Sisters

5 x 9" watercolor

Another in the series of studies from old family photos. They are poignant and narrative, albeit unknown to me except in a universal sense. How many of us were posed just so for our annual Easter Picture? I get such a kick out of this kind of photograph. I'm sure I'll do more, here and there, but probably only as warm up studies.

Hopefully I am back at it, after spending a wonderful week studying plein air landscape with Marc Hanson in Taylors Falls, MN. Anyways, I have a little over 4 weeks left and 100 paintings for $100 or less to scrounge up and present by the time of the Studio Crawl.

Jiffy by the Tracks

5.5 x 3.5" Watercolor

Had to take Peter to work to his boss' house in Dilworth, and this is the view accross from the parking lot of Office Max, Peter's old job site. Did this just to do it, quick and dirty. And I did.

Fargo-Moorhead is so very scenic. Sigh.

Dike East Sketch 2

3.5 x 5.5" watercolor

....and here's another one.

Dike East Sketch 1

3.5 x 5.5" watercolor

I love my little moleskine watercolor book; that and my W&N folding paint kit both fit into a zippered envelope the size of my hand. I can always be carrying my paints, and even sometimes actually pull them out, without it being such a big hairy deal. More likely to actually happen.

Study for American Post-War Gothic

10 x 6" watercolor

This is better, but still not there. In the words of the Anointed One - "It's a study. You might as well have an adventure.." In other words, who cares if it all doesn't work out? This is prime thinking time, or evidence of it.

Study for Going To Town

7 x 9" watercolor

This is my first attempt back at painting since I don't know when, and it is a dismal affair. Putzy, self-indulgent and random choices. There are so many changes I'd make were this to become a real painting it's hard to know where to start. Way too much screwing around in the outfits and the background. Can't even remember the point of wanting to do this, so maybe that tells me something. In order to try to remember how I used to paint a watercolor, I watched a bit of video of my personal hero, Charles Reid. Ah, now I recall -- not so much contrasty edges or values, let the "blur" out and about, don't overdo a focal point, etc. etc. I should watch it about 10 more times before I pick up a brush again.....

Watercolor Me 5 x 6
A quick demo for class on the subject of asymmetry not being such a big hairy deal. Wish all my paintings were this loose...

Playing Hookey During Workshop

Dennis A, MacArthur Park 11 x 8

I was taking a workshop from Louisa McElwain and we were using really large palette knives on large supports, and gobs and gobs of paint...... needless to say, I was having a hard time and welcomed the opportunity to take a break and do something with which I was a bit more comfortable-- a quick watercolor sketch of another artist who had brought his plein air class to the same location.

Back in the Saddle

Monte Baldo, October watercolor 7 x 10

Going to give this blog another go, if only to prepare for the Studio Crawl here the first weekend of October. Quick and dirty pics, all; some plein air from my travel sketchbook, some done "en studio" as studies for larger pictures (eventually). Goal is to have 100 total by then, since I've already submitted brochure advertising for "Cento per Cento" -- loosely translated as 100 paintings for $100 or less, and largely based on my trip to Italy last fall. Wish me luck.

Benners & Bear Get Hitched

Hey, SJF counts as one of my creations, no?