Rosemary's Iris

This lovely purple iris came from the garden of my friend, Rosemary. I used Laurin McCracken's method of masking with 3M drafting tape. I covered the blossoms and the stem with tape. The outline of the flowers could be seen through the tape. I cut around the images with an exacto blade and removed the excess tape. With the flowers protected I applied multiple washes to get the neutral putty-colored background I wanted. No pigment from the multiple washes of color seeped under the tape. The drafting tape works as a method of masking. The paper was in pristine condition when I removed the drafting tape.

The challenge for me was cutting away the unwanted tape without cutting into the watercolor paper. This is a skill I need to perfect. I will try this masking method again. It is kinder to the paper than fluid methods of masking. I will save the fluids for very small details.

Scroll back to the May blog, "Observing McCracken", to see the application of drafting tape.

Moonlit Blossoms

The painting above is my first attempt in painting Dogwood blossoms. The composition is a composite of three detail photos of a large tree on the grounds of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Just a few days after I took the pictures, heavy rain damaged the blossoms. I felt fortunate to have taken the photos when I did. I chose to use blues and purples in the background to give the effect of twilight or moonlight,

Colander Glow

Colander Glow, image 14" X 20", framed 22" X 28"

Last August, 2009, this painting was purchased at the Art Market Gallery in downtown Knoxville. The buyer is Sarah Smith of Maryville. A few days ago I received an email asking for a bio to accompany the painting.

I have learned that Sarah Smith is presenting a gift to the new Pellissippi State Library in Maryville. My painting is included in that gift. It is meant to hang in the new library. I feel very honored that a painting of mine has been chosen to be part of such a generous gift.

Observing Laurin McCrackin

The Knoxville Watercolor Society sponsored a three- day workshop with Laurin McCracken at the Fountain City Art Center May 19, 20. 21. I had only one of those days available. I was allowed to observe on May 20th. Laurin McCrackin does beautiful, infinitely detailed paintings of crystal and silver. His workshop was planned as carefully as he plans his paintings. He generously supplied many handouts of his procedure. The images on this blog were scanned from those handouts.

Laurin arranges his still life compositions in a darkened room with one light source, a 150 watt daylight bulb.

This is the image of the still life. A slide of this image is projected onto watercolor paper and traced.

After tracing the shapes, more detail is drawn. Laurin believes that the more information in the drawing, the better the painting.

Drafting tape, 3M or Pearl, is used to protect the teapot while painting the background.

Masking fluid is used for small detail. Laurin uses a Masque pen. He stresses the importance of cleaning all tools immediately. He suggests using a small needle and thread with three knots to pull through the very small applicator points to remove all traces of masking fluid. All tape and fluid is removed as quickly as possible.

In this picture the background has been painted, the tape has been removed, teapot detail has been added with fluid masking, and the fruit and tablecloth have been painted.

The gray of the bowl is a mix of blue and light red. Start with the lightest gray. Details will be a darker gray.

Masking fluid has been removed. Note the hard edge where the fluid had been.

Laurin uses Winsor-Newton series seven brushes, "0" - "1" for fine detail. He advises to always "point the brush" after loading it with paint and water. Touch the tip to a paper towel.

I am closing with one of my favorite McCracken paintings, Pear and Artichoke. I like the composition and simple pear and lemon forms against the detail of the cut artichoke. I also enjoy the reflected light of the table cloth on the pear and the shadow of the lemon that falls over the edge of the table.

George James Demo

George James is a California artist known for his amazing paintings on the synthetic paper, Yupo. The Tennessee Watercolor Society was fortunate to be able to schedule him to judge the 32nd Biennial Exhibition in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A week before the opening of the exhibit and just prior to his week-long workshop he gave a demonstration of his approach to working on the challenging surface of Yupo.

Pencil should not be used, because it cannot be erased without ruining the surface of the Yupo. George uses a Derwent watercolor pencil to make a few marks to define his composition. The watercolor pencil can be removed with water. It is necessary to use more pigment than water when applying paint to Yupo. George began with a flat brush, making strokes that did not overlap. Overlapping causes the paint to lift. He put in a cerulean mix at the top and sides, saving white areas at the top for clouds and changing the blue to a light green toward the bottom. A walnut-colored mix in the center will become the ground and sides of houses in a tropical village. Whites were saved to become the roof tops of the houses.

A brayer is used to roll over and smooth the paint areas. After each area is painted, it is dried with a hair dryer or heat gun. Drying the paint will allow additional layers of paint to be added without lifting the previous layer. If a fresh addition of paint is too deep a value, it can be partially lightened by laying a non-perfumed tissue over it. The use of tissues allows a good variation of values.

In the above photo light and dark greens
have been added to create foliage and a darker walnut hue has created the sides of the houses. Each addition of pigment is carefully dried before proceeding.
Islands have been added in the background and clouds have been defined.

Finishing touches can be seen in the roof detail. the clouds, and the activity in the bay. Notice that the closest island has been given form by varied layers of pigment. When George is satisfied that the painting is finished, he uses a Krylon spray to fix the pigments.

Without protection the entire painting could be washed clean. This demo was an introduction to working with Yupo. There is so much more to the paintings of George James. He has mastered a very challenging product that resists the application of watercolor. The generous sharing of his approach gives me courage to try using the piece of Yupo I have been ignoring for at least two years. The 32nd Biennial Exhibition of the Tennessee Watercolor Society that George James juried is a beautiful show. I am very proud to be a member and to have an opportunity to observe and listen to George James.

Primroses

Spring has FINALLY come to Knoxville! The long dreary days of winter are behind us. The painting above is my first floral of 2010. I am starting a painting of Dogwoods and will be sketching irises.

Lemons and Tangelos

Lemons and Tangelos

Often when looking for a new subject, I visit the produce department of a quality food store. On one of my visits I selected some brightly colored citrus. The painting above is the result.

Exhibition Entries

Friends and followers of this blog know that I enter several national exhibitions every year. Entering competitions helps me set goals and keeps me striving to improve. The following images show the paintings that have been accepted so far this year.

"Waters of the Smokies I" was accepted by Frank Webb to be in the33rd International Exhibition of the Watercolor Art Society - Houston, March 6 - April 9, 2010.

" Pre-Teen Cool!" was selected by Judy Morris to be in the 31st National Exhibition of the Georgia Watercolor Society, April 10 - May 20.

" The Wonder of a Balloon" was selected by Soon Y. Warren to be in the 40th Annual International of the Louisiana Watercolor Exhibition, May 8 -28, 2010.

"En Garde"

"Persimmon Bounty"

Two paintings, "En Garde" and "Persimmon Bounty", were selected by Jean Grastorf to be in the Gibson County Visual Arts Association Spring Show 2010 in Trenton, Tennessee.

"Party Time"

"Madrone"

The two Paintings above, "Party Time" and "Madrone" were selected by George James to be in 32nd Exhibition of the Tennessee Watercolor Society, held in Chattanooga May 16 - June 25, 2010.

All of the shows mentioned above have outstanding jurors. Having my paintings chosen by artists I admire has a very special meaning for me.

Puppet Play II

Here is my latest painting, "Puppet Play II". My twelve year old granddaughter was a gracious model. This second painting of Kimberly shows more of her animated expression. She has the rapt attention of the zebra hand puppet.

Puppet Play

I needed something different to paint, so I asked my twelve-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly, if she would she would pose for me. We tried several positions and then added the hand puppet. The session became much more relaxed. My only regret in this painting is that her eyes are hidden in shadow. Hopefully her blue eyes will show better in the next puppet play painting.