Morning Light, 10x10in., acrylic on linen, Jan BlencoweThe first issue of my new monthly e-newsletter, Palette Paper, launches very soon. I'm so excited about this! Sign up in the green box at the top of the side bar. There will be a special purchasing opportunity in the first issue you won't want to miss, along with a link to my new info sheet 10 Tips & Techniques for Using Chroma Interactive
Painting in the Canyon 6x6 watercolor on Fabriano paperAvailable here.Towsley Canyon is in the Santa Susanna Mountains a few miles from my studio. If you pack bug spray, a camera and painting gear, there are landscape, creek and mountain views aplenty for a painter.
Ivy 2.75 x 3.5 Watercolor on Bristol paperA teeny little portrait of my Great Aunt Ivy as a young woman, leaving Great Britain for America in 1919. Her passport application lists Eyes: hazel, Hair: Red-Brown, Nose: Long, Complexion: ruddy-pale. She had a miscarriage enroute, but her baby daughter Violet landed safely at Ellis Island with her.Available for sale here.
Pinot on the Patio 8.3 x 5.5 Watercolor on Bristol paperAvailable for sale here.SoldHappy Thanksgiving. This watercolor was painted in bits and parts this week - between house guests and food prep - from a snapshot of MMC on the patio, sipping pinot grigio by the pool. Follow the link above to bid on Ebay.
Pomegranates from Arizona 6 x 8 Watercolor on Lana Aquarelle paperMy friend VLB sends photos of the fruit from her Arizona Garden as still life painting fodder. Lucky me. Pomegranates seemed just right as a subject this season and I wanted to try this Lana paper. I couldn't lift color at all - the pigments sink right into the paper, and they're considerably lighter when they dry. I discovered tha
"Waiting" or "Christmas Bricks"2.5" x 3.5"Watercolor/pen and ink on illustration boardHere is another one of the group of small watercolor paintings that will be available for sale soon at Gallery 9. This one is called "Christmas Bricks". I originally called it "Waiting" when it was an ink drawing, but the color changed the mood of it and the name followed suit. So, it has two names. Hope you enjo
Respite 6 x 6.25 Watercolor on Lana PaperAvailable for sale here.After three sequences of house guests, and too much delicious food, I'm dreaming of beds.
Watercolor Painting For DummiesHave you ever been amazed by watercolor paintings that seem to spring to life before your eyes? Would you love to be able to paint with watercolors? Now, you can. Watercolor Painting For Dummies shows you the fun and easy way to create breathtaking paintings so beautiful you won’t believe you made them yourself.Download @
Breakfast Nook 5.75 x 8 Watercolor on Strathmore BristolPainted during the exhibit at Descanso Gardens this past week, based on a snap shot of a carriage house apartment I rented a long time ago. The show comes down this Thursday afternoon. I'll be back in the studio, and settled into a more frequent painting schedule next week.
Suzie Q is kind of cute with a bright look on her face and some grass hanging out her mouth. You can tell she was eating, as cows tend to do, when some movement in the pasture caught her attention. Maybe she's looking at a coyote who wandered across the field, or it could be you're bringing her a bucket of oats?If you use your imagination, you can figure out what she sees!It's always been my wis
PreviewHere is a preview of the final image:1. Notepaper stock imageFirst you need to find a notepaper stock image. You can buy stock photo from iStock or scan from a notepad.Cutout the notepaper and apply 2px drop shadow effect.2. Watercolor effectsCmd + click on the notepaper layer to load the selection. Create a new Layer Group and click on the Add Layer Mask mini icon in the Layers palette. Th
Painting at the Train Station 4.5 x 8.25 Watercolor on Strathmore BristolThe Saugus (CA) Train Station is a nice place to paint plein air, if you can handle the heat. My friends Rod and Ernie were painting in the shade (smart artists) when I took the reference photo for this little watercolor.
11×7.5″, Watercolor on Saunders Waterford 300# CP
Email me at JamieWG@aol.com if interested in this painting.
It’s Watercolor Wednesday again. I went out first thing this morning to buy sunflowers. This painting was inspired by Charles Reid, with drips, spatters and sprays. Great fun!
