GENIE EVEN

2012-01-18T11:25:00.002-05:00

Last fall the leaves of a tree caught my eye. The leaves were a mass of glowing color set afire by bright sunlight. With a couple of clicks of my camera I saved that moment.

I asked a friend the name of the tree. To my surprise she said it was a dogwood! I have painted dogwoods in the Spring with dark leaves and white flowers. In the fall the flowers are gone and the leaves change from green to a rather drab red-purple. The sun changed those purplish leaves to vibrant reds, pinks, and gold. I have painted the image of the leaves as I and my camera saw them that particular day last Fall.

In the Arms of Yoda

2011-11-20T15:52:00.003-05:00

This is one of the twin daughters of Usha Patel, the young woman who handles all of my shipping. Usha has been spending most of her time the past few months at home enjoying her twins. I happened to catch her in her shop a few weeks ago . When she showed me pictures of the then three month old girls, this one caught my eye. The stuffed version of Yoda protectively holding the bright-eyed baby was a "must paint". I call this painting "In the Arms of Yoda".

Melanie

2011-09-08T09:48:00.003-04:00

This is Melanie when one and a half years old. She is the daughter of longtime family friends, Richard and Anne Compton, who make the long drive from Florida to Tennessee a couple of times a year to visit us. I look forward to their visits and like to observe the development of Melanie and her two brothers. Next year there will be another litle Compton. I hope the new baby will be a little sister for Melanie.

Splish-Splash!

2011-08-12T09:33:00.005-04:00

This painting is a full sheet, 20" x 28". It shows my twin grandchildren when they were a year and a half old. Kimberly and Kenny are now teenagers enterng high school as freshmen. An older Kimberly can be seen in an earlier painting, "Puppet Play", posted February 17, 2010.

Special Offer

2011-07-25T16:49:00.015-04:00

Magnolia II

Transparent watercolor
Image 14" x 20"
Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $175. plus shipping

This is one of my favorite paintings. For a limited time I am offering it at this special price. Please scroll down to see nine more paintings that I have selected to offer.

Hibiscus

Transparent watercolor
Image: 20" x 14"
Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $175. plus shipping

Beach Grass

Transparent watercolor
Image: 20" x 14"
Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $175. plus shipping

The next two paintings are part of a Red Rock Series.

A Slice of Bryce

Transparent watercolor
Image: 20" x 14"
Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $175. plus shipping

Canyonlands Tapestry

Transparent watercolor
Image: 20" x 14"
Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $175. plus shipping

Waters of the Smokies

Transparent watercolor
Image: 20" x 14"
Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $175. plus shipping

Clementines on Mizrahi

Transparent watercolor
Image: 20" x 14"
Unframed and unmatted
The tablecloth in this painting is the design of Isaac Mizrahi

Special price: $175. plus shipping

Puppet Play

Transparent Watercolor

Image: 20" x 14"

Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $150. plus shipping

California Foothills

Transparent watercolor

Image: 20" x 14"

Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $150. plus shipping

Yosemite Reflections

Transparent watercolor & gouache on gesso-coated paper

Image: 20" x 14"

Unframed and unmatted

Special price: $125. plus shipping

If you wish to know more about any of these paintings or if you wish to purchase, please contact: genieven@gmail.com or call 865.235.6306

Yellow Hibiscus

2011-07-10T13:54:00.003-04:00

A new rendition of the Yellow Hibiscus

Several years ago I painted a similar image of a yellow hibiscus. It had a different format, being longer and thinner. This painting is like my other half-sheet paintings, 14"x 20". The other difference is that I exaggerated the color. The greens are brighter , the yellows are more yellow-orange, and the background is darker.

The original yellow hibiscus was purchased years ago in Northern California. The painting pleased me and I was happy that it pleased someone else. I did not intend to copy it. I just wanted the fun of giving the image a new identity.

Trenton Reception

2011-05-25T17:26:00.005-04:00

This painting, "Strawberries", was one of three of my paintings that were selected by John Salminen to be in the Gibson County Visual Arts Association 2011 exhibit. It was a special treat to meet the juror and to hear his critiques of all the paintings he had selected for awards.

When he spoke about "Strawberries", he pointed out the importance of the background in a still life. He said that a still life is a collection of "stuff" put on paper. The success of presenting the "stuff' is dependent on the background. In the case of the "Strawberries" the pattern of the "cut-work" cloth winds through the still life, unifying the composition. He also pointed out the care given the negative painting in the cloth. Recognition of elements of a painting is very gratifying for an artist. I am grateful for John Salminen's words.

The planning for this still life began with the "cut-work" place mat. I was looking for an interesting cloth for a painting. I found it several years ago in Solvang, a touristy Danish town in California. When I finally decided to use the cloth I selected strawberries as the focal point. The design of the mat uses appliqued fruit, including strawberries. The placement of the glass bowl of strawberries on the mat was carefully planned. The cloth was lifted at one corner to reveal the design. When I was pleased with the set up, I sketched, transferred, and painted. I did not use any resist on the intricate cloth patterns. I did negative painting in the cut out areas. I did use a couple of spots of resist on the glass bowl.

