My Etsy Shop updates....

I've updated my Etsy site with four items:

1. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12292541
2. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9325736
3. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13240610
4. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8454218

Making glass gem pins...

Ah, there's nothing quite like the smell of E-6000* in the morning!

This morning I've been making glass pins to wear, to donate to the NFPW Education Fund auction next week, and to sell at Archon next month.

I start with a small image of one of my paintings, apply a glob of glue, then squish the gem into the glob and slide it around until the glue is evenly distributed and the image is centered. The photo shows what it looks like at this stage.

After the glue has had time to cure, I'll trim the edges, glue on the pin back, and then seal the back and edges with a mat varnish.

Alternatively, I could glue a magnet on the back, in which case I'd skip the varnish.

*silcone-based industrial-strength adhesive

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.

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.

My Favorite Dragon, WIP

Cliff Dwelling Dragon, WIP

Another Cliff-Dwelling Dragon

Another Cliff-Dwelling Dragon, 15" x 19" watercolor on Canson 140#

This is the largest painting I've done so far. The background when in quickly and easily, but I labored on the dragon a bit too much. As it stands, this will be my centerpiece in my ConQuesT art show display in late May. He might become a print, as well.

My Favorite Dragon

A Dragon In Need Of A Name, 11" x 15" watercolor on Strathmore #140.

I'm really happy with the way this one turned out. I think I will make prints of him. I took great care in developing his shadows, his eyes, and the cliff.

Belly Flop

Belly Flop, 9"x12" watercolor on 140# Arches

I kinda like this little guy. I might make prints of him. I was afraid I had overworked him, but I think he can be saved. I had used that shade of yellow that doesn't scan well, so I went back with cadmium yellow and cadmium orange. Also, I lifted off some of the blue to brighten his eyes. I still need to give his smile more definition and touch up his claws with some china white.

What's on the table?

Another dragon, a work in progress. I'm applying very thin layers of underpainting on this one, trying to build up the three-dimensionality of this guy. Just how pale? Compare the painting to the worktable. Very pale. Stay tuned.

I'm really intrigued by his eyes. I'm not sure how I'm going to keep their expressiveness when I apply color to the pupil.

Sitting Pretty On A Wall

Step 1. I started this piece when I was still working with my watercolor teacher. At her suggestion, I started with a combination of new gamboge and cobalt. At this stage, there is the new gamboge layer, then a green layer with salt.

Step 2. At this point, I considered the piece done, but I was unhappy with the way the new gamboge overpowered everything else. Also, the color simply does not scan well, so I doubt I could make prints from it.

Step 3. I added a glaze of cobalt over the body and wings to tone down the new gamboge. The overall effect is more greenish, but I'm still not satisfied. I might try the same subject again later.

Sitting Pretty On A Wall, 8x10 watercolor on Arches 140#

Learning Mode: Mr. Grumpy, redux

Mr. Grumpy, watercolor on Canson 140#, 3.5 x 5.5

I did this quick rendering of Mr. Grumpy in watercolor several weeks ago, for practice. I think the boy needs more texture and more drama.

Learning Mode: Imagined Lizard

Imagined Lizard, watercolor on Arches 140#, 9x12

I worked on this piece in my last two watercolor classes. The goal was to learn to build depth through layers of color, and to build a wet-in-wet background. It is loosely based on an iguana, but not intended to be realistic.

Dragon

Dragon, underpainting (left), finished (right)

9x12 watercolor on Arches 140#

This is my first attempt to use what I learned in class on a piece of my own. On the left is stage one, the underpainting. On the right, the finished work. The scan is oversaturating the yellow. It's much more subtle on the original. The painting combines underpainting, wet-in-wet, and layering.

Sketchbook: Mr. Grumpy

Mr. Grumpy, watercolor pencils in sketchbook, approximately 9"x12"

Class was cancelled this past week due to bad weather. My teacher suggested I use reference photos of reptiles in sketching my dragon critters. This grumpy little guy was inspired by a photo of an inquisitive little lizard perching on a flower bush. This isn't a realistic portrait, but I feel good about the facial expression and the round little belly. The icky weather also inspired my use watercolor pencils for color instead of my usual graphite. The water made the paper buckle, as you can see on the left side.

More Sitting Pretty (ACEO)

Sitting Pretty Purple, 2.5"x3.5", Watercolor on Canson 90#

Another mini-painting on the Sitting Pretty theme. Limited pallette, using quinacrodone rose, ultramarine blue, and viridian. Quin rose and ultramarine mix a beautiful purple that granulates. The eyes are hansa yellow. The gray is mixed from ultramarine and burnt umber.

Sitty Pretty (ACEOs)

Sitting Pretty Green & Sitting Pretty Orange

(2.5x3.5) Watercolor on 90# Canson

More small paintings. These are color studies for a larger painting. Both have Paynes gray underpainting. The underpainting on the orange dragon seemed terribly dark when I started, but I think it turned out okay.

Party Boys (ACEOs)

Party Lizard (top) and
Party Dragon (bottom),
12/30/2006, 2.5" x 3.5" (ACEO), watercolor on 90# Canson

These two party boys are helping me with an experiment in shading. On top, I used multiple glazes of a single color (sap green) to simulate shadows. On the bottom, I used an underpainting of diox purple to create shadows under the sap green.

Notes for later: I think I prefer the richer darks the underpainting provides. Next time, I'll try using Payne's grey instead of diox purple. The yellow ballon is too bright, but a glaze of burnt sienna should tone it down. The wings are a little too low on the back, and need more structure.