15″w x 11″h watercolor & ink on 140lb Arches cold press.
Just finished a fun watercolor of a dragonfly in cosmos blossoms. We have dragonflies in our garden every year and they are just so fascinating to watch. Their wings seem to glisten as they fly over all the blossoms with their transparent wings. An “eye candy” insect with great colors in their silent flight. They are also quite the benefit to have around, check out the info here. Dragonflies
I do dragonflies frequently because each one I find is always different in colors and shapes and they are usually admiring blooms as I do while I work in the garden.
Dove Chocolate Delight watercolor pencil on paper 01
Last Friday night (4/6/2018) I was downtown Spokane WA at the Spokane Watercolor Society Membership Show 2018 opening reception.
Dove Chocolate Delight 02
There was a bin I had set up on the side where small pieces of unframed art were placed that I did not want anymore. They were not marked with a price, and I was fine with them being given away for free.
Dove Chocolate Delight 03
A beautiful lady named Darlene went through the pictures and prints that were in this bin. She picked up a small watercolor that I had entitled, “Dove Chocolate Delight”. She asked how much it was and who painted it at the front desk. I saw the absolute love on her face as she held the piece close to her chest and instantly felt joy all over. I said, “Yes, it was me,” and asked her “You like it?”
She replied, “Definitely, it is emotion and…”. Our conversation was on.
I shared with her that I remembered painting it as a testimony to how I feel when eating a piece of Dove chocolate. She absolutely got it, loving the way that the facial features showed the rapture of chocolate flavor almost to the point of having tears come from her eyes.
Relief came over me as I signed the back and endorsed it with her name, Darlene. I told her it was free and she immediately replied, “No, I insist to pay for it.”
I was worried about not making sales and should I keep making art earlier. Her love of my work blew that worry away. I collected the funds she offered, thanking her with a hug. The emotional connection is what is important, not the money. An angel appeared just when I needed it. She and her husband enjoyed the rest of the show and left shortly after.
An artist tries to share their innermost soul with the world. It is always my hope that my art will be able to give the same depth of feeling to any collector feeling drawn to purchase it. I was given a gift from Darlene worth more than money. She gave me undeniable assurance that my work does touch hearts and is worthwhile. I may offer it at discounted amounts to clear out inventory. But, that does not mean that it then becomes worthless art to the people that receive the gift.
Wishcraft and Witchcraft are two totally different words.
This book is an absolute must read, that was instrumental in helping me to figure out how to become a full-time artist. It is hilarious how many people want to judge this book by its title or cover, which is truly a mistake. If you read the first page of the Intro you would know that it has absolutely nothing to do with that very similar word of “Witchcraft”. Yet, I don’t know how many people I have told about it, who refused to even take a look assuming it has something to do with witches and black magic.
I have read it myself (more than once). It is probably the most profound and helpful “self get-to-knower” I have ever run into. It is easy to read and leads you onto an investigative journey of the truths within yourself, with easy questions. Showing simple logical paths to take to be able to proceed wherever it is that you find that you really want to go.
The little tests and the explanations are quite revealing to find out what things are important. Often I was discovering dreams that I had ignored because I assumed they were totally impossible, ridiculous, or childish but they were actually very very important to my soul.
It is a book frequently loaned to loved ones. I re-read the first page of the introduction again which made my interest get piqued so.
Unfortunately, that person will have to wait till I actually read it again before I take it to their house for them to borrow. Sorry.
Frosty Morning Visitors is the new painting title. In an earlier post I asked for help to name a new painting. But I think I got it figured out. What do you think?
FROSTY MORNING VISITORS 14″w x 18.5″h watercolor on 140lb wc paper
This will be on exhibit at…
TheSpokane Watercolor Society Membership Show 2018, has a show theme of, “Nature” this year. There is an opening reception as part of Spokane’s First Friday Art celebration on April 6th from 5-8 pm. All of the hanging watercolor paintings by our members will be for sale and will be on display from April 6th through April 27th 2018. The Inland Northwest Land Conservancy Lobby hours are weekdays 9AM-4PM (no weekend days).
The host is the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy
Community Building lobby
which is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that helps willing landowners place conservation easements on their properties. They are focused on protecting land in watershed areas. The show location is in their Community Building lobby, at 35 West Main Avenue, in downtown Spokane WA 99201 (corner Browne and Main).
We invite you to come to meet the artists and enjoy refreshments or even learn to paint at our teaching table. Artistic fun at the opening reception and raffle on First Friday 5-8 pm. That night there will be additional small works and cards for sale.
There are 10 raffle tickets selling for $1 each. Please check out Becky Gromlich’s beautiful painting below that is being raffled off on First Friday. Email me and I’ll work with you.
I am trying to figure out a good painting title. Just finished this watercolor of a view straight out my studio window. I just can’t seem to pick a good name for it. I was thinking,
“Look outside at what is looking inside!”
No. But I know that is just way too long… and just naming it deer isn’t cool so… Please. Do any of you have any suggestions? HELP!!!
It is actually the cover painting for my newest book project published by Michele Bourgeois an author in Canada who does Alternative Holistic Healing.
Some of my best art is in this book, check it out on Amazon.com. I also did all the manuscript layout and design. I enjoyed reading this one, if you get a chance to read this let me know what you think of it.
Mystery painting, any guesses about what this watercolor painting is for at this half-done stage? Are there any Sherlock Holmes personalities in attendance?
How about at the completed stage? Does anyone know what this is, or what it is for?
Now, I am very careful in adding all the final details. Straightening lines, adding darks and shadows then white details. I am happy and feel like it is done and the final painting is available to see on my website at :
The Chakra whites are still being protected by mastic. So, I am able to add a few more shadows around the shapes in the symbols and on the figure to give it a more 3D feel with the resist still in place.
Once, everything is completely dry, and I mean totally dry! Wait overnight because if you don’t, you will find that watercolor paper does rip and rub off if damp. There is no way to make it look right again if that happens. You have to start over. That is a painful lesson on a finished painting to say the least.
Get ready for a shock when you remove the mastic revealing the saved white areas. After getting the sticky mastic off, I also go across the whole surface erasing as much of the pencil as possible. The difference between what it looks like with the mastic and what it look like without it are always amazing.
How about at the completed stage? Does anyone know what this is, or what it is for?
Get ready for a shock when you remove the mastic revealing the saved white areas. After getting the sticky mastic off, I also go across the whole surface erasing as much of the pencil as possible. The difference between what it looks like with the mastic and what it look like without it are always amazing.