Featured Artists in May

2011-05-21T23:06:00.006-04:00

Two easels are outside the glass doors of the Art Market Gallery this May. They display the work of the featured artists of the month.

Inside the gallery are seen the floral watercolors of Genie Even and the jewelry of Cynthia Patrick. Frequent viewers of this blog are familiar with these floral paintings. They have been shown on earlier posts as they were completed.

On the sixth of May, the first Friday of the month, the gallery was filled with visitors who came to view the art and enjoy refreshments and music.

Iris Tete a Tete

2011-04-19T09:54:00.003-04:00

The composition of this painting is the same as one I did a few years ago. I like the grouping of the irises and decided use the original tracing , but try a slightly different color scheme. I call this painting "Irises Tete a Tete" because the blossoms look like ladies in their finery having a head to head conversation.

Tulip Magnolia Preparation

2011-03-07T10:09:00.006-05:00

Background of Tulip Magnolias

Frisk Film Preparation

To have freedom to do successive layers of color in the background of this painting I used Frisk Film to protect the blossoms and branches. Frisk Film is used by air brush artists. The film is cut to cover the area to be protected. When using it with watercolor, the film is cut about an eighth of an inch inside the outer line of the blossoms. The black line seen in the image is the black sharpie pen line inside the blossom. That line is the guide when cutting the film. The edges of the Frisk Film must be sealed with liquid Frisket. The Frisket is applied to cover the area between the edge of the Frisk Film to the outer line of the blossoms. If there is a spot that is not covered completely, watercolor may seep through when applying a wash on the background. I learned this method from Elizabeth Kincaid several years ago in Santa Cruz, California. Elizabeth is the master of this method. Her work is very special. Check it out.

Tulip Magnolias

2011-03-07T09:49:00.002-05:00

Here is the latest painting, Tulip Magnolias. The background was done with repeated light washes of cobalt blue, French ultramarine blue, and a bit of the quinacridone rose that was used in the blossoms. These delicate pigments do not show up as well in this image or in a print as they do in the original painting. Check out Tulip Magnolia preparation to view the Frisk Film method of protecting the blossoms while applying background washes.

One Yellow Rose

2011-03-05T15:57:00.002-05:00

Another painting! So far, 2011 has been more productive than the last few months of 2010. I am thankful for each painting I am able to finish.

I saw this rose while visiting in Los Gatos last year. I cropped the photo to focus on the one blossom. Yellow is difficult to paint because it has such a limited value range. There are many different yellow tints in this painting. Those yellows were hard to capture with the camera. Nothing came close to the actual painting.

Camellia Garden

2011-02-11T17:46:00.003-05:00

I call this painting "Camellia Garden" It is a full sheet watercolor, measuring 28 inches by 36 inches framed. The image is 20 inches by 28 inches. It was an ambitious undertaking for someone who has not painted for several months. Now that it is finally finished, I am pleased and ready to go on to the next challenge.

Nasturtiums

2011-02-11T17:35:00.001-05:00

After far too long a time, I have a painting to post. It is very hard to return to painting after a prolonged period of interruptions. I have discarded several attempts, but will continue to paint until I get back on track.

I chose to paint this image of nasturtiums because I like the leaf patterns.

Rosemary's Iris

2010-07-26T16:00:00.005-04:00

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

2010-06-07T22:55:00.003-04:00

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

2010-05-24T13:26:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-24T10:17:00.015-04:00

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

2010-05-23T21:15:00.007-04:00

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

2010-04-25T15:50:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-03T12:21:00.003-04:00

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

2010-03-25T20:46:00.010-04:00

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

2010-02-17T18:18:00.000-05:00

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

2010-01-23T01:59:00.000-05:00

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.

It's a Party!

2009-12-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

The happy little girl in this painting is my favorite model. Her name is Jessica Obonna. Her parents are from Nigeria. I first painted Jessica in 2008, once when she was nine months, and a second time when she was fifteen months. Those paintings can be seen in the May, 2008, post.

Jessica is shown once again at a party. It is her little brother's first birthday. The party room is filled with active children, but it is the mylar balloons that capture Jessica's attention. The shiny mylar surface catches her profile and some of the action in the room. Mylar balloons were a challenge to paint, but I had fun with this.

Candy Cane Ninja

2009-12-11T12:22:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This is the Christmas card for 2009. I have used images of my cat, Ninja, on my Christmas cards for eleven years. My black diva will celebrate her eleventh birthday on Valentine's day 2010. Each year it is a challenge to come up with a different idea for the card. If you are curious, you may scroll down to the December 4, 2008, post called "Introducing Ninja". You will see two paintings of the black girl and ALL of the previous Ninja cards.

Although a true demanding diva, Ninja has been a very loyal and loving companion. I just recovered from a brief bout with the flu. Ninja would not leave my side. She watched every move I made and loudly meowed her concern.

Madrone

2009-11-18T20:15:00.000-05:00

This is a portion of a tree I saw in Los Gatos, California, on my last visit. I love the texture of the bark and the wonderful twisting branches. Other madrones on the property are straight and vertical. The main trunk of the tree I chose to paint is a long, gray shape that lies horizontal to the ground. The portion I painted looks like new growth, a rebirth of the madrone. I wish the tree could talk and explain what must have been a very dramatic history.

