It's in the Bag

Not sure this is the title but I am calling it that for now. This is where I am today as I stop. I am trying to make up this wood without a reference and am wondering how far to take it...I am thinking of an unusual background so hopefully I can begin that tomorrow!!!

Party Pear Final

I am not sure how this is going to appear as on my computer it looks square...and it is 22 x 17. This pear is about my dear friend Margo who passed away in December...she was the light of my life and the joy that came through the door each day...some friends are like that...bounce into your life and teach you how to live! She was the most positive person I have ever met and found good in everything...and I mean everything! I never heard her complain once through everything she went through. In August I was setting up still lifes of pears and as this one was developing it reminded me of Margo...she made everyday a party. I will think of her every day when I see this and hopefully live a better life because of knowing her.
This is going in at a lower resolution than I usually do because some of my images have been lifted again. I am sorry about that.

Party Pear Progress

Party Pear is getting closer. I have my son and his girlfriend every weekend so that has really slowed my progress but I still keep working some everyday. Thought I would show where Party Pear is today...and tomorrow maybe I will show another one. It has been a struggle with the odd plate this was on...sort of a gold patina and so I have been glazing with greens, golds and also a glaze of Tiger Eye which is a mineral watercolor from Daniel Smith. This paint tends to granulate as the actual rock settles out so it gives some subtle textures. Now when I finish the stem and umbrella they will pop more . I will begin to feel better when I can complete some of these and get them behind me!

Four Pears and a Frog

This one has so much drawing I have been doing...I have just started some of the painting but thought I would share it before I go on or move to another. This is a full sheet and so will take a lot of work...I hope it turns out as I like what is going on so far. I am sorry it comes with a gray cast but we are having some pretty gray days here...

Painting In Magazine

I was just looking at the Jan/Feb issue of The Artist's Magazine and on page 13 they have my book but above on 1/3 of the page they have part of one of my paintings that I have not really ever shown much. It is something I thought I would point out as you can easily see how I used colored pencils on this piece to get the texture and water reflections...It is a very fun and fast way to work over watercolor to bring a piece to completion! Just thought some of you might want to try it!

Slowly Advancing on Pears!

Have not gotten alot of work done as I have my son and his girlfriend here...but I am drawing on number 5 which is more complicated and did get a little painting done on these two. Party Pear has a plate under it that gives off a strange grey/green /gold appearance and I liked it because it was so odd...so am trying to keep some of that look...It will get a final Q Gold glaze but for now will be this. I still have more drawing to do on the ribbons in order to begin work on the left side. Pears on a Pier needed to have the ground work done so I could judge some values and so I have begun the wood of the dock...it is sunbleached so will not be too dark but cannot put in shadows until that is more or less complete...So far so good. I thought...where do I begin with all this wood! Then just realized it is like lace...find an area and begin and it will fall into place and that is sort of what is happening. Thank goodness! Ha! I hope that I can get a little more painting in today...will see.

WIP Continues!

I took these pictures yesterday and since then I have progressed a little more...but my problem is when my computer had a virus it went it to be cleaned and I lost the programs for uploading my photos...I am going back in with it tomorrow and see if they can fix that...very frustrating. I did manage to figure this out but it was ridiculous how labor intensive it was to get them here...Also when these were taken it was snowing very hard...very gray days here for the last week...so to get it lighter the color maybe has washed out some but at least it is an update.