Posts Tagged ‘watercolor painting’
Friday, January 20th, 2012
 Sunset No. 5, Watercolor [5-10-15 or 20]
Practice I have discovered really works. I knew that practice was the only way to improve but since I do tend to undermine my own success much of the time my MO is typically to avoid the very thing that is good for me. (Story of my life.) That approach just won’t do anymore. I’m determined.
That’s not to say that every sunset painting I attempt from now on will be a grand success, but I know now how to paint this subject and will be more confident when I try again in the future. How cool is that? No more guesswork and the beauty of it is now that I’ve committed the technique to memory I am free to experiment with color, intensity and glazing. Who knows what other cool things will be discovered now!
By repeating my lesson (and I intend to paint a few more just for insurance) there is a level of confidence that then allows more freedom to enter into the creative process. Being familiar with your tools and what they can do is essential. Many times in the past I might paint (or draw) a certain subject and if the painting is successful fear immediately entered into my thinking. Thoughts like these would take a foothold … “That good painting was dumb luck” or “That’s it you only had one good painting inside you… you’re done.” That self-destructive thinking prevents experimentation and keeps us from practicing, which is the very remedy to ward off that negative self-talk.
My desire to paint has become so strong an internal force that there is little that will push me away for good. Even after creative dry spells there is something inside driving me back to the art. Perhaps it is the overwhelming feeling of peace and contentment that envelopes me as I paint. My art is my friend and companion and no other activity brings me this joy.
Tags: watercolor painting
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Friday, May 6th, 2011
 Time to get restarted... I know it’s time to get started again painting or drawing or just plain exercising my creative muscles.
You may have noticed that my blog posting dropped off (or should I say disappeared completely) for more than a week without explanation. It happens sometimes that life changes keep one otherwise occupied and then there comes a time to resume.
Now is that time but I’m finding that it’s funny how ten days can seem like forever and the getting restarted with my art is fraught with peril. Self-doubt emerges from within so quickly and if allowed to can undermine even your best efforts.
I suppose it would have been better to do a little each day rather than dropping off completely and then later being faced with the “where do I start” feelings. Just 10 minutes would have kept be “in the game” and mentally there would be no need to restart since I never would have stopped.
This discovery about my creative process is helpful. It helps know that this bump in the road can be maneuvered around, over or through. It may take some time to get back into my creative groove but I’ve been through this before only to emerge stronger both in a creative sense and in a personal sense. The key is to pick up that brush, pencil or pen and do something . . . anything! Good or bad doing something is better than doing nothing at all!
So that’s what I’m up to . . . I’m doing something!
 Here's the beginning! I'm not liking it much but that's okay.
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
Posted in Art Talk, Watercolor | Comments Off
Saturday, February 19th, 2011
 "Winter is Hangin' On" (Watercolor, Image Size 3"x5" or so) [Click here for my ETSY Shop to purchase this painting or some other masterpiece]
Today was the day Anne (one of my closest friends) and I had planned a day trip to celebrate my Birthday, which was last October. Unfortunately, we woke this morning to snow, bitter cold temperatures with heavy winds gusting to 35 miles per hour. Winter, it would seem, was determined to have the final word about just how Anne and I would be spending the day.
Our original plan included a visit to the Florence Griswold Museum in Lyme, Connecticut (2 ½ hours away). The Museum has an impressive art collection, as well as, exhibitions that change every few months.
Around 9ish Anne and I converged at Starbucks and over steaming cups of tea and coffee we discussed our options and agreed to postpone the Lyme trip to another day when the weather was more cooperative.
It’s funny, we’ve been trying to connect to take this trip for several months and now we would need to adjust and make other plans. But the goal all along was really to spend time together. Friends spending time together, we had agreed, was preferable to buying gifts for one anothers Birthdays.
We’d been exchanging Birthday presents for many, many years and last year we realized that giving one another memories and spending time together are gifts more valuable than any store bought bobble no matter how carefully selected. So today we would be creating memories they just would not be memories of the Griswold Museum.
After a short discussion we decided it might be fun to visit the new arts and crafts store (Hobby Lobby) that opened just last week, followed by lunch and a movie.
Browsing through the Hobby Lobby was fun and I did manage to find several new watercolor brushes, drawing paper and a few other odds and ends I just couldn’t live without. After sandwiches at Breugger’s Bagel Shop we headed for the movie – Burlesque with Christina Aguilera and Cher. What a great movie and one I definitely need to add to my chick flix collection when it comes out on DVD! We wound the day down with a cup of tea and dessert chatting and laughing right to the end.
The day was fun, a valuable gift and left me with memories I’ll carry inside and retrieve from time-to-time when I need a reminder of just what it means to have a friend and be a friend. Thanks Anne!
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
Posted in Watercolor | 2 Comments »
Thursday, February 17th, 2011
 Springtime in Upstate New York (Watercolor Sketch) When I walked out of the house this morning and headed for work it smelled like spring. You know what I mean . . . but I’m at a loss for words right now on how to describe it. It was so warm this morning that I even considered leaving my jacket behind. Not a good idea since I know we’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to this winter thing that’s been happening here since Thanksgiving.