Strawberries

2009-11-15T13:33:00.001-05:00

This is a new painting. It was "in progress" for longer than I care to remember. It died and was resurrected many times. Since I am tenacious to a fault, I kept going back to try to save it. The composition was used a few years ago on two smaller paintings. Since I like the design on the placemat, I wanted to try a larger version. This image measures 14" X 20", framed it is 22" X 28". Comments are welcome.

chrisbeckstudio.com

2009-11-04T16:34:00.000-05:00

Today is very special. My California artist-friend, Chris Beck, featured my watercolors on her showcase blog. If you have not seen this site, please go to chrisbeckstudio.com. Click on "MY Blog" at the top of the page. Then click on the page image to view "I'M PAINTING AS FAST AS I CAN". A white orchid watercolor painting will be displayed. Move to the right and click on the pink camellia. The showcase blog, "BRUSH, PAPER, WATER'' spotlights the watercolors of Genie Even.

A perusal of Chris' website is very worthwhile. Look at all of her work. It is bright, joyful, and very carefully executed. Scroll through her personal blog, "I'M PAINTING AS FAST AS I CAN". Then take the time to visit the links to all of the watercolor artists she has spotlighted These are artists who delight and inspire. I am honored and humbled to have my work displayed here.

Thank you, Chris!

A Favorite

2009-10-03T19:39:00.001-04:00

Most of August and all of September have been full of activities not related to painting. My last "new" painting, "Birch Dishabille" was introduced in an early August post. The painting shown on this post is called "Crotons".

In this painting I used a limited palette of orange and blue pigments. To these I added a bit of quinacridone rose and yellow. The neutrals that appear as cool and warm browns are made from orange and blue. Since the leaf detail of the croton is busy, I kept the background a simple graded wash of blue. The image is 20 inches by 28 inches. Crotons has been in a Watercolor West exhibit and numerous other venues.

California in August

2009-10-03T18:43:00.000-04:00

A beautiful day in San Diego, California, a wedding on the grass above the surf of Sunset Cliffs. My lovely granddaughter, Jessica, wed Dylan Bruce.

The surf below the wedding site.

Jessica with her proud father, Glen.

Jessica and Dylan

Mr. and Mrs. Dylan Bruce

This wedding was a wonderful gathering of family and friends. I had special moments with my three California "kids", Glen, Simon, and Diane. The day after the wedding we drove from San Diego to Los Gatos taking the coastal route. We stopped at Mission San Juan Capistrano and the Hearst Castle. The next weekend we were on the road again to Salt Point on California's Northern coast. At Salt Point we gathered with other members of the family and friends for a memorial service for Dan Even, a favorite nephew. Every year Dan, my sons, and a group of friends met at Salt Point for an abalone dive. The event had become a family tradition

Salt Point coastline, site of this year's abalone dive.

A Plaque in honor of Dan.

The gathering at Salt Point was very special. It was a reunion of many family members that I hadn't seen for years. It was a warm sharing of rememberances in honor of Dan.

"Birch Dishabille"

2009-08-01T09:02:00.000-04:00

This is a newly finished watercolor painting of Birch trees. I like the look of the bark as it strips away from the trunk. I call this painting "Birch Dishabille" because the tree looks only partially dressed.

Linda Kemp Workshop

2009-07-02T17:57:00.000-04:00

Examples of workshop exercises by Linda Kemp

A dark underpainting with berry detail added

A fern exercise: the initial leaf-like brush strokes (method: touch, press, lift) became the negative shapes between the fern sections. Note the "descriptive" detail on one portion of the fern.

This negative painting design was made over a wet-on-wet underpainting of diagonal strokes

Landscape cartoon #1 Note negative painting to reveal grass shapes

Landscape cartoon #2 Note negative painting to reveal tree trunks

Landsape cartoon #3 Note grass. tree. and mountain shapes

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In the middle of June I attended a very good workshop in Cookeville, Tennessee. The Tennessee Watercolor Society made it possible for artists in our area to experience the negative painting of Canadian artist Linda Kemp

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Most artists are aware of negative painting and use it occasionally in their work. In Linda Kemp's work negative painting is the main focus. She does not paint a positive shape: she paints "around" it to reveal the form. She led us through various exercises. She made it look easy. Her finished pieces are vibrant and exciting. Our simple exercises were struggles. We worked from 9 AM to 4 PM for four days. We took home a stack of unfinished exercises and happy remembrances.
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Linda works on plexi glass. For a wet-on-wet painting the paper is wet on both sides. It sticks to the plexi with no need for tape or staples. An underpainting is made by dipping a large flat brush into one color on one side and on another color on the other side ("double dipping"), then sweeping across the paper either in curved, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal strokes. It may be sprayed with water or splattered to get different effects. The dried underpaintings are the bases for future designs. We were told NOT to look for shapes in the underpaintings. The artist has control and determines what the design will be. Repeat the same colors used in the underpainting.

