Tradition: Birthday out of town.

 It was birthday as usual... on the road, out of town, practicing my gypsy ways! It was like heading over the rainbow when I arrived at  RoozenGaarde as tulips of every color (and then some) where in bloom. 

painting the tulips 6x8 oil on linen

It was absolute eye candy for the artist I plotted a patch, out of the way and broasted in the 80+ degree record breaking temperatures beside the minimal shade of the windmill. I snuck a quick minimal study (6x8) with only raw umber, white and the primaries yellow, red, and blue. Not bad for a first attempt of the year. After a couple of hours painting my 1st plein air of the 2014 season, I closed my mini guerrilla box to go tip toe through the tulips. The day finished with good friends, good food and good memories. It was a happy birthday!

Roses aren't always red



Green roses- 12x12 oil on paper

   When challenged to paint flower color #5 of my 7 options choice, it came to the dreaded green. Sure there are many outdoor green flowers in perhaps exotic gardens or tiny wild green springs on mountainsides about the size of chickweed but for cut flowers I thought I would be looking for the dreaded tulip or worse. Last time I did the dance with a tulip the blushing model bowed out on me early but green was the designated driver so I slathered up a red piece of paper and went to it- with a rose... by any other color. It wasn't exactly a rumba but I was able to get some sort of facsimile of the funky flower... NEXT!

Don't shout "FIRE" in a crowded theater

Nozzels w.color- station #9

Nozzels pencil 6x9

   "Shouting fire in a crowded theater" is a popular metaphor for speech or actions made for the principal purpose of creating unnecessary panic. Luckily it all happened in an old fire station renovated into a crowded restaurant/pub, hence the shouting. This weekend I ventured to Station #9 for a little sketch outing that went from thumbnails, to a watercolor study gone bad and back to a drawing but with only 40 minutes left in the allotted allowance, it was panic on the dance floor.  I threw in the (wet) towel 15-20 minutes into it when a group  came (to eat lunch) and sat in front of my subject... the nerve! Better luck next time- but the food was good and the company even better.   If nothing else I got to test out a new pad... not impressed!

"Once upon" in orange

  


Ordinary orange tulips 12x12 oil

 In a mischievous corner of my studio, there once was a group of ornery orange flowers that had issues with their blue background. They seemed like ordinary fresh cut tulips posing in position but as soon as I went to break for a quick bite the flowers decided to be naughty. When I returned they had bowed to half their height and turned 30-45 degrees in all different directions. What I had painted was unrecognizable to what was now facing me so I abandoned the study. I have painted tulips before and never had so much problems. Needless to say the next study was a Daisy... also in orange.

Tharrr' be pirates in the darrrk!

"Gordon" 12x12 charcoal

Last weeks outing took me to The Wine Studio where I had the pleasure of working with a willing victim named "Gordon" dressed in pirate attire. With the sun returning there was a most enjoyable setting sun on the models face for a pose. It was so beautiful I regretted not having a camera... even if I don't work from photos. By the 3rd pose the natural light faded, the clamp lamp changed everything and I was left struggling in a dark bar that became crowded and loud. Such is the "Yarn of "Aaaaarrrrrrgh!!!"

Antiques on Broadway



streetclock on broadway 6x9 wc

My last outing was down Broadway where I got caught in the rain. Originally I was visiting an antique store to do a little watercolor study of some items in the shop. I did said study but was drawn more to the architecture of the area with the corner wedged ( think flat iron building) Tully's coffee shop which is probably why my watercolor study was not satisfactory. In the theater district the parking is limited to 2 hours so I had to move the car before I was done meeting people so by the time I was ready to go I still had 20 minutes left on the meter. Rather than stray in the rain (a sure way to loose track of time and get a ticket) to do another quick study, I looked up to find one of my favorite subjects- street clocks so I backed up my car 2 spaces and rode out the clock on my already bought parking permit to do this quick study.

Asia Pacific Culture Center's New Year's Celebration

   This week I went to a new years party. There was a parade, music, dancing and many oppertunities for an artist to sketch a very vividy colored variety of unfamiliar things like traditional costumes and instruments. As was mentioned in the opening, "It was stormy outside but once I came indoors and became part of the event it was sunny and warm."

komono- watercolor study 6x9

Yellow Rose Portrait (working in series)

yellow rose study oil on paper 12x12

I am experimenting working in series with flower portraits in a square format. I did a few oil studies on paper this month with an emphasis on yellow subjects. What I learned... it is tricky to mix the shadowy side of yellow (Greenish? Grey? Blue? Brownish?) but even trickier when the light comes through the petals. Furthermore while roses slowly open during their session, daffodils crumple and darken toward a more warm yellow in the light and daisies raise and (mainly) lower their petals with no logical pattern to predict and paint and they dance quickly.

Destination Harley Davidson- Fife



oil study in progress 9x12



My travels took me to Destination Harley Davidson this week to sketch then I returned to do a paint study in oils the day after the superbowl. The music was great (classic rock) and the cafe made me a very tasty roast beef sandwich for lunch. Special thanks to PT (previous owner) and Matt (sales associate who gave me permission) and of course the bike that inspired me.



Hawk Fever in Fife

"The Hawk Hog" watercolor study 6x6

In my travels yesterday, I went to Harley Davidson store in Fife where I came across an extrordinary oppertunity to witness a functional "work of art" and combind efforts to do good in the community. For full story go to: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Built-Motorcycles-Other-Seattle-Seahawks-Official-Theme-Motorcycle-Auction-for-Charity-/121262394884?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c3bcd4e04&item=121262394884&pt=US_motorcycles#ht_3993wt_1105 Although I didn't know much more then that this motorcycle was being auctioned off on Superbowl Sunday, I did take an hour to sit on the floor and do a watercolor study right there on site. The more I observed and appreciated the motorcycle, the more I wanted to spend more time with it but having my Superbowl supplies (Blue Max Meat's "Beast Mode" sausage) waiting in the truck with ice packs and 3 more stops along the way, I was only able to do the small study. Being an artist that works from life (not even carrying a camera that day) I asked if I may return Monday to do a painting of the bike and was told if it wasn't being crated for shipping then I could come so like the Seahawks, I got a 50/50 chance. If nothing else was a fantastic oppertunity to spend an hour with this incredible creation. Go Hawks!