Marybeth Heikes

Paintings in Watercolor & Mixed Media

Talking Heads

Talking Heads

December 9, 2012

I’ve been intrigued with these antique gas pumps and have painted them numerous times. The shapes reminded me of figures chatting with each other. The top inside of the roof at this State Street station has linear direction which leads to the “figures”. It was tough for me to use a limited palette too, as […] more »

Chicken Bingo

Chicken Bingo

November 24, 2012

This is another farm animal — a black and copper metallic-speckled rooster with orange feet and lavender background. I added yellow divisional strips for the Bingo board and added round map circles in the corners. I added a copper metallic edging and UV satin varnish and a bead eye. more »

Curly

Curly

November 24, 2012

Here I am back to do the little piggies again! This one is a smaller size. I wanted to keep it petite for my card rack. This little pig is bright green with a red bead eye and curly tail on a five dollar bill background. It is finished with a metallic copper edge and […] more »

Backgammon

Backgammon

November 4, 2012

The shape and color of this old telephone continues to appear in my still lifes. Also, it is now an antique. I paired it with the game board and cobalt goblets, one of which recently was broken. I love the deep ultramarine blues and the aqua shades — those colors find their way into my setups!  […] more »

Fruit Abstractions

Fruit Abstractions

October 31, 2012

The fractured abstract patterns of glassware continue to capture my attention and I feel the need to paint these patterns. The designs have an endless quantity of colors and shapes. This one is a simple composition with the glass tumbler and apples and pear with the wood grain table. I usually set up an elaborate still […] more »

Hake & Squirrel

Hake & Squirrel

October 28, 2012

What inspires me to choose certain elements in my still life paintings? It seems I’m always looking for the unusual and unique. Instead of using my tried and true goblets, I grabbed some plain, old drinking glasses from the cupboard and added my Chinese sumi-e brushes. I decided the emerald glass needed its complement, so […] more »

Palette Talk #2

Palette Talk #2

October 7, 2012

I decided to paint what was right in front of me: my curvy, artistic palette, brushes, paint and water jar.  The shapes of the pigment splotches were interesting, but very difficult to paint. Also, the wet paint splashes on the palette were a challenge. Sometimes you never think about painting the obvious!  The shadow patterns […] more »

New Award!

New Award!

September 30, 2012

This week I received the news that my watercolor painting Nine Zero Four won the Second Place Cash & Ribbon Award in the National Abstract Exhibition at the Greenwood Art Center in Indianapolis! I started painting these Union Pacific Engines two years ago, after we drove past them on our way to the local recycling […] more »

Siamese

Siamese

September 16, 2012

This portrait is for all cat lovers! I’ve been painting commissions in watercolor of various breeds of cats and dogs, and wanted to do one of the Siamese variety. I believe this one is a sealpoint with the chocolate points. They are loyal and mischievous cats! This was painted on 300# cold press rag paper. […] more »

Long Distance

Long Distance

September 15, 2012

What inspired me to paint this still life was the “old” telephone. It is an antique now. The aquamarine blue of the goblets complemented the phone color. I set up the still life with a checkerboard game behind it. I’m intrigued by the abstracted, fractured shapes in the transparency of the glass. The winding cord […] more »