Owner: Landscape into Art URL:http://suzannemcdermott.blogspot.co, Join Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:30:31 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: A Painting a Day
Watercolors by Suzanne McDermott Site statistics:Click here
Traditionalish 2008-03-17 07:18:22 TraditionalishWatercolor on Fabriano cold press paper5 x 7", archival mat & backing to 11 x 14"US$ 100 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I think these colors are good for the occasion. I am about to install an exhibit and always get thrown off my mark as I'm putting a show together. Nonetheless, I have this to show you — it's one of a few paintings I made after my drawing of Boudin's Saint Valéry-sur-Somme. I'll show another tomorrow. A little clip about my people is on view at My Great Day.
after Degas 2008-03-19 00:15:01 ...or how I made my first oil painting.I've been working with watercolor all my life but for the longest time, I've felt that I am restricting my movement with these small paintings and have been wanting to make large gestures. My larger watercolor paintings take as long as a week (sometimes a month!) with varying degrees of satisfaction. It's been inevitable that I venture into oil and thought the best product would be a water soluble brand. After some research, I decided to go with the Lukas Berlin.If you follow my sketches at all, you may remember that I made a drawing after Degas Landscape in the Orne a while back. The original is pastel 27 x 41 cm (about 10 1/2 x 16"), dated 1885 and is in a private collection.I temporarily suspended posting at my studies and sketches blog because
Secure 2008-03-18 00:15:01 SecureWatercolor on Fabriano cold press paper5 x 7", archival mat & backing to 11 x 14"US$ 100 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International This is the second of the painting made after the Eugène Boudin.I'm installing a show today at The Frothy Monkey. Will show some pics of the process a bit later on My Great Day.
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after Degas 3 2008-03-21 00:15:01 This is my favorite photo of the painting. I was moving it around, trying to get the best light when the setting sun flooded through the studio window giving the wall in the painting a lovely dimensionality.The finished product in it's formal picture. And I finished the edge of the canvas with a thinned ochre mix.To see this painting on exhibit, you can go to My Great Day. When it comes down, after a bit of research, I'll see about varnishing it.Thanks for following along. Next week, back to the watercolors!
after Degas 2 2008-03-20 00:15:01 These are the two phases following yesterday's post on this painting. Never once in this process did I lay out an entire palette. Only the colors I thought I'd need for the particular phase I was working. In this phase, I used black. When I first came back and looked at the work, I thought I'd never use black out of the tube again. At the end of it all, I'm not so sure. We'll see....Here are details of above:I finished the subsequent phase the night before a dry, sunny day so took the opportunity to set the painting outside to help a little with the drying process.Details from this phase:I spent more time on the wall than any other part of the painting. The challenge was to build up the color transitions without making it noticeably thicker than other parts of the painting especiall
Awakening 2008-03-26 00:15:00 AwakeningWatercolor on Saint Armand paper4 1/4 x 6 1/4", archival mat & backing to 8 x 10"US$ 125 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International A quick preliminary study can be found here.
Mud and Ochre 2008-03-25 08:43:37 Mud and OchreWatercolor on Saint Armand paper4 1/4 x 6 1/14", archival mat & backing to 8 x 10"US$ 125 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International There's a heavy feeling just before Spring when you think that Winter might last forever, but know better.You can find a development of yesterday's drawing (and the basis for this painting) over at my studies blog.
Untravelled 2008-03-24 12:26:01 UntravelledWatercolor on hot press Lana paper4 x 6", archival mat & backing to 8 x 10"US$ 100 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International I almost threw this painting away and then discovered that I loved it. Although it's not based on anything specific, it did emerge from the Degas studies.The road theme may persist. I grew up within earshot of the train whistle along the Philadelphia Main Line. A daily reminder of the expanse that lay beyond my little world. I spent most of my high school years watching musicians come in for a week to perform at The Main Point and then go back out on the road. A mysterious, romantic and alluring way of life that in some respects, I've followed myself.But the theme means the metaphor, too. The way, the path, the
Effortless Breath 2008-03-28 06:13:41 Effortless Breath
Watercolor on Fabriano rough paper5 x 7", archival mat & backing to 11 x 14"US$ 125 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International You can see Crest, the sketch I made for this at Studies and Sketches. Although I didn't intend it, this reminds me a lot of William Blake.To my thinking, one of the reasons we're in such hot water on the planet is because we think of nature as "the environment" — something outside of ourselves — or as a "resource" or collection of resources at our disposal. Really, we are of the earth, not on it and until we get that through our thick skulls, I'm not sure if we can adapt. But it might not be a matter of getting an idea throiugh a thick skull. It really might be a matter of the human species making an e Read more:Effortless
Rush to Rain 2008-03-27 15:32:25 Rush to RainWatercolor on Saint Armand paper4 1/4 x 6 1/4", archival mat & backing to 8 x 10"US$ 125 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International I'd originally titled this "Rush to April" but thought that was too specific. Still, this has an April feel and April rains bring May flowers.