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We did exercises to illustrate value changes, hue changes, and intensity changes. We practiced simplifying shapes. A leaf could be made with two curving strokes with a large brush. That basic leaf shape would be given a "descriptive "edge by cutting notches with a smaller brush. Landscape shapes became symbols of houses, trees, hills, mountains.
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We did landscape cartoons. Starting with transparent staining pigment, such as raw sienna, we painted a foreground, covering the entire paper. After drying the first layer we painted the next layer using grass strokes that nipped into the foreground color. When the second layer was dry, a third layer was introduced using another simplified landscape feature. Layers repeat in this fashion to make the cartoon of grass, trees, hills, etc. Look at the three examples above.

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Another exercise was with a badger brush, a stiff bristled one-inch brush. Paper was wet on both sides. Then no more water was added. Using two colors on the brush, pigment was pushed downward with the flat of the brush. Successive layers of color were added to make undulating landscape forms. If the brush was too dry to move the pigment, a drop or two of water from the plexi could give enough moisture to continue. It was important not to get the brush too wet. The result is a soft, fused look of rolling hills and valleys. After the paper was dried, landscape shapes could be added.

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The following "Kempisms" were shared by a friend, Francie Entz. We heard these phrases often:

Colors you build with, you finish with

Harmony through unity

If you are naming it, you are probably working in the positive.

Build by value, light to dark, through hue change, intensity change, value change

Shapes and edges tell the story in a negative painting

Shape first, edge second

Captured negatives

The painter is in control of the painting

Touch, press, lift

Start with the thing closest to you

Kill or cure

A book of plans (not sketches)

Double dip

When in doubt, use cerulean

When in doubt, splatter

Don't do something wimpy ...go for it!

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Linda Kemp's book, "Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines ", is very informative. However, to best appreciate the marvelous color in her work, please look for Linda Kemp on the Internet.

Tree Study

2009-06-22T20:22:00.000-04:00

Do you remember seeing this tree? It was first introduced in January, 2008, when I sent it to the Texas Watercolor Society. It was selected to be in the exhibition by the juror, Jeanne Dobie. It was a thrill to have an artist I admire select one of my paintings. I showed "Tree Study" on another post in March when I was notified that the painting had won a bronze medal and an impressive check for "Best Transparent Painting" in the Texas Watercolor Society exhibition.

On June 12th when I attended the reception for the Fountain City Art Center's Open Show I was surprised and delighted to see a "Best of Show" ribbon on the "Tree Study" painting.

Before The TWS show and the FCAC show I had entered "Tree Study" in another competition. It was the first time out for a very new painting. It was rejected. I accepted the juror's opinion, but decided to send the painting out into the art world for other reactions. I am so glad I did!

Leo the Lap-Leopard

2009-06-11T15:44:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I was introduced to "Leo" by Shannon, a family friend. That was the first time I had heard of the Lap-Leopard, or Bengal breed of cat. The breed came from selective breeding of the Asian leopard cat and a domesticated cat through at least four generations. The result is a beautifully marked leopard-looking cat with a mellow, loving, playful personality. As Leo lay draped across Shannon's shoulder, he was purring. If only my painting had sound, you would hear his song

After meeting and painting Leo, I wanted to learn more about the breed. I "googled" and found several sites with good photos of Bengal Cats. The coloration of a Bengal may be brown, snow, or silver. The markings may be typical Leopard spots or a beautiful marbling.

I found many sources of information about the Lap-Leopard/Bengal Cat on the Internet. www.SantaFeCattery.com, www.pet-net.net/surprisevalley/aboutbengals, and www.kittysites/breed/bengal are three sites I "googled". There are many more with great kitty photos.

Introducing Oliver

2009-05-26T19:59:00.000-04:00

This is Oliver, my daughter's cat, when he was a kitten. He was sweet, cuddly, and all a kitten should be. This painting was a gift for my daughter's birthday. It hangs in her home in La Crescenta, California. A few weeks ago while sorting through old pictures I found more kitten shots of Oliver. One of the photos captured the moment when he discovered his reflection in a mirror. That moment of challenge had to become a painting. The resulting watercolor is called "En Garde!"

In the past several years Oliver has grown to be a very large, mellow cat. His favorite activities

are eating and sleeping. His sleep is accompanied by a very distinctive Oliver "snore". He shares the afffection of my daughter and grand-daughter with a gentle Blue Merle Sheltie named Strider.

"Apple" and Merrick

2009-03-28T15:27:00.000-04:00

The portraits shown on this post are of two African friends from Tanzania The young woman is Apollonia, known to friends as "Apple". Her husband is Merrick. They are the parents of a very young son and are expecting twin girls in a few weeks. The portraits are my gift to this young family. "Apple" is tall and elegant with perfect posture. Her skin is a rich chocolate hue. I think she is a wonderful subject. I would like to paint her again.

When I took photos of Apple, Merrick asked if I would take some of him also. Painting him was a joy. I had never tried to paint dark skin with facial hair. As I painted, I felt I was developing a new friendship with a charming personality.

More Accepted Paintings

2009-03-14T06:18:00.000-04:00

The two paintings shown on this post have been accepted in national exhibitions.

"Persimmon Bounty" was accepted by juror Ted Nuttall to be in the Georgia Watercolor Society's XXX National Exhibition at the Colquitt County Arts Center in Moultrie, Georgia, March 30 to May 25, 2009.