Reading Light 5.5 x 6.3 Watercolor on Arches paperI've been busy with show prep and load-in at Descanso Gardens in the Boddy Carriage House Gallery. The exhibit is hung, lit and labeled, and it looks great. I finished this one on site today in between customers. The opening reception is this Sunday, Oct 26 from noon - 4pm. If you're local, please come up and say hello.
Cloudy Day Fall Hike
7×5x11″, Watercolor on 300# Saunders Waterford CP
Email me at JamieWG@aol.com if interested in this painting.
I started this yesterday on my usual Watercolor Wednesday, but amidst interruptions and having to take our Sun conure, Cookie, to the vet, I didn’t get a chance to finish it. You can see the work in progress [...]
I know this looks like some kind of strange abstract in its infant stages, but stay tuned! Watercolor Wednesday will continue on Thursday this week, and I’ll post the finished painting tomorrow.
Finished painting can be seen by clicking here.
I was trying to work on homework last night and got distracted by the season opener of CSI. I set aside the concepts I was struggling with, settled in to watch the show, and pulled out something new to try.In early September I had been thinking about the media that I found most accessible at the moment - pens and pencils and perhaps some watercolor - and what I could do with it. I orde
Last Swim of the Summer 5 x 7 Watercolor on Illustration BoardReserved for exhibit Oct 18-Nov 13 at Boddy Carriage House Gallery, Descanso Gardens, La Canada, CA
Pathway at Olana
7×10″, Watercolor on 300# Saunders Waterford cp
Email me at JamieWG@aol.com if interested in this painting.
It’s Watercolor Wednesday again! I still have Hudson River School images of Olana running through my mind, so I pulled out the photos I took while painting there the other day and did this one from my pictures. I [...]
Reflected Light 2.2 x 3.1 Watercolor on Strathmore BristolReserved for Exhibit Oct 18 to Nov 13 at the Boddy Carriage House Gallery, Descanso Gardens, La Canada, CAThis was an impulsive grab for paper & pencil after seeing a friend's beautiful self portrait photo taken in a mirror. The light on her face - back lit by the outdoor sun - stopped me in my tracks, and I *had* to draw her. I grabbed a b
Cellist in the Woods 9 x 7.5 Watercolor on Bristol paperReserved for exhibit Oct 18-Nov 13 at Boddy Carriage House Gallery, Descanso Gardens, La Canada, CA
Mute Swan 4.5 x 6.5 Watercolor on Strathmore BristolReserved for exhibit Oct 18-Nov 13 at Boddy Carriage House Gallery, Descanso Gardens, La Canada, CAI've been reading a book about Andrew Wyeth, one of my favorite contemporary watercolor artists. His treatment of texture with dry brush, and the way he preserves whites - but slathers layers of pigments around them - I'm *so* inspired.First washes
Meyer on Evening Star 5.75 x 7 graphite & watercolor on Fabriano Artistico paperReserved for Exhibit Oct 18 - Nov 13 at the Boddy Carriage House Gallery, Descanso Gardens, La Canada, CASketched on the plane coming home from Alaska, and painted yesterday in the studio. It's sort of a companion piece to this one , and I'm thinking about painting olive oil, basil and mozzarella to accompany them (ca
Along Seward Highway (Alaska) 6 x 8 watercolor on Fabriano Artistico paperAvailable here.Celebrating the arrival of our first Grandchild in Anchorage, and painting small studies while baby and new mommy and daddy (and assorted grandparents) are napping.
Study for Del Sol 3.3 x 6 Watercolor on Canson paperSoldPosting will be intermittent for the next 10 days while I'm traveling. Keep your brushes and pencils moving in the meantime...
Figure Study #5 5 x 6.5 Graphite & WatercolorAvailable here.Keep drawing and painting - anything - even your own hand or your coffee cup. But reach for a pencil or a brush every day. We all need the practice.
