SYCAMORE LEAVES - 2

I gradually – s l o w l y !! – work up the colors on each leaf. At this point I’m wondering if I need something else in the right open space, but think I’ll wait until the painting is farther along to decide.

SYCAMORE LEAVES

Finally, I’m back with a painting!

This painting was started as a demo, some time ago, for a fluid acrylic workshop.

When I do a demo, I don’t usually think of trying to get a completed painting. I just take an object or scene that I can use as an example in order to teach the class the specific technique or concept. If the painting works out, it’s a bonus! 

Since I was doing  more than one demo that weekend, this painting was started to simply show how I glaze with fluid acrylics.

The sun was backlighting some sycamore leaves one afternoon so I took a photo. There were more leaves in the photo, but I liked this diagonal line, so I left out several leaves. As usual, I began by glazing on some color.

SHAKER BASKETS - 3

I then gessoed that whole area and then repainted it. In the end, the white line is pretty well camouflaged. In the close up you can also see some places where the paint got “outside the lines” of the board and handle. Those spots were also cleaned up and camouflaged, and here is the final result. The white acrylic on the top of the shelf is showing up quite white in this photo; in real life it doesn’t show up that white!


Shake ‘er Baskets, 15x30, Fluid Acrylic on canvas

SHAKER BASKETS - 2

Here is a close up of the basket as it develops.

At the art club demonstration, I continued building up the colors. Then I laid this painting against the wall (upside down) and took out another painting to work on. I thought this one was dry, but it wasn’t! Not until I was packing up did I realize that the basket handle had been wet and the brown paint had run into the background. (Top left area just above the basket handle).

I dipped a Qtip into alcohol to rub off the brown paint (see the close up) which also took off some of the cobalt.

SHAKER BASKETS - 1

As you may recall, Rhonda Carpenter and another friend and I went to Shaker Villlage earlier in the year. I came away with a few photos to develop into paintings. This painting is taken from a photo of some old, well used Shaker baskets on top of an old shelving unit. For this horizontal design, I drew the painting onto a 15x30 canvas and began with a light wash of cobalt in the background. Then I used several shades of brown fluid acrylics in light washes.

As you can see (below) I worked left to right and only partially finished each additional layer. I intended to use this painting for demonstration purposes at a local art club and wanted to be able to show my layering process. I gradually built up the colors in the baskets and on the wooden shelf, using my fan brush to create striations to simulate wood on the shelf.

BRUSH-PAPER-WATER BLOG

I'm happy to announce that my work is being featured over at Chris Beck's "Brush-Paper-Water" blog!  I consider this a huge honor.
Chris makes me look good!  Go take a look at what she has to say on both her blogs!
"I'm Painting as Fast as I Can"
"Brush-Paper-Water"

FLUID ACRYLIC WORKSHOP

This weekend I gave a 2-day workshop in fluid acrylics.  You can see more about that at Rhonda's blog - she took lots of photos and has lots of description - and I promise I didn't pay her for that!  Didn't even know she was doing it - when you are the teacher you get so focused you become oblivious to what else is going on - like forgetting to put out the coffee cups and not realizing it's lunch time!  I also forgot to take any photos on Saturday, but remembered on Sunday.

Jean had never painted before - never, nothing, nada (but she may be hooked now!)  She painted along with me on Saturday and used a reference from one of the other ladies on Sunday.

Sharon is going to make a series of 4 florals for her kitchen - she likes yellow!

Sharon's first try with FA and first time working on a board in a watermedia.

Jo does a great job, whether it's watercolor or FA!

Rhonda worked on 3 over the weekend!

My Saturday demo, unfunished - photos courtesy of Rhonda!

My Sunday demo - I'm liking this one and will finish it (soon, I hope!)
I've got lots of computer catching up to do, and then am out of town a couple days, but may have some blog posts uploaded in the meantime!   Hope you don't miss me while I'm gone!
(No paintings were harmed in the taking of these photos!)

