At Gleason Park

Things are loosening up in Florida and people are going to parks and beaches. There were many people in Gleason Park, and they were socially distancing. I had a picnic table to myself and was able to paint in my journal, sitting comfortably in the shade, and enjoying the breeze.

Click on the picture to enlarge.

Carmen

Pair of Pears Watercolor Painting 8x10

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I don't do much watercolor except for my sketch journal, but I recently was inspired by a watercolor demo. I thought I'd make our Pieces of Eight September Challenge a real challenge by departing from oils.

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Twenty-Minute Challenge

My friend Donna Vines introduced me to artist Mary Gilkerson's 20-minute challenge, which means doing a small painting in just 20 minutes. Here is my first attempt, a scene in Florence, Italy. I learned from this one that the subject was a bit too complex for a 20-minute execution!

This was my second attempt, and it went much easier. No buildings or people!

I was more deliberate with this last one, and stopped panicking over the time ticking by.

If you want to paint more loosely, this is a great exercise. One important tip: mix up your paint before you set the time.

Below is a page from my sketch journal, starting with my gym class the other day. Jean Thomas's class really inspired me to sketch more about everyday happenings.

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Dragonfly Wings, Watercolor on Paper, 11x14 Wildlife Painting

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This departure from my norm is in response to the September challenge for the Pieces of Eight painting group, to create art from patterns in nature. I love oils, but it's fun to do watercolor now and then. There is an actual blue dragonfly like the one I painted.

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Bird Painting, "Terns," 5x7 Watercolor in 8x10 Mat

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The amazing thing about this painting is that I stopped. I didn't overwork it, no one had to hit me over the head to make me stop, and I have left it alone. It's different for me because it's a watercolor, and except for my journal, I rarely do watercolors. One thing I really like about watercolors is that I can easily take them with me anywhere, unlike oil paints. Oil paints are heavy, require odorless mineral spirits for cleanup, and are very messy. I still love them, though. 

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Sunshine Girl, 16x20 Watercolor Print, Giclee of Child in Garden

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This is a giclee print of a watercolor that I am particularly fond of. The purple and green complementary colors and the warm sunshine backlighting her hair remind me of the day this child was opening a seed packet to plant flowers in the garden. It's a wonderful age, when you can tell a child what to do, and they actually do it. I miss that!

I need to send out a thank-you to all the Nigerian friends that I didn't know I had, who are just dying to send me millions of dollars. Every day there is a new email from these generous people. For some reason they are just loaded and they can't wait to share their wealth with their special friend, me. It's hard to believe anyone would fall for the scam, but some must or they wouldn't keep sending these things. My last offer was from a woman who wanted to send me exactly $10,500,000 dollars.

For a much better deal, check out my Etsy page at https://carmensart.etsy.com

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A Little Bunch of Grapes, 5x7 Watercolor on Paper in 8x10 Mat

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It's a lot easier to paint a watercolor with your foot propped up than painting an oil in that position, so this was my result. My broken toe is making little progress but I have graduated from wearing a sock to a flip flop. Thank goodness I didn't do this to myself before I finished my mural! 

My most re-pinned pin on Pinterest is a watercolor by Igor Sava, and if you haven't seen his work, check it out. I'm a big fan. /https://www.pinterest.com/artymaryd/art-of-igor-sava/

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Wanderer, 5x7 Abstract Collage on Paper, Matted to 8x10

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This abstract is made of watercolor paint and torn textured paper, affixed to watercolor paper. It is matted in an 8x10 mat, below.

My abstracts are few and far between, but, like Zentangles, they are very relaxing and fun to do. Right now I am working on a seascape that has some problems to be worked out. Sometimes the emotional side of art gets in the way of the technical side and I have to step away, analyze, and think for a while. In nature, the sky may be beautiful, the waves impressive, and the water a brilliant color, but if I can't make it all hang together in harmony, I haven't got a painting. So...back to my thinking.

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I Have a Little Shadow, 18x22, Watercolor Painting

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I'm excited to announce that this painting won First Place in the Contemporary Fine Art International Watercolor Painting Showdown competition. I took this photo of my granddaughter when she was very young. We were waiting at the airport for my plane (your family could do that back then) and she was looking at her shadow in the sunny light. This little frilly darling grew up to be a Biomedical Engineer. I don't do many watercolors, but I'm very proud of this one and of my granddaughter!

Carmen