Infusion 2008-04-14 01:07:57 InfusionWatercolor on Indian Village paperAh, it was good to take a break! And necessary. Exhaling all the time can be exhausting. After nearly six months at this daily blogging I've decided that, from here on in, I am taking a much more relaxed approach to my blogging activities and will blog when I feel like it and won't when I don't! I like this approach.I need more time and space for my other creative work to breathe. Speaking of which, I am happy to say that while I was off line I wrote the text for a book project that has been nagging at me for over a year and a half. That is great cause for celebration in my little world!Painting alone in a studio is isolating enough. Blogging on top of that makes the isolation worse so I'm committing myself to getting out and about more. Fu
Sand Slide 2008-04-15 07:29:53 Sand Slide
Watercolor and pastel on Indian Village paperThis week I am experimenting with pastel over watercolor and am using the entire sheet, right to the deckled edges, of these small Indian Village papers. Because they were hand made in a small village, the sizes and relative shapes of these heavy sheets vary a bit. That's why the 9 x 12" size is approximate. I am using the entire sheet rather than constraining myself to the size of a particular mat opening in order to feel more free with my stroke and composition. So, for a while, I am offering these paintings on the sheets alone without any mat or backing but packaged in an archival sleeve. The paper is so heavy, it almost constitutes a board.I wasn't sure what to think of these at first but a few of my students walked into the st
Mountain Slide 2008-04-16 00:15:01 Mountain Slide
Watercolor and pastel on Indian Village paperThis cheery thing was lots of fun to make. Using pastel on these heavy, rough boards is a bit of a challenge so I'm working with it tentatively. On the next go round, I'll try a different application to see what other sorts of results I can get.Mountain SlideWatercolor and pastel on Indian Village paper9 x 12" (approx.) No matUS$ 100 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International For a look at my pen and ink work, pop over to my drawing blog.
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Shore Slant 2008-04-18 05:39:15 Shore SlantWatercolor on Indian Village paperI was going to work this one up a bit more but, as I mentioned earlier in the week, one of my students walked into the studio and said, No! Don't touch it! I'll buy it!What could I say but Please and Thank you?Shore SlantWatercolor on Indian Village paper9 x 12" (approx.) No matSOLDFor a look at my pen and ink work, pop over to my drawing blog.
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Dusk and Glow 2008-04-17 00:15:01 Dusk and GlowWatercolor on Indian Village paperI am particularly fond of this piece. It's the dancing form of that ghostly space of pale Quinacridone Gold and whatever else I dipped into the mix against those greens and violet that I like so much. Dusk and GlowWatercolor on Indian Village paper9 x 12" (approx.) No matUS$ 100 + USPS Priority Shipping Choose shipping US International For a look at my pen and ink work, pop over to my drawing blog.
Birdbath 2008-04-21 00:15:01 BirdbathAugust 2006Watercolor on archival paper, 6 x 4"for 2009 exhibitAnd now for something a little different. For the next couple of weeks I am showing paintings I've made of my yard over the past few years. A lot has been happening around the yard and if you follow My Great Day blog, you'll see some of the comings and goings. Some of the goings have changed the character of the yard so these paintings over the next weeks, a bit out of season, will show how it looked to date.Besides the big going in my yard, I hosted a reception for my exhibit last Thursday, am at the tail end of a studio spring cleaning and completing a book project so I've had very little time to paint. While you're watching these paintings go by, I'll be rustling up some new ones to show you when this run is throug
Late September 2006 2008-04-22 00:15:00 Late September
2006Watercolor on Indian Village paper, 7 x 10"on hold for exhibitBefore the alley hedge went up, before the leaves started to change, I managed to put this view down on Indian Village paper. Get used to it. You're going to see a lot of this view in variously edited forms. I never get tired of looking at it!You can see a pen and ink I made last week of another part of the yard at my drawing blog.Oh, and you can see a big change in my yard today and tomorrow at My Great Day.My songs and CDs
Rust and lemon 2008-04-24 01:39:21 Rust and lemonOctober 2006Watercolor on Lana hot press, 4 x 6"on hold for exhibitWith each of these paintings, I sit in a different place and edit to my heart's delight, eliminating what suits me. Of course, one of the reasons I'm showing these all at one fell swoop is that even without editing, the yards scenes change. I also let the back of the house across the alley take on whatever character it likes and don't worry much about being at all architecturally accurate. I did my time being architecturally accurate when I earned part of my living painting architectural portraits. See a sketch of new plantings and my current adventures with the wild kingdom at my other blogs.My songs and CDs
Autumn Blaze 2008-04-23 01:17:02 Autumn Blaze
October 2006Watercolor on Indian Village paper, 7 x 10"on hold for exhibitIt's probably ridiculous to show autumn scenes in spring but that's what I'm doing, so be it. I wish I could tell you what flowering tree is turning here (I think it's a dogwood) but I do know that the yellow tree to the left is the Bradford Pear we lost last month.My songs and CDs
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The Very Good Day 2008-04-25 00:15:01 The Very Good Day
