Well, I’m headed off to the hills—to the land of the technologically deprived and environmentally-imposed blogging hiatus—for a few weeks. Happily, I will have plenty of time to work on a new project or two…in a pretty little office…(see the little easle behind the desk and to the right of the window...)

See you all when I get back

Okay, This Time I Really Mean It...

I know this is obsessive, but I figured out the problem. Her face just seemed a little wide, flat and pale. Her ear placement was a little off, she needed more shading on the underside of her face, her hairline didn’t come over far enough, and she begged more highlighting on her upper cheek. I may be the only one who can see any change, but I feel much better about it now.

Oh, and I shaded the grass a little more at her side…

Cool Grass: Done

I’m not sure how this looks on your monitor, but if it’s anything like mine, the colors in the original aren’t quite as saturated, but still, it’s a fair representation.

No, It’s Not Done, Step 7:

Just so no one thinks I abandoned this project (you know, on account of the nose, [which is all better]) I thought I’d better post some progress. Actually, I’ve been sick, so that’s why this project is taking so long.

It’s at this point that I wish I had chosen something easier to paint, but now that I have the grass filled in (no, it’s not done yet, either), it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.

Cool Grass, Step 6:

Today, I’m posting the photo from which I’m working. I changed my subject’s angle—compositionally, I like it better. Also, with the photo, I found myself cocking my head in order to get a better look at her.

She has a nose, once again, it will look even better once I can add a white glaze and highlights—which I tend to reserve for the final phase of the painting. The reason to hold off on white is that any color you add after that becomes milky, due to the heavy pigment—not good. Here’s something that you may or may not find interesting: The traditional watercolorist does not use white. They rely on areas left unpainted to serve as highlights, which is fine, however the whitest white one can achieve is only as light as the paper, which in most definitely not white.

I Botched!

Yes, it’s true, the nose has been scrubbed out. That’s because it didn’t look quite right to me, and by 'not quite right' I mean it looked 'short'—too much upper lip. So I measured it and I was a full 2mm off! Yikes—on a small painting (8"x 11"), that’s a lot.

Here’s where watercoloring gets tricky, and is unlike painting with oil or acrylic. You can’t just wipe out a mistake and start over (my husband will attest to this: he just finished a portrait of me [my head, on a John Singer Sargent] and I ended up looking like an orange on a toothpick! Okay, that’s an exaggeration—it wasn’t off by much, but we kept looking at it and felt as if something was ‘off.’ The solution? ‘Wipe’ it out and try again [which he did, and I’m all better, now])

Not so easy with watercolor. I can scrub or scrape depending on how much paint is down, and whether or not the color is ‘permanent.’ In this case, I scrubbed with a wet brush—it removes not only paint, but paper also, which is dicey. Then, I let it dry thoroughly, and as it’s doing so, scan it and post it for the world to see. Hopefully, I’ll be able to redeem myself; if not—well, that’s just the way it goes…and you get to watch…

...Stay tuned for the ‘nose rescue’ and the photo from which I’m working…

More Grass, Step 4:

It's not as if I spent the day painting, but I thought I’d take a break from studio work and scan what I've done since yesterday. That way, I won't get ahead of myself.

I know all that grass looks like it will drive me nuts (and it might), but truth be told, I like painting grass...you'll see...

Cool Grass, Step 3:

So much blue in the fair skin tone of this subject makes her particularly interesting to paint. Although there aren't a lot of contrasting shades to the color to her skin, there is still a lot of subtle build-up to the tone, necessary to give her skin depth and bring it to life. Otherwise, all that blue might look, well, not so lively…

…and wow, is that hair proving to be a challenge! Notice how I haven't even started on the grass yet.

The Wash

The wash is the easiest part. It’s just a matter of laying down the lightest tone of each hue. It gives a little definition and a hint of what the color scheme will be. The biggest challenge here will be the hair and grass. If I were a less meticulous painter, I’d simply include just enough detail to suggest hair and grass; but I won’t be able to help myself when I see each blade and tress begging for its place on the paper.

