1947 PontiacStreamliner Wagon

6" x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

This is a watercolor!! I was feeling out of my
comfort zone this morning when I started this
painting. But by noon, I knew I had it! What a
blast to paint a subject I never tackled before.
I was lured by the curvaceous lines and the hood
ornament. I needed to master the "polished to
a shine" look plus get the silver chrome color by
working with the white paper. The red on the
front just makes it pop. Can you tell I enjoyed
myself today?!! Many thanks to the client who
provided the photos and the inspiration. I hope I
made you proud. I have a few more I plan to work on.

I painted from 8am to 3. Then took a break to pack 600 lbs
of food and carry it up a flight of stairs and then drive it into
Lancaster to Water Street Rescue Mission. I was back
home by 5:30 and back to my painting. I had a make up
class tonight but only had 2 students so I was able to finish
my car. I have more hours into this little mini painting than
I should but I enjoyed myself. My student brought his 10 year
old son, Nathan, along tonight and he was a delight to have
in class. He has talent and was very well behaved.

Ladderback #2

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

I am intrigued with parts of a whole.

I am sure there is some study about how our
mind fills in the parts we don't see. There are
three parts in this painting and I find it
interesting how your eye or your mind just finishes
what I painted. The rest of the window, the
other half of the ladderback chair and then there is
just a corner of the desk. You know all the rest
is there. You automatically fill in the missing parts.

Linda worked at Meals on Wheels this morning so I
just sat at my desk and painted quietly until noon. Then
I ran a few errands, grilled chicken for our family meal
and next thing I know its 7PM and time for my class.
Tonight finished 4 weeks of teaching, and it flew by. I have
one more make up class tomorrow night. If anyone is
interested another set of classes starts next week.

I had a comment the other day from Elizabeth P. wanting to
know about my paper. I always use Arches 300 lb cold press.
Over the years I have painted on just about everything and
found I most enjoy this paper. I personally never stretch or
soak my paper. This is the traditional way, it removes the sizing
and opens the weave of the paper. I prefer to simply tape the
paper down to a board using masking tape. My style is
to work my paper with many layers of washes. I want control of
my paint. I hope this answers your question.

Latch on Door

6" x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

I have always said that subjects to paint can
be found everywhere, we just need to look
around. I was in an antique shop and found
this cabinet. I was simply attracted to the
knob and the latch against the white door.
I painted just part of the "sold" tag for fun.

I taught a class this morning then spent the
afternoon getting prepared for my lecture.
The lecture was at the Lititz Library and my
subject was Painting A Day and blogs. I had
a great time and I hope I was able to inspire other
artists to set goals, even a painting a month!

Original Watercolor

(click image to enlarge)

I wanted to bring you up to date on my painting.
The paper size is 12"x 18". You can see how my
paper is taped to my board. I do not soak my paper
as some artist do. I took a full day on the composition
drawing. Remember on 1/7 I painted a part of this as
a study of the railing and one pot. On Friday I painted
the three geraniums to study the effects of light on the
pots. So I was prepped for the large drawing with a clear
idea in my head. The top photo is the first days
underpainting or washes. On the door is a mixture of
Cad Yellow and Yellow Ochre. I feel this underpainting
gives me the depth and richness I look for. Each layer is
thoroughly dried before adding another wash. The bottom
photo is today's work. The door is getting a darker green.
Notice the white paper is showing around the door panels.
These will get washed in next, I need to save this area
because it will be a lighter value. In an oil painting you
paint color over top of color. In watercolor you go from
dark to light by saving the lighter areas. Also notice the
iron railing is darker. You are looking at three full days
work. Not all watercolorists paint in this manner. I am
known to build my color through washes, but not using
lots and lots of water. I prefer to control my color.
Hope this helps you understand my work a little better.

Potted Geranium Study

6" x 4" original graphite and watercolor
SOLD

This is a rough sketch with watercolor washes.
I am using this as my study piece for the large
painting I am starting. This is the same method
I used to paint the boat. I was working out the
composition of the light and the pots. It is a small
part of the whole painting. This is a sketch, although
the same size and paper as all my blog paintings.
I am offering the starting bid at $30.
I plan to show you the beginning of the large painting
sometime over the weekend. Depends on how much
I get done.

I am packing up my paint box and we are going over
to our friends for the evening. I will paint at their house.
I was able to scan the newspaper article for you to read...

