Thursday, April 30, 2009

Thursday evening update...

There is simply not enough hours in the day
this week. I could not get a blog even started.
No excuses, just to much on my plate.
I am packing my van and it is almost 9PM.
We are leaving in the morning for Richmond, VA
to set up for my first outdoor show. That meant
gathering up all the equiptment for showing
outside. If you are anywhere close stop in
this is a very nice show.

The show:
Arts in the Park
Held in Byrd Park along Rugby Road in Richmond, VA.
Sat. 11-6 and Sun. 11-5 ~ great variety of work
My space is #102
FREE Parking and FREE Shuttles available at the
University of Richmond Stadium parking lot.
View Promoters Website:
http://www.richmondartsinthepark.com

I will be home Monday in time for track!
No blog over the weekend.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Signs of Spring #6

4"x 6" original watercolor
contact the studio for more info

This time of year the garden changes almost
daily. I love walking out and looking at the
new flowers. We have squirrels that took away
most of our tulip bulbs but this one stands
tall...and alone.

Q&A:
I received a question about my painting palette.
I use Davinci and Lukas paints. I buy tubes and
squeeze them into my tray and let them dry.
I use Yellow Ochre, Burnt and Raw Sienna,
sometimes Sepia. Cobalt and Pthalo blue,
Cadium Red and Permanent Rose, Pthalo Green
and Paynes Grey. From these I mix the shades
I want.

Q&A:
Who am I selling to?
I exhibit at outdoor shows and have always kept
a mailing list. When I started my blog I let all
my clients know. I also am a member of the
Daily Painters and have picked up new clients
through them. You need a starting base and a
plan. I do not think you can put a few painting on
eBay and expect to hit it big. I have been blessed
with clients who believe in me and love my paintings
and have been faithful supporters through out the
years. I add to this base daily.

Feel free to send new questions my way!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Signs of Spring #5

6"x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

It is the pots that are moving me! Another
interesting cement pot with grapes.
This is simply an exercise in technique.
All the white is my paper.

I plan to walk around my hometown of
Lititz this weekend on a search for more
signs of spring. That is after my bike ride!
I am often asked where I find so many
subjects. The key is to slow down and
pay attention to what is in front of you.
I really look, not at the big picture but
at the small parts of a scene. I use a cheep
camera and just snap away at anything that
moves me. I bring it back and look at it on
the computer. I use this as reference.
After that, it is all in the drawing.

It did not feel like spring today. It was
a bit chilly for track practice!

I think I would like to start a question
and answer section... about art.
So if you have a question send an email or
use the comment below. We will give it a
try.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Signs of Spring #4

4"x 6" original watercolor
$225.00 ~ SOLD

While this does not have the color you
think when saying signs of spring it is
still a freshly potted plant. I was
interested in capturing the character
of the pot. Making it stand out against
the white wall and step. It came across
with a warm feeling.

I was able to finish another larger painting.
This is an European jug we purchased on a
trip to MD at an antique store. The color
is a wonderful strong green against the very
old clay. It was irresistible setting in the sun
light. It will be framed in 14x18" and I
have not come up with a price yet.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Signs of Spring #3

6"x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

There are literally hundreds of beautiful
planters all over Georgetown. Every
time we go visit our daughter; which is
not often enough, we try to walk the area.
Each visit brings new subjects. I was looking
for interesting planters and signs of spring.
I found them!

I had to stay focused today to get my
blog painting finished before going to
a track meet. Both girls and boys won.
We are undefeated! I love coaching.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Signs of Spring #2

4"x 6" original watercolor
SOLD


Here in PA it is still to cold to set out our
plants, but at a recent trip to DC it was
Spring! This painting has strong use of
texture. Brick wall, cement steps, pottery
pot balanced with a leafy plant and soft
shadows.

I had a good weekend, managed to ride
bike for several hours, that alone makes
it pretty good! Abbey and Ben were home
for Friday night so Linda was cooking!
She always tries new things when the kids
are home and I benefit form the left overs.
She tried a homemade angel food cake, no
left overs on that! Linda and I spent a good
part of the weekend working outside. We do
not have to many more free weekends, we
start shows very soon. Today I was back
to my painting. After finishing the blog I
spent a few hours on the drawing
of my commission.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Pick Up Sticks

4"x 6" original watercolor
contact the studio for more info

I have to give Linda credit for this
still life. She gathered up some of
our old toys and set them together.
I had a great time painting each object.
It was my first time painting a baseball!

I spent my whole day with kids! Lots of
kids. I promised one of the classes I would
put a photo of them on my blog so here they
are! They were excited about having a

a photo
taken.








Track was cancelled due to rain today.
Even I did not want to be outside for
practice and I am pretty hard core.
Tomorrow is a meet and the sun should
be shining. I got paid a bit for today's
Art day so I took Linda out for dinner.
We went for the early bird special...
now that says a lot!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Still Life #13

6"x 4" original watercolor
SOLD


I found this little gem in our spare
bedroom, way up on the top shelf.
It belonged to Linda's grandmother.
I liked the perspective of looking
up to it.

I started sketching one of my commissions
to get a feel for it. Then worked on the
drawing on my paper. The photos are from
fall and the client wants spring so it will
require a little extra research. I had track
practice in the rain today. I am trying to
remember that we need the rain and it will
make the garden look beautiful for Linda.
But for me...I need the sun. Tomorrow is my
last elementary arts day. I am not expecting
to get any painting done but the kids will

give my artistic ego a boast!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Signs of Spring

4"x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

I found this display of freshly potted plants
setting in front of an antique shop. The tall
pot was placed on top of a pot turned upside down.
Inside the window was an old doll house.

