Back to my large painting

After finishing a birthday commission I took a little time to work on my own painting.  I started this back on May 28, scroll back and see the start.  This was on new hand made paper which I enjoyed when putting in the sky but now that I want detail work I am not that thrilled.  This is a pretty big painting.  Framed will be 25x29"  It is from Woodstock Maine.




I am beginning the mirror image in the water...



building...



going over the whole painting, deeper rich colors, softening the edges.

The finished painting will post tomorrow.

next commission...

It is funny, I have been painting for 40 years and still run into some problems. My next commission is for an anniversary gift. The church door where they were married. They wanted it in a framed 14x18. Not a problem...  I start drawing and have a good hour into it and I just don't like how it is, it  just doesn't feel right.   Probably nothing you notice but I don't like it.

SO, I flip the paper over and start again.  Now I have several hours into this drawing and I am running out of room.  I take the tape off and move the border from 1" to 1/2" to give me more room but I am still running out of space.  I feel like the focal point is the steps not the door...  yes, I know my light is crooked but at this point...  I am starting over for the third time.

You can only erase so much on watercolor paper.  It leaves ghost lines.  So I am picking a fresh sheet of paper AND I am bumping it up a size to 17x21.  I am not charging my client the extra since I am the one who feels it needs a larger size.  I am spending all day today on the new drawing.  The moral to this story is that even after years of practice... you still need practice!  It is not a mistake as much as a learning curve!  I never keep going if the drawing doesn't feel right.  Sure, I could make this easier on myself by using the computer or a tracing device but I personally like the connection I have with the subject by drawing by hand.  I am really getting intimate with this one!!

thoughts...

Weekend update: Friday I replaced our old tandem with a newer tandem which required switching parts and tweaking the fit. I have our tandem for sale (on Facebook Marketplace) if you happen to be thinking about it.  Excellent bike, well cared for!

We had a social distance dinner on the patio with friends, The Hildebrands. Linda made this fabulous dessert; Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse Cups. BEST ever desert! My client received his birthday commission and hung it immediately, he is very happy which is always a relief. Saturday we met friends (The Hildebrands again) at the Mount Gretna Trail and road bikes for 11 miles. Came back to the house for soup and fancy grilled cheese. Apricot jam with bacon and sharp cheese! Sunday we had another social distance dinner with other friends, The Woodruffs. Feeling a tiny bit normal.

Art update: A HUGE shout out THANK YOU to Ryan for filming my video for Penn State Virtual Show. It posts in July.   I could NOT have done that myself.  I will be able to share a copy later.

Another show cancelled. Waterford, VA in October. I know many people think we should just open up and get back to normal but there is a lot to think about. Many states still have a 250 people outside limit. Yes I know, that is not being observed however I am observing it... and that number covers just the exhibitors. From my end I have traveling. That means meals out, hotels, porta johns (ewww)  and then the contact with unknown people. And we are wearing a mask all day in the heat. Do I wipe things off every time someone touches my shrink wrapped prints? Do I let people take business cards. And if someone gets sick and it is traced back to the show there are huge questions about liability... It is just not easy.

I am going to have my own hard decisions when looking at my Annual Open House in November. The new rules say no food (buffet table with hors d'oeuvres) and no served drinks. Limit the number of people in the house at a time... what??? make you stand on the sidewalk (6' apart) until someone leaves?? Timed entry?? Who is going to do that. It ruins the whole social atmosphere. I could bump it up and hold it under tents in the back yard... but weather??? And if I skip it for this year I lose the income that gets me through winter... These are issues every artist is facing. For now I have enough commissions lined up to hold me through Fall and I am THANKFUL. If you have something special in mind for that special memory contact me and get in the Q!   And meanwhile check out the available Original Paintings and Prints on my website, there is something there just for you. Here is a sample

In Honor of Father's Day...

I had my video interview for the Penn State Virtual Show taped today. Tinkered with our tandem bike getting it ready for riding, and worked on the next commission, another birthday gift which I cannot show for a while.

I saw this posted on Facebook....I beg to differ, I think while you are closed up at home you need art more than ever! Especially my paintings!