The dress (an original, by the way) is the part I will most enjoy rendering: silk chiffon—one of my least preferred fabrics to sew (although it's way better than polyester), but, by far, my favorite to paint. The facings and narrow french seams actually become part of the design and the challenge.

Obeying The Urge

When I woke up this morning, I had no intention of starting another painting today, but as I stripped sheets, I got an urge to look for a particular photo that I thought I might like to work on. I never got as far as locating that picture because I came across a file containing one of my favorite subjects. Maybe it’s because I can feel spring coming or something simply struck me at the right moment, but I thought I’d better follow through before the urge abandons me.

So, here are the beginnings of another portrait. No paint yet, but I will tell you there’s a lot of green grass and masses of strawberry blond hair. I had forgotten what an amazing model she is…

Admittedly, the pose is a little unconventional for a portrait, but I guess that’s what I like about it. I also like the idea of lying in cool grass, daydreaming after reading a good book…

Another Version

Although I like the cover as it was, I thought there ought to be something I could do to make it a little more 'shipwrightish.' The woodcut version I originally designed accomplished that, but it looks too bland to me now. (However, I do think it would make a nice title page.)

 So, this is what I came up with as a front cover:
Do the ‘boat plans’ look too cluttery, or does it add that little something extra that gives a better sense of the story being about a shipwright?

 Which do you like better?

Just Messin' Around

Yes, this is another cross over blog post. I just thought I'd try out a cover design, for the fun of it. Okay—to be honest, I have no other project I'm working on right now, so this is purely a dilatory maneuver. Besides, I wanted something more visually stimulating than my last post to be the first thing new visitors see!

Yes, I know, I know—just start typing or pick up the paintbrush…

The Fact of the Matter Is…

Okay, I just can’t stand it any more, with all those lies circulating out there about me. Here’s the truth of the matter:

1) A poor black child? Really? Well, umm, no.
2) Most Likely to Succeed? No way! Not with my mediocre grades. I was, however, voted Most Artistic, along with Gary Rabinowitz, who went on to earn his MFA, while I, well…anyway…
3) Now, really, if we were in the Witness Protection Program, I sure wouldn’t broadcast that—and I would never admit whether it’s true or false. Of course, if I posted someone else's self-portrait and avatar, who would know?—what a great subterfuge...that'd really throw the bad guys off...
4) I was 5’ 8” until the disks between some of my vertebra turned to beef jerky. And I probably wore a size 5 when I was 5. I mean did you get a look at the feet in my self-portrait? Okay, 8½ to 9 isn’t that big.
5) Pratt Institute? In my dreams!
6) Dating the sailboat racer guy… I’m glad that didn’t seem so farfetched, but, alas, it was pure fabrication. I thought I might get away with it because my novel has a nautical theme.
7) My family is simply too under-motivated to do the whole genealogy research thing, but the story handed down is that my great-great grandfather Peter was Swedish royalty (I downplayed him as nobility because it’s unverified, as yet) who fell in love with a commoner. Consequently, they fled to America and settled in Iowa.

Fictitious:

Deb, at Ranch Girl Ramblings, gave me this Award, but it’s more like a challenge. I’m supposed to be creative, and come up with at least 6 outrageous lies about myself, and at least one outrageous truth. If you’re looking for some highly creative embellishments, you’ll want to check out Deb’s, Bane’s, Julie's, Simon’s, Tricia’s lists, because, to be quite honest, I stink at this. I’m a terrible liar—I can’t even concoct an alibi or employ the simplest subterfuge when I try to surprise my husband for our anniversary. Nevertheless, so as not to run the risk of appearing like an ingrate, I’ll play along.

For the sake of respecting the award, here are The Rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you.
4. Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself and at least one outrageous truth.
5. Nominate 7 creative writers who might have fun coming up with outrageous lies.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

Here’s my pathetic attempt to lead you astray…

1) I was born a poor black child
2) I was voted most likely to succeed in my graduating class
3) My husband and I are in the witness protection program
4) I’m 5’ 8’’ and wear a size 5 shoe
5) I attended Pratt Institute on a full scholarship
6) I once dated a guy who went on to win the Americas Cup sailing race in 1985
7) I’m a descendant of Swedish nobility.