October 2006Watercolor on Fabriano cold press, 7 x 10"on hold for exhibitThis was one of the most exciting painting experiences ever. The brush moved almost like automatic writing. I was completely engaged and knew that if I stopped, it would be all over so I didn't stop. I kept right on moving until the painting was finished. Exhausting in a pleasant way, and a thrill. This shows the mulberry stump on the left that came down in a storm earlier this year. In the post about removing that stump, I wrote about the flaming head of poison ivy that would cascade over the stump. Well, here's how it looked. You'll see another version next week. My songs and CDs
Flame Tree 2008-04-28 07:02:44 Flame TreeOctober 2006Watercolor on Lana hot press paper, 4 x 6"on hold for exhibitHere is a solo performance by the dogwood in the far yard. I was noticing that before its flowers bloomed this year, the tree took on a rusty cast. You'll see that in a painting at the end of this run.News on the wild kingdom at My Great Day and a sketch of a wild king at Studies and Sketches.My songs and CDs
Red Shed (after the rain) 2008-04-29 04:16:07 Red Shed (after the rain)October 2007Watercolor on Lana hot press paper, 4 x 6"on hold for exhibitIn this painting, I edited everything in front of the back neighbor's shed to show it as the main subject. You can see some of the wax leaf privet I planted along the alley. A future hedge.Read about the Sublime at My Great Day and see a very sloppy rainy scene at Sketches.My songs and CDs
Overcast 2008-04-30 00:15:01 OvercastOctober 2007Watercolor on Lana hot press paper, 4 x 6on hold for exhibitHere, I took out the dogwood tree and some of the wax leaf privet to use the back neighbor's house as a compositional anchor.My songs and CDs
Edge of the Hedge 2008-05-01 03:50:09 Edge of the hedgeOctober 2007Watercolor on Fabriano cold press paper, 4 3/4 x 3 1/4"on hold for exhibitThis is a view towards the back corner of my house where the elaeagnus, privet and junior oak leaf hydrangea stand under the honeysuckle and walnut tree at the end of the fence.See today's sketch and visit My Great Day for a post on Nordic Landscape Painting.My songs and CDs
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Sweet before the rains 2008-05-02 17:19:02 Sweet before the rains
October 2007Watercolor on Lana hot press paper, 4 x 6"on hold for exhibitThis view is along the west side hedge of elaeagnus, red-tipped photinia and wax-leaf privet.See my elder statesman in a fetching pose and a film clip with Jewel at My Great Day.My songs and CDs
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The new garbage bins 2008-05-05 01:15:01 The new garbage binsOctober 2007Watercolor on Fabriano cold press paper, 5 x 7"on hold for exhibitOne night I woke to see fire engines with the light rotating and firemen dousing huge licks of flames in the alley. "What the...?" I threw on my robe and walked down the lawn to find that all of the garbage bins along the alley had been squirted with lighter fluid and set ablaze. Now, there was some excitement. After a few phone calls, the city sent out new bins and here you see them in this painting.See today's sketch and visit My Great Day for a song.My songs and CDs
Behind the Drive 2008-05-06 21:27:56 Behind the DriveOctober 2007Watercolor on Fabriano cold press paper, 5 x 7"on hold for exhibitThe marigolds and angelonia were in their full glory so I edited out the birdbath to let them take center stage.See today's sketch then see what's up at My Great Day.My songs and CDs
The Poison Ivy Tree 2008-05-08 01:15:02 The Poison
Ivy TreeOctober 2007Watercolor on Lana cold press paper, 5 x 7"on hold for exhibitThis scene is no longer. The mulberry stump along with its mighty poison ivy vines and the hackberry trunk to the left are all gone. In subsequent paintings, you'll see new plantings eventually. I hope you've enjoyed becoming acquainted with my little piece of paradise. More is in store from the present tense.See today's sketch then what's up atMy Great Day. My songs and CDs
No title 2008-05-07 01:15:01 LushOctober 2007Watercolor on Lana cold press, 5 x 7"for 2009 exhibitPeople often complain about the bad soil in Nashville. I have to tell you that if you reach down into my yard and pull up a clump of earth, chances are, you'll have a handful of earthworms. Before this was an early suburb of Nashville, these few blocks were a nursery. Before that, this area of greater Flatrock was farms, before that, plantations and when the Native Americans lived here, they forbid any building on this land because of the rich soil and kept this area for planting and marketing.This is what sold me on my little house. I walked around and saw this yard with a rabbit and a cardinal and thought, this is it. Obviously, during October I have to paint outside. The light is lovely and the foliage is full an
Before the first mowing 2008-05-09 01:15:02 Before the first mowingApril 2008Watercolor on Fabriano cold press paper, 5 x 7"on hold for exhibitIn the midst of a rainy two weeks, I took advantage of one sunnyish afternoon to capture this scene as the crowns of some of the trees were just beginning to leaf out. While looking at this, I decided that the red-tipped photinia to the left of the leyland cypress was not a color that I liked in that spot. It took away from the pretty pink of the dogwood about to flower behind it. If you've been following along, you'll already know that I've moved it to where the hackberry was removed and once it's recovered from the shock, I think it will look quite nice in its new spot.As you can imagine, looking at the length of this lawn, the first mowing was a VERY big chore though I got a lot of goo
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