Irises: Modern Botanical

This painting was inspired by a similar format by Elizabeth Blackadder. I had these beautiful irises in my garden this spring. I didn't want to paint a profile of individual blooms and elected to put them together in this large watercolor.
Watercolor allows for the translucency and delicate light passages through the irises standards. This is contrasted with the velvet shine of the falls.
This is a large painting 15" x 22" and would be a challenge to ship.

Bluejay Sketch

Blue jay Sketch/ watercolor/ 6 x 7/ $ 75

I have been busy painting larger pieces, experimenting with paper and brushes and have not kept up with my blog.
Here is a little painting of a blue jay on rough 140 lb paper. This paper is wonderful for dry brush texture. It lifts fairly well to white but is a challenge to get smooth color transitions.
I have also played with some opaque watercolors: in particular Holbein jaune brilliant, and Schmincke Naples Yellow and Naples Yellow Red. These make wonderful creamy neutral colors when mixed with cobalt or indanthrone blue. An example can be seen behind the jay.
Buy this here

Owl Study

Owl Study/ watercolor on board/6x6/ Low Country gallery HH

I have been working on larger paintings recently but I couldn't resist painting this image later today. This is another watercolor on aquabord.

Iris Study

Iris Study/ oil on canvas board/ 6 x 8/ $100

This is a small painting on fairly textured canvas board. Painting on this amount of texture for me makes the edges and the brush marks a challenge. I think I prefer a smoother surface. However, still so early in my painting journey, I think it is great to try all sorts of things just to see why "feels best".

You can purchase this painting here

Framing Small Boards and Bluebird Study

Bluebird/ oil on board/ 5 x7/ $100

Yesterday, I painted and visited with people at Patios and Blooms Spring Fling. This is one of the paintingsI worked on. I have painted this little bluebird in watercolor and have attempted the oil pose several times. Even yesterday, another wipe before this one that I am happy with. I wanted the bird to be loose but three dimensional.

Buy it here

Yesterday many people had questions about framing or displaying the small boards.

An inexpensive way to hang these boards is to purchase small stretcher frames from French Frames (link) and proceed as described here. To frame them even as small as 4" x 4" a variety of either float frames or edge to edge frames are available at Daily Painters Frames (link). If you have several small paintings, you can use a single color frame (e.g. black) and make a beautiful grouping.

Little Robin Promotes Spring Fling

A little robin to join the small daily paintings that I will have this saturday, May 10 at Patios in Bloom" s "Spring Fling". Starts at 10 AM.

I am bringing small things so local people can see them in person. I will have a sign-up book for an upcoming "arty" newsletter (things like framing options for small paintings, how to group little paintings for a large impact).
If you are interested and can't sign up, e mail me and I'll add you to me list.
I plan to send something informative monthly by e mail.

Thanks!!