I’m passing it on to*:

1. Mary Jo Rhodes or Matilda Mc Cloud—who is she really?
2. Tricia O'Brien, at Talespinning because she’s so creative
3. Laura Martone, even though she has absolutely no time for it*, and I miss her
4. Rick Daley, cause he makes me laugh
5. Sharon, as Musings of a Mercurical Woman, because she's relatively new to my blog
6. Bane of Anubis, because he needs another award
7. Glenn, at Serindipitous Surpluses, because this list wouldn’t be complete without him

*Yes I know half these bloggers already have the award! And of course, you’re under no obligation…you know the drill…

This is a good time to also post another award from my generous benefactor Deb: the Butterfly award. I think that all I have to do is pass it onto someone else. So it goes to Simon C. Larter, cause he loves getting so many awards, (yes I know he has this one also) and actually, he writes some really good stuff…

Moorings: Finished

Well, it’s done. Finished size: 10"x 15" (Oh my aching eyes!)

It puts me in mind of a scene from my novel, Story for a Shipwright, where Sam Wesley is sitting in the local diner, looking out over the harbor on Sunday morning:

"It wasn’t truly the best seat, but the corner booth, partially overlooking the harbor and a few lobster boats suited me fine. While Billy perused his options, my attention wandered to the boats in the harbor—many of them were out for the day baiting traps, which is all they’re allowed on Sundays, from June through August. I thought about how consistent lobstermen are—they seem to recognize no distinction of day or season, heat or cold, rain or shine. Glancing around the diner, at old lobster traps hung from the ceiling, and picturesque scenes behind glass, I chuckled at how we who live here take their trade for granted. Funny, how tourists romanticize the industry, carrying it home in calendars or placemats, rarely appreciating the sweat that goes into the lobster on their plate."

…and thanks, again, to photographer Doug Wood…

"Stonington, Sunday Morning"

It’s time to post the image from which I’m working ! It’s called stonington, sunday morning, photographed by Doug Wood.

If you look closely, you'll notice that I condensed the upper and lower foreground (sky and water), cropped the left side, lightened the boathouse and eliminated some objects which I found confusing or crowded. This takes into consideration future prospects for this project as a possible book cover.

I continue to make slow but steady progress, giving my 5/0 brush a real workout; poor thing will probably have but a sprig or two of its sable hairs left, when I’m done…

...and for the record, yesterday's colors are a better representation...

The Right Half

In order to maintain an illusion of control with this piece, I’m working it in sections. Therefore, I’m posting the area I’ve developed. It’s by no means done, but at least the progress is visible.

Now for Something Completely Different...

Here’s a little intermission from my regularly scheduled painting update (while I labor away on tiny boats). This is for Glenn, and anyone else who has ever had to part with their favorite truck…

This was my husband’s 1938 International pickup. (He restored it when he was a teenager, from 2 trucks, and kept the ID plate of the ’38). She took many a trip to the dump and hauled a lot of fire wood—real slow, but if she ever got up to full speed, you sure didn’t want to be in her way. Alas, we had to sell her or watch her rot away...

A Bit More

It's not a whole lot, but it is progress…besides, I thought I’d better post something or you'll think I abandoned ship (bad metaphor, I know).

Moorings

This is indeed tricky business; I’ve never been too good at large-scale washes—not that this is large scale per se, but it’s more than I usually do with blending hues, and I’m real uncomfortable with it. (Perhaps I just never learned to do it ‘properly.’) I keep telling myself that it doesn’t have to look exactly like the photo—it’s the feel of it that I want. That is, after all, the reason I chose it. So, here are the first two steps: the drawing and the wash. (The sky wash is a little further along than I usually do at this stage, but it should be worked while it’s all wet.)

At this point, the hardest part is overcoming that angsty feeling that this is going to really suck—that I’ve taken on more than I can do well. I'm not happy with it, but if I overwork the sky at this point, I'll completely botch it. (No perfectionism there!) Of course, I’ll stifle that junk and forge ahead, ‘cause, well, I’ve posted it—and then there’s that wasting paper thing…I’d rather flop than waste a perfectly good sheet of paper. Besides, if it turns out poorly, then you’ll get to see both ends of my artistic spectrum.

