Flowers are one of my favorite subjects to paint! I am anxious for spring to come so I can paint more flowers from our garden. I used a photo from my reference files, a great big luscious peony. I am also a big fan of Chinese brush painting and have learned that in China, the Peony […] more »
These teapot shapes continue to interest me. I set up part of my favorite collection outside on a glass table when it was nice and sunny outside. I also put some mirrors behind the teapots to capture their reflections and add depth to the composition. It was tricky setting the mirrors up against the chairs, as they […] more »
I’ve painted another design of the crushed and mangled cans that I viewed at the recycling center here in Centerville. I find the abstract metal shapes fascinating and have to simplify the elements as there are too many details within each can. In this design, the round bottoms “frame” the larger can with ridges and […] more »
I’m back doing a still life with my favorite glassware. I recently purchased the round, ruby vase that I thought would be great in a set-up. The other challenge in this still life was using an abstract acrylic collage in the background behind the glass. The pears added interesting shapes and color changes in the design. A piece of […] more »
I’m continuing my metalscape series with all the interesting ridged cans and circular lids. This is the eighth design, and I used a limited palette of burnt sienna and various blues. It took me about a week to paint. I began by doing a couple thumbnail designs in my sketchbook since I worked from my […] more »
What could be more simple than a design of brushes? I chose a variety of sizes and drew the shapes directly on the paper. Leaving the background for last, I discovered the interesting triangular patterns between the brushes and used different pigments for each one: naples yellow, violet and sap green. The triangles emphasize the angular pattern […] more »
Seems like the possibilities are endless in my quest of metal landscapes. Besides noticing all the junk people recycle. The little snips of red break up the gray-striped pattern of the soup and fruit cans. The round lids add interest to the reflected patterns. It is a challenge to mix different shades of gray, warm and cools. […] more »
Another fabulous “tinscape”! These crushed cans are in another landscape formation, with the Folger’s coffee can being most prominent. Being a coffee sipper, I really appreciate the bright red can among the striped soup cans and pull tabs. Lots of movement in this design — all the varieties of gray shapes make the red pop. more »
The third painting of my recycled mashed metal cans. What caught my eye was the red-striped Barbasol can — something used by my husband every day. It contrasted with the Hy-Vee Refried Beans. The ribbed can patterns are interrupted by the top circular sections and reflect surrounding images. The bright colored labels are offset by […] more »
I began this series by taking loads of photographs of the crushed metal cans at the landfill. It was an endless composition of mangled metal — about twelve feet high and six feet wide. Each of my watercolor designs is just a small piece of the whole. I found the ribbed patterns exciting with some […] more »