Future Art Instructor Announcement

Guess who’s excited… about being a local guest instructor at the John C. Campbell Folk School? Sometime in 2014 I will be teaching a 5-day watercolor workshop for beginners in this lovely setting that encourages joy in creating and sharing in community! Stay Tuned

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Missing Cow Alert

Have You Seen This Cow? This white cow was last seen leaving Second Street Gallery, 130 South Second St., Albemarle, NC on or around Thu., Sept. 1 en route to Jacksonville, AL via USPS. All are anxiously wringing their hands to her whereabouts: the gallery owner who escorted White Cow safely to the US Post Office, [...]

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Watercolor Sculpting Workshop

Perfect day for planning 9/23 Watercolor Sculpting Workshop at Artist League of the Sandhills. Here’s the reference photo I’ll be using for the demonstration for Iris No. 14, taken when my iris were blooming. Really looking forward to painting this one For more info, phone 910-944-3979 or e-mail artleague@pinehurst.net Nine already enrolled, three more seats [...]

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Looking For Some Extra Excitement For Your Art?

The only thing more exciting than watercoloring at an angle, is watercoloring at an angle before sixty+ pairs of eyes HCWS is a super-friendly, energetic artist guild offering members many opportunities and activities. Check them out: High Country Watermedia Society

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Step 8 – Final Step In Iris No. 9 Watercolor Demonstration

Power Surge  A Light-Valued Shape With A Dark-Valued Background If you’ve been following along, you know that Iris No. 8 and Iris No. 9 were painted using the same palette.                     Both have a large, light-valued shape, a yellow iris, which did not come alive until I added [...]

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SURF’S UP! – Watercolor Slideshow Demo – Enjoy :)

Personalize a free picture slideshow

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Step 7 – Iris No. 9 Watercolor Demonstration

What’s Wicking Power? In last week’s post, I mentioned sable brushes were the best choice for lifting color on wet and/or saturated paper due to their wicking power. A thirsty sable is great for absorbing wet pigment (lifting) and softening edges without damaging the paper. A thirsty brush is a damp brush with excess water [...]

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Step 6 – Iris No. 9 Watercolor Demonstration

What About My Synthetic Brushes? What Are They Good For? Lifting In last week’s post, I sang the praises of kolinsky sables. Not wanting my synthetic friends to feel left out, this week is their week. And boy, do they do a great job of lifting! In the above photo, I’m using an inexpensive, synthetic [...]

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Step 5 – Iris No. 9 Watercolor Demonstration

Not Getting The Results You Want? It Could Be Your Brush. I’m continuing to work large-to-small and light-to-dark throughout the painting. Here, I’m negative-painting a darker value onto a dry, initial wash in a small area. I’m using a sable brush that holds a generous amount of pigment with a nice point that allows me [...]

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Step 4 – Iris No. 9 Watercolor Demonstration

See how closely I’m working with the photo? Something a lot of artists frown upon. What can I say? It works for me. I will clarify though, I am not thinking yellow iris while I paint. Notice how the photo is upside down? I am focusing on that smaller mid-valued, soft-edged shape. Just as the [...]

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