Making Plans

I made the final decision on my next project. I’m trying to stay enthused about my novel, Story for a Shipwright, and yet realistic at the same time. Therefore, I thought I’d try, not only something completely different from what I’ve done in the past, but something that might have possibilities as a cover for the novel in case I resort to self-publishing.
Either way, it’s a gorgeous image that feels like the world of shipwright Sam Wesley. I especially love the atmosphere…if you’re interested in a preview, visit photographer Doug Wood’s Website, or here, for a glimpse. I plan to make a few minor revisions, and I’ll be translating it into a 10”x 15” image, something I can easily work with in the end...if I don't drive myself nuts with it before it's done!

Meanwhile, here’s my little painting hovel…As you can see, I've still got some framing to do, too...

A Finished Self-portrait

I scanned this one in sections, then joined them with success, so the colors are a fairly close representation of the original. (Wish I had a bigger scanner—and printer.)

I have an idea of what I want to paint next, and it’s a rather intense piece. Unfortunately, I’ve fallen behind on a few things, one of which is my querying, (not to mention all the other blogs I’ve been neglecting). So, I’ll take a brief reprieve, clean my house, catch up on some mundane stuff, do some reading, and get back at it…
…hmmm…a nautical scene, perhaps?

The Snapshot

I worked on the face a little more (okay, overworked, as usual), but I think it has a little better depth. It probably doesn’t look like much progress, so to make your visit worth your while, I’m also posting the photo I’m working from.

(Okay, I admit it—it’s a self-portrait, at my husband’s request.)

My camera and graphics program render the hues a bit more saturated and overall lighter than the actual work in progress, but they provide the general idea.

...and I'm not too crazy about the floating image. I guess I like props for a painting, but I think black works well for a photographic image. Oh well, too late now...

Put the razor down and back away from the painting...

I quit where I did today, because I started getting that feeling like I want to hack it to tiny irretrievable bits. The eyes and nose and mouth are throwing me a fit, and I don’t even want to talk about the stupid sweater and jeans. So far, the only part I like are the hands…time for a break…
...don't worry, I will finish it...

A Bit More

Now comes the really labor intensive part...along with the precarious face. Maybe I'll add some background color; think I'll go with paynes grey, instead of black. (It should diminish the butt size, visually.)

Progress

Now, I'll start adding a lot more detail.

The subject might like it if I trimmed down her derrière, but I'm not going to. I'd indulge vanity if I were being paid, but otherwise, I like to paint exactly what I see...

The Wash

Okay...that wasn't so scary...

 And I think this one should be a little easier than the last portrait because the face won’t have as drastic shading.

In case you’re wondering, the background will be all black…(and I really hate that this won't fit on my scanner; my lighting is going to be all over the place on these posts...Oh well...)

Sitting

Okay, here goes with that queasy feeling again...

I’m venturing another portrait. At 10”x 13”, this is a little larger than my usual, but I have to admit that the increased head size makes it somewhat easier to execute facial features. I considered doing just a head and shoulder view, but I do so enjoy painting body parts, especially hands, which you may have noticed are particularly prominent here.

I chose this pose for its contrasting angles and overall composition. I don't have a title for it yet, so I'll just call it Sitting (pathetic that a writer doesn't come up with a more imaginative name).

Not much to look at, I know—and it's too big for my scanner, so there is some distortion.

Well, the pressure is on—wet the paints and go…

Window on Eggemoggin: Done

One of the details I really like on this is the hook at the bottom.

Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to paint next...

Slow Progress

This is the labor intensive part where it probably doesn’t look as if I’ve made much progress…

...and yes, I did intensify the orange...


I don't think I'll post again until it's done...I think you get the idea...

The Photograph

I think it’s time to display the original photo from which I’m working. You may notice that I’ve altered the composition just a bit—the perspective and placement. One of the advantages of painting, as opposed to shooting a photograph, is that I’m not confined to any particular angle and don’t have to worry about showing up in reflected glass.

