March 2019 Watercolor

I've been watercoloring for about a month.  I ordered my first two kits from LetsMakeArt.com and started out painting a few little projects with pan paints I had on hand (think Crayola watercolors).  They were a bit difficult to work with, and I wasn't getting the vibrant color that I wanted.  Once my kits arrived with the liquid watercolor paints, I was excited to try those out.

I painted the honeybee using the LetsMakeArt tutorial, and was happy with my finished work.

Next I tried this sea turtle.  It was postcard size, and I sent this one to a WWII vet who was turning 100.

A quick sketch painting of a puppy; photo was posted by one of the Facebook group members.

And then a painting of my dog, Olivia.  Someone posted in the Facebook group that a sick little girl needed "letters from dogs" so I sent this card by mail.

Someone in the Facebook group posted a 5-minute painting challenge to do a margarita... I was in!

Next I painted the fox based on the LMI tutorial. 

I wasn't thrilled with my first fox, so I looked up a new reference photo on pixabay.com and did this guy!  Not perfect, but I like him better :)

Another card request from the group - I sent these flowers out to someone who needed a little cheer.

 Many of the group members (including me) are shy about posting our work, and comment on the mistakes we made.  This quote popped up on my Facebook feed right after I saw one of the newer members posting a painting that she didn't think was good enough.  I found the reference photo of the bird on pixabay.com, and traced the lettering.

A few group members have been posting paintings of lavender in terracotta pots based on a youtube tutorial.  I love lavender, and wanted to join in the fun.  I found a reference photo of lavender in a bucket on pixabay.com. 

February 2019 Watercolor

After completing my first painting in many years last month, I started feeling the desire to do more (which really surprised me)!  About the same time, I got an ad on Facebook for a watercolor tutorial group.  I joined their Facebook group first, and watched the paintings other students were posting.  It was inspiring!  So I ordered my first two kits; the honeybee and the fox.  While I waited, I started a few little projects with supplies I had on hand.

First came the Valentine Challenge, which was such a fun way to get started!  The Facebook group is huge, and they posted a Valentine challenge each day for 4 days in a row, where we all painted our version of the same basic idea.  Dozens of people were posting these valentines and encouraging each other along the way.

Pet Portrait 2019

I was asked by a friend to paint her dog, Stevie.  This was a really fun project!  Oil on canvas, 20X24.  I hadn't painted at all in several years, so this was a pretty intimidating request - black animals are notoriously difficult!  But I thought it turned out pretty well, and got me interested in painting again. 

Jake Series (2013)

I started a series while in Florida with pictures of my brother.  I have a few more paintings that I apparently haven't photographed so I'll have to catch up!

Florida

The following paintings were completed while I was living in Florida.

Nudes (2002/2003)

This is a series of paintings I completed while taking a figure painting class in college, so it would have been approximately 2002 or 2003, I believe. 







 


 

 

 

 

Grief Series (2004-2007)

My grief series started with these three paintings, which I based on photos I found online following a tsunami. I was seeing a therapist, who as we all know, likes to ask; "How are you feeling?"  I didn't have the words, but when I came across photos like these I recognized what I was feeling. 






These three paintings were on display in downtown Provo as part of their program to fill empty store windows, and I later sold all three.  I continued my project with the following paintings.  All but two have been sold.





























































Eventually I worked on a picture from my brother's funeral, which is the painting I connected with the most.  I can remember working on this painting in my Fullerton, CA apartment.  He died during my last semester of my Bachelor's and I went off to Fullerton for graduate school.  I didn't even last long enough to start classes the first semester, but in the short time I was living there, I painted this.  I was so energized while working that I couldn't sit down (totally unlike any other painting I'd worked on).  I eventually dropped this painting off at DI because it was more painful for me to look at all the time.  Try to ignore the glare on the photo...



Another painting I completed of my brother is one of my favorites.  It's hanging at my parents house now.  It's a 3'X4' on masonite board, so it's big and heavy.  It's from a photo of my brother sleeping on the couch with my oldest nephew on Christmas day.  Color in the photo isn't quite right, but the best I could do.