CLAIMED at 5:16am!!

In honor of Father's Day I am offering a FREE original watercolor painting from 1986!   FREE to the first person to email claiming it.   If you have already been a winner you are not eligible (sorry).   The image is 17.5 x 11".  It comes unframed.  Good luck!

FINISHED!

Finished, framed, boxed and shipped in time for a wonderful birthday surprise.
18x24"     Original watercolor.   Banff, Canadian Rockies

commission...

I have been making great progress on this commission.   The paper is fighting me the whole way.  The paint just sinks into the paper not allowing me to blend the way I like.  I will not be getting this paper again!  That is not to say I am not getting the results I want,  I just have to work harder to get them.  You may need to scroll back to see where I left off.  Remember I am still far from being finished.  Working on the window, the flower box and that wonderful blue on the chairs.



Chairs and table are coming along nicely.  My client requested orange flowers in the box.  

I am softening the shadows, working on the window sill. Finished the table top.   Added a little of my new lapis color to the chair seats.  Linda is getting itchy to travel so this view is calling her!  Not finished yet...

Thinking ahead to Fathers Day

I will start with a Weekend Update: On Friday we did a 3 mile hike (walk in the woods!) in the Welsh Mountains. Nice place to walk. Then social distance dinner with friends on their patio. Funny how being stuck home for several months make you appreciate the little things. Saturday we had a client stop in for a back yard pick up and a little visit! I did some maintenance on our tandem bike. Painted in the evening and all of Sunday.  I received an early Father's Day gift from Abbey...three handmade cakes of watercolor from Case for Making.  Can't wait to try them.  One of our cats knocked Linda's 3/4 finished puzzle onto the floor... causing much angst... She has worked on several puzzles and only one had all the pieces!  I think she is giving up.  That brings you up to date here at the Smith compound.

I may not be the obvious choice for a Father'd Day gift but I may have something Dad will like!  I am offering a 1/2 off special on two prints.   You can either do a back yard pick up OR I can ship them for you.
Misty Morning    image: 15x17     Framed: 20x22




Tranquillity     image: 15x18     Framed 20x23


Each Print is only $42.50 -  that is 1/2 off the regular price of $85!   You Save $42.50!!
Framed Print:  add $40 framing - choice of walnut or black wood frame with a double mat.
plus shipping...
AND a gift to you... a coupon for 2 free shrink wrapped mini prints ($25 value)  a win win all around!  You might want to send one to yourself!!

Website new button...

Several of my cancelled shows are holding virtual shows that then link you to my website. I had my web guy add a "add me to your mailing list" button on my home page. That's the extent of excitement today!  Go check it out and if you are not on my mailing list sign up!  And while you are there, look at all the paintings in all sizes and prices I have available.

I am mostly just working on this commission. I am making it look easy and fast however you should understand I am spending most of the day and into the late night (early morning!) hours (every day) working on this.  You cannot rush a good realistic watercolor.
A wash of color, dry it and add another wash of color... a slow build.

I added the wall.  This photographed a bit darker than it really is, I think the overhead light made it darker.  Starting on the table and planter box.



this is closer to the true wall color, adding the window frame, working on the chairs...creating the indoor setting for that spectacular view.


For you artists out there, I am not thrilled with this watercolor paper.  I will not be buying it again.  It is L'Aquarelle Canson Heritage 300lb cold press.  I would say it would be great for big washes but for me it is soaking up the pigment and does not blend well.  It does not hold the paint, making me work extra washes to get my color. 

Winter Series #3

I am still offering mini paintings that would have been on display at my postponed Mini Show.

Winter Series #3    Framed 8x10    $200.

The price includes acid free framing, a coupon for 2 free shrink wrapped mini prints ($25 value) and I will throw in FREE SHIPPING!
Paintings are available to the first person to email or call 717.627.3383
All are framed in black wood frames however you may have them in walnut frames.

I pulled a late night working on my commission.  I was simply in a groove and didn't want to stop.  Trees in, water in, more depth to the mountains, and working on the foreground.  There was a big patio with lights and a pool that my client did not want in the painting, so I had to fudge it a bit and add more trees.