"Fuji Reflection" was selected by juror Laurin McCracken for the 39th International of the Louisiana Watercolor Society at Place St. Charles, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 9-29.

"Persimmon Bounty"

"Fuji Reflection"

Accepted Paintings

2009-02-19T13:02:00.000-05:00

"Pre-teen Cool" was acepted by John Salminen to be in the California Watercolor Association 40th National Exhibition at the Presidio, San Francisco. March 18 - May 24, 2009.

"Fuji Reflection II" was selected by Judy Morris to be in the Watercolor Art Society 32nd International Exhibition at the WAS-H Gallery, Houston, March 6 - April 3, 2009.

" Waters of the Smokies II"

"Waters of the Smokies I"

Both of these water paintings were accepted in "InSight of the Smokies", a regional juried art exhibition to honor the 75th anniversary of The Great Smokie Mountains National Park.

"Magnolia III" was accepted by Frank Webb for the Gibson County Visual Arts

Association's Spring Show in Trenton, TN.

The above are four of the shows I have entered this year. I am waiting for the results of four more. If I am fortunate to be accepted, I will place those paintings on the blog as well.

A Portrait of Angella

2009-02-12T19:53:00.000-05:00

The painting above is a portrait study of my daughter-in-law, Angella. I enjoyed working on this and hope to do more studies of her in the future.

Waters of the Smokies III

2009-02-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Waters of the Smokies III

The month of January has slipped by without a post on this blog. I have been preoccupied with selecting entries for several watercolor competitions, working on another water scene, and taking care of the obligations of a new year. I am very happy to report that one of my entries sent to the California Watercolor Association was accepted for the 40th National Exhibition to be held March 18 to May 24, 2009, at the Presidio in San Francisco. The juror was John Salminen. He chose my painting, "Pre-teen Cool", introduced in a July, 2008, post.

Yesterday I learned that a second painting, "Fuji Reflection II", has been selected by juror Judy Morris to be in the 32nd International Exhibition of the Watercolor Art Society-Houston March 6-April 3, 2009. "Fuji Reflection II" may be seen on the December, 2008, post.

The painting completed in January is "Waters of the Smokies III". During 2008 I did three other water paintings. Two of them are currently in a juried show at the Art Market Gallery in Knoxville, TN. The new painting is a variation of one done previously. I am pleased with the result.

Another "Fuji Reflection"

2008-12-31T10:24:00.000-05:00

In December, 2007, while visiting in Los Gatos, California, I was introduced to blogging. I had an image in my digital camera of a new painting. The painting, Fuji Reflection, became the subject of my first post. A few months later in 2008 the painting was included in the 31st Exhibition of theTennessee Watercolor Exhibition in Knoxville, Tennessee. The juror, Cheng-Khee Chee, chose 60 paintings from the 213 that were submitted. I was very happy to have Fuji Reflection selected as one of the sixty. Look at the December post to view the first Fuji Reflection painting.

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Below is Fuji Reflection II, using the same apples, cloth, and silver pitcher as in Fuji Reflection I. I took many photos of the three Fuji apples, changing the arrangement of the apples and the cloth. The first Fuji painting was simply three apples on the striped tablecloth (see July Blog, A Wonderful Reception). The second painting used the pitcher for reflections The third painting is a variation of components. Those three apples have given me many happy painting hours

Introducing Ninja

2008-12-04T21:13:00.000-05:00

This is my cat, Ninja. She is a black domestic short-haired feline, but in her manner she is a diva. She will be ten years old on Valentine's Day, 2009

She began her life with me in Los Gatos, California. In this first picture she has not yet had her first birthday. My sleek black girl loves her comforts. She likes boxes and soft fabrics. She at times is very aloof and at other times very needy. I read her eyes and her body language; she seems to understand many of my words and phrases. She is my treasured companion. Every Christmas season I feature Ninja on a Christmas card. So far there are ten cards.

Young Ninja

Christmas cards featuring Ninja.

Christmas 1999

Christmas 2000

Christmas 2001: Ninja with the Nutcrackers

Christmas 2002: In the Poinsettia forest

Christmas 2003: The snow in St. Louis

Christmas 2004: Cozy in Knoxville

Christmas 2005: Still cozy

Christmas 2006: Ninja in a pear tree

Christmas 2007: A box for Ninja

Merry Christmas 2008: Ninja and the Gingerbread creatures.

Beach Grass at Surfside, South Carolina

2008-12-04T14:08:00.000-05:00

A photo taken at Surfside Beach during a week in South Carolina in October was the source for the painting below. The little patch of grass growing in the sand caught my eye. The shadows cast by the grass look like nature's calligraphy making strokes across the sand ripples. That quiet, simple statement is what I found intriguing.

A Visit to South Carolina

2008-10-27T06:37:00.000-04:00

I visited Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with two good friends. We were able to see an exhibit of Jonathan Green's paintings at the Franklin G. Burroughs and Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum. We were entralled with the big, bold, bright paintings of the Gullah culture. I do not have images of the paintings I saw, but I have found some of Jonathan Green's lithographs on the Chuma Gallery website. I have posted the above images. If you like these paintings, google for information about this artist and look for more of his work. Our discovery of Jonathan Green was a highlight of our trip.

