Saturday, August 29, 2015

Study: Little Green Pin Cushion


4" x 6" Acrylic on watercolor paper

I'm back to working with house paints---interior latex satin, my favorite.  Back when I was doing my pigeon studies in oil I started getting blisters on my hands---an allergic reaction to something in my paints or with the solvent.  It has happened before but this time it was pretty bad. The sores have completely healed now but I haven't felt yet like trying to figure out what exactly I'm allergic to nor have I felt like wearing gloves. I do miss working in oil though.  So while I get back into the swing of painting and contemplating how to return to oils, I'm practicing all the basics. Coming soon are a series of gray tonal studies with the house paints.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Study: Little Tomato Pin Cushion


4" x 4" acrylic on watercolor paper

Back from summer break with my family.  We just returned from an epic road trip ----a 14 state camping adventure of the middle of the US. There were so many places I wanted to stay to paint. At the top of my list would be Iowa. The rolling hills of corn and sorghum doted with farms with red barns and old silos was breathtaking. So much space, texture and color in the landscape.  I didn't expect it and I didn't  take any photos. It was all too big for a camera.  I'll have to go back some day and stay awhile.