FLUID ACRYLICS WORKSHOP - CINCINNATI ART CLUB

Finally, we were able to have the fluid acrylics workshop! You may recall that it had been scheduled for first weekend in February but we got snowed out with one of many snow storms. So, with snow in the forecast AGAIN, the workshop facilitator and I had been back and forth on the phone Friday coordinating all possibilities for the weekend.
On Saturday I woke up to my husband telling me that it had snowed during the night. (Insert your own expletive here!!!) But, turned out it was just a “light dusting” so, after one more call to check the weather report in Cincinnati, off I went – loaded for bear!!! (And, just for more winter fun – I awoke Sunday to ice on the roads here in the country – which, fortunately, turned into “just wet” the further I drove into the city. As the forecasters would say – “we dodged a bullet”).
The two days went quickly for me, and I had a ball! I already knew 2 of the participants, and others in the group knew each other, so we all quickly became a congenial group. We laughed, we learned, we ate Panera Bread bagels with cream cheese - and we even did some painting!
There were both oil and watercolor painters in the group and they were all very curious about the fluid acrylics. By Sunday afternoon they had learned several techniques to incorporate into their paintings.
All in all, a very pleasant way to spend a weekend – art, food, fun and friends!
If you are interested in an unbiased opinion (!!!) about the workshop, Gaylynn  has put up one post on her blog about the workshop and will no doubt post more when she gets her computer up and running.
These two photos were taken into the mirror and you can see the demo paintings. These are some good starts that I’ll be finishing up and posting.

Below is none other than “yours truly”. Wow, there is a reason I hate to have my photo taken! For some reason my hair refused to cooperate either day – isn’t that always the way! I’m blaming it on the weather!

Here are the fine folks who braved the elements to come and learn.

DEARBORN COUNTY REGISTER NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

I was pleased to see a feature newspaper article about me that ran in our local paper. You can click on the link here or on my sidebar if you are interested in reading it!

http://thedcregister.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4182&Itemid=106

A correction would be that I was in the Georgia Watercolor Society Member's Show and the Richeson International Still Life & Floral last year.

BATIK FLAG - Part 2

The red stripes have been waxed and the blue background (French ultramarine and indanthrone) has been painted in. I liked the area where the red had bled into the background – happy accident! I think it made more unity in the painting.

As you can see, I use a styrofoam plate for my palette when working in this technique.

After the blue dried, I applied the wax to any portion of the painting that was uncovered. After all of the wax was dry I crumpled the painting so that the wax broke apart. You might want to do this step holding your painting directly over a wastebasket!

Rather than using Sumi-E ink as some artists do, I mix up a dark, or black, with my watercolor paints. For this particular piece I used Maimeri Terra D ‘Ombra (burnt umber), Winsor Newton raw umber and Rembrandt Brun Van Dyck (Van Dyke brown), each mixed with some Daniel Smith Indanthrone.

Then I take an old brush and “smoosh” that dark paint into the cracks in the wax. And, did I mention it’s messy? You can see the wax floating in the water. (See why I say use OLD BRUSHES!)

After applying the dark or black paint, I lay tissues over the painting to mop up any extra paint that lays on top of the wax. (It makes me think of “101 Dalmations”!)

Here is the finished piece.

I adhered the painting to my canvas and turned 3 sides under. I then tore the last side to make it look like the flag was old and tattered. I sprayed several coats of Krylon matte over the flag.
This was just an idea I came up with, and the person who purchased the piece can certainly turn under that right side and frame it in a standard frame, or leave it as is – blowing in the wind!

Now – I’ll make you play the game – how does this painting incorporate the theme of seven???

The Veteran, 12x20, watercolor batik on rice paper (SOLD)

BATIK FLAG - Part 1

This painting got quite a bit of attention at our GCWS spring show, and quite a few people asked me “how’d you do that”!! This is what prompted my recent batik workshops.

