Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Three Amber Bottles

4" x 6" original watercolor $250.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

I have continued my theme of using light in
my painting. I have painted three antique
amber bottles to focus the light coming through
the curtain behind them. I think the warm color
of the bottles suggest the presence of the sun behind the curtain.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Warm Spot

4" x 6" original watercolor $250.00
The use of the sun in a composition helps draw the
viewer in. It becomes a focal point. I used the warm
spot in this watercolor to transform an ordinary side
window and building into something special.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Blue Bench

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD

This compostition speaks of my fondness for the traditional.
The texture in the old stone building serves to heighten
the impact of the amazing shade of blue in the bench.
The pumpkin is a forgotten leftover from fall but adds a
focal point in orange. This painting features great play in color
.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Friday update...

I am sorry Friday's painting is so late. My brother and his
family came for dinner and a long over due visit. I ran out of time.
The painting was finished but I needed time to get the blog typed.

This is the end of my fourth week. I can honestly say I am still
excited about my work and my blog. I actually look foreword to
each days new challenge. I am a little preoccupied with snow scenes
and farms at the moment. Thank you for hanging in there so far.
I will be back on Monday.

Evening #2

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

Another Kentucky evening at The Pleasant
Hill Shaker Village. I painted the same building
yesterday but at a different time of day. The
light is just disappearing and the stars dimly
showing above the horizon.



Thursday, January 25, 2007

Evening #1

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

A beautiful moonlit evening in Kentucky.
The Pleasant Hill Shaker Village is one of
my favorite places to paint. I have always
loved history; and this place oozes it.
Once again dramatic changes in value
dominate this watercolor

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Sunset #2

6" x 4" original watercolor
SOLD


This painting is a bit dramatic and I am not sure this photo does it justice.
If you know my work, you know the colors are much richer than this photo.
The foreground is a plowed field, the background has shadows of trees and
silos against a setting sun.



Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Sunset #1

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

The sunset in Lancaster County is just spectacular. I am sometimes mesmerized
by the color of the sky as the sun vanishes into the horizon.The strong dark values
in the foreground bring out the brilliance in the background.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Snow Scene #3

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD


Light against dark ~ Cold snow with a warm sunset...
I have always loved the use of extremes in my paintings.
Although I do not like snow, I do love how it looks when painted.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Another Friday...

Well...here it is another week...the third; I think. I am finally
getting into this totally. I feel a bit frustrated with the slow
sales but I remain positive. I love painting watercolor. I can
actually feel myself getting better and more fluid with my technique.
It is strange that after over 20 years I see myself getting better.
I am actually enjoying the variety in subjects. But it is the weekend!

I only have a few free weekends left before the show season starts.
Coaching basketball, dinner with friends and a bike ride are on tap.
See you all Monday.

Snow Scene #2

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD
I have this infatuation with the moon. I can't explain it. Mostly a full moon. I like the light it gives off any time of year but in winter, the snow reflects the moonlight. Add a warm glow from the barn lights. You know someone is working late.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Snow Scene #1

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD

I don't really like winter or rather snow. It cramps my bicycling time! What I do like are the colors and variations of light caused by the snow. As a subject, it is marvelous to paint.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Pear #1

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD
I am really drawn to this pear.
I love the use of color and texture and subtle blending it calls for.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Pears on Mantle

6" x 4" original watercolor $200.00
contact andy@andysmithartist.com
Three beautifully rendered pears placed in a row on the mantle.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Glass on Mantle

6" x 4" original watercolor $200.00 (framed)
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com


This is a study in glass, working with transparency and watercolor. I wanted a contrast with thetexture of wood and smoothness of the glass. This painting has an overall warm feeling.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Second week...

It is Friday night and I finished my second week of painting.
I had a great time painting a farm I am very familiar with.
For fun and my own amusement I was able to break the landscape
down into four scenes. The artist in me painted it backwards from
right to left. So when putting them on this blog they may not make
sense to you left-brained people. This week I actually enjoyed myself.

