Sunday Sketches

The leaves are turning! What a beautiful time of year.

I did a quick watercolor sketch........and I mean quick!.......to express the turning of the colors. This one is preparation for an oil painting which is on the "to do" list.

The colors did not photograph well as they are way too blue :(

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Sunday Sketches

I woke early the other morning with lots of thoughts going through my head. I took a dose of my own creative remedy.........a mandala painting! Painting a mandala is like a meditation and a journey through the "mind field."

I usually let the colors and shapes flow and go with whatever appears be it an image or pure nothing. At first, the two center images were bonded and floating together in a sea of...... Then, one image sprouted branches followed by its separation and trajectory of the other. I am not sure of the meanings and will allow some time and space for processing.

Any thoughts?

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Trees on my Mind

According to art therapy text, the tree symbolizes the Self.

When someone draws a tree, an art therapists will look at several aspects of the image and reflect on the creator's personal characteristics.

In my previous blog, I shared the experience of the cracking that magically happened to my canvas on which I painted a tree. I am still trying to figure out its significance in my life.......the art therapist in me never sleeps.

In this next tree oil painting, I focused mostly on the stout base of the tree trunk and its fabulous colors.



I wander to the realm of personal characteristics traits....an emphasis on strong grounding and solid foundation with colorful accents, but the expressive fern in the foreground draws attention almost to distraction.

Time to sit with these feelings and ponder its significance.

Sunday Sketches

I could not resist the urge to paint the Peruvian children's faces as they gathered to have their picture taken the day we visited the mountain school. I love the faces as well as the colors and designs of the textiles.

I am thinking of creating a painting on a larger scale in oils.....

This one is for the Sketchbook Project 2012.....

Fascination With Rocks

My grandson, Haeden, came to visit me the other day, and he was fascinated with the pile of river rocks boarding the deck.



What is it about rocks that is so fascinating?

The colors and shapes attract me. When I was in Greece not only did I take photographs of rocks, but also brought some home from various locations, especially beaches. I have these small piles on a counter and not sure what to do with them.

Rekindling my love of rocks with Haeden, I began a watercolor painting from photographs of one of the beaches on the island of Antiparos in Greece.

This is just the first day painting:


A close up:




To be continued.......

RGB Vs CMYK

I just learned something about the printing of colors. Have you ever wondered why your images onscreen do not come out looking the same when printed?

My watercolor painting, "Garden Art," has been a challenge to print because with some printers it will print blue instead of purple.

I think I now have the answer!


RGB Vs KMYK:

When we create an image with a camera or a scanner, we create one using technology which uses the RGB color model (an additive model - where light is added to create the colour). If you want an image printed the printer needs a CMYK color model (a subtractive model - light is subtracted to achieve the colour before it meets our eyes). This is one of the reasons why what we look at on the screen does not print out quite as we expect. Colors can look off or lose their intensity.

Another reason is that the RGB model actually has a higher number of hues than the CMYK model.

You can convert a RGB model to a CMYK model without loosing any color quality, however the inverse does not work.

For a great explanation read Katherine Tyrrel's blog, Making A Mark.

Here is an online website where it is possible to convert your photos.

Reflections of Art

Creating art is both a reflection of the subject and the artist.

Everything you perceive is interpreted by your heart and eventually reflected in the finished art creation. All art is very personal - each time you paint a picture, you paint something about yourself. The way you apply your brushstrokes, the colors you use, and especially the subjects you choose to paint all show your individuality.

What inspires you to create art? Most inspiration comes from what we experience and know. Your inspiration is your own personal muse.

To begin, you must make choices about your personal selection of colors, brushes, and paper or other materials, but the most important tool is your own mind's eye. How can you take your thoughts, feelings, and perceptions and translate them to paper?

The essence of art lies in the excitement of creation and the fulfillment you feel when you finish a work of art.


Lily
Watercolor Painting
by Joanne Osband

I love nature, reflections, and interesting shapes and forms.
What does that say about me?

Tulip Fields

In Washington we have several places to get up close and personal to fields of tulips. What an amazing array of colors!

I have always been intrigued by the bands of colors and have wondered if I could capture the feeling in a watercolor painting. Here is my first watercolor painting of the tulip fields in Woodland, Washington.

How did I do?

To Matte or Not To Matte

Remember when I talked about trades or bartering?

I have this fabulous trade with the owners of the State of the Arts Gallery in Olympia, Washington. I get to watch the gallery when they are gone, and in trade, I have learned how to matte my watercolor paintings, use all the equipment, and receive materials at cost. FANTASTIC DEAL!

Now the question is why matte?

When you take a piece of art and put a border (matte) around it the picture stands out. It relates the importance of the art and defines it in space. The framing of the art with just a matte can make all the difference in the world. It separates the art from the clutter of life and brings it to a different level.

When I worked in the schools as a counselor, I would keep various mattes handy. When a child finished a drawing or painting, I immediately put a matte on it. A big smile formed on the child's face, and a definite rise in self-esteem.

For my watercolor paintings I have chosen a white pebble matte with an inner matte of charcoal gray. Because I am a color freak, I want the colors in my watercolor paintings to read brightly which only occurs when placed next to white. Since I usually paint on a half sheet of watercolor paper, I matte my paintings to a standard size (18" X 24") so patrons can easily purchase frames. It also makes showing my art a bit simplified as I can interchange paintings since they are all uniformly sized.

When the sun decides to shine again soon here in Washington, I will post an example of one of my paintings with and without a matte. You can see the difference and decide for yourself.

More Day Light to Create

That extra hour of daylight and the signs of spring sparked my creative juices today.  How about you? 

In between the desire to be outdoors in the sunshine, I began my second painting from the series of photographs which I took while in Mexico. I am mesmerized by the ice plant in bloom which grew profusely, cascading down the cliffs toward the ocean. There is something about the colors and movement?

Stay tuned as the next painting evolves..........

Inspired by Mexico

I was excited to get back to my studio since being in Mexico;
sooooooo many ideas floating around in my head to paint with watercolors!

First off, to capture the feel of the sunset on my last evening. I call the painting "A Gift" as that is truly what the sunset was for me on my very last day of an incredible week at Sanoviv. I was absolutely spellbound watching the colors spread across the sky and change in intensity. It took will-power to pull back from the view long enough to capture a few photographs knowing full well that they would only be a snapshot of the moment and not the full experience which was beyond AWESOME!

I am waiting to hear back from friends who also watched as if in a trance from their balcony that evening, too.

I asked, "Did I captured the mood or not?"

Here is the sunset painted in watercolors; A GIFT



For most of you who were not present (ha,ha pun!), how does it make you feel?