redo in watercolor

Ok, this is better.

I redid this image in watercolor about 10x14 inches.

I felt I wasn't getting it in acrylic so tried again in watercolor.

I am happier with the results. (back to my usual colors too)

I think the expressions worked better.

Maybe I was trying to do too much in such a small size.

Anyway, it is good to learn and keep growing.

Small portrait again

I touched this painting up and reposted it. I really enjoyed using warm and cool grays... but they don't photograph too true. So if anyone has any suggestions on photo touchup software I am all ears.

8x10 acrylic on a magenta ground

Small portrait

I was doing some research for my Baba paintings and found some old photos that I found really interesting. I think this is a family member from Russia. I painted this small 5x7 inch acrylic painting from a black and white photo. I used strectched canvas and painted a bright warm red as a base. I also gave her a yellow pencil... not from the time... she had an ink pen and ink jar... but I wanted to add some yellow warmth to the image. Hmmmm.... was it wrong? or could this be like a game... what does not belong in the picture? (Where's Waldo-ish?)

Onion color lesson

I wanted to go over color options in my adult class. 

I set up some onions in a still life and did these demos.

The first demo I did was as a value study with just one color.

The next one on the right was done with just two colors.

The third one was done with what we thought were realistic colors.

And the fourth done with more intensity and exaggerated colors.

 I did this to show the students that exaggerating the colors really makes a painting interesting and fun.

I wanted them to step out of their safe zone and explore colors that they wouldn't normally choose.

These are about 3 x 5 inches each.

Baba 2, Watercolor Portraits

My second Baba. I took the inspiration for this Baba from a painting I did over a year ago as a commission. I posted the inspiration below. both are about  8 x 10 inches, watercolor.

Oh, and if you get a chance, have a look at these two up and coming artists.... yes, I am a proud mother!

Nick

Greg

They are still in high school... yes, I am a proud mom!

Baba

I am starting a new group of work and this is a loosening up piece that I did today. I am looking forward to exploring more of this subject. I think there are many stories to tell. I have some other Baba paintings that I did a few years ago, posted below.

This painting is the story of my grandmother's life. The main image is her traveling clothes.  The background is her as a young woman on the farm, the ship they arrived on, the church and her church clothes, roses and as an older woman in her favorite chair. She was a strong woman that I have huge respect for.

This is one of the studies that I worked on for the painting above. I have it matted and framed since the one above sold. It was a tough sale, but I found that many people really identified with the image and said it could have been their "Baba". These were all done in watercolor.

An Apple a Day

Just another quick 5x7 inch acrylic on stretched canvas.

Which way to the beach?

One of my students is going south (lucky girl) and I did a class to inpire her. When you paint water, waves, beachy scenes, remember to paint the flat water as a reflection of the sky. The waves have form with a light side, dark side and reflections too. This is simplified but something that can be done section at a time.

And this was the following class... I am really getting her ready to go... I was inspired from an image I saw on the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania's site. You can see that I simplified the project for class. We had fun!

These demonstrations are on 7x10inch paper and were done in about half an hour.

Thanks to Karin Jurick

Karin Jurick is the artist has run the Different Strokes from Different Folks challenges for over a year. As a thank you, Jill Polsby organized a painting book/gift of a portrait of Karin done by well over 100 artists. I was happy to participate and really want to thank both Karin and Jill for their time.
Pastels, 11x14 is what I chose to do mine in. Yes, I know! I will be toning down my signature so it doesn't scream in the image. See what happens when we hurry.
Check out this page to see the other paintings.   http://picasaweb.google.com/polsby/The118FacesOfKarinJurickJanuary2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCLCMzN6K7LOCGg

Ukrainian Egg Classes

Every year I hold classes in Ukrainian Easter Egg decoration. I have enjoyed making them for years and the classes are always fun! I was not planning to have classes this year because I wanted to take the time to work on them myself (alittle selfish), but legend has it that the more eggs that are decorated the less bad luck can happen in the world. How can I not do my part! Classes begin the end of February.