Are you a Watercolor Addict?

Summer Bouquet, watercolor by Emma Kaufmann

Hello it is five days since my last meeting.
I find it hard to not look at something and wonder how it would look rendered in watercolor!
I can't resist buying watercolors.
I have A LOT of pads of watercolor paper.
I want to give it up......I just can't!
I'm a Watercolor Addict

I don't know when I became a watercolor addict...probably about five years ago. There is something so seductive about the way watercolor bleeds and runs across the paper. Some people are scared of it because it often doesn't do what you want it to do....but I don't care! That's what I love about it.

So hurrah July is World Watercolor Month and I am going to try to do a watercolor painting a day.....not sure I will manage it but I will give it a jolly good go.

Many moons ago I worked in oils but I just can't cope with them. I am too impatient. I can't wait for all those layers to dry and things would just turn all beige and grey. With watercolor it dries very fast, well it does here anyway as it is boiling hot.

Do you love watercolor as much as I do? Do join in on the Facebook page.

Happy Friday everyone!

Linking up to Brilliant Blog Posts, S-A(R)T-urday Art Linkup and PaintPartyFriday.

Snowmageddon!

Flamingo Tango, 18 x 24 inches, acrylic inks

Even though we here in Baltimore are bracing ourselves for 'one of the worst blizzards ever' that is going to hit us today, I still felt compelled to paint a bright, tropical painting that I call Flamingo Tango. It was one of those things where I could have added a lot more detail but I just liked it like this so I left the flamingo's to it.

Things are absolutely crazy. There the shelves have been picked clean in the stores.

I am tucked up as snug as a bug in rug baking cookies and garlic bread. I don't plan on going anywhere. I have enough junk food stockpiled to last the winter! We are predicted to get 18 - 24 inches of snow over the weekend.

I don't really mind the snow that much. The internet usually goes down and all the neighbors are out in the street doing wierd things like talking to each other!! It is a bonding experience and since we don't have a snow blower we will probably need to borrow one from someone at some point. This was me in Snowmaggeddon 2010 (some people have pointed out that while I am busy posing others are slaving away digging up snow) - what can I say I'm more of a poseur than a shoveller!!

UPDATE SATURDAY MORNING

Feeling a bit claustrophic. Have been eating a lot of garlic bread. Watching my neighbor and his snowblower. Only 24 hours to go.

You can see Flamingo Tango in my Etsy shop and prints are also available.

Linking to Just another Linky and  Paint Party Friday

 

Cleopatra's Lookin Atcha

I am busy finishing up a bunch of pet portraits including this one. Isn't he a cute little guy?

I'm also running around like a headless chicken trying to sort myself out for Halloween. I ordered a Cleopatra costume from the internet hoping to channel my inner Elizabeth Taylor:

The costume I received is OK but the problem is the wig. When I wear it I'm not so much Elizabeth Taylor as Ru Paul!!

The wig is very CHEAP and extremely FRIZZY. I really feel for you guys and gals out there with frizzy hair. I feel your pain!

What did I do? I ironed the wig to try and get the kinks out which were standing up at right angles. First time I did this I melted the plastic hair then DUH! I realized you shouldn't do that and ironed it with a sheet on top. It still looks pretty bad.

I may or may not post photos of myself as Cleopatra. Watch this space.

Here's one:

What are you going to be for Halloween?

Linking up with PoCoLo and Paint Party Friday

Have a freaky Friday!!

A rose is a rose

Koala Rose by Emma Kaufmann

Gertrude Stein wrote:

Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose
Loveliness extreme.
Extra gaiters,
Loveliness extreme.
Sweetest ice-cream.
Pages ages page ages page ages.


And yes a rose is a rose .....unless it is a koala rose! I am not sure what made me want to paint a koala nestled into the center of rose but maybe it was also looking at this lizard who made a bed in a rose. Isn't he adorable?

 In any case I am rather pleased with my Koala Rose.

Linking to Paint Party Friday!

Parrot Power!

