Finally! Riding the Bike

 

Prickly Pear @ UC Berkeley Botanical Garden 

6" x 7" watercolor, Arches 100% cotton cold press paper 

 

I’ve been waiting for, hoping for, that moment when painting with watercolors feels as natural as riding a bike. Yesterday while painting this prickly pear cactus, I felt it. First I tried to slow down and see and paint what I saw from the photo I had taken. Eventually I made a transition from trying to duplicate the photo to making the marks that I intuitively felt the painting needed. That’s when I felt myself take off on the bike. 

Will that feeling last? Probably not, but it was certainly a heady ride.

Does having the feeling mean the painting is successful? Who cares! Isn’t that beside the point? I’m telling you, I was riding the bike! That’s all that matters. 

 

 

Art on Demand

 Hiding with Favorite Pillow in the Nasturtiums 

7" x 10" watercolor

Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

I agreed to paint two pet portraits for the local Frank Bette Center for the Arts, a place I am indebted to for helping me find some great art classes plus a wonderful artist-tribe that I see and enjoy (these days via Zoom) on a near-weekly basis.

The deal for the fundraiser was that people could submit photos of their pet...and for $20 they would get in return a drawing or painting created by an acclaimed artist, or a volunteer who flunked art school, or someone in-between. (In-between, at your service.) 

I normally shy away from art-on-demand projects--it adds a layer of pressure I'm not really ready for as an artist--but I'm so thankful for the Frank Bette Center community that I agreed to take on two portraits. It was a good challenge. 

It also reminded me of how very much I do love canine companions. I fell in love with both of these creatures. 

"Freckles"

8" x 10" pen and watercolor

Arches 100% cotton hot press paper

Another House in the 'Hood

Paru Street Eye Candy

7" x 11" watercolor

on Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

 

Alameda architecture: the gift that keeps on giving.

Persimmon Season

 

Persimmons

Ink and Watercolor

4" x 5" 

Persimmons: one of Northern California's many delights. And in winter, no less. 

I could certainly get used to this place. 

Have a Seat

 "Have a Seat"

Washington Park, Alameda

8" x 9.5" ink and watercolor

Arches 100% cotton hot press paper

Have a seat a just forget about it for a few minutes.

                                   He'll soon be out of office.                                                  

Right? 

Alameda Palms

 Alameda Palms at Sunset

Watercolor

7.5" x 9.5" Arches 100% cotton cold press paper