Bees at the Orange Shop, Florida

"Bees at the Orange Shop"

7"x5" watercolor on 140# cold pressed paper

Fabriano Artistico Extra White

There was a natural bee hive in the orchard at the Orange Shop 

in Citra, Florida.  I got a few photos of the hive. 

 It was a pretty cold morning and the bees were not going anywhere. 

It's interesting that they made vertical slabs of honey comb as if they were in a box hive 

The Orange Shop, Florida

"The Orange Shop"

7"x5" watercolor on 140# cold pressed paper

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

The Orange Shop was the furthest north orchard I could find 

in a Google search for 'Florida Farm Stands'.   

They had the sweetest oranges I have ever eaten!  The grapefruit was great too.

"One Lane Bridge", Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

"One Lane Bridge"

5"x7" watercolor on 140# cold pressed paper

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

Yellow signs yellow buildings and yellow road stripes.

I was hoping to capture the wet road, the dirty snow and the power lines, 

and the yellows.

Frozen Berries, west of Lewisburg,PA

"Frozen Berries"

5"x7" watercolor on 140# cold pressed paper

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

This is from a photo I took last February after a big snow storm.

The location is west of Lewisburg.

West Branch Train Bridge, Susquehanna River

"West Branch Train Bridge"

Susquehanna River

5"x7" watercolor on 140# Cold pressed paper

Fabriano Artistico Extra White block

I look left to see this train bridge when I am coming home from Sunbury.

It is at Shikellamy State Park.  Usually,  there is a really nice sunset.

"Sea Shell Study"

"Shell Study"

7"x5"watercolor on 140# cold pressed

Fabriano Artistico Extra White block

This study was a demo I did in my watercolor class today.  

I was showing how to crop a photograph using a makeshift viewfinder. 

We used two precut mats and overlapped two corners to find the best layout.

  

"Cold Yellow", Union County Barn

"Cold Yellow", Union County Barn

5"x7" watercolor on 140# cold press paper

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

This barn is a few miles from town along the old turnpike road. (Rt. 45)

I like that there are a few different colors on barns around here. 

Those dark shapes are cattle to the right of the structure.  

"Snow Bound"

"Snow Bound"

5"x7" watercolor on 140# cold press paper

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

This scene is from a photograph I took along Route 22 west of 

Altoona, Pennsylvania.  I was on the way to my sister's house.

The trees were coated in ice. 

"Rooke Chapel",#4 complete, Bucknell University

"Rooke Chapel" #4 complete

12"x16" Oil on canvas

Finally.  This is the finished version of Rooke Chapel from the Feb. 4th post.

Bucknell University is three blocks away.  I'm planning on doing some plein air 

painting there this summer. 

"Frozen Bales"

"Frozen Bales"

5"x7" watercolor on 140# cold press paper

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

Snow covered bales of hay along the highway in Central Pennsylvania.

They just looked so sad and forgotten out there in the field. 

"Sea Shells a la Deb Watson"

"Sea Shells a la Deb Watson"

7"x10" watercolor on 140# Arches Cold press paper

We had a wonderful time today with watercolor artist Deb Watson.

The workshop was at the YMCA Arts Center in Sunbury, PA.

With very few colors and a bit of liquid masking fluid, everyone took home 

a beautiful painting of seashells in the sand.  

Round Barn in Winter

"Round Barn in Winter"

5"x7" watercolor on140#cold press 

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

This barn is on the road to State College from Lewisburg.  

I have taken dozens of photos of it but never painted it... until now.

There is a white house to the right behind the trees. 

"Red Barn in Winter"

"Red Barn in Winter"

5"x7" watercolor on140# cold press paper

Fabriano Blocco Per Artisti

This scene is just down the road from Yesterday's post. 

It is located between State College and Lewisburg, PA.

Union County Mules

"Union County Mules"

5"x7" watercolor 140# cold press

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

A tiny winter scene from a photograph I took last winter 

in the western end of Union County.

Happy Valentine's Day

"Happy Valentine's Day"

5"x7" watercolor on Fabriano 140# cold press Blocco per Artisti

I got the cutest little box of chocolates today!

Thin Mints and Tagalongs

"Thin Mints and Tagalongs"
(Sold)

5"x7" watercolor on Fabriano 140# cold press Blocco per Artisti

Painted this little watercolor before pilfering the contents of the boxes. 

You have to love Girl Scouts' cookies!

Cheerios

"Cheerios"

5"x7" watercolor on 140# cold press

Fabriano Blocco per Artisti

Yesterday was not a very good day.

Some times the only thing you can keep down is a handful of cheerios.

