New 18x14

We had a friend visit this morning so rather than work on a mini I finished this larger one. Copper from Potts Grove Manor in Pottstown, PA.   It will frame to 18x14 and I do not have a title or price.

2025 Still Life #17

 
SOLD!  $145 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 4/11 the price goes to $225

I am on a roll with still life paintings!

Date night tonight, heading out for a little dancing.

2025 Still Life #16

 mini original watercolor $225
Yesterdays painting was looking down and today I am looking up! This is from the Physics House in Cape May, NJ

Save the Dates!
My show season is soon starting!

Booth 79 near Bruton Parish Shop




Booth F1

2025 Still Life #15

SOLD!  $145 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 4/9 the price goes to $225

I enjoy the little hidden objects we walk past without noticing.


Meanwhile last week I finished 2 larger paintings.
Both framed 14x18. I do not have them titled or priced, but I am working on it.

This was my Open Studio demonstration painting.




Over this weekend I started working on some copper pieces...

Just to keep my Monday exciting, I had an emergency dental appointment.  Unlike most of you, I still have my wisdom teeth...as of today I have one less.  I had to have it pulled.  I am glad I had my painting finished before the appointment!

2025 Landscape #16

 

mini original watercolor  $225
Gettysburg, PA...

My flower commission was picked up today and they loved it!

I also wanted to let you know we are NOT raising our prices.  We decided to absorb the increases we are feeling.  The price of matboard, foamboard, frames, tape, screws and wire have all gone up, way up and I do not see them going back down.  I see them going up even higher since almost all comes from China.  Remember to support the small business owners struggling to survive!  Shop local. 

2025 Landscape #15

mini original watercolor   $225
I am fascinated by the way the sun lays across a building.

Busy day today.  Started with a donation pickup for Warwick Education Fundraiser.  Next was a client picking up a painting.  Then a friend who needed a little help with his painting.   A trip to the bank, frame yesterdays painting and finish todays.  Suddenly I look up and its 4 o'clock!

2025 Landscape #14

 
SOLD!   $145 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 4/3 the price goes to $225

The view from a clients house.

Plan ahead, here is my schedule..
Apr. 27: Williamsburg, VA

May 10-11: Crozet, VA
May 17: Heart of Lancaster, Manheim, PA

June 21-22: Fine Craft Fair at Foundry 48, Lititz, PA

July 3-6: Westmorland Arts & Heritage, Latrobe, PA
July 26: Lititz Art Show

Aug. 9: BIG Rotary Craft Show, Lititz PA
Aug. 16-17 Traditional Artisan Show, Oaks, PA
Aug. 30-31: Heart of Lancaster, Manheim PA

Sept. A Fair in the Park, Pittsburgh PA
Sept 13-14: Ludwig Craft Show, Ludwig, PA

Oct 3-5: Waterford, VA

Nov. 21-23: Annual Open House
Nov. 28-30: 2nd week of Open House

2025 Landscape #13

 
 SOLD!  $145 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 4/2 the price goes to $225

 Ile dOrleans in Canada

CLAIMED!!   "Church Street View" original watercolor.
FREE to the 1st person to send an email and claim it!
If you are a past winner you are not eligible!
I am guessing it was painted in 1994 and reworked in 2016 - a scene from Charleston, SC. value $550

UNFRAMED, framing available $60 18x14" - shipping available at cost

2025 Still Life #14

 

mini original watercolor  $225
Love these bowls...

REMINDER...Come spend the day in Lititz, PA!

My STUDIO is OPEN on Saturday 3/29
from 10 am to 4pm
at 4 N. Spruce St. Lititz PA

I will be demonstrating...pull up a chair and watch and ask questions!
Explore the studio and find your special painting.

2025 Landscape #12

mini original watercolor   $225

Updates: This past weekend we went with friends to a good dinner at Fenicci's in Hershey, then we saw Cirque de Soleil "Ovo" at the Giant Center. The show was fantastic!  If you have never seen a Cirque show I highly recommend it.
Monday I spent a few hours replacing my cell phone, a trip to Costco and a few errands. Today was a dental appointment for Linda, return to ATT for help with my Garmin connection with the new phone and a stop at Thoms for fresh bread. AND... we worked in the garden a few hours.

If you remember back in January we got a Christmas tree from friends. To recycle it!
It sat in the back yard for the birds to hide in over winter.



Last week Linda started cutting off the branches.


Then today we finished trimming it and set it in the flower bed and put the blue bottles on it.

2025 Landscape #11 and Commission FINISHED!

SOLD!   $145 (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 3/26 the price goes to $225

I went with a landscape today.

Come spend the day in Lititz, PA!
Saturday, 3/29
My STUDIO is OPEN on Saturday 3/29
from 10 am to 4pm
at 4 N. Spruce St. Lititz PA

I will be demonstrating...pull up a chair and watch and ask questions!
Explore the studio and find your special painting.


Commission FINISHED!
I’m finished, clients are happy!

Commission Update

I am concentrating on my commission.  You may need to go back to March 5 to see where I left off. I have been working a bit every day this week.  The big elements are in and now I am focused on the filler flowers and greens.  It's slow busy work that I must pay attention to.


Can you see it building?

2025 Water #2

 mini original watercolor   $225
Another view from the ship.

In The NEWS!  While we were gone, WITF aired an interview...
click HERE to listen!