Raphaela 3.5 x 3.5 x .75 Watercolor on wood Process shots begin at the bottom of this postAvailable here.Playing with monochromatic studies of the face. I'll be exploring a lot more on this subject in the coming months.First glazes of watercolor on top of the graphite.Graphite powder and pencil on a prepared block.
Stella 4 x 4 Graphite & Watercolor on Fabriano Artistico 300 paperAvailable here.My friend Nancy Eckels works big. When she cuts paper down, she has lots of long, four inch scraps. She left a huge bag of various weights, surfaces and brands on my porch Thursday. I wasted no time in cutting a pile of squares (see below) to experiment on new surfaces, and I'm nowhere near the bottom of the bag. My t
Umber 2.75 x 5.3 Watercolor on Arches Hot Press paperYou can purchase this here.SoldSketched while watching the Olympics, and painted this afternoon. I enjoyed dropping random color into the face and neck, and resisted the temptation to "fix" the color into something more realistic.
Firehouse Dog 4.25 x 5.5 Watercolor on Arches BristolAvailable here.SoldMy husband took the reference photo for this at an annual fund raising rally called Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors. Firefighters caravan from station to station, with lights and sirens, to collect donations that benefit peers who have become burn victims. This dalmation attends every year, riding proud on a fully restor
Adele 3 x 6.5 Graphite & Watercolor on Canson Bristol paperAvailable here.Sketched yesterday in a waiting room while a friend was seeing a doctor. Based loosely on my imagined wanderings about Adele Bloch Bauer (1882-1925), the model for several Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) paintings, including his most famous portrait.
Holland on Evening Star 5 x 7 Watercolor on Canson BristolYou can purchase this here.A Holland tomato sliced on a Syracuse China Evening Star plate. Tomatoes are a big deal in my family; there's competition in the growing, size, variety and flavor from everyone's gardens. Unfortunately, I live too far away to participate in the taste testing.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to mix vector elements and watercolor effects with text to create a stunning design. It’s a quick process that depends heavily on good choices of images and colors.
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let’s take a look at the image we’ll be creating. As always, the layered Photoshop [...]
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to mix vector elements and watercolor effects with text to create a stunning design. It’s a quick process that depends heavily on good choices of images and colors.
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let’s take a look at the image we’ll be creating. As always, the layered Photoshop [...]
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to mix vector elements and watercolor effects with text to create a stunning design. It’s a quick process that depends heavily on good choices of images and colors.
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let’s take a look at the image we’ll be creating. As always, the layered Photoshop [...]
Figure Studies 1 through 4, 5.25 x 4.5 eachAvailable here.SoldEach of these little figure studies are sketched on 5x4 scraps of Strathmore Bristol with a Berol 2B pencil, and painted loosely with watercolor. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I'll be studying the figure, exercising line qualities and sharpening skills in rendering for the next few months. I'll post other work too, but I'll be swi
It seems like you can never have enough paint related brushes for photoshop. Splatters, water color effect, and some high quality strokes can make their way into just about any design. This is a collection of some of the best free paint related photoshop brushes from Deviant Art.
If you use any of these [...]
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Paragraph Building 9.3 x 13 Watercolor on BristolAvailable here.This is a study of facial expression and skin tones using glazing with watercolor; from a photo of AJC on the patio, harvesting thoughts that will eventually spill out in a torrent of words, with sparse punctuation, and no pause for a breath. The paint was applied loose all around the focal point, and laid in with more deliberation o
Blinn 3.3 x 5.2 Graphite & WatercolorAvailable on Ebay here.From a photo of a young girl who came to one of my exhibits with her parents. I've altered her features (she posed with a big toothy smile) for a subtler expression here, first in pencil (below) and then sheer glazes of watercolor on the drawing.
Assorted Footprints 6.75x8.3 Watercolor on Canson paperAvailable for sale here.I goofed off yesterday and started doodling figures and dogs on a sheet of canson paper. Each figure sketched on the page made this little pretend family emerge, so I painted them today. The drawing was started while flipping through family photos, and this little assembly appear to have strolled into the page randoml
Reading on the Balcony in Lugano 4.5 x 5 Watercolor on Strathmore BristolAvailable on Ebay here.From a photo taken by KR in Lugano Switzerland many years ago. I was reading the definition of provenance (the documented history of ownership of an object) from a gallery preparing for a Hockney watercolor exhibit.