Hola, me llamo Omer!

2008-10-27T05:26:00.000-04:00

One of my sons sent me photos of his alpacas and goats. They have joined the collection of exotic birds, fancy chickens, and the resident dog and cat on Montevina Road in Los Gatos, California. Their job is keeping the grassy slopes trimmed. One photogenic alpaca caught my eye. When I saw the quirky expression, the crooked smile, and the wild hair do, I knew I had to paint him. I smiled throughout the painting process. I still smile every time I look at Omer. I call the painting "Hola, me llamo Omer!"

September Highlights

2008-09-27T09:20:00.001-04:00

In September I took part in two local open shows. The first was the Oak Ridge Fortieth Annual Open Show. The juror was Victoria Boone, of Boone Arts and Consulting and Belmont Univesity in Nashville, Tennessee. The artwork she selected created a beautiful show. I was honored to receive the "Golden Fig Leaf Award", sponsored by Kathy Holland, for the best figurative work.
The painting that won that award is "The Wonder of a Balloon", shown in my May Blog and shown below.

The second show I entered in September was the Tennessee Artists Association Open Fall Show, juried by Clark Stewart, Professor Emeritus, School of Art, The University of Tennessee. When I attended the reception, I was delighted to find a big First Place ribbon on my painting, "Pre-Teen Cool". This paining was introduced on my July Blog and is shown below.

The new painting shown below is of a grand-daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, and her toddler daughter. Laila is my first great grand-daughter. At my request I was sent many photos of family members who gathered at Salt Point, California, for a reunion. Among the photos was one of Elizabeth and Laila. I like the tender relationship of mother and daughter shown in the unposed snapshot. I painted it as a gift for the family.

Sadie's Persimmon Tree

2008-08-07T19:38:00.000-04:00

Sadie's Amaryllis

Sadie's Persimmon Tree

August is here and it is time for another post. A few years ago while living in Northern California a very special lady was part of my life. She was in her early nineties and still kept her own house and garden. Quilting and crocheting were her crafts, but gardening was her special love. Two or three times a month she would call and tell me that something beautiful had bloomed. I would drive to her home with my camera and spend an hour or two visiting and taking pictures of whatever wonder her garden had produced. I have a collection fo photographs of Amaryllis, Christmas cactus, cannas, roses, and fruit trees. Several of the photos became watercolor paintings. A painting of her Amaryllis won a first place prize at the ArtFest in Santa Clara. That painting now belongs to my daughter-in-law, Kathleen. I just finished the second painting. It is of Sadie's Japanese persimmon tree. The tree was so laden with fruit that it had to be propped up. I call the painting "Persimmon Bounty".

"Pre-teen Cool"

2008-07-15T21:29:00.001-04:00

Twelve-year-old Jonathan proudly came into my room to show me what he had selected to wear. The combination was the comic relief for the day. I had to record the moment.

Rocks and Water II

2008-07-15T21:17:00.000-04:00

Here is another scene from Greenbriar in the Smokie Mountains of Tennessee. I love the water action as it flows and tumbles over the rocks.

A Wonderful Reception

2008-07-03T16:56:00.000-04:00

"FUJIS"

On June 27th the Fountain City Art Center held a reception for me and Suzanne Jack. Our paintings are on display at the center until July 27th. I have twenty-seven watercolors in the show; Suzanne has several of her very large, impressive pastels and acrylics.

Fountain City Art Center is a great asset for the community. There are many activities that take place there: monthly featured exhibits, art classes, exhibits of student works and exhibits of the art center members. The receptions are well attended and well supported by the community. The director, Sylvia Williams, gives her meticulous touch to exhibition displays. I was very pleased with the way she presented my paintings.

The guests who came to the reception were very enthusiastic and complimentary about the paintings they saw. They had many questions that I was most happy to answer. Every painting has a story, either about the subject matter or about the way it was created. The two-hour reception was filled with good conversation.

One of my favorite paintings, "Fujis" was purchased by Nan Scott. I have included it in this blog.

Painting Water and Rocks

2008-06-19T13:49:00.000-04:00

In a May blog I mentioned spending some time in the Smokies of Tennessee. While there I once again attempted plein aire painting. One of the places I returned to paint is a favorite. It is called Greenbriar. Exciting water tumbles and falls over the rocks as it travels down from Ramsey Cascades. There are possible paintings wherever one looks. I focused on a small section and tried to capture the scene. I also took many digital photos. I used my small painting and a photo to create "Rocks and Water I".

Several months earlier I had visited another area in the Smokies on Roaring Creek Road. My digital camera allowed me to capture a mini cascade in the middle of a stream. The resulting painting is called simply "Mini-Cascade". The rocks are mossy and little flecks of leaves add color.

I am ready to sketch my next water and rocks painting. I am looking forward to it.

Tennessee Watercolor Society's 31st Exhibition

2008-06-19T13:10:00.000-04:00

"Fuji Reflections", introduced in my first blog last December, 2007, was selected to be one of sixty paintings in the 31st Biennial Watercolor Exhibition of the Tennessee Watercolor Society. The juror, Cheng-Khee Chee, had the task of selecting only sixty pieces of art from over 200 entries. His careful determinations resulted in a beautiful watermedia show.

