More Minis for "Warm Your Heart"

Watercolors with Ink on Artist Trading Cards

Just a few more the of the tiny paintings for the "Warm Your Heart" event at Brushstrokes Art Supply store at 340 Market Street in Lewisburg.  The event is Friday and Saturday Jan.31-Feb.1, 2014.
Drop by if you can with your old (or new) blankets, towels, sheets, pet supplies or cash: which will be delivered to seven local animal charities.

Thank you Peggy and Asulu from class for donating small oil paintings.   See them all at Brushstrokes.

Mini's For a Good Cause

"Oscar"      -                      "Pittsburgh City Deer"

Artist Trading Cards: Watercolor and Ink

The 'Lewisburg Ice Festival' is fast approaching.  With this winter, it could be a good one. 
The event is this coming weekend: January 31- February 2, 2014

Brushstrokes, local art supply store, extraordinaire, will be hosting its 
annual “Warm Your Hearts - Pets in Need” donation event to benefit seven of our local animal rescues.  
 Old blankets, towels, dog or cat items, and any other useful items are collected at their 340 Market Street location.  Any cash donation over $25 gets a tiny original artist card. Above are two of mine being donated for the cause.  

http://www.lewisburgpa.com/calendar/eighth-annual-heart-of-lewisburg-ice-festival

Hazel Soan - 10-Minute Watercolors

 I just love this "little" (4 1/2"x3 1/4") book!   Hazel Soan is the author.
Hazel Soan is a well known UK artist who has authored a number of watercolor books.  She has made several videos on painting and done TV appearances in the UK.
The book is divided into three parts; materials, creative zone, and painting in practice.  The 192 pages are packed with wonderful techniques and tips.   It covers subject matter from landscapes and seascapes, to florals, animals, people and portraits and still life.

I purchased my copy as inspiration for teaching my watercolor class.

Below are a few of my renditions from the book.

I combined two of her images for the gondola man.  The oranges are my version of hers.
Both are postcard sized.

Here I added two of her figures to a tiny painting I did last year.  (ATC size)
Thank you, Hazel, for this gem.

Cold Sunset in Lewisburg

"January Sunset in Town"
8"x8" Original watercolor

It was too cold to paint outside today so I painted looking out the window.  It was uncomfortable with the sun streaming in blinding me.  I was trying to do a sunset.  I checked weather.com and got 5:08PM as sunset, so I got to my window at 4:00 and started blocking in the painting as fast as I could.  The sun was not cooperating.  It took a diagonal path between the buildings across the street and I had to blot it in with white gauche.  I kept seeing spots from gazing into the light and then I couldn't tell what colors I was mixing on my palette.   I am pleased with the outcome and will have to do this exercise again soon.

Plein Air at Robert Hughes' Farm

"Turning at Robert's House"
7"x9" Oil on canvas plein air

The oil painting class at the Sunbury Y Art Center was invited to paint out at our instructor's home just outside of Winfield, PA.  Robert Hughes was the perfect host, as usual.
Most of the class members had never painted outside before.



There is Robert, walking behind Scott's charcoal.
Robert was too busy to paint this time.






Judy's flowers, Ruta's road, and Peggy's wall:    all first-time plein air paintings!

The Campus Theatre in Lewisburg PA

"The Campus Theatre"
11"x15" Oil on canvas

I painted this a few years ago.  It is of the local single screen movie house in downtown Lewisburg.
I had high quality giclee prints made of the image along with note cards.  They sell them at the theater.  It's a good deal for both of us.

Fanny's Rugs at the Farmers' Market

"Fanny's Rugs at the Farmer's Market"
5"x7" watercolor in plein air

Plein Air Westfield: Final Day
The last morning we went to the Farmer's Market at the square in the center of Westfield.  There was some really fresh produce, home made baked goods, noodles, jams and pickles and assorted jewelry and woolen goods.  I got a tiny ceramic vase from one of the sellers.
Later we put our work from the previous days in frames for the "wet" sale at the Station Art Gallery.
The sale was only 2 hours and people were buying like crazy.
 Afterwards we had a barbeque at our hosts' farm.   A lovely time was had by all.