Bertrand Library, Bucknell University

"Bertrand Library", Winter 2015

5"x7" watercolor and ink

 on Fabriano 140#,50%cotton Blocco per Artisti

This is ink and watercolor.  I do a light pencil sketch, ink in the details, 

erase the pencil and then paint.  

This is one of my favorite ways to add detail to a really small painting.

To buy with Paypal, click here.

Dreamy Treetops

"Dreamy Treetops"

5"x7" watercolor on Fabriano 140lb. Cold pressed Blocco per Artisti

Just a little watercolor of filtered light through some tree tops. 

The only reference for this is my mind. 

"Misty Birches"

"Misty Birches"

5"x7" watercolor on Fabriano 140#,50%cotton Blocco per Artisti

 I was watching 'Snow White and the Huntsman' and liked the way the forest looked when she bit the poisoned apple. I thought I might do a little wintry scene to post.  Here is the forest without Snow White or the evil Queen.  This is really just my impression.  The film was on TV and I don't have tivo. :)

Rooke Chapel #5, Bucknell University

"Rooke Chapel #5" Bucknell University

8"x8" Fluid100 140# Cold Press paper

Back on the project of finding the best layout for Bucknell's Rooke Chapel. 

Montour Preserve, Winter Freeze

"Winter Freeze"

5"x7"watercolor

 Fabriano Artistico extra white 140# cold press block

It has been cold here this past week.  The snow is melting a little today, which always happens when Lewisburg puts on its Ice Festival.   Actually it was kind of perfect.  The ice sculptures should last longer than usual this year because another cold front is coming tomorrow.

I am painting snow scenes in my warm kitchen,  looking out on the snow.  The sun is shining. 

Life is good.

Click here to purchase this painting

Ice Carving, Lewisburg Ice Festival

Ice Carving Sketch

Watercolor on Pentalic watermedia sketch pad. 5"x8"

Tried my hand at plein air painting in 20 degree F temperature. 

The sketching was a little sketchy because I kept my gloves on to start.

I thought the paint would work better because I had a water-filled brush.  The paint was freezing as I tried to apply it to the paper making flat flakes of slush that could be brushed off.  I quit when the paper got too cold to accept any paint at all.

Snowy Hufnagle Park Gazebo, Lewisburg PA

"Snowy Gazebo"
(Sold)

5"x7" watercolor on Fabriano acquarello 140# extra white block

Time is short today so I painted a mini.  My reference photo is from last February.  

The Lewisburg Ice Festival is this weekend and I felt like painting something in 

the spirit of the event.  I think I will have to do a larger version of this when I have more time.

Rooke Chapel #4, Bucknell University (Part 1)

First 2 sessions painting "Rooke Chapel".

I hope to show the completion next Wednesday. 

Preliminary watercolor sketch (1/25/2015) 

in Canson XL Mix Media 7"x10" Sketchbook 

I was trying to figure out the colors of spring using a photo graph I took last month.

There is a light coating of snow in my reference photo.

Oil sketch on gessoed canvas. 12"x16" (1/28/2015)

I used thinned burnt sienna to tone the canvas, sketched the image with a small brush,

and wiped out the highlights with a soft paper towel.  

I am using water-soluble oils. I am slowly getting used to them.

First layer of color. 

I used slightly thicker paint to begin applying colors of the building. 

 A light value has been applied to the lower sky to define the background tree shapes.

Darks have been added to the forward trees and roads. 

Second session - Next layer. (2/4/2015)

I reapplied the brick color to the church, blocked in the background trees, established the weeping cherry tree near the chapel, blocked in some more shadows and foliage. 

Rooke Chapel, Bucknell University #3

"Rooke Chapel" 

8"x8" watercolor on Fluid100 140# cold press

Another view of Rooke Chapel.  This one is as I photographed the building. 

I did not try to paint this one as spring or summer.  

Rooke Chapel #2, Bucknell University

"Rooke Chapel #2"

8"x8" original watercolor on Fluid100 140#Cold Press

The brick University sign looks a bit wonky. In my reference photo, the bottom of the sign is cut of by the highway.   I took the shot from the car, across the highway from Bucknell.  I was stopped at the traffic light.  I liked that the elements are all compressed from this angle.   

Rooke Chapel, Bucknell University #1

"Rooke Chapel #1

Original watercolor on Fluid 100, Cold Press, 8"x8"

I just got this block of paper yesterday.  It seems pretty good.  Does not lift as easily as Arches paper, but I like the size of the block. 

I got a commission to paint Rooke Chapel on the Bucknell campus.  I took a load of photos, but there is snow on the ground and the client would prefer a spring/summer look.  This is the first of several smaller paintings to work out the composition and the color bugs.  I am imagining the trees leafed out.   I did a few tests in my sketchbook but this is the first on "real" paper.  I plan to do another small painting for tomorrow.