By the time I’m done, all the shingles will receive the same attention as the shakes at the top.

Thanks again to photographer Doug Wood for allowing me to place his copyrighted image on my blog!

Every Single Shingle

You might think that painting old, worn cedar shakes might be less intense than painting a cobalt pitcher—I know I did—but the more I work on this the more I realize how much detail is in each shingle. Granted, it’s not the same kind of intense, because there’s a lot more leeway in representing wood.

I know that the traditional watercolorist probably wouldn’t insist on all that detail, but what can I say? I’ve never claimed to be a traditionalist…

…and, by the way, this painting is 6” x 10”

Giving It a Wash

Thought I’d better post this before I get too carried away.

I thought I was done with the gradations of color on the windowpanes, but decided to add a little glaze (you probably can’t even tell…). Then, I gave the shingles a grayish wash, and next, I’ll jump around, painting individual shakes, building up the detail as I go.

Window on Eggemoggin

Here are the beginnings of a new painting. I’m working from an image by photographer Douglas Wood, who shoots some beautiful scenes of Maine*. So much of his work captures the world of my novel, Story for a Shipwright, and I do so love reflections on glass…don't know how well I'll capture it here, (it remains to be seen if this makes a far better photographic image than watercolor interpretation). It will be a less intense work than my previous two paintings, which is a nice reprieve.

After transferring the sketch onto watercolor paper (I don’t sketch it out on the actual paper, which does not like erasures), I mask the boundaries with tape.

Since I want the reflected sky evenly gradated, I use masking fluid (brush on latex, that really messes up the brush) to keep the muntins free from paint.










Essentially, the sky is done. The reflected foreground will receive added detail.







*Seriously, you should check out his Website. He even has some evocative black and white shots of a workshop--makes me think of my novel, again.

WhooHoo! Finished Another!

Okay, this is a pretty big deal for me—I actually finished it in just a few sittings. And, I enjoyed doing it! One thing I don't like is how conspicuous my signature looks. I need to find a more discrete way to sign small paintings; makes me want to wipe it out and do it in a muted color, but I already took the masking tape off (which leaves a sticky film if it's been there for over a year). Oh well, not tonight.

Here’s something even more exciting. I actually have another project in mind. Something brand new and completely different…stay tuned for the entire process…

Comparison

A little more progress,

and the photograph…

The background is a little blurry, and I'm still in the process of deciding if I'll bring it into focus or go with what's there. Guess I should have used a different F-stop...Oh well.

Another Painting in Progress

Time to post another watercolor in progress. This was originally one of my first posts, a second painting in a pair, (the first one has been done for years). I decided to work on something so similar because it had been a long while since I painted at all, and the portrait was freaking me out. Give me some hard lines of a still life—that ought to be easier, I thought. But for whatever reason, I found it immensely tedious and quit. After all, I had a novel begging my attention.

After the size of my last painting, (several times larger than I usually work), this now feels quite manageable at 6”x 6”, less than a quater the size. I’m even having moments when I find myself enjoying it. Besides, it will help me stay distracted while I send out queries for my novel, Story for a Shipwright.

 Here's where I left off:

Once I really get going on it, I'll post the photograph from which I'm working. (It's the writer in me—I don't want to give away the ending too soon!)

Finis!

I can hardly believe I actually finished it! Overall, I’m pleased with the result, despite its overworkedness. Normally, I would have focused as much on the background, i.e. the window trim, but Todd told me to leave it alone already—‘the focal point is the subject, not the woodwork!’

One of the problems with allowing a watercolor to sit for over a year, before finishing it, is that the masking tape doesn’t want to let go—and, in a couple spots it didn’t. (And masking fluid has to be gouged off--not good.) Not to worry, I’ll simply matt up to the edge…

I'm being very brave, now, posting the real Susie...(this is where I start feeling very critical—can I call the discrepancies ‘artist prerogative?’)

Now, it’s time to start querying—while I do the big wait between the rejections—perhaps I’ll finish another painting...