New Painting - Bird Man

I've been away for a few weeks helping with some family issues in Michigan, but now I'm back! This is a piece I worked on over the summer and just framed today. I call it "Bird Man". This was a man I saw last summer feeding the birds on the beach at Indialantic, Florida. When he walked onto the boardwalk the birds immediately started to gather, so I am assuming he was a regular there. I could see his delight and patience with the birds and each bird had a personality of its own, some cranky and rushed, some slow and patient.

The colors in this piece were fun and I did a little direct painting into the darkest areas and on the birds at the end of this work.

I will be showing this piece along with many of my newer paintings at the ArtWorks of Eau Gallie art show coming up the weekend before Thanksgiving. Please stop by and say hello if you are in the area! Details are on the Upcoming Events page of my website: http://watercolorworksart.com/events.htm

A Better View

This is another poured watercolor on Arches 140 lb. paper. It is 21 inches high and 14 inches wide. I just framed it and will bring it to the gallery today as we are part of the First Friday Gallery Walk and Fall for the Arts Festival in the Eau Gallie Arts District (EGAD). http://eaugalliearts.com/

This was a fun piece. I'm learning so much by experimenting with this technique. After many paintings, I am beginning to learn which colors, subjects and methods work to achieve the results I am looking for. I'm excited to say that I will be showing some even more brave pieces soon. I am taking this technique a step further and will have some work to show for it very soon!

If you are in the Melbourne, Florida area, please stop by the gallery tonight (or anytime) and see what we have to offer. There will be a lot going on tonight as a large part of the arts community will be in the art district celebrating Fall for the Arts. There will be demonstrations, live music, dance performances, and more! Stop by and say "hello!".

Convolution - Newest Painting

This is one of my newest "poured" paintings which I call "Convolution". This is a fun, but challenging technique based on Jean Grasdorf's pouring technique. I don't actually pour, but I apply the paint to a very wet surface. I am finding that certain subjects lend themselves better to this technique than others. I just smile when I remove my masking and see the final result of colors blending into subtle mixtures!

Daughter and Me

My daughter and I are working on a collaborative art project, remembering the years I was a single mom and she was a little girl. The project is dubbed "94 North Shore", which is the address of the house I owned in those days. You can view our conversations, sketches, and process as we blog together.
As artists, we have much in common, but the memories we have of our lives over 17 years ago are very different. We are learning so much about each other and enjoying the process of creating a body of work together.
Click here to view our project blog:
http://hannaclark.tumblr.com

Pine Lake Cottage Completed

Ah, the finished painting! I had such a great time creating this piece! Ironically, I camped at this lake as a child. As I was painting it I was reminded of how tall the trees in Michigan can grow. They produce a cool, dappled shade on the lawn and reflect in the waves of the water. I can remember the cool summer breezes off the lake, and the smell of the fresh air! I really hope this painting captured my emotions.

I have a small booklet on my etsy shop about How to Paint Trees. I have clear descriptions of how to apply watercolor in glazes to create the illusion of foliage. The booklet covers several different types of trees and includes palm trees, which I added when I moved to sunny Florida!

Click here for my etsy shop.

Cottage Painting Progress

I'm nearly done! Just a few more details and I'll be able to sign it, mat it and deliver it to my client.
This piece is feeling very good. I'm happy with the "sparkle" it seems to have and I've been able to keep the scene looking sunny. I want to add more glazes to the water to add some depth and texture. The water should be darker than what it is reflecting, so I have lots of room to glaze and play. Painting the sun spattering onto the lower parts of the trees was lots of fun.

I'll try to post the finished piece soon.

Progress on a Commissioned Painting

I'm making progress on the cottage painting. My foundational washes are all in and I have begun to add the texture and values to the trees.

The reference photos were wonderful and sunny, so I am able to incorporate a lot of color which will add warmth and interest to this big landscape painting.

I'm totally enjoying this painting as I am working in my comfort zone. It's like curling up with my favorite blanket and book on a cool afternoon.