winter squash

watercolor on paper 6" x 9"

leaf dance

Like leaves floating on cool water....

autumn is crisp, green apples

it's autumn!

I think that if you are an artist, autumn is a magical time of year, especially if you live in the midwest.

a trio of pears

While illustrating children's books, I like to balance out my creative life with some "adult" work in watercolor or graphite or charcoal.  So the other night, I stayed up late and did a quicky watercolor sketch of a bowl of pears.  Looking at it now, however, the trio of pears feels rather playful to me, perhaps like a nest of little birds singing for their next meal.

loosening up

Watercolor is something I have always wanted to master, but eluded me.  Lately I have ben trying to loosen up and allow the paint and paper to work in harmony, patiently waiting to see what comes together, instead of trying to control the outcome.  Hey, I think that is a good rule for life in general!

I used the same palette as described in the previous post, which is essentially my palette of choice.

watercolor salt demo

Last weekend I had the pleasure of hosting a demo for a group of women from Windy Brushes, the IL chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters.  Because autumn in IL is such a beautiful and colorful time of year, but also short-lived, I wanted to take advantage of the changing colors in the autumn leaves for the project I was demonstrating.  Each student left that day with a set of 4 watercolor cards with matching envelopes.  I selected Canson Monvant 140 lb. 5" x 7"cards, which come with matching envelopes.  Below is a tutorial I put together for students who paid for the class, but could not stay.  I thought I would share it with you here.

As short as autumn is, I suggest you go out and gather up some beautiful autumn leaves and try this technique now.  These cards can also make beautiful place cards for guests at your Thanksgiving table.

Salt Textures for Watercolor Painting

This simple technique is easy
to do, but can produce stunning effects.

Here is your palette:

Students collected autumn

colored leaves prior to class.
Leaves are sketched lightly with
a pencil on watercolor card, or you may trace an outline of the leaf if you do
not have good drawing skills.  You
may choose either a vertical or a horizontal format.

Next, use a brush to wet the
paper inside the drawing of the leaf.
I mainly used size 3 and size 5 round sable brushes for painting.  Next, loosely apply watercolor directly
into the wet areas of the leaf, and allow the colors to blend into each other
on the paper.  The beauty of watercolor
is that it can be unpredictable, so do not try to control or overwork the
colors in your leaf.  You may put
down a light base of color, and apply more colors as you work.  Applying transparent layers of color
over other transparent layers is called “glazing”.  This is the best way to keep your colors looking fresh.

While the paint is still
damp, sprinkle a little salt (kosher or regular) into random areas of the
leaf.  Allow the paint to dry
completely, then brush off the salt.
You may keep adding glazes of color and work with more salt until you
achieve the values and hues you desire.
Once your leaf is dry, you may decide to add a drop shadow, or
completely paint in a background around the leaf.  I have included several examples.

(card with matching envelope)

(card with painted background)

(card with drop shadow instead of painted background)

 As you can see from the

examples, we also applied the technique to the edge of the envelope to make a
matching card and envelope set.

You may also want to check
out this video I found on YouTube, where an artist demonstrates the technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyYI0cEN5jA&feature=related

I thought these leaves turned out so nicely, I decided to stick them in my Etsy shop.  Click here to browse.

it's autumn again!

Here's a sample I painted tonite for a workshop I have been invited to teach next Saturday. This may end up in my Etsy shop. It's a card with matching envelope. Happy Autumn, my friends!

new items in my etsy shop

I am adding new charcoal drawings to my Etsy shop this week, and will be adding autumn leaf reproductions soon. 

Also, you can see my drawing featured over at An Apple a Day.

still life with feather

a vase that was my mother's

a feather from my walk

a pewter box from an old love

a rosary from my grandmother

still life with rose bud

 The paper I draw on makes a huge difference in the look and the feel of the finished drawing.  I enjoy Moleskine paper because there really is nothing else like it.  It is so smooth and holds the graphite really well.  However, Using this handmade paper, seen here, forces me to loosen up.  It surface is bumpy, flawed, and somewhat unpredictable, and I prefer to switch to charcoal for this paper.

