Rocks

 

Near Arches National Park
7" x 11" watercolor on Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

So now I'm on to rocks--not easy after a summer of flowers. 

Here's one from today's session. It's a quick study with a bit of charm that I'll probably make into a greeting card. 

The next one that I painted yesterday, however, took several hours of labor--and hard labor, at that. My camera makes the painting look darker than it is; still, the painting is overworked and not likely to pass the painting-taped-to-the-wall-for-a-week test. But I do like the composition and may try this one again with a lighter touch and a reminder to myself to let the painting dry completely after the first wash. I get so impatient, but that's what can make the painting look overworked. 

Arches National Park at Sunset
11" x 15" watercolor on Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

Next one: also laborious, and did not pass the painting-on-the wall test:

Arches National Park
11" x 15" watercolor on Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

As is often the case, sometimes the initial value study ends up being looser and more pleasing than the final painting. See below--done in preparation for the second painting. 

Now, if I can just carry this free-er spirit into the next "real" painting. 

Canna Stop

 

4.5" x 7.5"
Watercolor, gouache, and tempera paint sticks

Sometimes life gets busy and diverts you away from your art practice (often for good reasons!), and then you find that you have an energy deficit re: starting it up again. 

What do you do?

Paint cannas. They're all around the Iowa City/Coralville area this summer. Inspiration at every turn.

Try it: I'll bet you can-na stop.

Color Makes the World Go Round

 

Out Back
7.5" x 7.5" Gouche on Stillman Birns Zeta Sketchbook

It really does. I never tire of gazing out my studio window. 

Dinnertime

 

Dinnertime
11" x 11" watercolor on Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

I've painted other versions of this scene, but I never tire of revisiting the reference photos I took that late sunny afternoon in northern California. We were staying in Dillon Beach but were on our way to dinner at Nick's Cove, and the way the light played on the back of the Highland cattle was just...exquisite.

As was the entire trip. Thank you, my mate. So many good memories of exploring California the years that we lived there.

Unexpected

 

Marty 
Gouache, 5" x 7"

Well, I never. 

Never expected to become a country music fan. But a friend gave us tickets to see Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives perform this week in Iowa City. 

So the night before, we watched the eighth episode of Ken Burns' documentary on country music, and the day of, I listened to as much of Marty and the Superlatives as I could, and by that evening, I was all smiles as they played. They are fabulous! 

And now I'm eager to listen to more of this genre. 

Who thought this learning curve would arise?  

And what could possibly be next? 

(Oh, and yes, I know it doesn't look like Marty Stuart. But people can be fun to paint in gouache if you don't worry about making it look like them. I'm beginning to feel freer about painting family members. Stay tuned.)

(Oh, and I have Gayle Kabaker to thank for inspiration for all things gouache. Took a Zoom workshop from her a while ago and I'm hooked.)

And Again

 

Old-Timers
11" x 15" on Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

Well, I had to try it again. This is maybe the 7th iteration? Call me obsessed, but it's just such a classic scene with those two old buildings. And I do like this one better. It's looser and slightly more transparent--more watercolor-y, a little less heavy-handed. And fairly large at 11" x 15".

But truly, it's time to move on. What's next? 

Try, Try Again

 

"Nebraska"
11" x 15" watercolor on Arches 100% cotton cold press 

You know the saying: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." So...I've tried this one maybe five or six times. This one comes the closest, so far. We'll see if it passes the tape-to-the-wall test.

I do like the value study I did for this painting (below). I used just grey tones at first to establish where to put the darks, mediums, and lights for the "real" painting, and then just for fun I added color here and there, to map out a few colors I might use for the painting. It's often the cast that the dashed-off study can be more charming than the final product. This one charms me.

When I saw these dilapidated buildings in Nebraska last fall while riding along I-80 (we were traveling from Iowa to Colorado), I was arrested by the beauty of the scene. And I thought about how so many of the old barns and outbuildings in Iowa are being replaced by shiny metal buildings. I've tried to paint a few of those metal buildings, but I have to say, it just isn't very aesthetically pleasing. 

So...here's to the beauty of old barns, even those that are crumbling.