Plein air watercolor painting of trees along the Huron River in Gallup Park.

Watercolor painting 9 inches x 3.5 inches
$80

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In Ann Arbor, we have a beautiful public treasure called Gallup Park. The Huron River runs through it and it is a gathering place for joggers, kayakers, dog walkers, families and courting couples. I try to get out there at least a couple of times a year to do some plein air painting. This small watercolor landscape was one of a few I did recently. The views are so varied that I can  just set up my supplies, paint, pivot, paint, pivot, etc., and get an interesting scene at every turn. I’m hoping to get out again this weekend with either my watercolors or pastels and capture some of the gorgeous red buds that are in bloom right now…

Watercolor painting of an outdoor cafe in Naples

Watercolor painting 6 inches x 7 inches SOLD

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This watercolor painting will also be available thru the Circle of Art fundraiser for Food Gatherers on May 17. I painted it sitting on a step on one of the main streets in Naples, Florida. Plein aire paintings can be quite a challenge when you do them in public. Everyone who comes by has to sneak a look. Sometimes they ask to take a peak, other times they just belt out their opinion loud enough for everyone to hear.  It used to really fluster me but I have become used to the process. Most people are very kind and encouraging and I can always use that!

And Food Gatherers could use you. Click on the Circle of Art website in the next couple of weeks and see if there is a piece of art you can’t live without!

Watercolor painting of tables and palm trees around a pool in Spain.

Watercolor painting 6.5 inches x 8.5 inches SOLD

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I painted this watercolor painting plein aire when we were in Spain a couple of years ago. We stayed at a fantastic hotel near Malaga and spent a bit of time lounging around the pool. Not wanting to be too slothful, I painted as I sipped cocktails! What a treat!

I’ve donated this piece to a charity art auction run by Saline Picture Frame Company to raise funds for Food Gatherers. In the last couple of years they have raised over $58,000 to help feed the needy in Washtenaw County, Michigan. To quote Saline Picture Frame’s website:

2009 marks the fifth Circle of  Art benefit for Food Gatherers.  The Circle of  Art is a party, a project and a group effort by artists and art lovers to help fight hunger where we live.  Simply stated, a bunch of artist donate small works of art, Saline Picture Frame Co. mats them all and hosts a party, lots of people come to the party and bid on the art and then Food Gatherers uses the money raised to feed hungry people.

I donate to this great cause every year. If you have a chance, please visit their website or go to the auction and support them!

Watercolor painting of farm and fields along a country road.

Watercolor painting 8.5 inches x 6.5 inches
$80

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The fields are turning green here and I am getting excited about getting out and doing plein air watercolor paintings again. There are still many old farms in the Saline area of Michigan that I haven’t captured yet. But soon I will have to widen my scope and head farther west. At some point, I hope to have documented nearly every farm in the area with a landscape painting.

Watercolor painting of begoinias and grass pots on a deck.

Watercolor painting 5 inches x 7 inches $70 + shipping

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I’m finishing 2 large RiverStone pastels right now and I will probably post them later this weekend. So today I thought I would continue the theme of “Think Summer!”

I sat on my deck in the sun last July with a glass of white wine and painted our flower pots. I like painting small plein air watercolors to keep my skills sharp. The subject matter isn’t always important. I read somewhere that you should be able to make a good painting from ANYTHING. Welllll, I don’t know about THAT….

Just heard today that River Gallery sold 6 giclees prints of my Treescape series. Yahoo!!

Watercolor painting of an old log cabin.

Watercolor painting 11 inches x 4.5 inches $100 + shipping

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This is a quick plein air watercolor sketch of the old log cabin at the Toledo Botanical Gardens. I am an absolute sucker for historical settings so this really drew my attention when I went down last year to paint the fowers. It has a garden that is full of crops that the pioneers would have planted in the early 1800s. And the interior of the cabin is full of primitive, wooden furniture.

This landscape was painted on yupo, a plastic-like paper that doesn’t absorb liquid. All of the colors pool together and stay very vibrant on the top surface of the paper.

Watercolor painting 10 inches x 7 inches $200 + shipping

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This is the little lagoon directly behind the Kona Shore watercolor landscape painting I posted a couple of days ago. It looked absolutely prehistoric and untouched but it was actually right next to the snorkel and boat rental cabin. The Big Island of Hawaii is full of extreme contrasts: barren black lava fields and lush green rain forests; poor, native houses and luxurious, expensive resorts; hot, humid temperatures and cool mountain breezes…

Watercolor painting 8 inches x 12 inches $100 + shipping

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Peter was our model at figure drawing class yesterday. This a watercolor painting sketch from one of his 20 minute poses. Its a bit loosey-goosey but these quick studies are very helpful in learning to paint what you see, NOT what you know.

Watercolor painting 8 inches x 5.5 inches SOLD

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I made my annual trip to the Toledo Botanical Gardens last weekend. It really is a pretty site filled with all sorts of flowers and bushes. This little bridge caught my eye and I sat down and did a quick watercolor study of it. Lots of people stopped by to comment. Their were 6 weddings on the grounds that day!