Brita 2.6 x 4.3 Graphite sketch with watercolorAvailable on Ebay here.I've recently discovered the work of Swedish artist Carl Larsson (1853-1919). I wonder how I got to this age without seeing his art before?! His watercolors are amazing illustrations of life in Sweden with his textile designer wife Karin, and their 8 children. Perhaps some of the appeal to me is that his subjects - like mine -
Pirouette 4x4 watercolor on bristol paperAvailable on Ebay here.Quick study of a golden d'anjou pear on a shiny white tile counter in the sun, twirling above the abstract reflections.
Study for Wine at Mandola Rosa 5 x 7 Watercolor on Arches Hot Pressed paperAvailable on Ebay here.This was a test study to explore painting this lovely interior larger. My childhood friend KR was traveling in Killni, Greece when the photo was taken.
Good night people! Hope everyone is having fun! This is a watercolor caricature comission i did a while ago to present a firefighter a special profession that is not so professional here in Portugal as many are volunteers, in fact i believe its really the only peace corps in the world in this situation aren't we Portuguese special or something? True heroes that's what i think of them.Firefighter C
Chloris 4 x 6 Watercolor on Arches BristolAvailable on Ebay here.I've been reading a book on Victorian Watercolors by Christopher Newall, and the way pigments are handled to model the figure in landscape - especially faces - is new to me. The approach appears more illustrative than painterly, but I'm enjoying experimenting with it.The name Chloris is from the Greek Khloros: "greenish-yellow," "pal
Fountain in Fall 4 x 6 Watercolor & GraphiteAvailable on Ebay here.I went sketching in Descanso Gardens with some artist friends in December. It was an overcast, gray day, but that didn't stop us from drawing sweet little scenes tucked into every corner of that beautiful park. Graphite sketch before adding watercolor
Lap Line 3.5 x 7.75 Watercolor on Arches BristolProcess shots begin at the bottomAvailable on Ebay here.Today was the 2nd day of painting upright on an easel, and I spent a lot of time groaning. My muscle memory of movement between the paper, the palette and the rinse water is totally off. I know I'll get it back in this new arrangement, among other challenges to slay, but I'm really amazed at how
Slough in the Rain 5 x 7 Watercolor Study on Bristol paperAvailable for sale here.SoldA small study for a larger painting... the view my sister looks at every day from her kitchen window in Alaska. My New England roots were marinating in the familiar vision of a green coastal inlet; this could be Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, etc. Wonderful.
Girl by the Pool 5.5 x 7.25 Watercolor on Arches Bristol (vellum surface)Available for sale here.This was painted as an exercise in looser brushwork, with the paper upright on an easel instead of my usual angle - flat on a table. I'm trying to push myself into other ways of seeing and painting. I think there are many lessons while painting an arm's length away from the support. For one, it forces
Just a small ACEO to close out the weekend. I call this Midnight Sail. I enjoy doing aceos when I am not up to a full painting. They are usually delightful to paint with accidents almost always making the mark for better or worse. That makes them very organic and loose .I placed this one on Ebay. Frankly ACEOs are the only thing that one should put up on Ebay. They are cheap enough for everyone to
Freckled 3.75 x 10 Graphite & Pencil on Aquabee Drawing paperAvailable for sale here.From a photo of my mother in about 1951. I started with graphite, and added light glazes of watercolor, in neutral colors, inspired by turn of the century magazine and children's book illustrators. One of my favorites from that era is Jessie Willcox Smith (1863-1935).
Wild Turkey & Colt45 5x6 Watercolor on Strathmore BristolPainted from a photo I took in 1979, in Connecticut, on my Grandparent's sun porch. I love painting back-lit figures. The challenges are steep, and I always struggle with color temperature and values, but there are a wealth of lessons in every attempt.