 

I painted a cute colorful African pygmy hedgehog as a happy birthday present for a kid I know. Isn't he adorable? I had some yupo paper with alcoholic inks painted on them from which I cut out the balloons. The rest is done in Acrylic inks and watercolor.

You can buy this image as greeting card, print, mug, pillow etc. here in my Redbubble store.

Later on I painted a parrot  (actually a Vinaceous-breasted Amazon) in alcohol inks which turned out very ethereal and abstract. The bird felt very free so I decided to leave him as he was and not put in any more detail.

I have recently become an instagram fanatic so please follow me at HERE. I am also running a loop giveaway on Instagram where you can win one of 10 fabulous prizes including one of my pet portraits. Go HERE to enter and good luck!

Linking up to Paint Party Friday so come join the fun!
parrots art for sale

Elephant Pals

Photo by Gary Jones of Paint Your Photo

I just joined an amazing group called Paint Your Photo. As well as having tons of great art advice, interactive forums etc etc it is also a fabulous resource because it solves that age old dilemna of where to get terrific photos to create art from without infringing copyright. These photos are free to work from and this week I did this painting of some boisterous elephant pals.

They have a whole range of subjects: humans, flora, fauna and animals and they are all of a very high quality. You can also submit your own photos so other artists can work from them.

'Elephant Pals' is available to buy at Fine Art America.

Elephant Pals 18 x 24" acrylic inks

Linking up to Paint Party Friday!

elephants art for sale

Jaguar on the Prowl

It's been something of an up and down week. We started with a foot of snow and everyone in a bad mood. Then we had some fabulous spring days. Today my children and I even ate ice cream from the local ice cream cafe! Well you know me, I don't ever need an excuse to eat ice cream even if I'm wearing an anorak and snow boots.

I got stuck a few times in the snow and had difficulty digging myself out. I must say I am sick of the snow by now, I don't care how pretty it looks!

I had a bit of a creative explosion painting my jaguar in acrylic inks. He was the theme for my nature artist's group and I really enjoyed letting the inks run all over the place and make a huge mess as they dripped on the floor. But what is art if not creative mess. Love it!! The jaguar is available to buy in my Etsy shop.

I finished a lovely pet portrait for a lady whose cat Ellie had crossed over rainbow bridge. I was thrilled to see it in its lovely new home. I really do feel it is wonderful if I can recapture the memory of a beloved pet.

What a lovely review too:

How was your week? Has your snow thawed yet?

Linking up to Paint Party Friday

Lemur Love

I was lucky enough to recently take a trip to Bermuda, island of balmy winds and beautiful beaches. I visited an access all areas zoo where these two lemurs were chillaxing on their information signs. However near I came they glanced dismissively at me through with vivid orange eyes and didn't budge.

It was amazing to get so close to them. As you can see this little guy gave me the cold shoulder. He was probably thinking 'What are you doing in my living room?' But the experience of being so up close and personal was intense and when  I got back I painted this watercolor painting of a Lemur Mommy and Baby.

Lemur Mommy and Baby, watercolor, 30 x 18'

Happy New Year!

Linking up with Paint Party Friday and Brilliant Blog Posts

Little Yummy Hummingbird

I am part of an online Nature Painting Challenge Group. Each week we take inspiration from a photograph of an endangered species to create inspirational artwork to create awareness of the animals' plight.

This week's topic was the Saw-billed hermit (hummingbird, Ramphodon naevius) feeding on a large torch ginger (Etlingera elatior). This hummingbird is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and the largest of its hummingbirds. But sadly, he is considered near threatened because of the status of the Atlantic Forest. This forest is under serious threat as 93% of it has been destroyed. The large cities along Brazil's coast, urban sprawl and agricultural interests are the main causes.

I had fun creating a loose work of art with alcohol inks on yupo paper. It was such fun as always!

I am linking up with Paint Party Friday so come on and join in the fun. The hummingbird painting is available as a print, cushion cover, mug etc at Redbubble. It is also available as a silk scarf from the Art of Where.

