Watercolor Studies

One of a variety of styles of artwork I enjoy exploring. These watercolor paintings inspired by theatrical sunsets and/or sunrise. Despite intending for these paintings to be more abstract, I’ll accept them as landscapes.

SkatePunk Crusin' About...

Not my typical topic of artwork, but as a youth I skateboarded a lot. Daily. Obsessively. Now, my time and focus has gone on to other necessities and hobbies, but I will still pull out my skateboard once or twice a year for a few minutes of nostalgia. 

Watercolor on Paper

Random Sketchbook Page

 

Every moment of light and dark is a miracle.

Walt Whitman

Random Sketchbook Page

Watercolor Demo

I started this painting as a demonstration on watercolor painting. I do my best to explain the various steps suggested towards successful painting, starting from visual inspiration (example: Vincent Van Gogh's painting of Sunflowers,) to a good sketch, to experimenting and planning colors using watercolor to actually painting the finish painting. It is commonly known that watercolor is a rather spontaneous medium. Often time, large puddles of colored water is placed onto paper with the hopes that a pleasing  effect is created. But, an experienced artist will work out a good plan to assure a successful outcome, even with the wildest application of the paint. Bono, of the music band, U2, once said about performing live his well crafted songs, "The challenge is to make it look spontaneous."     

I love doing demonstrations for my students in explaining the foundations in working in various art mediums. One reason is that I really love being creative in many mediums and trying to understand and share how to control the paint to do what you want. The other reason is it give me an opportunity to explore and have fun in a different visual styles. Never wanting to suggest that students have to work in my personal style, I will venture into different design styles such as this graphic interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh's painting of Sunflowers.

An Afternoon at Longwood Garden

Last Monday, I spent a beautiful afternoon at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. With the sketch book in hand, I went ready to draw.

So, I go to a famous garden with thousands of flowers in bloom

during the wintry month of January and I first draw pipes of the pipe organ.

But, they were just so cool!

A sketch of a pathway in one of the large indoor gardens in the conservatory.

This Black and White drawing does not do justice to the beautifully colored orchids.

I tried my best to find orchids I would not typically find at a Home Depot.

It wasn't easy to find truly unique orchids.

After I got back to the studio, I could not stop thinking about

the uniquely shaped orchid and it's rich burgundy color.

So, I did this watercolor sketch with the faith that my memory

of the color is close.