2022 Landscape #8

 
SOLD!   $145. (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor

Available to the 1st person to email
(framing $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 4/2 the price goes to $225

Downtown Lititz

Friday... I am starting my commission, the second one for a client.  I plan to work on it through the weekend.

Family Update: Concentrating on the 2nd floor apartment.  We picked up 3 more gallons of paint this morning and the painter put in a long painting day. We went to Adairs and picked out carpet and flooring, set a date to measure.  Discussing how to remove and save the chair lift, and how to get 3 heavy cabinets downstairs, a young mans job!

2022 Window #1

 
 mini original watercolor $225

It was so hectic here I really don't know how I managed to get this painted.

Family Update:  This morning the painter came to paint upstairs... Weaver Energy was here to figure out heating in the remodel area, the contractor was here to chat with Weaver...  Lots of questions, lots of going from the basement to outside, lots of measuring.  Decision made,  we are going with a set of mini splits.  Meanwhile I put new knobs, TP holder and towel rack in the upstairs apartment bathroom for some updating.

2022 Landscape #7

 

SOLD!  $145. (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor

Available to the 1st person to email
(framing $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 3/31 the price goes to $225

This little gem is from East Durham, NY with a little artistic license

Commission Update:  Finished!  Looks great and my client loves it.  Now to start the second one for them.  Gifts so I cannot show it for a while.

Family Update: I was out of touch for a few days.  We stayed with our friend Joan who had knee replacement and lives alone.  Home on Sunday and needed to clean our 2nd floor apartment to get ready for painters.  The painter became available at the last moment and we said yes!  Linda still had some items and furniture to deal with.  It is still better than us trying to squeeze in painting.  We are having the whole apartment walls and trim painted.  Currently that is the kitchen we are using while ours looks like this:

 

At the rate the remodel is going it will be a while before we are able to rent the apartment.  But if you know an older single person looking for the perfect Lititz 1 bedroom apartment (handicap ready!)  send them my way!

2022 Landscape #6

 
SOLD!  $145. (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor

Available to the 1st person to email
(framing $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 3/24 the price goes to $225.

Tulips are blooming in our back yard!

Commission Update:  My latest commission is coming along nicely.  They do not want to see it until it is finished and it is a gift so I cannot show it till later.  But if I miss a few Painting A Day blogs it is only because I am working on the commission.

Family Update:  Our house is officially torn up!  We are down to the studs at this point and there is dust every where despite using plastic.  We are using our apartment kitchen which is helping.  Our mantra is "It will be worth it when its finished"  but every now and then we are both thinking we should not have started this project.   It is all Covids fault, if we had been traveling, Linda would have been busy and happy instead of sitting here coming up with the bright idea to use our travel budget on the house!!   I also sold Grandpa's car over the weekend so one more thing off our plates.  I have another oral surgeon appointment Wednesday and Thursday we are heading to our friend Joan, she had knee replacement so we are going to caretake a few days.  I am also taking my commission along to work on.   We finished watching a documentary on Bob Ross (Netflix)  and also Andy Warhol Diaries (Netflix).  I am looking pretty normal, real normal not artist normal!

checking in

I am taking the next few days to work on my commission, so no blog paintings till Tuesday.  Meanwhile the Waterford Fair posted my favorite quote on Facebook with my painting.  It is part of their advertising campaign for the show.  If you are on Facebook check out the other craftsman's quotes.  This is one of the best quality shows I attend so Save the Date for  Oct. 7-9: Waterford Fair, Waterford VA

 

2022 Landscape #5

FRAMED in 10x7" black wood (not available in walnut) 
mini original watercolor.    $225.

These landscapes fit perfectly in the long narrow size frames, you know, the ones Linda ordered in the wrong size!!

I have been able to get outside for a few bike rides.  It feels sooo good.

2022 Landscape #4

FRAMED in 7x10" black wood (not available in walnut) 
mini original watercolor.   $225.

A walk in the woods...

 

2022 Landscape #3

 
FRAMED in 10x7" black wood (not available in walnut) 
mini original watercolor.    $250.

A Lancaster County farm scene.  This one is a favorite, strong color.

I have my next commission drawn on the watercolor paper
and waiting for approval before I start painting.

