Palette 004 – Watercolor Travel Kit

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For my summer travels and Plein Aire, I thought it would be handy to make a my own compact watercolor palette. This was a good tin for me to use because I love dark chocolate!

I flattened out the sculpey in the tin (the lid has a very thin layer), found an object to poke the holes, baked it according to instructions, sprayed a glossy clear coat on the sculpey, and squeezed my favorite colors into the holes.

Inspired by the kit made at http://onegoldenapple.blogspot.com/2011/04/watercolors-to-go.html

“Life is a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get!” Forest Gump is one of my favorite movies, it couldn’t be helped!

6×6 Exhibit Fundraiser

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Here are the three paintings I won in the 6×6 Exhibit Fundraiser, painted by Karen Kinder (left), Harriett Lievan (middle), Gary Steinley (right). I’m very proud to own them, because they are works of people I know, and admire.

This is a very fun event! Here’s how it works:
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Local artists create 6×6″ works of art in any media, a maximum of 4 works. The pieces are signed on the back, to be more anonymous until after they’re chosen. Works are exhibited, and raffle tickets are sold 1 for $5, and 6 for $25 dollars. They are exhibited for 2 weeks, and then today we had a reception and sale. The reception attracted about 70 people, you must be present to win. At 5:00pm they drew a number every 60 seconds. When your number is called you can go up pick your favorite painting that is still hanging. You have 60 seconds until the next person comes up to choose. Once you have chosen one, you pay another $20 dollars for the picture. They drew thirty numbers, and then remaining paintings can be bought $20 first to grab the painting gets it.

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The image on the far right is what was left after the sale. I will try to find out how much money was raised, and post here, if anyone wants to know. I highly recommend this as a fundraiser, and it was fun! I am officially a 6×6 collector, and I’m going to hang the ones I got last time with this years together in my studio with some of my own. It’s great to own some of the works of my art buddies!

Rolling Up the Carpet #10 (WIP 4)

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I think it was worth the risk of repainting the sky. I exaggerated the perspective by bowing rows down in the middle, and the big clouds are bigger and lower with less little distant clouds.

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The outline shows the placement of the old clouds, which was too evenly spaced, and the rows were straight across. I’m trying to learn to orchestrate the sky, which can get a bit messy. After this, if I’m unsure I will be more at ease to rework my paintings.

Here is a link to the old: http://dailywip.com/2015/05/14/rolling-up-the-carpet-10-wip-12/

Rolling Up the Carpet #10 (WIP 3)

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Well, I will boldy go forward by going backward. It’s 2:30am, for better or worse I blocked out my big sky. I had to do it now because I want it dry in the morning. I’m not content with composition of the clouds. It makes me cringe, but I’m taking the risk because I look at it and think about what I wish I would done. I’ll cross my fingers and hope for the best tomorrow!

Rolling Up the Carpet #10 (WIP 1&2)

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I was in the mood to do a panorama, which works well in the plains, and maybe I’ll use it for my facebook bkgd panel? 7×14″ gallery edge canvas.

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Here is my sketch before I painted over it.

Painting Flowers for My Mom

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Happy Mother’s Day!
I usually get spring potted flower’s for my Mom for Mother’s Day, but this time I thought I would paint some that don’t need to be watered, and will last beyond the season.
6×6″ stretched gallery edge canvas.

Rolling Up the Carpet #9 (Actual Final)

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Veil of humidity in “Rolling Up the Carpet #9”

At the horizon this picture needed something. It is commonly accepted that at the horizon there should be a fall off of colors, a veil of humidity to some degree, whether it is really there or not to add perspective and mood. I didn’t subdue the trees in the shelter belt enough. Here in the Northern Midwest, we don’t see it very often, and it was not present here, but I feel the effect should be added. The whole picture shouldn’t have the same intensity.
Just about everytime I’ve done Plein Air Painting, I’ve had to improvise on this effect. Our air is very clear! If I went southeast this wouldn’t be a problem.