I think you can click over it to make it larger and easier
to read. If you are close to Lititz, I would be honored for
you to join me. You could give your personal opinion on
my blog, but only if you are a regular viewer with glowing
comments!!

More people have been offering "comments" The comment
button is below. I think you have to register the first time,
that's to keep out spammers not my groupies! You can click
it to see what other people have said. So go ahead and
give it a try. Stroke my artistic ego!!

Window Study #8

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

I needed to get away from snow! So I moved
indoors to a warm sunny window. Not even
any snow out the window! It's all about the
sunshine today.

Errands today. The car needed inspected, I had a dentist
check up and we volunteered two hours at the food pantry.
I looked up and it was 5:00. I have a nice blurb in our local
newspaper advertising my lecture at the Lititz Library next
Tuesday night. I will attempt to scan it tomorrow.
It's time to go practice our rumba steps...

Snow Scene #7

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

Another view from the same wonderful
property. More woods and snow. More
great shadow play. What you need to know
is that on all three of the snow scenes all
the white is the paper. This is the accepted
method in watercolor, and difficult to accomplish.
So look over these three again with a new eye.

It was my turn to take Mom to the hairdresser today, which
took all of my morning. Then I went to a client to go over
the terms of a commission, and then to get groceries for a
new pasta dish Linda was trying. Well worth the stop, I had
two helpings! Our carpenter stopped in to check on some
work we need done and somewhere in there I squeezed in
my blog painting. If I had known I was going to be that
distracted today I would have picked an easier subject.
I had an uplifting comment from a client today, he said yesterdays
painting reminded him of a Robert Frost Poem...

Snow Scene #6

6" x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

A snowy day in the woods. Just a pleasant
snow scene. Pine trees in the background
offer the depth and the only real color.
Bare trees in the center area give another
layer to the depth. Hopefully it looks like you
could walk off into the woods. The foreground
has drifts of snow and it is still snowing.

If you know me at all you know I hate snow. So my
plan is to meet it head on. Face my demons while
you reap the benefits of some very good snow paintings!
Today is Tuesday and its my teaching day. A class in the
morning and another in the evening. I just finished. Linda's
morning was spent taking my Mom to the eye doctor for
her regular check. Then she made a tasty vegetable soup for
dinner. We squeezed in a good amount of Rumba practice
which we needed and was great for some laughs. It's only
9:30 so I might work on my large gate painting for an hour
or two. I can't goof off to much I need fresh paintings to start
the show season which is coming up pretty quick.

Snow Scene #5

5" x 5" original watercolor $300.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

This snow scene is from our friends property
in Hill, NH. It was last years snow fall. Fresh
snow with a blue sky and plenty of shadows.

We were with friends over the weekend so I only painted
a little bit. We had a great time and it felt like a mini vacation.
Today is Martin Luther King Day and I feel I owe much to
the past. If the price had not been paid I would not be painting
for a living nor could I be married to Linda and have a daughter.
My own mother clearly remembers the days when she had to
sit on the back of the bus and gave birth to me in a "blacks only"
hospital. My parents made it clear I had to be at my very best.
I have visited where Dr. King was born and where he died.
I feel truly privileged.

Anchored

Finished! I started at 8am and just finished. I did not
work on a blog today, just my boat. If you go back
two days you can see how this painting started with
a sketch (the sketch is for sale) then the drawing and
the beginning washes yesterday. It has changed
dramatically from yesterday with the addition of many
layers of color. I have created depth and mood by laying
fog in the background. Study it and you should feel the
damp air. Click over it to make it larger. Notice the second
boat in the mist, the birds, and the rope tying the large boat.
This painting will be framed and priced next week. This is
not to be sold on ebay. It will go on my show stand. You
may view it again on my website under Originals. I am
happy to answer any questions about the process or purchase!

A few facts... If you are new to my blog I wanted to point out that
you can catch up on old posts by scrolling down until you see
Blog Archive on the right. Click on a month and you can view old
paintings and my musings. Also under the painting it says
"Click here for purchase information" Go ahead and click! It takes
you to Ebay and you can see the current bids. There is no obligation
to look. Signing up to bid is easy and if you win you have the option
to pay on line, send a check or call me with a charge card. What a
perfect way to build an Andy Smith Collection!! If you need help,
call or email me.

I have nothing exciting to tell you about today. I painted. That's it.
It was pretty quiet here. We are going away for the weekend with
another couple to visit friends who are now living in Frederick, MD.
Good company and good food. No painting! Have a great weekend
and I'll be back with a new blog on Monday.