The first day of spring is still nearly a month away and I’ve been told that we get much of our snow accumulation in March (Oh NO!). I’m hoping that’s not true and will do my research tomorrow to verify and hopefully dispel that scary fact.
Our temperatures today were in the 40′s and a goodly sum of the snow that’s left (about 2 feet or so) melted off today. Nice! I’m already making my gardening plans. It’s been so long since I’ve dug around in the dirt that I’d almost forgotten how therapeutic it can be.
I’d been trying to keep my spirits lifted in spite of the bitter cold we have been experiencing for months on end and just when I didn’t think I could take one more day God provided a warming trend. I’m not sure how long it’s going to last but I’m going to enjoy while we’ve go it.
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
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Sunday, February 6th, 2011
 "End of the Road" (Watercolor Sketch) No, I’m not watching Super Bowl XLV and am a little sad to admit that I’m not a fan of any particular team. Not baseball, basketball or football, not soccer, rugby (is that the same thing – soccer and rugby) or hockey (ice or field). I never have been and I wonder why.
My sister has been a Dallas Cowboys fan since the day Dennis Homan visited our school when we lived in Huntsville, Alabama. She must have thought he was cute and immediately became a lifelong fan. Even after Dennis Homan left the Cowboys Bethy remained faithful to the team. I, on the other hand, was unimpressed with Dennis Homan and the Dallas Cowboys. I’m sure I was preoccupied with God knows what.
When we moved from Alabama to Upstate New York in 1969 I was a transplant, not a true New Yorker, and so I did not embrace the Buffalo Bills or the New York Yankees or the New York Giants or the New York Mets. Still no team of my own to root for through thick and thin.
My son, Jonathan, and my husband, Tom, are both Buffalo Bills fans. Unfortunately, the Bills haven’t given them anything to root for since Kelly was the quarterback and that was a long time ago. Gosh I sound like I might know what I’m talking about. Don’t be fooled – I don’t.
In spite of the fact that I am a fan with no team to root for I did check to see which teams would be competing during this 45th Super Bowl and discovered it would be the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Okay… that doesn’t mean a thing to me. I don’t know anyone personally in either city so I can offer no allegiance on that front. Tom said that that the Green Bay (ala Wisconsin) Packers are often referred to as cheeseheads and since I advocate everything cheese in every form – they’re my team for the day.
But still I’m not one of those dyed in the wool fans. I envy those kinds of fans who can tell you who the players are, what position they play and recount each spectacular play during the season and even last season and the season before. Yee gads how can they remember that stuff.
Maybe that’s why after all these years I’m still a fan without a team. Too much memorization.
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
Posted in Things to Consider, Watercolor | Comments Off
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
 "45 MPH Corner" Watercolor Sketch, Image Size 2.5 Inches x 4 Inches It’s been snowing on and on all day with intermittent sleet but you know what. . . it doesn’t make me like winter less this year. I’m actually enjoying winter this season and am not sure why. Typically by now I’d be more than sick of it wishing for spring and waiting to see what that dang Ground Hog is predicting.
Truthfully, I don’t put much stock in a little rodent’s ability to predict the arrival of spring. I have a much more reliable method that I’ve used for years and it does seem to be most accurate.
What is my method for predicting spring you might ask?
I rely on many years of keen observation – by me, of course – and have noted that when the roadkill count begins to increase that indeed is the best predictor of spring and when the skunks are among the count. . . well get out your swimsuit Spring’s arrival is imminent. Just last week I saw several carcasses on the roadside. One could have been a skunk but without the telltale odor I can’t be certain.
I was a bit shocked by the sightings because an early spring seems unlikely with all the cold and snow we’ve been experiencing. And then today Punxsutawney Phil predicted the same thing I’d observed . . . well the two of us can’t be wrong.
So get out your gardening gloves and hoes spring is just around the corner!
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
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Monday, January 31st, 2011
 "Winter Patchwork" (Watercolor Sketch) [Click here to purchase this Original Watercolor Sketch from my ETSY Shop]
It’s been a while since I painted on a regular basis and painting is like any other skill – if you don’t use you lose it. Not completely lost thankfully, but one can tend to get a little rusty. So now I’m back and am determined to retrieve what may have been lost. I work primarily from photographs as I don’t have the time to paint “en plein air” (not that it would be a real option right now with our near zero and subzero temperatures – brrrr). This hillside is a few miles from my home. I was captivated by the “patchwork” of snow and tree line all muted as it was snowing in the distance. What a peaceful spot!
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Note: These images have been posted using a MacBook Pro LCD Color Profile Epson sRGB. The above is a representation only. Color of the original product, i.e., giclee prints and original artwork, may vary in color depending upon your computer monitor color settings.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me by email.
