A New Year - A New Painting!

Happy New Year! It's the time of year for new beginnings, new resolutions (or the old ones with renewed resolve), and fresh starts.

It's a great time to decide to paint more, draw more, doodle more, and enjoy more! Hobbies, like most things in life, require time that often times seem to be harder to find. BUT, watercolor painting and drawing does not take much time. Do a little at a time. You don't have to paint the whole painting or draw the entire picture at one time. Take 10 minutes at a time...draw in 10 minute segments until the picture is ready to paint. Paint one section at a time until the painting is complete. So what if it takes a month to finish a painting? You will have enjoyed every minute you devoted to your hobby and accomplished something that you might not have had the time to do in one setting.

Keep a sketch pad handy.....doodle while talking on the phone, watching TV, waiting for an appointment. You'll have the basis of a painting and you will have accomplished something in the time you would have left empty.

I started working on a watercolor painting today. I used a photo taken during a recent snow in the East Tennessee mountains. I love painting barns and this one surrounded by winter just needed to be painted. The sketch above is my barn...done is just a short segment of time. I'll paint it in the same way.....a section at a time!

What are you waiting for? Get started now....it only takes a little bit of time to start....and before you know it, all the little bits of time will add up to a finished painting!

Happy New Year and Happy Painting!
Karen

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! May your holiday be filled with happiness, family, and friends......and time for a painting or two!!

Happy Painting!
Karen

It's almost Christmas---I don't have time to paint!!

It's almost Christmas and you think you don't have time to paint. Presents to buy and wrap? Cookies to bake? Cards to send?

I have a sneaky way to do one of these things and still do a little painting too! I paint my Christmas cards. There are several ways to accomplish this, depending on the time you have available.

Option 1
Cut watercolor paper into card size. Fold in half which ever direction you would like the card to open and paint a simple holiday scene on the front of the card and write you own personal holiday message inside. I have done this many times and have been flattered that the recipient framed the card to display as part of their Christmas decorations. Envelops can be purchased at office supply stores. If you have many people on your Christmas card list, this is the most time consuming option. However, a simple wreath or snowman can be painted quickly.

Option 2
Paint one holiday scene for your card. Take a photo and do one of the following:

• Select and order printed Christmas cards, just like you would do for a family photo!


• Print individual photos (4" x 6") size and use purchased cards to slide you photo in.

I selected Option 2 for the card displayed above. The picture is the photo I used to make my cards. I purchased cards with envelops and the slot ready to hold a 4" x 6" photo. I took a flash drive with the photo stored on it and went to a 1 hour photo kiosk to have to photos printed. (I grocery shopped while my photos were being printed.).

Either option you choose, you get to check a Christmas job off of your list and sneak in some fun painting time too!

Happy Painting and Merry Christmas!

Karen

I Painted Leaves....What Do I Do With Them?

Now that you have painted all of these wonderful leaves, I guess you are wondering what to do with them.

They can be framed individually or grouped like my picture above. Or, leaf studies make excellent name cards for Thanksgiving dinner. The leaf studies can be mounted on heavy weight scrapbook paper folded into a place card. If you would like, color photo copies of the leaf study can be made and used to decorate the table.

Whatever you decide to do with your leaf studies, a leaf study is a wonderfully way to capture fall and give practice in color blending.

Happy Painting!
Karen

Leaf Study - Finishing Touches

Adding the veins and imperfections in the leaf will finish our leaf study. The photo above shows both of the leaves completed. I'll also show a close up photo of each leaf to provide additional detail.

All detail work will be done using wet on dry so that the lines will remain distinct. Prepare the paint using a darker shade of the predominate leaf color with just a small amount of burnt umber to deepen.

I like to lightly sketch in the veins, small holes and imperfections with a pencil first so that I can decide if I need more or less detail. If less, it is easy to erase the pencil marks...once you have painted you are basically stuck with it. Watercolors can not be covered up like acrylics can.

The photo below shows a leaf with the veins penciled in.

Once the desired amount of detail has been penciled in, use a liner brush and a light touch to paint in the veins. The imperfections, spots and holes can be added with a number 6 brush. Again, use the predominate color of the leaf and deepen the shade by adding burnt umber and sepia. The stem is not a solid color, but shades of burnt umber and sepia.

The photos below are closer shots of the finished paintings. A leaf study is quick and easy to paint and make excellent cards or place cards for a Thanksgiving table.

Grab that brush and get busy.....fall will soon give way to winter!

Happy Painting!
Karen

Fall Leaf Study

It's fall here in the mountains....my favorite time of year! And, a perfect time to do a leaf study. On a recent trip to the mountains, I collected a few leaves with interesting colors. Painting a single leaf (a leaf study) is a good way to practice blending colors.

The first step in a leaf study is to lightly sketch the shape of the leaf, leaving out the veins of the leaf until the color wash is applied.

Wet the entire surface of the leaf and apply (wet on wet) a light yellow base color. while the surface is still wet, drop in various colors to allow blending.

Don't forget to add the little imperfections in the leaf by dropping in browns. This adds character and makes the leaf interesting.

The photos above show this step. The photo below was taken while hiking in the Smoky Mountains.....which explains why my blog has been delayed recently. I have been hiking and enjoying the fall weather....and, of course, gathering inspiration for my upcoming paintings.

So, "take a hike" and gather some leaves......grab that paint brush and get started! My next blog will show how to finish the veins in the leaves.

