The Spartan and the Midland in Ludington, MI

   The SS Spartan and the City of Midland 

 
   I saw these ships together many years ago
   while they were moored in their berths in
   Ludington, MI.  The SS Spartan on the left 
   and the City of Midland on the right.

The Middletown

 
    Passing through the Soo Locks

    Watercolor on 140# Arches watercolor
    paper.  20" x 15"

  Frozen Bog

   19" x 28" Watercolor on 140 lb cold press

   Fabriano Uno watercolor paper.

Five new pieces

Red House

In search of what painting was like when creativity
flowed freely, the eyes were sharp and the hands didn't
shake.

Windy Pier

3 New paintings

    Pads on the Pond

    Verde Valley

    Almost a Memory

Greenwater.

Oh the hours. Final? For now!

Two short sketches from life drawing last night.

Bits and pieces

A little break from reality.

Poor exposure a lighting.

Point Betsie

Running cold

Copper Sunday

Ending the year with a brush in my hand.

Off to see the Orthopedic surgeon again!

Remember in 2010 when I had surgery on my right
shoulder because of a slip and fall?  Well I decided I wanted
a matched set so slipped and fell on the left one.  Surgery Thursday.
Later ya'll

Round Trip

16 x 16"

Watercolor on

140# Arches Cold Press Paper

2014 #4

Little Pops

4x4

Watercolor on 140# 

Arches Cold Press

2014 #3

Crazy Pads

12x18"

Watercolor on

Fabriano 140# Cold Press

Watercolor paper
2014 #2

Lily Pads

Watercolor

12x18 

On 140# Fabriano cold press

2014 #1

Before I worried about preservation.

1969, just out of the army and back to work.  Used to just pound out the watercolors, slap a matt on them, cheap frame and plain glass … call it good.  This old steam engine is from a set of 3 that Mary kept for our home.  I didn't discover until too late that so much damage had been done.  All of the leaching from cheap matts and tape have taken a toll on these paintings.  I may try doing new versions and or having them professionally photographed and than digitally corrected and make a small series of digital prints.  Moral of the story, take care of your paintings and preserve them properly.

4/C process using ruby overlays.

Illustration from decades ago!

Blank paper.

Blank paper.

Hello everyone, it's been awhile.

There are many reasons and excuses for the lack

of paintings and posts.  Many changes in family health over

the last two years plus difficult events that mess with the mind.

At least my mind.  Of course I have at least a 100 meaningless

excuses for not painting.

It was a huge mistake to stay away from painting and drawing

for such a long period of time.  It all feels empty now.  I ask

myself questions like, didn't creativity and passion come naturally

before?  Why does color seem to be a mystery now, why do I

doubt my ability now, what happened to confidence?

Hopefully I'll be able to find them again and get back to it.

During the last couple of weeks I've been studying other painters,

watching on line demo's, looking at my books and searching for

ideas.  While doing this I realized something.  Many of my paintings

tell no story and seem to be just pretty pictures that would make

nice wall paper or place matts.  Yeah, yeah, I know, stop with

the pity party.  Pity or not, it's real and factual.  Lorianne will love

this but part of my problem are reference photo's which I take by

the hundreds.  I've been spending a lot of time looking through them

recently hoping for some creative spark.  It would appear that my

tendencies are drive by reference shots with no thought process

just images.  They all seem to be taken on gray overcast days

that are flat as a pancake or sunny days all shot during mid day.

Now that's smart, no shadows, no contrast no common sense.

Plein air, now there's a subject.  I've purchased five easels to use

during painting adventures.  How many have seen the light of

day ... 2.  How many have seen the light in the past 3 years ... 0.

Are you loving this Lorianne?  I'm sure you are.

Well, I've gotten this far and now I can't remember what my original

intent was but at least you all know where I've been and where I

am.  Down the road there may be a post that involves a brush and paint

or pen and ink or finger paints and feet.  Maybe I can get my grandkids to

paint something for me.

Until we meet again and thanks for listening to me drone on!

Old Technique from bye gone days!

Studio paintings from a Dr. Sketchy's session.

Watercolor and blk ink on hot press arches.
both 12 x 16".

Pardon the focus/new camera, bad photographer.

Work in Progress

You certainly can't tell by my blog that I've been spending

many hours in the studio.  Making progress but still not

satisfied with most of the paintings.  I've tried not to linger

to long trying to correct colors and such.  Just a quick trip

to the trash heap.  There are thoughts and some pieces in

progress.  Maybe some day they will appear on this blog.

Don't hold your breath.

Well I'm off to the hospital Monday the 13th for another

operation.  This one is nasty and that's enough said about that.

It has delayed our trip to Florida this year which is a bummer.

Hopefully we'll still get to spend part of March down there.

Once we know the outcome that is.

Off to the studio I go, hi ho!

His

 
Not a good photo but will do for now.

Transparent watercolor on 

cold press Arches watercolor paper.

14 x 18"

Not the Same

  Tints over tints, wet into wet colors,

blotting, blending, wash aways.  Lots of texture

and accidental effects.  Sometimes lost and

sometimes found.  I've had many conversations with

this painting and finally understand what it

was trying to say.

11" x 15.5"

Transparent watercolor 

Arches 140# watercolor paper

Drop in found!

A few pieces from the last three weeks.

More of dreaded locks.

I think I've gone from dreadlocks to fairy princess.  This
is going to take a while as I decide what to do next.
At this point I can only start over which isn't a bad thing.