Snowman Topiary

English Countryside Watercolor

Something I am working on right now. I decided to try something in watercolor (rather than gouache) although I may add a little gouache at the end. I also wanted to do a picture of a garden like I used to do on teapots with china paint. I miss doing those so much that I thought maybe I could have fun with the same subject matter on paper. So far, so good. I have a long way to go with this one yet but I am encouraged. It is a 4 x 6 image on a 5 x 7 piece of Bristol board. I like the Bristol board because the surface is so smooth that I can wipe off paint in small areas. A technique that I like to be able to use. Probably a throw back to china painting. I will post more pictures as it progresses.

Sunflower #2

Another 8 x 10 acrylic painting. A sunflower also from Misty's yard. =) In contrast to the Honeysuckle painting this one was done with very thin watered down layers. I wanted the semi rough texture of the gesso to show through.

Honeysuckle

This one is done in acrylic paint, Golden brand to be exact. Love their products! No they are not paying me, I just really like their paint. =) It is 8 x 10 done on watercolor paper. Oh yeah, they are honeysuckle that grew in my yard. I took a lot of pictures when I had that yard and now I am glad I did because I have reference pictures to last me a lifetime... well, almost.

Sunflower

This was taken from a photograph of a sunflower in my other friend Misty's yard. My friends have nice yards too. It is different from the others in that it started out as a pen and ink then I put watercolor over it... I did not like the results so I thought I would play around with colored pencils over the top and ended up liking it after all. Funny how that works sometimes. It is 4.25 x 5.5 on pen and ink paper.

Blue Cornflower

Blue Cornflowers done in gouache on watercolor paper. Also from a friend's garden.

Tuscany Rose

One of my favorite roses out of my old yard. The velvetiness (not a word, I know=) and dark red when you see the actual rose is amazing. Nice scent too although very slight. Also done in gouache on watercolor paper. 4.25 x 5.5 I have a picture of my cat Mi-ke that I did in gouache that I will post tomorrow.

Pink Cosmos

Another flower done in gouache, this time from my neighbor's garden. She had an amazing yard! The only time I really like pink is in flowers. Pink is not allowed anywhere else in my house. =)