Nellie Mosher Clematis - Work in Progress

Another full sheet adventure! Sometimes I wonder what I am thinking!  Actually this painting is pure fun to work on. The size is a bit intimidating but will make quite an impression when it is completed.

The colors of the clematis are so lovely and the painting the leaves is a joy - and a break from the petals which require quite a bit of concentration.

I started at the bottom and am working my way up - really backwards - but it is working for me.  I will paint the trellis and the shadows on it last.

Until next time.....

Backyard Blooms

Backyard Blooms

Back to our yard in the beautiful Kennebecasis Valley in New Brunswick, where the resident white tail deer population regards planters as their own personal salad bowl!   We have a number of wrought iron planter hangers at a variety of heights. Needless to say we have more success with the higher planters.

Red geraniums are a staple in our planters, as are petunias and any daisy like flower I can find. I love the mix of color you can plant together and still have it look good.  I dabbled over the years with backyard color, various monochromatic then whites and on to what ever strikes my fancy at the time.  It almost always comes back to red.  Or Yellow.  Pure happy colors.  And I cannot wait to paint them.

This piece was a bit tricky – tricky to draw out and real tricky to attain depth and contrast while painting with reds.  I worked on this continuously for two days.  When I finally stepped back to scrutinize my work, I was pleased with the effect of painting red on red. It is dimensional and  representational of our back yard basket.

Painted on a 12 x 16 sheet of Ampersand Aquabord with transparent watercolor, sealed with Krylon Acrylic Archival Varnish.

First painting completed in 2011 - "In Full Bloom"

We live in a suburban area.  Which in New Brunswick means we share our property and gardens with a population of white tail deer.  Although beautiful, they are known in our region as “garden rats”.  Almost nothing is sacred.  They eat almost everything! Especially tulips, lilies and hostas.  Apparently tulips and lilies are like candy to them. They wait until the bloom is about to burst open with color and munch them while we are sleeping.

Every now and then I am successful in foiling their snack.  We apply blood meal regularly, especially after each rain – apparently, the deer do not like the smell (I understand, I don’t like it either). 

This grouping of tulips were spared from the ravenous appetites of Bambi and friends.  I photographed them each day – quite a novelty to see open tulips in these parts. I could not wait to start the painting.  (Although I had to finish “Amethyst Lilacs” and the “Quince” paintings first.

So, “In Full Bloom” is my first completed painting in 2011.  Here is hoping for another colorful tulip display this coming spring.

Painted on a 12 x 16 sheet of Ampersand Aquabord with transparent watercolor, sealed with Krylon Acrylic Archival Varnish.

Watercolor painting of Japanese Quince on Ampersand Aquabord

"Quince" Watercolor painting on Aquabord

Mid-spring each year, we have a wonderful quince shrub that presents us with a shock of color.  I am always surprised and pleased with the display.  To the point where we have purchased two more quince shrubs.  Interestingly enough, the colors on the two newer plants are quite different from the older original shrub. 

When we are sitting on the deck and see this blaze of reddish orange at the back of the property, you just have to walk over to admire it up close. Careful not to get too close, it is a thorny shrub.  Also somewhat deer resistant which is another reason we acquired two more.

Last year, I completed a quarter sheet watercolor of the quince.  I love how these “vermillion” blooms are highlighted with yellows and yet are contrasted with deep shades of red and scarlet in the shadows. Especially when it is back lit by the sun.  When the smaller watercolor was completed, I was pleased with the painting but thought I did not achieve the overall effect I was striving for. It needed to be bigger so it would present bolder.

This is the smaller original watercolor on Arches 300lb paper

I drew it out once again on a 22 x 30 sheet of Ampersand Aquabord.  The watercolors seem to be more luminous on this material.  And the scale of the painting is large enough to create the “drama” I was striving for.  So, many weeks later, this is the finished result.

Pretty Petunias

This Painting was completed quite quickly by my usual standards.  I used a mask to preserve the white areas, then poured pink and pale green.  Once dried, I applied more mask and poured more watercolor paint and so on... 

Overall the painting took two days to complete. I think the hardest part was first applying the mask and them removing it.  Still have not decided if I like mask or not.  I usually carefully paint around things.

I am pretty happy with this process - it is fun!