Happy Painting!
Karen

Autumn Sunshine - Part 2

Fall started yesterday, so I figured it was time to finish up my sunflower table. Last blog I had the pattern drawn and transferred to the table using white chalk. This provided me with a great outline that can be dusted off and not become a permanent part of my painting. If more detail is needed for a pattern, chalk is not the method to use. This sunflower painting was not planned to be detailed, but a whimsical painting of a fun flower.

I used the following colors of acrylic paint:

- lemon yellow
- medium yellow
-yellow ochre
-raw sienna
-burnt sienna
-burnt umber
-black

Using a flat 1/2 inch brush and lemon yellow, I painted the outline of the petals using large sweeping strokes. I added medium yellow in various places in the petals to show slight variations in color and used yellow ochre at the base of each petal - again using large sweeping strokes. I allowed some of the table color to show through giving a somewhat transparent look to add to the whimsical quality.

The photo below shows the table partially complete with the petals roughed in and a start on the center.

After I was satisfied with the color of the petals, I put a stroke or two of burnt sienna on a few of the petals for shadows.

The center of the sunflower was painted next. I used a large round stippling brush and tapped on the paint using a dry brush and several shades of paint...raw sienna, burnt sienna, and burnt umber. Use a light touch and add a few taps of black to deepen a few areas of the center.

After I was satisfied with the painting, I allowed the paint to dry at least 24 hours and applied a spray clean sealant to the top surface. Before sealing, brush off any bits of chalk left on the surface. This will set the paint and protect the surface from use. This sunny table will brighten up any room through the cold winter months ahead!

Happy Painting!
Karen

Autumn Sunshine

Fall is my favorite time of year and is also the season for late blooming flowers - like sunflowers. I have many pictures of sunflowers created in watercolor, acrylics, and pastels on canvas or paper. This time my surface for the painting will be a small table that I am repurposing for my art studio. I have an antique "half table" that I am not using and need a small table to keep my brushes within easy reach when painting.

Yes, I could use the table "as is," but I wanted something fun in my art studio.

I prepared a template the size of the table top and and drew the sunflower on my template. See the photo below of the table and template.

The next step is to transfer the template to the table. Since the table is already finished in a medium oak and I don't plan to base paint the table in a different color, I need to be able to transfer to this surface. One can purchase a transfer paper in light colors to transfer to darker surfaces, but I don't need a detailed copy of my design. Therefore, I rubbed the back of my template with white chalk. I then traced the design on the front of the template lightly to transfer the shape to the table surface. See the photo below of the transferred design.

The next step will be to paint the sunflower on the table top. I will be using acrylic paints and must decide whether or not I want a simplistic design or a more detailed sunflower.

I'll see you next time with the start of my painting. Until then, look around your garage or attic and see if you can find an old piece of furniture that needs a new use.

Happy Painting!
Karen

Getting Ready for Fall and Winter....How to Paint Logs!

Since today is Labor Day and the "unofficial" end of summer, I thought a painting to help usher in fall might be an appropriate blog entry.

In my watercolor painting above, Ben's Firewood, the emphasis is on the stacked firewood and the logs of the cabin; however, the eye is drawn to the lake and mountains beyond. The lake and mountains are not detailed to keep the logs and cabin as the main focus. Plus, the lantern and axe handle help keep the eye in the foreground and bring the painting together.

The background was painted first with a wash of color allowing each section of the background to dry before painting the next. However, the evergreen trees were painted in while the mountains were still damp to creat a slightly blurry effect.

The logs and firewood were each painted separately to keep each log distinct. If painted as a group, the logs would have little definition and look like a large blob. Use various shades of raw and burnt umber as well as sepia and Payne's gray. Use a wet on wet technique and drop in several colors for each log. Leave areas of white in the logs as well creating highlights.

The photo below shows a sample of the logs as they are being painted.

The trees are painted with very little foliage still remaining. The leaves are sponged on randomly using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and burnt umber. Use a light touch - the leaves are not detailed and only hint at the season. The remaining foliage in the foreground is painted by dropping in various shades of the foliage colors and deepening the areas around leaf shades to add depth to the painting,

Watercolor Tip:
The sky, lake and mountains were painted across the trees, cabin post, and lantern without using any type of masking fluid. Because the trees and cabin post are darker than the background, they can be painted over the top without any background color showing through. The background needs to be seen through the lantern glass and this allows for an uninterrupted background. The metal parts of the lantern are darker than the background and be painted over the top of the background paint. This is a great time saver for those artists "like me" who are too impatient to wait for masking fluid to dry. See sample below.

Happy Painting!
Karen

Childhood Treasures

Who wouldn't enjoy a wagon and a Teddy bear?

These toys bring back memories for grown up kids and make memories for the little ones....so why not save them in a painting? I painted the one above for my cousin's great grandson. I enjoyed creating this painting and thought I would share the techniques with you.

Sketch the bear in lightly with little fur detail...adding the shape of the feet, eyes, nose, ears and bow. The wagon is mostly straight lines which are easier done using a ruler.

I painted the background first using a large flat brush and a wet on wet technique leaving much white, unpainted background and adding shadowing around the bear.

As the paper dries, lay on fur strokes using a fan brush. Vary the colors brushed in for the fur and using darker fur colors to create shadows. Paint the fur in the direction it would grow and leave plenty of white spaces. Paint in stages...paint one shade and allow to dry before adding additional fur.

Eyes are painted using black, but leaving a small white highlight....or scraping in a highlight when dry. The nose is also black leaving some areas unpainted and highlighted.

The bow is added last using a wet on wet technique deepening the shadows.

The wagon was painted in wet on wet technique, also deepening the shadow areas.

Personalize your bear using colors of your choice.

Happy Painting!

Karen