Friday was spent driving to DC to pick up the
kids and drive back. Saturday my girls worked
on wedding invitations. Sunday my in-laws went
with us to have Easter dinner with my Mom in the

nursing home. Mom was in very good spirits.
It was nice to see her smile.
Today we set up an exhibit at a local retirement
home. We try to do things locally when asked
and when we can squeeze it into the schedule.

Here is Linda putting titles on the paintings. The
display looks pretty good. We hung 35 paintings!

Linda wanted me to share these two website that
have been entertaining her for days.
They are live web cams of birds in nests...see what you
think... you may need to wait till morning to see anything!
http://www.hancockwildlifechannel.org/staticpages/index.php/20090302200021473

http://www2.fi.edu/hawknest.php

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Still Life #12

6"x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

This is the same pitcher from 4/7 blog painting.
I have enjoyed using it, I think the white shows
off other objects in the still life. I was told the
agateware bucket was used as an old lunch pail.
Again, the pitcher is the white paper with a few
washes of yellow ochre and a little cerulean blue
over it.
I have had trouble getting my blog painted early
enough all this week. I painted this morning then
ran out to visit my Mom, returned in time to go to
track practice. Home for dinner and then back to
painting. I have the commissions I need to get started
on and I am not sure how I am going to juggle it!
No track tomorrow and we planned to go to DC to
pick up Abbey and Ben and bring them home for the
weekend. I was hoping for a nice day for photo
opportunities but rain is in the forecast. So I guess it
will end up being a mad dash down and back.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

I did not get any painting accomplished today.
I did not even get to demonstrate. I was at
one of our Elementary schools from 8:30 to 2.
The kids were great, I enjoyed each grade.
I talked about being an artist, showed them my
paintings, took questions and hopefully inspired
a few kids
to explore
the arts.














A few of my future clients!


Here is one of the classes checking out
my paintings behind them.
Listening
with
rapt
attention
to my
every
word!







I have another school to do next week and while
it takes up my whole day and I volunteer to do
it, I get so much out of it. The kids actually make
me laugh, they share my excitement and want
to show me what they can do. I come home
feeling like I can do anything, and I can in their
eyes!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Still Life #11

6"x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

I used a few of my old pieces to
set up a still life. I liked the color
on the Lancaster Nut tin combined
with the clear glass ink well and the
white pitcher. There is a great
reflection on the wood table.

In true watercolor style all the white
in the painting is the white of my
paper, including the pitcher reflection.
I did not use misket, I painted around
the space. This requires a bit of planning.

I got a bike ride in this morning even tho
it was cold. Then I painted until it was time
for track. We had a meet today and both
girls and boys won! I am very proud of
the team. Tomorrow I spend the day
talking and demonstrating at a local
Elementary school. I may not get a blog
done since I need to work on something
large the kids can see. I enjoy the kids,
they ask such great questions!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Straw Hat

6"x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

This is my Mothers old straw hat.
She never left the house during summer
without it. I placed it on a table with
some pottery and loved the way the
light came in the window. I enjoyed
working on this painting.

Well... my kids did so well over the weekend
at our invitational. The day was super
windy, I had several kids out and we still did
great. There were 20 schools! My girls took
1st and my boys 3rd!! Just in case you are
really into it, here is the site, look for "Warwick"
http://74.220.203.51/~bobtrump/Scores.htm

Sunday I helped Linda finish cleaning out my
Moms apartment and then we worked in the
garden together. It was nice to spend the time
together, even though we were working it was
quiet. I took a break from painting all weekend
and came back to it this morning feeling ready
to work. I even squeezed in a bike ride this morning
before the rain started. I decided not to complain
about our rain, I talked to friends in Cleveland Ohio
and they were having snow... guess its all in your
perspective!

Friday, April 3, 2009

The Oregon Coast

4"x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

I decided to switch gears today. I had
this photo from a friend of my daughters
who is touring the US. I just had to paint
this one. I love the vast depth it has.
Deep blue sky and just a hint of the ocean

Another rainy track practice. Tomorrow is
a big invitational and I am pretty excited.
We have always done well. So it is early to
bed for me, I need to be well rested for a
demanding day!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Still Life #10

4"x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

Another still life from home. The plate
in the background is some sort of enamel
and a wonderful shade of green. I used
another of Linda's grandfathers baskets.
He was a well known split oak basket
maker in his day.

I worked around the house this morning.
Took another load of bikes to the shop and
then took our car to the garage. I did get
several hours of painting in before it was time
for track. We both ran in to check on Mom
around 6:30, Linda tries to vary the times
we visit. Suddenly I look up and its almost
11PM. I have a big track invitational on Saturday
so I am hoping for nice weather.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Oil Can Collection #2

4"x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

I have a full shelf of these great oil
cans. I painted a few cans last week
and wanted to try a few more. I love
the strong blue colors and the oily
rusty look to the cans.

I spent my morning cleaning out the
garage. It was full of bikes and bike
parts from when I worked with kids.
I took a van load to a shop in Lancaster
who will finish the repairs and hand them
out. I have another load to take tomorrow.
We have furniture to move around as we
clean out my Moms cottage so I needed to
make space. We had track practice in the
rain today. None of my kids complained but
I came home soaked.
OH... both my girls and boys won yesterdays
meet that was against a strong team, Manheim
Township. Boys: 71 to 24 Girls: 61 to 35
We are on a roll.