Purple Iris

Purple Iris
Acrylic and collage over crackle paste
8x10 canvas board

This is painted from one of the iris in our yard.  In the sunlight, this iris is quite vivid; an outstanding color.

Crackle paste was applied to a portion of the board earlier and allowed to dry prior to painting the iris and the background.   I then applied acrylic skins over both the iris and the background.   I used yellow and gold close to the iris to bring out the purple color.   I also decided to cover part of one petal to give it the natural look it has growing in our garden.   The brownish leaves are made of rice paper that I laid over rusty objects and covered with white vinegar.    When  they were dry and I peeled the paper off, the rust came with it.   Everything is sealed with several layers of Acrylic  Medium.

Red Tulips

Red Tulips
7 1/2 x 7 1/2   (will mat and frame to 13x13
Acrylic on 300# wc paper

I love Shirley Treavena's work.     I love the colors in one of her paintings, and wanted to paint something using these colors.   These tulips, up at Lake Tahoe, seemed like the perfect subject!    It is pretty small so I couldn't add as many images, etc.,  as Shirley Treavena, but I am happy with it.   Another fun painting!

Tulips and Miniture Roses

Tulips and Miniture Roses
7x11
Mixed Media Acrylic Skins

I overworked a watercolor of two tulips.   I wanted one of the tulips to be very light pink, but it ended up too dark.    I wondered what it would look like if I put a layer of acrylic gloss over it and then repainted the flower with acrylic.    I was still unhappy and then I noticed some acrylic skins that I have been making.   One of them was a large piece of pink and white, very shiny.   I laid it on the tulip and loved it!   I kept digging in the box of gel skins and added various pieces to complete the painting.  I didn't want to cover the whole painting.    All the time I was singing this little tune "digging in the gel box, digging in the paint box..painting, painting, painting...." ... and having so much  fun!    This is an all new procedure for me and I love it!   I hope you like my new technique!

Bartlett

Bartlett
5x7
acrylic on canvas board

This is my first attempt to paint with a palatte knife.   At the very end, I did add a bit of cobalt violet with a brush, very close to the sides of the  pear.  

Two Yellow Iris

Two Yellow Iris
16x22
Transparent Watercolor on Hot Press Paper

Our iris are blooming and I wanted to try and capture their fragile beauty.   I love painting flowers on hot press paper although you cannot make many changes.     I was able to add more yellow and then wipe away   with Mr. Clean; add more yellow and wipe away until I achieved the fragile look I was after.   There are probably five, six layers of yellow over yellow.   I "salted" the top and sides to achieve variety.

Tipped Over

Tipped Over
8x10
acrylic on canvas board

I wanted to try two things when I started this painting; to paint another painting on crackle paste and to use a palate knife.  I painted a pear with a palate knife a couple of days ago.   That was the first time I have tried using a palate knife.   Not knowing what my subject would be,  I put the crackle paste on the night before.   It did not completely crackle but there was some crackle on an angle.   As I studied it, I decided it resembled a vase so I went with that.   I added the iris with a palate knife.   To achieve this look, I added several layers and let each dry before painting another layer.   In the end,  I lost the crackle image, but I added bead gel for additional interest.  

One Cracked Pear

One Cracked Pear
Acrylic on Crackle Paste
8x10 canvas board

I wanted to try another painting on crackle paste.   I only put it on about 2/3 of the board.    I decided to try another pear.    Crackle paste is fun to paint on.

One Pear

Acrylic on Canvas Board... 5x7

This simple little painting is painted over a crackle paste foundation and includes glass bead gel across the bottom.   It was fun to do and I like the look of crackle paste.

AT GHOST RANCH III

At Ghost Ranch III
Acrylic with some collage of paint skins
11x15.. not matted yet


This is the third painting I did from the same photo.   I was really excited about trying out some new techniques and acrylic materials.    I had a lot of fun painting this.   It is acrylic over several pastes and gels.   There is a crackle paste across the bottom.   On the right side, it only formed a vertical mark instead of a full crackle, but I like it because it fits in as grass.  There are a lot of pieces of acrylic "gels" added to the tree and the "forest" and also along the front to help balance the design.   This one is my favorite, maybe because I had so much fun doing it.

AT GHOST RANCH II

At Ghost Ranch II
watercolor and collage
11x15... not matted yet


This was the second painting that I did from the photo taken at Ghost Ranch.   It has both watercolor and a little acrylic with a lot of collage.   The collage materials are hand-colored rice papers, pieces of torn paintings, and some "found" materials.     I put more emphasis on the tree and less on the mountain.   The tree was so large that I decided to leave the two people out of the painting.