I am taking off the weekend again. I have 5th grade basketball to
coach
tomorrow morning, and an Eagles football game to watch.
Join me again on Monday. Now go and place a bid... thanks!

The Barn

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD


This is the last painting in this series. It all started with "Sharp Left Turn". If you were to place"Sharp Left Turn" and "First Farm on the Right" side by side, matching up the trees, you can see this unfolding landscape scene. Next, match the farm houses side by side. And lastly, this barn fits nicely at the end! I know I already said this but...all four paintings make a panoramic view of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. But each individual painting looks great.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Farm House

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD



This is the third painting in this series. It all started with "Sharp Left Turn". If you were to place"Sharp Left Turn" and "First Farm on the Right" side by side, matching up the trees, you can see this unfolding landscape scene. Next match the farm houses side by side. I am able to offer you a panoramic view of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Each miniature painting is able to stand on its own merit but all together they are a strong suite.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

First Farm on the Right

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

The second painting in this series. It all started yesterday with "Sharp Left Turn". If you were to place them side by side, matching up the trees, you can see this unfolding landscape scene. The colors match this painting. You need to be patient while I learn how to take my photos. It is not as easy as I thought it would be. I am definitely a painter not a photographer!

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Sharp Left Turn

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

After a week of painting still life I needed a break. I am switching to a few
landscapes. I bike this road and know it well. It offers a gentle roll of the
Pennsylvania landscape. A view of farmland we are quickly losing to progress.

Monday, January 8, 2007

Madison Mitchell Decoy

6" x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

I was lucky enough to purchase a few nice decoys many years ago and they have turned up in several of my paintings over the years. I set up this still life using one of my favorites. There was just enough sunlight streaming across the decoy to give it character. I was able to use my typical style of layering watercolor to give this painting the solid form it needed. This is a great
example of my work.

Friday, January 5, 2007

Friday Night Update...
Well, I made it through my first week of "Painting A Day". I am a seasoned artist, painting full-time for 20+ years but I found this a challenging endeavor. I paint daily without giving it thought, but to dedicate a space of time to start and finish a painting in a block of time suddenly was daunting. I had distractions: promised volunteer work, kids home for extended visits, a car died on the PA turnpike... daily life! But I completed my first 5 paintings and started on a larger subject. I am letting you know I am taking a break over the weekend. No paintings for the blog. I plan to work on my large piece, take my wife to a movie and weather permitting, ride my bicycle! I will be back rested and inspired on Monday.

Happy New Year

4" x 6" original watercolor - sold

A wish to all my friends and clients for a happy and healthy new year.

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Star with Ribbon

4" x 6" original watercolor SOLD

Over the years our family Christmas project was to make the ornaments for our tree. One year we cut stars from cardboard and spray painted them gold. This star was waiting to be packed up and I found it setting on the ledge with a red ribbon dangling across it. The color in the painting is actually a bit lighter than the photo shows.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Good To The Last Drop

5"x 5" Original Watercolor - sold

This is my last cup of coffee before putting away the holiday dishes!

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Packing Up Christmas, No 2

5"x 5" Original Watercolor
SOLD

The Smith family decorations are traditional. We used live greens,
fresh fruit and berries. By now the needles are falling off the greens,
the fruit is long gone, but these berries still look great. It was their
elegant long lasting red hanging against a cream door that captured my eye.

Monday, January 1, 2007

Packing Up Christmas, No 1

5"x5" Original Watercolor .....SOLD!

I was looking for inspiration around my house while my wife was busy packing up the Christmas decorations. I should have been helping to pack up but since I agreed to try the "Painting A Day" concept I had a good excuse! I found two antique balls that once belonged to my mother and moved them to my drawing board. Getting a shine on glass using watercolor takes a bit of skill. The painting took a little longer than I had planned for something so small. But, I am very happy with the results.