I first became aware of the Tennessee Watercolor Society when I visited the 30th Biennial Exhibit in Clarksville, Tennessee in 2006. I was impressed by the quality of paintings I saw there. I decided that I wanted to be a part of the group. I have been a member since then. It was a pleasure to be a background participant, helping to present a beautiful display of watercolor.

TnWS is a statewide watercolor organization with five chapters throughout the state of Tennessee. The Biennial exhibits rotate among the five chapters. 2008 is Knoxville's turn to host the show. The 2006 Biennial was hosted by the Nashville Chapter in Clarksville; the 2010 Biennial will be in Chattanooga.

Please "Google" for more information about the exhibits and artists of the Tennessee Watercolor Society.

The Busy Month of May

2008-05-27T19:54:00.000-04:00

Clematis, image 28" X 20"; framed 36" X 28".

"The Wonder of a Balloon" , featuring fifteen-month-old Jessica.

Jessica at nine months of age, shown with her mother.

The next set of photos are of Angella in a dress featuring McDonald products and logos.

Front view

Side view

Back view

This May I painted and framed two new watercolors, "Clematis" and "The Wonder of a Balloon". "Clematis " is a large painting, 36" X 28". "The Wonder of a Balloon" is a smaller painting of a charming fifteen-month-old toddler who was fascinated with a birthday party balloon. I had painted little Jessica with her mother a few months earlier. She has become a favorite model.

I spent four days with artist friends at Oak Haven Lodge in Sevierville, Tennessee. Three of those days involved painting scenes of the Smokies. Plein-aire painting is a challenge I have set as one of my goals.

A family project in May was the creation of a dress for my daughter-in-law, Angella, to model in a church fund-raiser. The theme for the dress was McDonald products. Materials were collected from a couple of local McDonald establishments. The images were enlarged using my scanner and computer, then cut out and attached to the dress with contact cement. Angella designed the jewelry to complete the costume. This was great famly fun and we all enjoyed the results. Enjoy my merry month of May.

April 2008

2008-04-26T10:08:00.000-04:00

Birthday portraits:

Granddaughter, Dacey, soon to be twenty-one!

Granddaughter, Jenna. The portrait is for her mother's birthday.

This is my youngest granddaughter, Kimberly, who just turned eleven.

This is Jasmine, known as "Jazz", my daughter-in-law's constant companion.

This is a recent flower painting, "Camellia".

April is almost over and I have not posted anything. I have been painting some family portraits and I have just framed a new flower painting. The portraits are of granddaughters and a grand-dog. These portraits are birthday gifts for my daughter-in-law and two of my granddaughters. The flower is a Camellia. Painting flowers is like eating comfort food. I like to savor one every once in awhile. I am currently working on two more paintings and helping the Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee Watercolor Society. The TnWS 31st Exhibition will open in June, 2008. Look for news of that exhibition in future posts.

An Award!

2008-03-21T19:17:00.000-04:00

Remember this painting? It is called "Tree Study". I photographed the huge tree when I visited Blowing Rock in North Carolina. I used a portion of the tree for my painting. It was shown on my January post after I sent a slide of it off to the Texas Watercolor Society. I was very happy when the juror, Jeanne Dobie, accepted it for the TWS 59th Annual Exhibit. This afternoon I heard from the Texas Watercolor Society. I was informed that I had won the Bronze Award for transparent watercolor. The award includes a lovely bronze medallion and a check for $1000. I have not yet come down from Cloud Nine. I like it up here and may stay for awhile.

My Paintings at the Art Market Gallery

2008-03-14T20:02:00.000-04:00

The five paintings shown here are featured this month of March at the Art Market Gallery in downtown Knoxville, TN. Visit http://www.artmarketgallery.net/ for an overview of the gallery.

White Phalaenopsis was shown in an earlier blog. View January: Five Orchid Paintings.

This White Orchid painting was also posted in January's blog: Five Orchid Paintings

This is Lace Cap Hydrangeas. $600. plus shipping

Sunlit Grapes has been shown in three national exhibits: Watercolor West, California Watercolor Association, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. It won Best of Show at the Palm Springs Desert Museum.

The Silver Pitcher was painted because I like reflections. I bought the shining pitcher solely to use in still life set-ups. This is the first time I used it. It also can be seen in my very first blog, December 2007: "Fuji Reflections". Contact me at genieven@gmail.com if any of these paintings interest you. Leave an comment. It is easy to do.

Featured Artist of March

2008-03-14T19:48:00.000-04:00

The Magnolia painting on the easel welcomes guests to the Art Market Gallery

The Featured Artist Wall shows five of my paintings and the ceramics of Erline McKay I have been a member of this beautiful cooperative gallery in downtown Knoxville since August, 2007. Each month two of our artist members are featured, one is a 2-D artist and the other is a 3-D artist. On the first Friday of each month the gallery stays open until 9:30 PM and offers hors d'oeuvres, wine, and music for our guests. This has become a very popular happening. We draw 500 - 600 guests on that night. Visit http://www.artmarketgallery.net/ for a view of the gallery and the work of some of the members.

