New Ideas for a New Year!

I have had this painting drawn out in my studio for some while now.  It is a personal painting of a certain time of life.  Each element represents something meaningful to me: The water...emotions. The trees...protection.  The rocks...life's obstacles.  The birds...guides.  The sky...hope.  The girl...learner, traveler.

I waited until my mind was clear of other noise before beginning. 

For another change I am trying out watercolor art board to see how it reacts to poured paint as it is rigid and may not buckle (I am hoping).  

Using new gamboge, rose madder and ultramarine deep for my first pour. Got my set up all ready on the floor, complete with value study...must have map to see where to go. Set up only walked on once by dogs who are now banished for time being.  Very happy to have on my old pouring shoes again!

This is after the first pour, interesting how this paper resisted the paint on the edges, needed some encouragement with a little water spritz.

After the pour off of the excess paint, I added some more things in the water area, which will hopefully leave some interesting marks....feathers from a barred owl which I found out walking.

I also added squiggles in a whirlpool design....from a Zen teaching which describes how all life is little whirlpools in the river and how it is swept away, reentering the larger flow. The teaching is from Charlotte Joko Beck: Nothing Special: Living Zen. 

Now to lunch!

Fun with Food Coloring!

Seems like it's been a very short summer.  Did a bit of everything, painting, plein air, sailing, gardening and family visits, even got some reading done on afternoons when it was too hot for anything else.

Been in an experimental mood lately.  Using watercolor as a base I've been adding other mediums like acrylic, colored pencils, ink and now food coloring.  Yes, food coloring!  It can create some great effects. 

I ordered Karlyn Holman's book, Watercolor Without Boundaries after watching her informative videos online.   Within it are so many great ideas to try and expand upon.  One of the techniques was the use of food coloring taught by Cindy Markowski.  I was in a hurry so only found the gel type coloring at the grocery store, but thought it might be fun to try it. 

First I gathered leaves from our yard and placed them on some arches 140lb cold press paper. I did four small samples to try different techniques. 

 First I layed out the leaves on the paper and traced around the shapes with pencil and watercolor pencil, so it would be visible when dried.

 I then wetted the paper with water and using small syringes with diluted food coloring in them, I plunged the pigment on the wet paper.

 I then layed the leaves back on the paper using the outlines I had drawn before. I also squirted the gel coloring right from the tube to see what would happen.

 Then I put a piece of plexi glass on the whole mess and stood on it!

 I then place buckets of water on them and left them for 24 hours to dry. They would have dried faster had I remembered about the sprinkler system!!

 Here's what it looked like under the plexi, made me excited and I wanted to lift up the plexi, but had to wait )<:

 Blurry photo, but the dogs thought I had placed some water at perfect Lab height for them to drink!

 Here's what it looked like after I took of the plexi, still needed a couple of hours to dry, will remember about the sprinklers next time.

I then used negative painting techniques to paint around the shapes and bring out other shapes I saw in the background.  I also used watercolor pencils to so some outlining in places.  Not bad, for the first efforts. Will try with pine needles next, got a few of those! Think that will work well with the gel color.

Wine & Watercolor!

 Earlier this month I was asked to lead a watercolor class at a local winery, Latah Creek Wine Cellars.  www.latahcreek.com  The winery provided the food and wine and I the subject painting and instruction.  I came up with this little painting at right, "Tuscan Country".  Colorful but easy for the beginner. 

The pictures at the bottom of this post are what the students did. They had no painting experience what so ever and look at what they turned out!!  Fabulous job!

I had a great time teaching this fun class/event.  If you would like me to teach at a similar event you are planning at your business or home, please drop me a line or call my cell at 509-995-1647 and we can discuss the details.






Look for me or my work at the following venues this summer:

July 22 - 5:30 - 8:30 Art for the Animals, Tinman Gallery, Spokane, WA Exhibition and Art Auction to Benefit Riverswish Animal Sanctuary, buy your tickets through this website: http://www.zvents.com/z/spokane-wa/art-for-the-animals-exhibition--events--182936126

July 29 - August 23 - Opening reception, July 29 5 -9 p.m. Peter Pan Invitational, Tinman Gallery, Spokane, WA


August 5,6 & 7 - Art on the Green, Coeur d'Alene, group show with CDL Art Assoc.


As always, your comments are appreciated.

Yoho part 3 - The unifying ink.

View up road from cabin in Field, BC. Wonderful fall colours.

One less than stellar day we drove into Banff and did the tourist thing, recalling many good memories.  I spied this wonderfully coloured Meadow off the parkway on the way back and managed to do a tiny sketch in the rain. 

Much better weather for sketching on the shores of Lake O'Hara.

Art shot on early morning slippery hike to Lake Oesa.

My dear one having a read while I paint at Lake Oesa.  He's a true gem!

One of Bill's shots on way back down from Oesa.

A start to try to do the scene he photographed justice.

After many blunders, I decided on the unifying ink technique.  Most painters are familair with the unifying wash...well, I call this the unifying ink.  It's my ace in the hole when all is not turning out as I envisioned.  Anyway, I like it more now....It's called Mountain Suite VI...hope you like it too.

Yoho part 2

Part of our return trip from Larch Valley included a reviving pint at The Train Station pub in Lake Louise with our new hiking buddies.  This was the view from the pub entrance of Temple Mountain with a raven flying by.  I've seen it so many times, yet never tire of it.

Our final day of hiking was a long one, along the Iceline trail in Yoho Valley.  It eventually skirts the bottom edge of the Wapta glacier.  This was the summit of our 2200 foot climb that day with a view of 1200 foot takakkaw falls across the valley just behind me.  Quite a personal feat as 2 years after big surgery.  Proud of myself, I am. Pat on back, pat, pat.

A break to take in the view down the valley to the south.

The edge of the glacier and terminal moraine.

More edge of glacier shot.

After another climb up yet another moraine at altitude. I was pretty tired at this half way point, but we pushed on to do the whole circuit. 

Lucky for us we had a nice cozy cabin in nearby Field to crash in after a long hiking day. We had done the same trail about 20 years ago and got to return to a cold tent, so this was royal comfort in comparison.  In this shot my feet are getting much needed attention.  It only took 4 mos. of physical therapy to get over this hiking week!

Sublime Beauty - Yoho 2010

Last fall we took a weeks holiday at the Yoho National Park, BC.  Here we are at Lake Oesa after an early morning hike on an icy trail having a warming tea break.

I got right down to business and started sketching with hat and fingerless gloves on.

Sketching on the edge of Lake Oesa

Lake Oesa, early morning.

Falls from Lake Oesa outflow, I think they are called Victoria, if I remember correctly.

Reflections in Lake O'Hara

More sketching while waiting for the hikers bus

We did a tourist thing and walked up to Larch valley.  Making friends with two other couples.  One of the couples were on the tail end of world tour for a year.  Lots of adventurous stories were told on the trail.

The rest went exploring and I stayed and sketched.

The Larches of Larch valley.

More views of Larch Valley.

It's Still Pouring

Okay, I figured I wasn't quite done.  I added in some more details and changed some elements, so now I'm done.....well.....yep,  it's finished!