I simply continue to work on deepening the color, one wash over another.  What a view!

Landscape #13

Landscape #13   Framed 8x10       $225.

The price includes acid free framing, a coupon for 2 free shrink wrapped mini prints ($25 value) and I will throw in FREE SHIPPING!
Paintings are available to the first person to email or call 717.627.3383
All are framed in black wood frames however you may have them in walnut frames.
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My commission:  I added the under wash to the table and chairs.  Now I decided to start working on the view.  Starting washes.  You already know I slowly build my color.


Getting darker, more depth and texture.  Taking my time.

Weekend update

Busy weekend, we had a wonderful dinner in the back yard with friends.  I put up one of my teaching tables and each couple sat on an end.  It is just nice spending time with friends.  On Sunday I got out out tandem bike and Linda and I hit the Mount Gretna (PA) trail.  This was the first time Linda was on the bike in three years.  We did a total of 10 miles.  Thought we would stop at the Jigger Shop for icecream but the line was miles long, not social distancing and not a lot of masks... we declined.  Monday Linda power washed our cottage deck and steps and I finished painting three cottage windows.  Crossing some things off that long list.

OK, back to my painting.  Several nice washes in the sky.



Next I am under painting the inside walls

Ireland #6

Since I am working on a commission landscape I thought I would offer a small Irish landscape to you.

Ireland #5 Framed 8x10 $225.

The price includes acid free framing, a coupon for 2 free shrink wrapped mini prints ($25 value) and I will throw in FREE SHIPPING!
Paintings are available to the first person to email or call 717.627.3383
All are framed in black wood frames however you may have them in walnut frames.
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Update on my commissions.
#1 Is a birthday gift but I may show it.  Banff, Canadian Rockies.  The drawing has been approved and I am ready to paint.  An inside view out a large window.

#2 commission is also a gift but this one I cannot post till after it is presented.  It is drawn and I started painting.
#3 commission is an anniversary gift that the whole family is involved with.  I have the drawing almost completed then the family is going to come watch me paint.  After the drawing is ok'd I will post it.

So you can see I am keeping busy.  Thank you to all the commissions coming in, it is what is keeping me afloat.  Meanwhile the BIG Lititz Craft show in August has been Cancelled...

Sunflower #6

SOLD!

Sunflower #6          Framed 9x9"            $250.

There is something peaceful and interesting about an orchard.

The price includes acid free framing, a coupon for 2 free shrink wrapped mini prints ($25 value) and I will throw in FREE SHIPPING!
Paintings are available to the first person to email or call 717.627.3383
All are framed in black wood frames however you may have them in walnut frames
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Too many storms to paint my outside windows so I spent the day drawing a commission, all day and all evening.  Just sitting at my table working diligently!  

We booked a campground the beginning of March in Westmoreland PA to use while doing a show.  The show was cancelled and we thought we might just go camp anyway.  Today we chatted about it and decided since we are not self contained, we have a pop up camper and have to use the shower house and bathroom... just did not sound like a good idea.  So, I was on hold over an hour with the PA State Parks to cancel!  Good I am patient, Linda wouldn't have lasted past 10 minutes!

Landscape #17

Landscape #17   Framed 8x10     $250

There is something peaceful and interesting about an orchard.

The price includes acid free framing, a coupon for 2 free shrink wrapped mini prints ($25 value) and I will throw in FREE SHIPPING!
Paintings are available to the first person to email or call 717.627.3383
All are framed in black wood frames however you may have them in walnut frames.

I (gratefully) have 4 commissions lined up and in various stages of starting.   I decided on paper choice, taped paper to a board and have two sketched.  I can only share one of the 4 because they are gifts.   I added a bit to the painting I am working on for myself so I will show that later this week.  Other than this I am not sure where all my time has gone or what I have done with it!  Ok, I am getting pretty much bike riding time in.   I am painting daily.   I did sand and prime three windows on our cottage.  Linda has this list... a long list of house things to do while we are home.  A whole three items have been crossed off.  Ordered a power washer... I am in trouble.
It is easier showing!!