Beginning a New Year

2008-01-27T20:35:00.001-05:00

"Cleo" is a painting I shipped to Jenna Mandis, my oldest granddaughter. A few years ago she
took a photograph of this feline member of the family. I liked the light pattern and asked to borrow her photograph for a painting. I am pleased with the result. Some of the things that please me are the dramatic light pattern, the color harmony, the treatment of the fabric, and the rim lighting that traces the back of the cat. This painting now belongs to Jenna.

This is "Tree Study", the painting I shipped to the Texas Watercolor Society's 59th Annual Exhibit. Having the juror, Jeanne Dobie, select it means a great deal to me.

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After my December trip to California for my birthday and a busy holiday season here in Knoxville I had to get back to the responsibilities of daily life. The first two weeks of 2008 were filled with many necessary chores. My art related activities included taking down an exhibit of twenty paintings from the Schilling Gallery of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, picking up paintings from the Tennessee Art Association show and the Arts and Cultural Alliance juried exhibit, and trying to find wall space at home for the twenty-two retrieved paintings. I spent a day at the Art Market Gallery, taking my turn as a member of our beautiful coop facility. I gave a presentation at the Knoxville Watercolor Society meeting, explaining my method of composing and transferring a subject to paper. I packaged and shipped two paintings, one to the Texas Watercolor Society juried exhibit, and one to a granddaughter in Los Gatos, CA. I was without my car for a couple of days while a needed tune-up was performed and I shopped on the Internet for a new printer. Both the car and the printer are very necessary items in my life. Now that my car is running smoothly and the new printer is functioning efficiently, I can resume a more normal schedule in the few remaining days of January .

Five Orchid Paintings

2008-01-09T08:06:00.000-05:00

White Phalaenopsis
$600. plus shipping

Orchid Fiesta

$900. plus shipping

White Orchid

$700. plus shipping

Cymbidium Duo

$700. plus shipping
SOLD

Cymbidium Cluster

$700. plus shipping

The source for these orchid paintings was the St. Louis Botanical Garden orchid shows. Every year while living in St. Louis I visited the beautiful displays and took photos for reference. When ready to plan a painting, I had many decisions to make. For three of these paintings: White Orchid, Cymbidium Duo, and Cymbidium Cluster, I chose to make a simple statement. I wanted to feature the blossoms against an uncluttered background. In order to do this I used Frisk Film, a clear covering which airbrush painters use to cover and protect portions of their compositions while applying paint. As a watercolor painter I had to take another step. I had to seal the edges of the Frisk Film so that watercolor would not seep under the film and ruin the orchid image. This required a tedious application of liquid frisket around the edges of the Frisk Film. Once the flower image was protected, I was able to freely apply numerous layers of watercolor pigment to the background area in order to get the color gradation I wanted for each painting. I learned this method from a Santa Cruz, CA. artist, Elizabeth Kincaid, during a three-day workshop. Her watercolors show a masterful use of Frisket and Frisk Film.

The dimensions of the five orchid paintings:

1. White Phalaenopsis: image 20"x12"; frame 28"x 20"

2. Orchid Fiesta: image 28"x20"; frame 36"x28"

3. White Orchid: image 20"x14"; frame 28"x22"

4. Cymbidium Duo: image 20"x14"; frame 30"x24"

5. Cymbidium Cluster: image 20"x16"; frame 28"x24"

Contact genieven@gmail.com

A Visit to Google December 2007

2007-12-26T15:53:00.000-05:00

I went to visit the Google site in Mountain View, CA, with my son, known at Google as Simon Quellen Field. Simon has been with Google for the past four years . He has witnessed its tremendous growth. He was one of a thousand Googlers then. Now there are sixteen thousand members of the Google complex. The buildings, each with gourmet kitchens, micro-kitchens, gyms, child care, and a policy of welcoming pets at work, are designed to provide an idyllic work environment. The result is very impressive. It was a treat for me to see where my son happily spends his time.

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

2007-12-25T12:26:00.000-05:00

A view from Montevina Road

Diane, Katelyn, Penny

Jenna and Dacey

My three California "kids" arranged for me to join them in Los Gatos,

California, to celebrate my 80th birthday. It was wonderful to spend time with my three oldest "kids", Glen, Simon, and Diane; my two daughters-in-law, Kathleen and Penny; and three of my granddaughters, Jenna, Dacey, and Katelyn. My graphic-artist daughter, Diane, had selected several photographs from the family albums. She enlarged, mounted, and laminated them. Images of me as an infant, a seventeen-year-old graduate, a bride, and in the multiple roles of helmsperson, charter chef, and snorkeler in the Caribbean became a part of celebration decor throughout the dining room and living room. It was quite an experience to see so many views of oneself.

Kathleen's spirited little dog, Jasmine, and Simon's African Gray Parrot, Corky, were very much a part of the gathering.

FUJI REFLECTIONS

2007-12-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

This is one of my latest paintings. The medium is transparent watercolor.The image dimensions
are 15" X 19". The frame dimensions are 23" X 27". I am pleased with the lighting in this piece. I also like the distortion of the fujis reflected in the pitcher.