AT GHOST RANCH

At Ghost Ranch
transparent watercolor on 140# papeer
11x15   not matted



My goal was to paint three paintings from the same photo, each with a different medium.    This was the first one, using transparent watercolor.   Originally, I was not happy, especially with the front.  It seemed so dark.   After finishing the other two, I was even more unhappy.   So I took a small piece of Mr. Clean (original) and wet it and then carefully rubbed out a lot of the front area and also some of the mountain on the left side.   When you do this, you have to keep blotting away the wet color that is being removed.   When it was completely dry, I added a loose wash of yellow in the front and some burnt sienna on the mountain.   I am finally happy with it, thanks to Mr. Clean.

RIVER LILIES II

River Lilies II
Watercolor and Hand-Colored Rice Papers
16x22            Frame to 22x28
Part of National Park Series.... Everglade National Park

Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park
Transparent Watercolor
16x22               mat 22x28
Part of National Park Series

God's Masterpiece

God's Masterpiece, Grand Canyon National Park

Transparent Watercolor

11x15    Frame 16x20

Part of National Park Series

Crater Lake

Crater Lake.... Crater Lake National Park
Transparent Watercolor
11x15   frame 16x20
Part of National Park Series

Rae's Lake, King's Canyon Nat'l Park

Rae's Lake, King's Canyon Nat'l Park
Transparent Watercolor
Part of National Park Series
11x15      mat & frame to 16x20

Lower Yellowstone Falls

Lower Yellowstone Falls
Transparent Watercolor
mat and frame  20x25
Part of National Park Series.... Yellowstone was our first National Park

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls
Transparent Watercolor                  
Painted Plein Air   summer of 1997
Made adjustments and completed Jan. 1999
Part of National Park Series

Window to the World (Arches Nat'l Park)

Window to the World              Not for Sale
Mixed Media and Collage
full size watercolor sheet, framed to 32x38
Received Honorable Mention, Lee County Alliance of the Arts 2D-3D Show (open to State of Florida)
Received Honorable Mention, Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society

HIBISCUS GLOW

Hibiscus Glow
Watercolor and Collage
(I hand color rice paper for my collages)
full sheet watercolor paper, framed to 32x38

This is collaged over a painting I did several years ago.   A painting that I did several years ago became the under-painting for this painting.   It is basically the same layout; however, I did make some changes.   I allowed part of the underpainting to show through so the painting looked layered.

Received First Place, SanCap Art League, March, 2008
Winning at SanCap made it eligible for entry in the Winner's Circle Show
Received Honorable Mention , Winner's Circle Show, Art Council of Southwest Florida, December, 2008

WHITE BIRDS

White Birds (Bird of Paradise)
Transparent Watercolor
Mat to 30x38


These were high up in the bush at Jerry's on Sanibel Island.
Received a special award at a Lee County Alliance of the Arts Show at Schneider Center.

CELEBRATING YELLOW IV

Celebrating Yellow IV
Watercolor and Collage
16x22   mat and frame to 22x28

This painting was collaged over an earlier painting.   The layout/structure is basically the same although I added some smaller flowers and more darks, especially the purple.   I was careful not to cover the whole painting, allowing some of the first painting to show through to create a layered look.   I couldn't decide if it was a hibiscus or a double rose.   What do you think?


received Honorable Mention, Fort Myers Beach Art Association, Jan 15, 2009
reworked, strengthened color, added another flower, and additional collage
Received Merit Award at SanCap Art League Show, Feb 4, 2012

LA PETIT POISSON

La Petit  Poisson                    

mixed media and collage
matted to 21x28


Received Honorable Mention at Fort Myers Beach Art Association                   

Egret at Six Mile Cypress

Egret at Six Mile Cypress Slough
Watercolor and Collage
7 1/2 x 7 1/2   matted to 13x13

Hungry Egret

Hungry Egret
Watercolor and Collage

RED POPPIES

Red Poppies

Mixed Media and Collage

15x22   mat to 22x28

I found a painting in the closet that I had tossed in there because it looked boring.   So it became the under-painting for this piece.   I cut up another painting for the yellow flowers.   I love working with the bright red rice papers.  I color my own papers and store them in a box, ready to use whenever the mood strikes.   The store bought colors tend to fade.

Orchid Delight II
Transparent Watercolor
15x22,   mat to 22x28

Walker River in May
Transparent Watercolor
11x15    mat to 16x20

Little Waterfall IV

Little Waterfall IV

Transparent Watercolor

7 1/2 x 7 1/2  Mat to 13x13