Marybeth Heikes

Paintings in Watercolor & Mixed Media

More Artwork

Engine Abstraction #17

Engine Abstraction #17

July 11, 2019

This abstract train engine varies a bit from the pieces I have completed so far. This collage is actually the first design. I did not use a sketch, but rather used a close-up section and began by cutting out shapes and arranging them on the gessoed hardboard. It is a section of the brake and wheel, and I just improvised until the design looked good to me. more »

Engine Abstraction #10

Engine Abstraction #10

July 9, 2019

Drawing these segments of train engines constantly challenges me to search for the most interesting designs. This design actually started with more detail, but I decided to crop the photo more. more »

Engine Abstraction #9

Engine Abstraction #9

June 27, 2019

Inspired by abstract geometric shapes led me to doing a series of collages of train engines, boxcars and others. This design is a gray boxcar with the number five in the top right corner. more »

Engine Abstraction #8

Engine Abstraction #8

June 5, 2019

This design is a continuation of my close-up train engine series. I have painted engines and trains in a variety of mediums. The textures and geometric shapes interest me and also the local color. more »

Engine Abstraction #7

Engine Abstraction #7

May 31, 2019

I'm been designing and creating another acrylic collage of the train engines. This is a close up composition which are geometric shapes and bold colors. There are so many details on train engines that you don't notice when taking a photograph. more »

Engine Abstraction #6

Engine Abstraction #6

May 24, 2019

Trains are one of my favorite subject matter to paint and I have found working on this series exciting. This particular design features a boxcar in black, orange, sienna, tan, and gray. more »

Dark Cliffs, Red & Violet Rockscape

Dark Cliffs, Red & Violet Rockscape

April 5, 2017

I began this abstract collage without a thumbnail sketch, but by choosing a variety of colors from my hand-painted acrylic papers. Some of my newer papers were painted with a bristle brush instead of using the brayer to roll and blend the pigments. I liked the brush marks on the paper which adds some new […] more »

Getting Down To Get Over

Getting Down To Get Over

February 24, 2017

My inspiration for this artwork was to explore another area that interested me: abstract compositions. A client recently requested this specific type of painting and I challenged myself in completing one. This is easier said than done, especially when my forté is painting still lifes and working from one of my reference photos. Some of […] more »