WITF ~ You-tube...

 I mentioned back on December 5th that WITF came to film me for an Artist series on their Mosaic YouTube channel where they highlight artist in central PA.  That video You-Tube was released yesterday!  (click  HERE  to view).  Please share with your friends.

A bit busy here on Tuesday, I had lots of errands to run, like go to the borough office and buy a tag for our microwave that died.  Go buy a new microwave!   Take 800 postcards (my schedule) to the post office.  Pick up sandwiches for Linda and friends who were working on our Canada trip.  Go to my local cable company to pick up a new clicker because the old one stopped working.  And run to New Holland and take down the show.  So, I did not get any painting done.

Today I am painting a commissioned bird and I promised to draw my commission tree before bedtime!

Finished it!    SOLD!    Bird #13 A Grosbeak

2023 Bird #12

 mini original watercolor   $250.
I am finishing up my birds with a Northern Flicker.

I actually have 2 commissioned birds to do this week and a large tree commission to get moving on.
February will start still life.

2024 Bird #11

mini original watercolor   $250.
Todays bird de jure... A Brown Thrasher!

Last Thursday I did a demonstration at Garden Spot Village and I promised to share the finished painting.
This was how it looked when I had to stop.

Making the redware darker, still saving the stripes. Making the background darker. Notice the depth of the shelf.


Adding the soft Cad Yellow to the stripes


A bit warmer on the shelf and soften all my edges and it is FINISHED! Still needs framed, titled and priced.

2024 Bird #10

mini original watercolor  $250.
I am told this is a Hairy Woodpecker...



I was at Garden Spot Village today for a 2-hour demonstration and a 45-minute talk. It went very well and was packed. I saw several people I knew and even my Jr. Hi. shop teacher! And since we were in New Holland, PA we HAD to stop at Fox Meadow for lunch and ice cream! I now need to concentrate on my next commission. Meanwhile Linda is doing some planning for a June trip to Montreal and Quebec with 8 of our travel group.

2024 Bird #9

SOLD!  $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/26 the price goes to $250.

I am doing a demo and a talk (Thursday morning) So I needed to draw and start a few washes on my demo painting.

Having one of our mini splits looked at, it is making a noise...hoping it is a cheap fix.
This weekend we have a funeral AND a baby shower, life sure is interesting.

2024 Bird #8

SOLD!  $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/25 the price goes to $250.

Since the snow we just had my bird photographer, Leslie, sent me birds in the snow.

We are back home after a really nice time in the mountains.  And it was nice only being an hour from home so not a long drive.  We turned off a major route and went up into the mountains, then turned off an unpaved but plowed lane over a half mile to the cabin...  with the snow it was beautiful.  

We are back home to a full, busy week.

2024 Bird #7

SOLD!  $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor

Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/24 the price goes to $250.

Red Bellied Woodpecker with a very light colored belly!

We are spending 2 nights in a little cabin way back in the woods. I’m painting and Linda is reading. We are both sitting in front of a wonderful fire (Linda’s favorite)

2024 Bird #6

  
SOLD!  $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor

Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/23 the price goes to $250.

Thank you Jim Wolf for the use of your photo.

We are spending 2 nights in a little log cabin in the woods without internet.  So, I will reply to emails when we go out, be patient!  Photos to come...

Commission Update...finished, framed and will be picked up on Friday!
I am SO pleased with the way it turned out.

I am starting my next commission and totally switching gears to a special tree.  

2024 Bird #5

mini original watercolor   $250.
A female blue bird...

2024 Bird #4

 SOLD!   $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor

Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/19 the price goes to $250.

Another bluebird...


Commission:  Pickles and bowl are finished.


Next is the table, warm underpainting, saving the light areas and the shadows.

2024 Bird #3, Bluebird

SOLD!   $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/18 the price goes to $250.

A beautiful bluebird

SHOW SCHEDULE:  Linda has been working on my show schedule.  The goal is to cut way back and squeeze in more fun.  For most of my career I did over 40 shows a year.  Since my oncologist told Linda to do everything on our bucket list in the next 5 years she is seizing that with gusto!  Don't worry, I am still painting daily so there is always new work.

The month of January my work is hanging at Gardenspot Village in New Holland.  
January 24 I am demonstrating from 9-11am and at 11 giving a lecture.
Open Studio
Open Studio    Saturday, February 10 from 10am to 4pm
I am opening my studio in Lititz (4 N. Spruce St.)
Check out my new work, sit and watch me paint,
ask questions and generally hang out.
Come spend the day in Lititz!