2025 Water #1

mini original watercolor   $225
The Port of Manhattan, NYC

We are back home after 10 days away.  We took the train to NYC and spent the night with Abbey.  Then took a Norwegian Cruise to Bimini.  We have sailed with Norwegian several times but this was our least favorite.  The ship was packed (4200 passengers) and there was lots of kids.  The weather was not the best so it was hard to find seats let alone a quiet spot.  It was too rocky to tender at Great Stirrup Cay so we spent an extra night in Port Canaveral, not too exciting!  Norwegian no longer does towel animals on your bed and no longer offers midnight cookies.  I noticed lots of cost cutting.  We still had a great time; I actually read a book and painted and Linda finished 2 books.  We rested, ate and danced! We avoided the elevators and took the stairs (lots of stairs), we washed our hands constantly and still brought home coughs!   

The water in Bimini was beautiful.

After 8 sailing days we were back in NYC. Spending Saturday with Abbey & Ben.  We had an excellent dinner at Bar Primi then saw the play Curse of the Starving Class.  Not our favorite play but loved the actors!  Train back home on Sunday and back to painting my commission today!  I'll share more tomorrow.

Commission Update #5

 I am working on the flowers...

The Blog is on hold until March 17th... busy, busy!

2025 Landscape #10 AND Commission Progress

mini original watercolor   $225
A barn from Chester County...

The commission, #4
working my way up the stems...


Starting to add some flowers...



Here is a close up view...


Starting the rose...

2025 Landscape #9 AND Commission Progress

mini original watercolor  $225

A cork tree from Portugal. Evergreen Oak trees, who knew.  The harvesting of cork was fascinating.

I did not paint on Friday.  Spent some time washing my suburban then went to Lazzaro's with friends for an early dinner. The rest of the weekend was spent on my commission.

The commission, #3
Working on the greens...


The slow build of greens!  I do not use the green right out of the tubes.  I have 4 varieties of green in my palette but I mix the shades I want. The 4 on the left.  Doesn't look like much but its 4 different shades.

I am building the stems and leaves...

The Commission, #2

Personal Thoughts:  I was thinking about the bit of anxiety I have about this commission.  Even after 45 years of painting and I am pretty confident in my watercolor skills, this one is causing a bit of anxiety.  More because the clients are important to me and this has very special meaning to them and I want them to be thrilled.  That puts more pressure on me.

Painting thoughts for those of you trying to paint... My big advice is, SLOW DOWN.  I worked 7 hours on 2 little ribbons.  Building the color, paying attention to the shadows, one thin wash over another.

The ribbons. I started with the darker purple.  It would be easy to make this a muddy purple mess! I needed to understand the flow (tie) of the ribbon, where the darkest and lightest shades are. If you go back to my drawing there was only a basic outline, nothing to show shading.  That is why it is so important to understand your subject.
Close up view.

This is an overall view.



Next is the lighter ribbon.  Same thinking.  Slow build only lighter shade.
Close up view



OK, here is where I am stopping for the day.  My eyes are tired!

The Commission

This may not look like much but I have been working 7 straight hours!  Starting with washes on the table top.


Then moving to the marbles...


More marbles and forming the glass bowl.


going deeper into the bowl... light washes,  taking my time...

2025 Landscape #8

SOLD!  $145 (unframed) 6x4” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 10x8 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 2/27 the price goes to $225

A landscape from Gettysburg, PA
I worked on this farm scene while I was waiting for the OK on my commission.


The Commission...
I spent a day studying the composition. Understanding what is happening is very important before you start. There is a glass bowl with flat marbles, a vase setting inside. 2 ribbons and a flower arrangement.  As you know, I hand draw (no assist of any kind)  the paper is 300lb cold press, size is 12x16"

I plan to start tomorrow.

latest painting...

This was my demo painting at Fire and Ice this past weekend. 
Finished!

A view from my second floor window to my back yard and up the street.  Different for me and I was so excited about all the lights.  Full moon, porch lights, street lights and all the glow they gave off.   The full moon was going down and the sun was getting ready to come up, about 5am.  The challenge of drawing a street scene by hand and not using white paint but saving my paper for all the light areas.  I had to concentrate a bit but loved the challenge! 
It will frame to 14x18 and needs a title and price.

I have a commission to work on all this week.  As soon as they ok the drawing and I get permission to show it I will post the progress.  Might even try a Facebook live...I will keep you posted.

2025 Still Life #13

mini original watercolor  $225
A jug, a cup and a lemon... makes you think...

I am making an observation...  Last night at the dance we were probably one of the youngest ones there. I would say the average age is late 70's to mid 80's. It makes me SO happy to see older people out there dancing and having a great time, getting exercise while having fun. Another observation... Chubby Checkers "The Twist" seemed a much shorter song when I was in my 20's! You want exercise, twist for that whole song! We also did a waltz, my calves were killing me by the end!
Anyone who likes to dance to 50-60's to a DJ feel free to join us on Wednesday nights at Jimbo's at 3400 Plaza Dr, Reading, PA .$10 cover. They serve food and drinks. Music is from 7 to 10. Just let us know and we can sit together!

2025 Still Life #12

mini original watercolor   $225

There is a clean crispness to this one.

Tonight is date night, going out dancing!

2025 Barn

mini original watercolor  $225
Inside the barn at the Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg PA.

In the Studio: Today, I packed the Suburban for my first show of 2025. It took some time to gather the racks, upper racks, feet, covers, lights, rugs, sign and table. Meanwhile Linda (and Lori) packed the paintings. Made fresh new labels, filled the shrink bucket, and filled the show box.
Fire & Ice Makers Market in Lititz...this weekend!

I was accepted into the April show in Williamsburg VA

I was an award winner last year. 2024 but that does not guarantee acceptance!


Also accepted in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman craft show at the Foundry in June.  This is their 2nd year, I was away last year.  But its always great quality.
I never take it for granted that I am accepted into any show. You fill out long applications, include photos of your work and your booth, include a jury payment and wait...