paintings can possibly be Gold Metal winners can they? This was my first time entering a painting into AWS and that alone is very difficult to get accepted into, and on my first try, I walk away with the Gold Metal. Now what? Talk about pressure. But I am not going to let that stand in the way of me creating paintings that are maybe just honorable mentions. The creative process has its good days and cosi cosi days and I accept that. But everyone around me has suddenly become an expert on telling me what to paint next. I wonder if Monet ran into this when he started getting noticed. And if he did, I would imagine he told them where to get off, just like I am learning to do.