Makers Market at Lititz Fire and Ice
February 24-25 from 11am to 4pm
Held at the Linden Hall Gymnasium
Free admittance!


Open Studio: March 23 from 10-4

Check my website often to see what is happening.
As for classes, I have continued to postpone them. 
We want to do too much to be able to squeeze it in.

2024 Bird #2, cardinal

SOLD!   $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/17 the price goes to $250.

I am really happy with this one.

I thought you might like to see how I did it...
Start with a good drawing (by hand!)
 And for no reason I started with a little background


Started with the head and watch the SLOW build of color.
Taking my time, I have 5 hours into this bird!


I dry hard between each addition of color so I do not get a muddy mess.

And that's how I do it!

Some FUN...Monday we spent the day with some of our travel group (Linn's and Woodruff's)  and went to Hershey.  We had lunch at Houlihans and then toured The Hershey Story. 

2024 Bird #1, cardinal

SOLD!   $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/16 the price goes to $250.

I am starting my bird series with a cardinal. I also want to give a big thank you to Leslie who every year shares her bird photos with me. I could not do these paintings without her help.

We took a little fun time on Saturday and went to Glendale Flour Mills Antiques and Primitives Day. Came home with a Fireplace match holder that I am keeping brushes in. It is small, 6' high (looks huge in this photo) Also found a pie safe I love but we need to sell something to make room... also I took the car instead of the suburban and it did not fit...  


After that we met our friend Joan for lunch then back home to work on my commission.  
Also a little movie update: we watched Sound of Freedom, this was HARD to watch.  Then watched Harlan Coben's 'Fool Me Once', SO much going on and twists and turns but it all comes together.  I don't know how Linda reads his books!  Good movie.

Commission: Meanwhile I spent most of Thursday thru Sunday working on my commission.
added the lid on the second jar and started the bowl



A finished bowl and starting the cukes



Cukes almost finished...

2024 Landscape #4

SOLD!  $155 (unframed) 6x4” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 10x8 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/11 the price goes to $250.

You can probably guess this is from Lancaster County.
I truly love our farmland and barns.


Commission:
Added the lid to the jar


Started the lettering on Jar #2


Adding the background to Jar #2

2024 Landscape #3

Mini  original watercolor $225.
This view is from the grounds of the Biltmore in Asheville NC.
With the mountains, and more mountains. Loved the grounds.


Commission: I am working on the lettering on the jars.


adding the table under the jar

Just keep adding washes and drying it. 
NO white paint will be used anywhere.
The glass is negative space reflecting light around it.

2024 Landscape #2

SOLD!  $145. (unframed) 6x4” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 10x8 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/10 the price goes to $225.

This is the same view in the fog after a rain storm. Just beautiful colors but you could not see the mountain ranges.



Commission:  My client wanted canning jars and a bowl of cucumbers. 
They supplied the photo.
I drew it by hand (no computer or blown up!)  

As you know, I paint in thin layers (washes), here is my start.
The first washes are Yellow Ochre and then dried it hard using a hair dryer.

I went a bit darker and added a warm wash to the table.
For the artists out  there; this is a mix of Yellow Ochre, Paynes Grey, and a tiny pinch of Cad Red.
And again dried hard.

More tomorrow!

2024 Landscape #1

 mini original watercolor  $225.
Presenting...a winter mountain view!
While visiting the Biltmore we rented a house on the TOP of a mountain near Connestee Falls, NC. This was our view. The mountains went on forever. There was a lake at the bottom.

Painting: Another commission got a thumbs up and I am framing it. I will post when I get the OK. Meanwhile over the weekend I started working on another still life commission, the drawing was approved and I just got permission to post the painting progress. I will post it tomorrow.

At Home: Abbey and Ben spent the night over the weekend and picked up "Lucy" their kitty which we were keeping for a few weeks while they traveled. Our cats are happy she left! On Friday the group we travel with had a dinner party. We were minus 2 who were not feeling well.  It is always a good time when we are together.

2023/2024 Holiday #13

SOLD!  $155 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 1/5 the price goes to $250

Another scene from the Biltmore. I am finishing my holiday series with a beautiful wreath.

Next week I am planning on some landscapes from Asheville, NC.
I also need to work on a commission over the weekend.

Bird feeders filled, shovels and ice melt on the porch, gas ready for the snow blower, AND I went to the farm for eggs!