The weekend flew by.  Friday we spent the evening with our friends the Hildebrands.  Actually had dinner at the Bullfrog Inn in Christiana PA  We had excellent burgers and the girls had crab bisque.  The price of crab has gone way up!  But it felt almost normal to be out.  Then spent the night playing dominos and as usual I was last!   Saturday was slated to be our big kitchen demolish day.  But of course the snow storm cancelled the plans.  Linda was pretty bummed.  The project feels like its taking forever with patience not being her strong suit!  I just paint...   We have been watching the show Billions, I now have no faith in elected officials or hedge funds!  

2009-2022 Winter Series #29

 
SOLD!
$145. (unframed) 6x4” mini original watercolor

Available to the 1st person to email
(framing $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 3/11 the price goes to $250

This is the last one from the group I bought back.
I think this was the best of them.  A Lancaster County farm scene.

I have two commissions to start, family homestead going to each child.  Its a surprise so I cannot show it.  But that's what I will be working on.

2009-2022 Winter Series #13

 mini original watercolor   $225.

This is #3  of  four of my paintings for sale on Marketplace last year.   The person selling received them as a gift and it is not her style.  I know... I don't understand either!  Anyway, I bought them.  Now since 2009 my skills have improved a bit so I retouched it.

This is what I said in 2009:  You need to study this one. The longer I paint the more confident I become with less literal subjects. This painting is awash with light and shadow. Let your eyes
wander around, take in the view. This is a close up of a wall. On the right are two spikes imbedded into the top; I guess to keep you from going over... On the left is a post and then nice textured bricks. The wall is blanketed with snow. Beyond the wall is bare trees and a grey sky.

Here is my FINISHED commission.  23x20"   Every object has special meaning to my client.  Family memories.  I will admit I struggled with this one, I wanted to to be as close to perfect as I was able and I was knew how important it was.  I am pleased with how it turned out and my client was happy.

2022 Hudgins VA #5

 
FRAMED in 10x7" black wood (walnut NOT available)
mini original watercolor   $225

A view of the Chesapeake from Hudgins VA.  I love what sun does to water in the early hours.

Update on my commission... If you forget where I left off, scroll back to February 14.  Yes, this commission is taking that long!  It is not finished and my client picked it up on Friday.   

Here the pig and Madonna have their beginning washes.  Remember the with is my paper, no white paint!  The green glass is almost finished.



Starting washes on the lilac, clients Mother's favorite flower.



I started darkening the background and added coins as requested.

2022 Landscape #2

 

FRAMED in 10x7" black wood  $225.
mini original watercolor

A farm scene from Ephrata, PA from last fall.

Tonight is the closing of the exhibit in West Chester.  They are having poetry, singing and fellowship before we remove our paintings.

2022 Landscape #1

 
FRAMED in 10x7" black wood  $225.
mini original watercolor

Linda accidently ordered black wood frames in 10x7".  
I am painting 7 landscapes in an odd size!  The image
is 6X3"   This scene is from the Cornwallville, NY area.  Ben and I went on an egg run.  There was a fresh coat of snow while we were there.

2022 Still Life #11

4x6” mini original watercolor   $225.

Whenever I have pears setting around I have this odd need to paint them.  I love painting pears!

An "Artist Talk" that I was included in from the exhibit A Black Thread Through Time" is now available to watch on You-Tube.  I found the journey of each artist very interesting.  Thought I would share.

House Update:  The cottage is rented!  An older man is moving in to be closer to his daughter.  It worked out the way it should.   Yesterday was a bit of a mess, Linda's computer screen died.  You realize how tied we all are to our computers (all electronics) when they break.  So a trip to Best Buy.  Unpacking it we see it will no longer fit on our very old computer desk.  Also needed two trips to Target to update our cords since it did not mate up with our older computer.  Linda decided she did not like the curved monitor and it had to go back!  Now we also need a new desk, so we emptied and trashed our very old one and she found one on Marketplace 40 minutes away.   Found the screen she wants at Office Max.  So after several stops at 8:30pm with the help of our helper Stacy we set up the desk, set up the new screen and Linda reorganized her desk.  Not the day we planned but all worked out in the end.   Today was our final dental appointment.  We both now have beautiful implants and a lot less money!