Here’s a “how to” for you, in case you missed my recent batik workshop (hint, hint!!). If you live in the area and are interested in learning how to master this technique, give me a holler via email! I’ll be giving another workshop either later in the fall or next spring.

Here is my flag drawn out on white paper (upper right), the photo I’m working from and my rice paper with the flag drawn onto it.

My first step was to put a light wash of raw sienna all over to “dumb down” the white of the flag. You must be careful with the paper while it is wet, it tears easily. I had the painting laid out on freezer paper and set it aside to dry.

After the raw sienna layer had dried I put in the flag shadows, both light and dark areas, and let it dry. It’s hard to control the paint on the rice paper, it tends to bleed quite a bit, so I tried to use thicker pigment in some areas.

Here is my set up:
I lay down foil so that any hot wax drips will not harm my table cover. My wax heats up in a small electric skillet. Problem is, you cannot maintain a steady heat in the skillet – it keeps cycling – heating up and then cooling slightly, just enough to make the wax begin to solidify before it re-melts and it’s annoying! (I’m going to try to locate some wax heaters). I use Gulf wax which can be found in the canning section of the grocery. Just be careful not to let it get too hot or it will catch on fire.
I use an assortment of old brushes to apply the hot wax.

I’m ready to begin applying the wax and since I don’t want to drip it all over my painting, I have covered most of the flag with copy paper.

The stars and white stripes have been waxed.

The red paint has been applied, and as you can see, it ran a little into the blue field. As I mentioned, it’s hard to control the paint on the rice paper. (I think I used permanent rose, alizarin crimson and cadmium red).
I also use old brushes when doing the batik painting since I don’t want any wax to accidentally get into my good brushes or paint or onto my palette – a lesson learned the hard way!!

FINAL BATIK WORKSHOP and GIVEAWAY!

I got snowed under last week by a nasty cold, but revived just enough to give my final batik workshop. Posted here are their final works (see, I remembered the camera again!)

Here are Missy's masterpieces!

Here are Barb's:

And here is Sharon's:

I also want you all to know that I’m checking out your blogs - I enjoy seeing the new works, reading the stories, etc. - even if I’m not commenting on each one. Don’t think I’m rude, but I am finding myself pressed for time more and more and something’s got to give – so it’s the commenting! (but not the reading!).

And with that, just so you won’t give up on me, how about a giveaway – of an original Deb Ward painting (ooooohh, aaaaaaah I can year you all saying!!!!) This may be a small batik (or maybe not???), you will just have to be surprised!

RULES FOR THE GIVEAWAY:
1 - You must leave a comment on my blog – don’t worry – I have the comment moderation active so if you don’t want the world to see it, just me, that’s fine; just mention that in the comment and I won’t post it.

2 - Each comment you leave will equal 1 chance to win – (so vote early and vote often – ha, ha). I will pick a winner on September 1 by putting slips with your name in a “hat” and drawing the winner (i.e. if you leave 5 comments on my blog between now and then, there will be 5 slips with your name that could be potential winners!)

Good luck!

BATIK WORKSHOP - 2nd WEEK

The second batik workshop was this past weekend and I did remember my camera! I even remembered to take a few photos!

Here are some of the ladies diligently working on their masterpieces.

I set up in my living room for painting, and we had just enough room.

Here they are waxing in the dining room. Drying took place in the laundry room and ironing in the kitchen!

It's a process, that's for sure!

Here are some of the paintings in progress below. The bird's nest is taken from a magazine photo and Diane added the branches. (These are all for both educational and personal use, so that is not a problem).
Below is Teresa's sunflower.
Here is Diane's bird's nest - it makes me think I'm in the tree looking down at it!

Here is Pam's lily.

I forgot to get photos of all of the paintings before they left for the day, but overall I think they all were happy with their completed paintings - they left with smiles on their faces!