Where Am I Now ...?

A "road map" of Buddy's coloring to start.

Started by intensifying some of the very dark areas.

More darkening.

I did a w/w wash all over the black, with a purply black.

I painted another w/w wash , ears first, then all the face and neck. Now I have to go in and soften the hard edges, and do some dry brush work.

Propped up on my desk, checking for the darkness of the blacks.

I think he's coming along well. I can probably remove the masking fluid, as I won't be doing any more large, wet washes. And as you all read in each post, all comments are most welcome!

Loose as a Goose

Quite like this one

They have the strangest-looking beaks. I't hard to get a good interpretation, but I will.


Before I started work on Buddy this AM, I thought I would do some very loose painting. I sketched, free-hand on wc. paper,  some goose images. Then just wet them, and let the paint go. I think this style will work for the goose paintings I'd like to do soon.

Great Expectations ... But ...

My set-up

My aunt and sister, visiting the Native Art booth.


Let's just say it was another learning experience.  I met some good people, and made some art contacts. I sold one painting to a friend - a dentist with whom I work, who came out with another co-worker, even though she was coming down with a flu. And I had great moral support from my aunt and two of my sisters. I thank you all!!!

Buddy, drawn properly.
A light glaze of purply-black, with patches of aureolin/quin. burnt orange.

I am intensifying all the colors.
I have gone to a sooty black, made with quin. burnt orange, quin. violet and  indanthrone blue.
I decided the orange was just too "orange", so for his tan patches I have used a mix of aureolin, alizarin and cobalt blue.


And if anyone has any ideas on marketing art, I am ALL ears!!! As always, I love to get your comments.

My Apologies

Punkin guarding the copier. I must keep it covered so it doesn't get covered with cat hair.

Lucy and Desi, screaming back from the barn, after feeding Bruno.

The far side of the road is the U.S.
On my way to the Co-op pick up food for the beasties.

Beautiful scenery en route. I, like a fool, was driving and taking photos at the same time.


I've been busier than usual this week. I am still dog-sitting my sister's Boxers. [They are loving the country!] And Bruno had a mishap with a blanket; I forgot to re-fasten the one underneath, and it slid back. Apparently, he was tearing around his field, trying to get rid of the monster grabbing his legs! Thankfully, he is perfectly all right. I rode him today, and he is sound. And I am getting ready for the art show tomorrow. I should have lots of photos after that, and THEN I can get back to some painting. YAY!!

This Bottle Is CURSED ... or ... Time for a Break!

Unwanted blob of masking fluid on base of nose

Yes, dear Buddy - finally to be painted, if I stop making bloopers!

Photo I sent to Anne Zoutsos, asking for advice.
She is a fabulous painter of dog portraits.
N.B. - her comment "eh?" Didn't figure that one out till last night. Anne sent me the annotated photo 4 months ago. [bit slow on the uptake on that one!!]

First washes going very nicely. Then ...

I saw his head was the wrong shape!!! Too big on the left side of the painting.



While I wait for the spilled masking fluid to dry [again], I thought I would post an update on my painting.  Starting from the top photo, I managed to slop mask on the painting while I was prepping it. I am starting again, because last night I saw  - FINALLY - the huge sketching error I had made months ago. I had written Anne Zoutsos for help and advice, and she generously gave it, with her usual dry and brilliant sense of humor thrown in for good measure. I could not figure out what her comment "eh?" meant, until last night. I kept looking at the head where I next wanted to apply a darker wash, and it just looked wrong. Finally, the light bulb went on over my head - BINK! I had sketched the head outline as far as the ear, then added the ear, making it even larger. Using staining colors as usual, I couldn't lift, so drew another Buddy on wc. paper last night, and started applying mask this morning. So there I am, and there you are - all caught up on my "progress". I think the mask should be dry; I'll go back and get it right ! 

Drastic Measures ... Well, Drastic for a Watercolor Painter

I left Miss Maddy here, a few days ago. To me, she looks somewhat like those strange monkeys with bald, pink or red faces!

I did some lifting with a soft sable brush, to start. That was scary!

This is a daylight shot.

This is an inside/flash shot.


First, I gently lifted color several times, no blotting, just wiping the brush and going back in.   Then I went over the entire face [not muzzle] and neck with a thin glaze of quin. gold. This was recommended by Linda Young, another blogging watercolor painter, from the Eastern U.S. The quin. gold has a bit of a greenish cast, and I was hoping it would tone down the excessive red/purple I found her to be. I think it did that, but as usual, I'm not sure I am completely pleased with the painting yet! So what else is new??? As always, all comments are happily received!

More Gourds ... or ... Another Process YAY

This is the photo I was taking when those seed pods caught my attention.

Simple sketch for watercolor.

Light glazes to start.
For gourds, I use aureolin, new gamboge and quin. siena
For fence, it's indanthrone blue, quin. violet and quin. burnt orange.

I did a bit more shadowing before getting into the local color.

Intensifying the gourd colors

Starting the pattern on the large gourd.

I've painted the stems with a light brown, and the dark is the phthalo green mix.
I have pretty much completed the patterning, and my eyes are going cross-eyed, so I think I'll call it a night!!
As always, all comments are most welcome!