First Sip 5 x 8.75 Watercolor on Arches Bristol paperPainted from a photo of MM - taken by her husband on a trip to the east coast. I saw it on flickr, loved the light and the pose, and the moment captured there, so I asked permission to paint it. Yesterday, while flying from Alaska back to California, I painted the hours away.
Reading the Funnies Watercolor on Plate Bristol paperBlogging this from Alaska... no scanner, so a snapshot of the painting will have to suffice. The reference for this watercolor is a portion of a family photo (taken in about 1945) of my dad's mom and older sister. I love photos from this era as painting subjects, and the people in the images are so dear to me, it's a pleasure to be thinking abo
Orange Fanta 5.75 x 9.5 Watercolor on plate bristol paperAvailable for sale here.An old church in Mexico, in a small village where my friend CP grew up. The last time I went to Mexico, I saw clusters of southbound Americans in the border town shops, carrying cases of Fanta soda to their campers, confirming the rumored tradition of drinking the stuff all day when you're fishing on the beach.
I can run faster than you 4.25 x 9.6 Watercolor on Sennelier hot pressed paperAvailable for sale here.I painted this today to list on ebay and I'll donate a portion of the proceeds to the ASPCA. I've been reading about the challenges facing the animal rescue staff & volunteers after the floods in the midwest. It's no longer headline news here, but it's still a nightmare over there. The watercolo
Painting Cups in watercolor Ink and wash is a very recurrent subject for me, because painting in Ink is very easy to carry out, fast, rich in tonal differences, values, the black and white colors and the in-between shades of gray provide a very rich span.Ink paitning for me is perfect for studying shades, light and dark effects in what I paint. with Ink and watercolor wash everything in front of y
At the Beach 4x6 Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Strathmore Cold Press post card paperThis started as a late night doodle, propped on pillows in the sofa bed in San Diego earlier this week. I added graphite and colored pencils to it this morning after looking at photos of faces in bright, beachy sunlight. An exploration of squinty light and face shadows.Available for sale here.
This tutorial will teach you how to create a stunning watercolor effect. It will involve using brushes for drawing as well as background effects.VIEW THIS TUTORIAL
Paso Robles Vineyard 6.5 x 10.5 Watercolor on Canson Bristol paperAvailable for sale here.SoldFrom old photos taken in Paso Robles, California. Early morning mist creeping down the hillsides. Winsor Newton watercolor & gouache layered on plate finish bristol.
I don’t have a lot of time to blog today, but I wanted to post one more card from my most recent Technique Tuesday class. I used the Watercolor Wash Technique recently featured on SCS. This sample uses the hostess...
Carolina CHickadee on an Allium 10.75 x 4.25 Watercolor on Strathmore Bristol paperMy paternal grandfather was a mechanical engineer & an inventor. The maple trees in his back yard were adorned with bird feeder prototypes, and hundreds of birds, like fluttering ornaments on a Christmas tree. As a girl, I used to hold seeds in my out-stretched hand, and tiny chickadees would grasp my fingertips to
Waiting for the Punchline 8x10 Watercolor & carbon pencil on Ampersand BoardAvailable for sale here.Experimenting with color and media on gesso coated board.... the reference was a snapshot of a family eating together al fresco, with a life-of-the-party Dad telling jokes all afternoon.My show at Gale's Italian Restaurant in Pasadena opens this Sunday with a reception from 4-6pm. Gale will taunt yo
I created this sample for my latest Technique Tuesday class. It's what Splitcoast calls Wet Watercolor Crayons, but I like to call it "Direct to Stamp" - ya know, kind of like Direct to Paper. Well, you do color right...
