"Summer Zinnias"

8 x8 watercolor $45

The Zinnias in my garden are the only flowers really loving the heat. They faithfully bloom every summer and reseed themselves, and they are one of my favorite flowers, especially suitable for cutting and bringing inside. I tried this painting on some watercolor paper I had (not Arches) and the difference is striking to work on! I won't name names, but if you are starting to watercolor paint, I would invest in Arches 140 lb. paper or 300 lb., in either cold pressed or rough. Maybe I will do another painting similar to this soon on Arches and you will see the difference. This turned out o.k, but I had to do much more glazing, so it took alot longer.

My grandson, Austin, is visiting this week, so it is hard to get alot of painting done between going to see movies, swimming, and playing games! He is a joy, though, as is his older brother, Andrew, who is in Ireland this summer.

"Tall Palms"

8 x 11 watercolor, unframed $45

Tall stately coconut palms, blowing in the ocean breezes, a lovely sandy beach with a comfy chair, these are the memories I have of a recent cruise on the Norwegian Pearl.

The hot weather we are having in Florida makes me want to go on another cruise soon! Yestday was my grandson, Austin's birthday so after ice cream, we went to Ft. Lauderdale to watch cruise ships set sail, do a little fishing and enjoy some ocean breezes. It was a fun day and that is why I didn't have time to post yesterday. One must take a break sometimes! I hope this painting makes you feel calm and restful, like a mini vacation.

" Mallards"

14 x 18 acrylic on stretched canvas, framed

$300

Father's day is a week from tomorrow and Dad would surely love this mallard painting. The sky has just a hint of purple and it is a Fallish scene. It is framed in a beautiful grey barnwood frame with a linen liner making it have a good presence, perfect for an office or den. I love painting Mallards, one of my favorite ducks! Click on it to see details.

"Irish Boats"

8 x 10 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas $110

This scene is somewhere along the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland. I took a bunch of photographs and failed to mark them, so I am not sure of the exact location. I loved the bridge against the really green grass. Ireland is so fresh-looking and the Antrim Coast is gorgeous. I am sitting here wishing for cooler days in Florida, like it is in Ireland, even if it does rain lots. My daughter jokingly says that they had 2 days of sunshine last year! Kidding, of course.

This painting extends around the sides of the canvas, so there is no need to frame.

"One Fine Day"

10 x 14 watercolor on Arches paper $145

Imagine two little boys playing in the sand at the beach, building a sandcastle, watching the birds and the waves! What could be more fun to watch! This was fun to paint--I did it pretty quickly, letting the paint just run and work its magic. I used a tissue to press into the wet paint to form the clouds. I do hope American's beaches won't be destroyed by the oil spilling out; let's pray it is stopped and cleaned up real soon!

Click on this for a closer view.

"Ocean Treasures II"

6 x6 watercolor on Arches paper $50

Here is the companion painting to yesterday's post. I once again used the plastic wrap and got the texture and the color gradation with it in the background. If you paint and haven't tried it, you will love it!

I exercised in the pool this a.m. and it is amazing how cool you keep for hours afterwards! But then it is a little less hot today and we do have a lovely breeze, which helps!

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"Ocean Treasures"

6 x 6 watercolor on Arches paper, $50

This small painting was so much fun to do! I sketched in the shells first, then using tracing paper, I traced the sketch, cut out the shapes and laid them on top the shell sketches. Then I used masking fluid to go around the edges, securing the tracing paper down. I painted a wash of darkish blue for the water and laid a piece of plastic wrap over it. I did the same with the sand using a medium strength burnt umber and laid a piece of

plastic wrap over it, manipulating it slightly. I let it

completely dry, then took off the plastic and Wow! I had all the gorgeous textures of water and sand! Then I removed the tracing paper and masking fluid and painted in the detailed shells. It was so much fun that now I am doing a companion piece with different shells. I will post it tomorrow. Stay tuned!