Happy Painting!

Harvest Mouse

 

Working with masking fluid can be fun. I find it gives a lovely texture to animal fur, like with this harvest mouse. I wanted the husks of corn to have lovely pure white highlights too so I go to work with my masking fluid. I love watching the stages of how others create their art works so hope you enjoy seeing how I did this.

Next I started putting on several layers of watercolor.

Then I started peeling off the dried masking fluid. I really love doing that! The mouse is really starting to come to life here.

A bit more yellow in background and foreground methinks. A few details sketched in with black pen. Then let me peel off more of this delightfully stringy masking tape .... and voila!



Harvest Mouse, 12 x 18', watercolor

That's all folks! Turned out rather interesting I think.

Linking up to Crafting Along and Paint Party Friday so come check out a bunch of amazing artists!

Buy prints and cards of this adorable harvest mouse at Redbubble by clicking HERE.

Hear the Leopard Roar!

 Happy PPF Everybody!


What a wild week it's been! Moving outside my comfort zone I am trying my hand at wild animals. Hey watch out this kitty's got claws! Had a lot of fun dripping the watercolor and then overlaying it with chalk pastel. The result is somewhat scary but it's nice to be heading in a new slightly wild direction.

I feel just like this leopard this week. As Katy Perry so memorably sang in her song ROAR:

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar
 
What do you feel like roaring about this week?

Pugs Go Wild in a Cake Shop

I did this humorous cartoon today of some pugs going crazy in a cake shop in the 1950s (just click on the image to see it in more detail). It was so much fun to do. I am going through an anthropomorphic in my art and loving it. Let me know if it tickles your funny bone.

I grew up in England and voraciously read all the Giles cartoons. His recreation of the battle axe that was grandma was nothing short of genius. And I preferred his cartoons done in the Daily Express when they were black and white. This is an example:

I  was also influenced by the Rupert the Bear comics in which Rupert Bear has many adventures with his pals badger and pug. Now I look at it I am amazed at how little this pug resembles a real life pug although he is still cute. However Rupert's adventures were mesmerizing.

Prints of the pug cartoon can be bought at this link at Imagekind

Creating a Watercolor Step by Step

At school I had an art teacher who said 'A line is a journey from point to point.' That phrase meant both something and nothing. In the same way, a painting is a journey between a blank sheet of paper and one that is splotched with paint (with varying degrees of success.)

But to be a painter you have to keep on truckin! And keep on tryin'

You have to start somewhere!! Be it with a pencil scribble or a dab of paint.

I thought you might be interested in my process of creating a watercolor picture step by step so you can see how I do it. You never know, you might just learn something.

First, before we begin, look at your sheet of blank watercolor paper.

What do you feel?

Nervousness? Or maybe a smidgin of terror?

If like me you often think, help I am staring at a blank sheet of paper and don't know where to start, remember that a good place to start is with a wash. In this case I was painting a sunset so I diluted red, yellow and blue with water and did my first wash.

Slop the paint all over the place in several different directions.

When it had dried my first wash looked like this:

The second wash was more concentrated and I liberally used my water sprayer to keep things moist:

Working wet in wet I started adding in the skyline and the boat dock.

At this point I was happy with the airiness of the sky but I felt the bridge was too blue so I warmed it up with some warm browns. Also I felt that the angle of the dock wasn't dramatic enough so I made some adjustments. I liberally added another wash of red and one of yellow.

Then I decided to add some pastel highlights in warm golden tones to the water to bring it to life and to add dark green pastel to the horizon to give better perspective.

Finally I thought I had captured the view and the light glittering on the water and decided to leave it like this:

Sunset at Middle River, 2013 by Emma Kaufmann

I am pretty happy with the final picture. It is a view of a sunset at Middle River. I think the angle of the dock gives some added drama to the gorgeousness of the sunset.

Let me know what you think and hope you have enjoyed coming on my journey with me!!

Do stop by again soon.


Prints, mugs, cushions and other items of this painting can be bought HERE at Redbubble.