Monterey Coast 10.5 x 13.25 Watercolor and Colored Pencil on BristolAvailable for sale here.I've been experimenting again with different media on assorted paper. This was Canson 2-ply plate finish bristol. The watercolors sat on the surface pretty well (see the early washes below) and lifted easily if they weren't staining colors, but the paper was spongey & fragile after a few glazes. I opted to
Eucalyptus Canopy 11 x 16 Watercolor on Aquabee paperThis was fun to paint loosely with a fat Winsor Newton 1.5 inch series 680 brush (see process shots with the brush starting at the bottom of this post). I should have used Arches or Fabriano paper because the Aquabee didn't like the brush when the paper was still damp from a previous pass of color. It would have pilled if I hadn't stopped layeri
You might recognize this as the Border Collie painting I started last night...if you do, you aren't crazy...something happened in the night and this painting turned into what IT wanted to be instead of what I had planned for it.Maybe I was subconsciously remembering the time my neighbors at Charlo asked me to do chores for them. They had pigs, chickens, 8 cows to milk, cream to separate, eggs to
I finished this today. It's a little study, 4X6 inches. For sale for $15. I can send you a paypal invoice if you're interested.This dog was so happy, and so clear eyed, he was fun to paint.Donna RidgwayEmail Meif you have questions, or want to inquire about purchasing a painting.Remember, you can find horse art, Western art, Mule and Donkey artwildlife art, cow art, and animal paintings, my Mo
I've started this painting of a dog. He's probably a "mutt". Those are my favorite dogs. No special breeding, no big pedigrees, just a wonderful, happy dog, who belongs to someone who loves him!We found this dog in Cascade, Montana...stopped to visit his owner, and while the guys were talking, I asked if I could take pictures of the guys dog. Don't know his name, he was a stranger, but I liked
Summit Park 8x10 watercolor on Ampersand BoardThis park is about 4 miles from here - tucked into a canyon with homes around the cup of the ridge. It's great for walking - and painting.Catching my breath after a great exhibit at the Valencia Hyatt over the weekend. You can see images from the show - By the Artists' Hand - on my friend JMC's flickr set here.
Born out of the collaboration of Marc Jacobs and Richard Prince the Speedy 35 in Monogram Watercolor, icon of the House. With 17 colors it is safeguarded by a padlock engraved LV.In my honest opinion, Louis Vuitton's Spring-Summer 2008 Collection is probably the best collection ever! Marc Jacobs and his collaboration with Richard Prince produced lovely bags, very artistic and really unique. This i
Born out of the collaboration of Marc Jacobs and Richard Prince the Speedy 35 in Monogram Watercolor, icon of the House. With 17 colors it is safeguarded by a padlock engraved LV. It's in white Monogram Canvas that was painted clumsily by a frustrated artist with paint smudging around the monogram symbols; it's divine!
Modern Matriarch 3 x 4.75 Watercolor on Bristol paperProcess shots begin at the bottom of this post.The reference for this painting was a photo of a friend with three kids. She's dynamic and beautiful. The cool lavender gray wall behind her was a last second addition, to use as a foil for her auburn hair and warm skin tones.This mini watercolor will be available for purchase at the exhibit this Su
Watching Closely 2.2 x 3.3 WatercolorThis mini painting will be available for sale this Sunday at By the Artists' Hand - a four woman show. June 8, from 10am-6pm at the Valencia Hyatt. I'll be exhibiting with three wonderful artists (links are on the left): Laura Wambsgans, Nancy Eckels & Lorelle Miller. This is an annual show we host in our area after showing all over the place during the rest
Bronze Bird & Roses 4.5 x 7 watercolor on bristol paperAvailable for sale here.The first yellow roses of the spring were begging to be painted. I couldn't resist the tilted angle of the composition.Last night, the Taste of Art Fund Raising Exhibit for the AIDS Service Center in Pasadena was a great success. Gale Kohl - the ceator of the event - hosted the show at her restaurant. The whole building
I just love English Ivy and the way the colors varigate from yellow to green and white to yellow to green. I drew the ivy with a crowquill pen and walnut ink and then had some fun adding watercolor and doing a little negative painting with the cobalt blue background.I think this would be really lovely in a white shabby chic frame.For sale in my Etsy shop(click image to enlarge)
Gales Restaurant (Pasadena) 7.5 x 5.25 Watercolor on Canson Bristol paperOn Monday night, June 2nd, Gale's will host a fund raising exhibit for AIDS Service Center in Pasadena. Artists contributed hundreds of beautiful pieces as a 100% donation to exhibit & sell at this great event. If you're local and interested in attending (great food and a rockin' martini bar) tickets are available... come and
