Mango Madness

This is a little exercise using the complementary colors of orange and blue.  I think that even though the subject is simple the colors make it exciting and interesting.  

Another "Wish I Was at the Beach"

OK, I know this one looks a little crazy,  but first consider that the paper is handmade and very thick and absorbent.  Then, consider that I was not at the beach, in fact, far from it:  in the high desert.  My imagination took me to this watery spot where the sun was radiating gold halos.  I'm not in it, but I was floating somewhere out of the visual range, in my head.  Fa-la-la.

Remembering Hydrangeas

Just playing with watercolors and making these cool little petals.  

A Pear and Two Apricots

I have a good reason for  not posting in a while.  I've been in Mexico City where I attended a big fat Mexican wedding.  It was beautiful! And big!  I bailed pretty early by Mexican standards, but still it was great to be there.  The hotel we stayed in was designed by Leggoretto which means it is very colorful and modern.  So this is a little still life I did in the Carol Marine workshop last month.  Can I just say, I ate a lot of fruit of the tropical variety in Mexico City, not to mention Tequila. Ah chi wa wa!

Pinons in La Tierra

This is another little watercolor that I did at Edwardine's house.  The pinons never cease to interest me, especially when they are in the distance, they look like dots on the hills.  

Lavender in Santa Fe

Yesterday I spent the day painting with watercolors at my friend Edwardine's house which is situated out in the country north of Santa Fe.  She has a beautiful view of the mountains and the sunny cool weather was idyllic.  This is  a lavender bush in Edwardine's garden.

Nambe Falls, New Mexico

This watercolor was executed en plein air where after a perilous trek up a rocky path (I have a fear of heights) I managed to perch on a narrow and steep escarpment.  The scene was breathtaking in more ways than one.  After our descent (I was with my sister) we congratulated ourselves on being so daring.  We then hiked up the other side of the stream where Valery fell in the water and lost her hat and almost lost her glasses.  We spent the entire day hiking around on this Indian reservation where the falls are located. 

Study for a larger painting

This is a study I did in preparation for a larger painting that I have in mind for my series entitled "The generosity of water" ( I came across that phrase in a Mary Oliver poem).  I did the initial drawing from a live model and then tried to imagine how the water would distort his figure.  It needs some work and more research.  I'm planning to visit Nambe Falls in the next few days (leaving for Santa Fe this evening) and hopefully get a few photos to work from for this painting.  

The Generosity of Water

As the weather heats up here in Dallas, I'm compelled to paint water, generous water.  This is a study that I'll develop into a larger painting with more detail.  I'm beginning a new series that I think I'll entitle "The Generosity of Water".   

Three More Tomatoes

Three more tomatoes not from the secret garden.  Actually, the same three, just another go at it.