Holiday Happenings

I spent last weekend at the holiday art show; Holiday Happenings. I believe it is the start of many art shows in Olympia for this holiday season.

If you missed this gathering, I displayed my latest art including oil paintings and watercolor sketches. They can also be viewed online at my website: Coloring Out Of The Lines under the gallery tabs for oil paintings and watercolor sketches.

The display was rather amusing as being at the Elk Lodge in Olympia I had to include the elk.

He watched over the event, so to speak.

Art Speaks

Have you heard of HeARTs Speak?

It is a non-profit organization of professional artists who use their artistic gifts to raise awareness of and promote adoptions for homeless and unwanted pets.

Lisa Prince Fishler started HeARTs Speak in January, 2010. She was overwhe.med by the number of adoptable animals euthanized each year - more than 4 million in the U.S. alone. Lisa set out to find a new way to encourage people to adopt from a shelter.

The artwork and stories are a valuable resource for the media, websites, magazines, as well as educational institutions. If you saw a photo or painting of a cute dog or heard its story, wouldn't you be more inclined to give that pet a home?

If you are an artist, an animal advocate, an educator, or just someone who is passionate about helping animals, visit the HeARTs Speak website.

Sunday Sketches

Still trying to hang on to the colors of fall before the dull days of winter. Another one of my favorite trees is the gingko tree.

The fan shape of the leaves of the gingko tree are very distinguishable from any other tree. I love the leaf's shape and in the fall the leaves turn a BRILLIANT yellow which is unmatched on the color wheel.

A friend of mine, Janet, gave me a photo she took of her friend's huge gingko tree which he planted many years ago as a little sapling. Her picture was a view of the magnificent tree through the french doors of his house. The photo inspired my sketch.

More Sunday Sketchers......

Sunday Sketches

The colors of fall here in Washington have been exquisite!

Notice I used the past tense..........the Pacific Northwest rains have returned; days and days of it. Although sometimes if you watch for it, you might be lucky to catch a "window" without rain. I have learned to get outdoors no matter what otherwise it can become depressing.

In my studio I am still enjoying the fall colors and creating watercolor paintings of the brilliant colored leaves. The big leaf maples are one of my favorites. The shape of its leaves and colors are awesome!

More Sunday Sketchers.....

Return of Froggie

What is it about those little green frogs which create delight.......
not just for children, but also for adults who cannot resist calling them "cute"?

A couple of Sundays ago, I shared a watercolor and ink frog sketch and story on Sunday Sketches. Here is the sketch....

Well, that little froggie stayed in my thoughts and sparked the desire to paint its portrait in oils.

Now, isn't he cute?!?

Trees Take Two

The other day I completed, or thought I had, a sketch of the maple trees along the Chehalis Western Trail. I was not totally satisfied, but posted it on Sunday Sketches which is a group of artists who post art each Sunday as a weekly discipline.

It looks like this.......

And I complained that the computer over did the blues.

Well that was truly not the issue!

VALUES!!!

No values! A classic mistake which can make the difference between a good painting and a mediocre one.

I believe I fixed the sketch and the computer was cooperative.

What do you think?

BTW, for those of you who are not artists, value is an element of art that refers to the lightness or darkness of a color.

Sunday Sketches

My goal today was to paint and post a watercolor sketch. I did this even before taking my dog for a walk!

The subject of my sketch is a little green frog that hung out on my deck. This guy had a favorite rose petal which became his meditation spot. I could always find him there even after my grandson harassed the little frog.

Hot off the drafting table........

More Sunday Sketchers.....