Virtual Paintout - Slovakia!

The first thing for today's post is to thank Maggie Latham for her interview request.  I was surprised and honored that she thought of me!  Certainly a first for me!  Maggie is doing a series of Artist to Artist interviews as part of her 31 Days of Colour series on her blog, Maggie Latham Studios.  It's an exciting and valuable artist's blog covering a variety of topics we love.  My interview was for her Day 17.  http://maggielathamstudios.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/31-days-of-colour-day-17.html

I'm late in posting the two pieces I painted for the December Virtual Paintout location which was Slovakia.  There is a country I probably will never be able to visit but I can see some of it with Google Street View!  The Virtual Paintout was created by Bill Guffey.  He chooses the city or country for the month's virtual paintout.  Artists use Google Street View to meet virtually and find a view to paint or draw.  The special Google cars that have taken the images have 9 directional cameras for 360° views.  I really enjoy "driving" around and "walking" around these cities to find a subject to paint, just as I do at home when I meet friends at a plein air location.   Bill posts all of the month's submissions on his blog and on Facebook. http://virtualpaintout.blogspot.com

In Slovakia I chose a city scene which looks "European" to me and painted it in transparent watercolor, 5x7".  I like to practice with gouache for the Virtual Paintout and found a country scene to try, also 5x7".

5"x 7" Watercolor

5" x 7" Gouache