An exercise to get loose

When I haven't painted in so long, I decided to loosen up with an exercise in watercolor. Taking a full sheet of Arches watercolor paper, I had no plan, just splattered and dabbed paint around, sprayed with water, etc.  After a while I decided to turn some of the blobs of color into flowers.  This is just one corner of the whole painting.  The entire paintings is rather crazy looking, but I like this little corner.

I used a rigger brush to get the narrow wavy lines.  I hadn't used this brush in years, and it was good to play with it again.

Winter Show Results from the Sierra Pastel Society!!!!



"Koi Ripples" won Best of Show

 I have an announcement!  Two of my paintings won awards in the Sierra Pastel Society's Winter Show!  http://www.sierrapastelsociety.net/  The judge was Craig Mitchell, a very distinguished and accomplished artist http://www.cgmitchell.com/, whose work I admire.  I am sooooo flattered and humbled at the same time!



"Winter Meditation" won Award of Excellence in the Signature Status division

 Since I live quite a ways from the show location (Placerville, California), my friend, Kathy, sent me a clipping from the local paper in which some of the paintings (Koi Ripples included) were printed in color.  This is the first time I've had a painting printed in a newspaper!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the members of Sierra Pastel Society who do all the work putting on their shows.  It is because of these hard-working, "can-do" folks that make these shows happen for us all.  I only wish I lived close enough to help.