Day 21 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Imagine Butterflies"      $75
Watercolor and Collage      7" x 10"

I started this painting several days ago, and then didn't quite know what to do with it.  Sometimes, paintings need to brew awhile to tell you what they will become.  I had tried a new technique when I started, and it really had me scratching my head on where to go.  I had collaged 1/2 of a butterfly, and decided to wire draw some more butterflies to accompany the first one.  Whenever I teach, I tell the students not to use the whole image that is on napkins.  Only use a part of the napkin image and then add your own touch to it.  Make it your own.   Once I added the red unifying color to weave around the butterflies, it all came together.  Just goes to show that if you try new things once in awhile, you might make a breakthrough.  Below is my beginning. 

Step One

Day 19 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Meant to Fly"     $75
Original Watercolor and permanent marker      7" x 10"

This started as a wire drawing, and then I decided to add color.  Because I'm surrounded by lots of lime green here in Florida, I decided to start with lime green.  I mixed aureolin yellow and antwerp blue to get a really bright lime color. Below is the first step.  After that first layer, in order to make the wings look a little more transparent, I negative painted leaves, going right through the wings.  I will be teaching "wire drawing" in Bradenton, FL on April 10th and will feature "wire drawing" every day of my Dillman's Resort 4 Day workshop in Lac Du Flambeau, WI in mid June.  For me, Wire Drawing has been life changing!

Step One

Wire Drawing #11, "Highest Power"

"Highest Power"  7" x 10" ink drawing on paper, $75

I'm still catching up after a whirlwind of trips that were back to back. I did this wire drawing while I was on the plane to Florida.  It grabbed the attention of the lady next to me on the plane.  She was asking me all kinds of questions about the process.  I used Faber Castell permanent markers, because they are archival AND they don't smell.  I could never use anything that smelled on a plane.  Just another example of time on a plane that is not wasted.  I used to do collages, using a glue stick and magazines for collage.  That worked really well too, but this is so much easier!  I also painted an acrylic painting using this as my study, and I'll post that one tomorrow.