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
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Sunday, January 30th, 2011
 "New Construction" Watercolor Sketch
[Click here for my ETSY Shop to purchase this original watercolor]
Finally today I made time to paint. This image is inspired by one of the photos I took on my way home from visiting my son (JonBoy) and his wife (Calico) in Vermont. The value pattern snow cover provides is fertile inspiration for my artwork. I took a slew of pics on my way home and can’t wait to try a few more in watercolor and (who knows) maybe an oil painting or two are in order.
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Note: These images have been posted using a MacBook Pro LCD Color Profile Epson sRGB. The above is a representation only. Color of the original product, i.e., giclee prints and original artwork, may vary in color depending upon your computer monitor color settings.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me by email.
Entire contents of www.raineydewey.com © Copyright Lorraine Mulligan
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting
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Saturday, January 29th, 2011
 Sunday Drive in Winter, Watercolor Sketch Hey I discovered this thing recently; it’s really interesting and enlightening. It’s called a budget! Have you heard of it?! Let me tell you how I stumbled across this amazing concept.
Just this month as 2011 rang in I became determined to save some emergency money and get out of debt. Debt you see has been stealing my dreams and crushing my spirit for a very long time. Now finally I have begun to take a hard look at my cash inflow and outflow. Drawing inspiration from my son, Michael’s, financial spreadsheet I set up a spreadsheet of my own and set about making estimates and predictions through the end of the year.
How revealing and unbelievably eye-opening it has been. It’s no wonder I’ve been enslaved by credit card debt. Spending a little bit here and a little bit there adds up to big dollars. But the quest to live a different kind of life is driving me to take stock and say “NO!” to things and stuff that do not enhance my life and that I do not legitimately need.
I’m sitting here at Wal-Mart as I write this with a cup of McDonald’s coffee while my car gets its regular oil change (another story). Every now and then I gaze out at the store filled with temptation and potential financial ruin. All around are signs boasting “Everyday Low Price” and “Unbeatable” posted on colorful goods all their packaging designed to entice you and get into your wallet.
Well I’m not falling for it! I have dreams that cannot be achieved without personal and fiscal planning and sacrifice.
I know that in order to achieve my goals and live a life that is in alignment with my spirit’s quest hard choices must be made. So I’m on “Use it up, wear it out, made do or do without” duty. I’ve begun to embrace habits of the past, like checking out a book from the library. Who knew the library has books, DVDs, magazines and a friendly librarian who lets you take a book home with only a promise of its return and, of course a copy of your license so they can track you down if you don’t.
I’ve also become a “brown bagger,” bringing my lunch from home most days and reserving my Cook’s Café visits as a special treat. More frugal strategies include reusable containers instead of disposable plastic bags, handkerchiefs (kept clean and ironed) plus honestly evaluating each purchase by asking “do I need this and is it worth trading my dreams for?”
Don’t get me wrong I’m far from a saint and not above temptation here at Wally-World but too many times I’ve gone home with buyer’s remorse unaware that the regret I was feeling in my gut was my spirit calling out, “Don’t do it…. Don’t buy that whatchamacallit in three different colors!” as my Dreams chime in “You’re killin me kid!”
I believe my spirit is calling out as my intuition guides me toward God’s plan for my life and even at 55 I don’t believe it’s too late to listen, change and soar to the heights of my potential.
Hey, hold on a minute… I think I saw some wings in Aisle 12 and they’re on sale!
[Side Note: I made it out of Wal-Mart today without making one purchase. Except the coffee but technically that was purchased at McDonald's!]
Tags: Budget Planning, God and Faith, landscapes, watercolor painting
Posted in Things to Consider, Watercolor | 2 Comments »
Saturday, January 22nd, 2011
 "Frozen Pond" Watercolor Sketch
Snow….snow…. and more snow. That’s what’s been going on here in Upstate New York this winter. Truth be known I don’t mind the snow. I’m inspired by the dramatic value contrast between the leafless trees and brush against the snow and by the broad spectrum of gray and white found in nature during the winter season. The winter landscape if filled with color and training the eye to see it can take time. I’m still learning myself. I suppose we never stop learning if we retain a childlike wonder.
The watercolor sketch you see above, entitled “Frozen Pond,” is inspired by the photograph that I have included below. As you can see I’ve simplified my painting into a variety of shapes and values that I hope will say snow, brush, sunlight. There was a time when I aspired to paint in a more photographic way and then I turned a corner in my thinking and am now content to paint my interpretation of whatever subject I choose.
Letting go of that unrealistic (for me) goal has been freeing. In the past not producing a semi-photographic painting would have shattered my confidence, left me frustrated and feeling like a failure. These days my fear of failure still does hold me back a little at times, but I am much less afraid to try and less afraid to fail. The true failure for me would be to stop striving. So I’ll likely paint this one again. I’m inspired by this homestead and imagine the history a place like this must possess.
Tags: landscapes, watercolor painting, winter landscape painting
Posted in Watercolor | 2 Comments »
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