Dragons, Dragons

Archon Orange Dragons 1 and 2, approximately 3x4, watercolor on Arches 140#

Here are two more dragons, doodled while at my artist alley table at Archon/Nasfic in August. If I do this again next year, I really need to bring a lamp. The hallway was dark, and I had trouble seeing what I was doing. Thus, these little guys are a bit gnarly and awkward.

Two dragons

Archon Green Dragons 1 and 2, approximately 3x4, watercolor on Arches 140#

Two of my dragon doodles, done while at my artist alley table at Archon/Nasific in August. The size got away from me. They were intended to be ACEOs, but they got too big for their britches.

Penciled Peppers, 3 views

Penciled Peppers 1, 4x6, watercolor pencil on Canson 140#

Penciled Peppers 2 and 3, 2.5 x 3.5 (ACEO), watercolor pencil on Canson 140#

I stumbled on a great deal at the outlet store -- a set of 24 Derwent watercolor pencils for a pittance. Here is a 4x6 pencil painting of three peppers, drawn from life. (And they were tasty, too.) I also did two small ACEO-sized pencil paintings of the peppers, from different angles.

Lessons learned:

1. Painting from life is easier than painting from the imagination.

2. Painting with pencils is a layering process and takes a long time.

More Contemplations on Fruit, ACEO

Contemplations on Fruit, 5 & 6, 2.5" x 3.5" watercolor on Arches 140#

Here are two more Contemplations on Fruit, doodled while sitting at my artist alley table at Archon last month. Serine felines. And fruit.

4 Contemplations on Fruit, ACEO

Contemplation on Fruit, 1 - 4, 2.5" x 3.5" watercolor on Arches 140#

I doodled these Contemplations on Fruit while sitting at my artist alley table at Archon last month. I'm not sure where these little guys came from, but I find them intriguing.

Who? Me? 4x6 OSWA

Who? Me?, 4" x 6" watercolor on Arches 140#

I'm back! After an incredibily busy summer with back-to-back art shows, science fiction conventions, and work-related travel, I'm back in my studio and putting brush to paper. Feels good.

Here's a quick little painting, titled "Who? Me?", inspired by a silly cat photo I found on the Internet. It's 4" x 6" on Arches 140#. Looks like I need more practice with perspective.

This painting is an OSWA, which is an acronym for "Original Small Work of Art". That means it is a standard 4" x 6" size and will fit in standard photo albums and frames. Like ACEOs, the OSWA size standard is becoming all the rage on Ebay and other art websites.

Red Peppers, 4x6 OSWA

Red Peppers 1, 2, & 3, 4" x 6" watercolors on Arches

Here are three different approaches to painting part of a red bell pepper.

Red Pepper 1 relies on the reds and yellows to create depth and shadow.

Red Pepper 2 relies on the blues and purples for shadowing, but I think it feels "labored".

In Red Pepper 3, I stopped trying so hard and slapped paint where ever it "felt" right. And then I stopped. I think I like this one the best.