Oregon Fields

While working on my last blog post about Vinita Pappas's online watercolor class Create 38, I realized I haven't posted two of my favorite paintings.  These watercolors were both painted for the online class.  The rural views that Vinita has near her in Oregon are so appealing to me to paint.  

The first piece below of an Oregon field is a recent one and a favorite.  It was fun to paint and I think it was successful.  The piece below featuring hay bales was also rewarding as well as a challenge.  My first try at hay bales!  I find a lots of inspiration as well as challenge in these views.  Next I need to see this beautiful area in person!    

One November Day

It's December, I know...  In the Create 38 online watercolor painting class, taught by Vinita Pappas, we just finished a neat challenge for November.  Each member could submit a piece that represented something about themselves and their lives.  Vinita posted all the submissions in an online exhibit titled One November Day, complete with a worldwide map and a pin for each member who submitted a painting.  It was fun to see what each person chose to paint, and of course where we are all located.

I was stumped over what to paint for my submission until I was out in my backyard moving plants.  Oh! my colorful California pots planted with warm-weather succulents that I like would be fun to paint!  I took my gouache outside to paint some pots, and added a ceramic garden frog that happened to be peeking into the scene.  

In November, Vinita also posted a watercolor demo titled Glenbrook Barn which we could try ourselves.  I always love Vinita's demos and tips.  This was the first time I tried adding a wispy puff of smoke or steam.  And I always love painting barns and cows since they aren't plentiful subjects in my area.  I had fun with these two pieces. 

5 x 7" gouache

8 x 10" watercolor

    

Vineyards!

I recently finished a watercolor for the online workshop given by Vinita Pappas at Create 38.  It was painted after watching Vinita paint a demo of a vineyard in Oregon.  It was fun to try.  I haven't been to any paint-outs at vineyards but that would be a real treat.  I realized the piece is the third vineyard I've painted during workshops given by Vinita.  There are some vineyards in Southern California.  Maybe it's time to check them out for a possible future plein air paint-out!  Here are the three vineyard pieces~

8x10" watercolor

Green Again

I just completed week two of the Going Green online workshop taught by Vinita Pappas.  She has given some wonderful exercises to do with more of an emphasis on painting landscapes - tree types and techniques, plein air, planning steps to paint a landscape view.  The week's final homework assignment was a simple landscape, painted from Vinita's reference or one of our own choosing.  I just love the Oregon country scenery Vinita chooses.  This is my try at her barn reference.  I think it could use another attempt sometime.  I really had fun painting it and I always learn something with each of these pieces.

This is 8" x 10".

Barns!

I'm having fun in the Vinita Pappas "Going Green" online workshop.  We're doing a lot of mixing so far which is really the essence of dealing with greens.  I've always been a fan of "No tube greens" and like mixing my own.  This workshop of Vinita's is reminding me of the one she offered in May - "Loosening Up".  This is my final project from that workshop, painted from Vinita's photo.  I think I need to search out some beautiful barns to paint here in Southern California.  This piece is 10 1/2" x 14".

And one day last month when I felt like painting something quick, I tried this view as an ACEO or ATC which are 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"...playing card/baseball card size.  I used to paint ACEOs as detailed as the greeting card artwork, but I had fun with this small piece.  I'll post more ACEOs here.

Vinita shared an interesting quote today from Julia Cameron, author of "The Artist's Way".  Not sure I completely agree since we try to do the best we can, but it's food for thought.

               Perfectionism is egotism parading as virtue.  -Julia Cameron

Branching Out

I finally started to branch out from commercial watercolor painting to "fine art" pieces when I "reluctantly" signed up for an online watercolor class given by Vinita Pappas.  I had already been painting in watercolor for many years but it did sound like fun, something different for me.  And I already knew Vinita is a wonderful artist and teacher from her free online lessons.  So I took the plunge, signed up, and it literally changed my life.  What a change going from greeting card sized watercolor illustrations outlined with a crow quill pen, and exacting pen calligraphy, on hot press watercolor paper.  In the class it was larger sizes of course, larger brushes, rougher paper, more freedom of expression.  The class has ended unfortunately but Vinita is doing an online workshop this month that I've signed up for and will report on here.  I'm still learning and it's so exciting!  Here are two pieces painted from references from the class.  Vinita lives in Oregon which has some beautiful scenery.  

My 7"x10" watercolor after Vinita's demo

My 7"x10" watercolor after Vinita's demo