Here I have included a scan of the entire page, so you can see the uneven edges, which also add interest and beauty to the drawing.  The size is approximately 8.5" X 12.5".

shallot

One thing I have always felt passionate about is art. Drawing is the first thing children learn to do to communicate with others and make sense of their world. There is something very primitive, yet sophisticated, about a beautiful graphite drawing rendered well. In creating still lifes, I hope to draw attention to the simple things in life that are often overlooked, celebrating the mundane as something rather spectacular. I hope my love of the traditional media of graphite on Moleskine and my passion for art comes through in all of my drawings.  Regardless of how busy my life gets at times, I return again and again to my studio, set up a still life comprised mostly of the foods I use for cooking, open up my Moleskine, and get lost in the intimate bliss of drawing.

Original graphite drawing on Moleskine paper now available in my Etsy shop.

memories of last autumn

watercolor on paper (cropped)

framed

the "original"...

Note how cropping can make a piece of art take on a whole new focus.

apples in a bowl

charcoal on handmade paper

late night watercolor study-limited palette

Paul's Onion

New commissioned drawing, graphite on Moleskine paper.

butternut squash with onion & garlic

graphite on handmade paper

pumpkin

graphite on handmade paper - my entry for Illustrations Friday's theme "Cultivate".

Happy Spring!

No art to post today. I just wanted to post a photo from yesterday's walk. I am so excited, because spring is finally coming back! Sunshine and I have missed our walks! I hope that warmer weather in the upcoming months will bring new inspiration to paint and draw. Happy Spring, everyone!

Illustration Friday - "Layers"

drawings from 2008 (top) and 2010 (below)

New Fine Art Shop

Check out my new Etsy shop featuring my fine art originals and reproductions.

d'anjou pears

The Marathon Runner

Beyond The Coyote Arts Festival 2010

Here are some photos from this past week and weekend:

My friend Suzi (left), who bought "Crimson Leaf" on opening night.

"Crimson Leaf"

A view of exhibit space after I hung it on Thursday.

A good frame on a painting is like a good suit on a man.

Watercolor leaves, purchased by my friend Phyllis before the show.

 Framing art in my studio....watercolor mushrooms.

framed!

A good frame and mat should enhance and compliment the artwork it holds.

new shop, new art & 2 art shows

While away in California last week, I created some new art, which I wanted you to see.  I am really enjoying watercolor lately.  I have enjoyed painting these autumn leaves, but decided to stretch my wings a bit and try a still life.  My boyfriend and I visited the local farmer's market, and came home with lots of great produce, which I find makes great subjects for still lifes.  I posted my still life here, although my scanner does not do it justice.  I need to have it professionally photographed.  But here it is:

I also painted a few new leaves. Here is one of them:

Last night I opened a store on Etsy, where I will be selling fine art and giclee prints.  I had giclees made of several of my leaf paintings when I was in California.  They turned out great.  For more info, and to see my shop, click here.

Regarding art shows, if you are in the Chicago area next weekend, Sept. 10 - 12, please come meet me and see all of my fine art originals and prints at Beyond the Coyote in the Flat Iron Arts Bldg.  You can do a little early holiday shopping, or just celebrate art and culture in our beautiful city.  September is the best month here!

I will also be having an art show and sale with fellow artist Vincent S. Chiaramonte during the Rockford  Fall Artscene, in Rockford IL.  Click the link here for more info, and to map the event...we are listed as Aardvark Studio.  The hours are Friday October 1st  from 5pm - 9pm, and Saturday October 2nd from 3pm - 9pm.

weathered aspen

new watercolor paintings

pin oak

little brown leaf #3

another study in my Moleskine watercolor journal