Watercolor Landscape #27 - Dora Sislian Themelis

Pushing through some resistance lately, but coming away with this latest watercolor landscape while I decide where to go next.

#27 Three Pink Daisies ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
18x24 Watercolor, Arches cold press paper

Terry #26 - #38 petoskey vacation memories

Our camper!

Charlevoix, Mi.

our day at Mackinac Island

Leland, Mi.  - Historic Fishtown

Glen Arbor, Mi

These were all quick paintings done on our vacation up North.  It is such beautiful country with so much to see and enjoy!  I tried to capture my favorite memories and had a wonderful time doing it.

Terry #23, 24, 25 more from Bayview

Terry #22 Bayview Post Office

Windowboxes used to be one of my favorite subject - there were so many interesting ones in Bayview!

Terry #21 Baview home

We painted for 2 hours each afternoon at the different 'cottages'.  They are all so unique and beautiful that there was plenty to choose from.

Terry #20 Crouse Chapel

I went up to Petoskey for a 4 day watercolor sketchbook with Catherine Carey.  I painted lots during our 10 days in Petoskey - hence lots for this challenge.  Great fun too!

CathyO, #35, Baja ruins

Baja Ruins

From a photo taken a few years ago in an abandon village on the Baja pennisula.  I liked the fact that life had returned to the interior of the ruin.

CathyO, #35, Deer chaser

A deer chaser from the Portland Japanese Garden.  This is darker and muddier than I wanted but "quantity over quality"!!!  

I could use some suggestions from my fellow painters:  I have been in a slump here.  Nothing intrigues me enough to paint, then when I do paint, I end up with something I really don't like!  Have you any suggestions for getting out of a slump?  I think I am overwhelmed by trying to come up with subject matter, 2X a week!

CathyO, #34, New Arrival

We had our first ever hatch of Mallard ducklings on the ponds a few weeks ago.  Seven little fuzz balls scooting after their very good Mom!  Just wanted to share with you all!

Watercolor Paintings #25-26 Dora Sislian Themelis

The weather here has been wonderful for working on my watercolor paintings in the garden, as well as the great inspiration from the colors of the flowers there. The first work was on scene, the second from my photos in the garden.

#25 Afternoon Garden ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
18x24 Watercolor, Arches paper

#26 Pink Daisies ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
18x24 Watercolor, Arches paper

Elva # 66 Marsh Wren

I photographed this little marsh wren the other day.  He was busy gathering cattail fluff to line a nest.  Marsh wrens are so ambitious.  They often build more than one nest,  hoping one will meet the fancy of a female.

Painted in my Moleskine watercolor book .. watercolor.  I'm liking my little watercolor Moleskin very much.

Elva #64 and 65

Shore Acres

Many years ago a sea Captain built an estate near the ocean, not far from Charleston, Oregon.  His home burned but his beautiful gardens are now maintained as a State Park.  This little Japanese structure and tree are on the edge of a pond in the gardens.  I sketched it on location several months ago and then had the fun of painting it as I remember it.  

A quick on location sketch of three trees across the Umpqua River from Whilster's Bend Park.  I painted this yesterday using water soluble graphite pencil and watercolor.  

Both are done in my Aquabee sketchbook, 93# paper.  I'm very happy with the quality of these sketchbooks for field sketching.  

Watercolor Landscapes - Dora Sislian Themelis

Checking in to the challenge with #23 and #24 watercolor paintings, both landscapes of different areas in Greece. The vegetables and sunflower photos are done and I was looking for a new direction by taking a "stay-cation" of sorts!

Kalymnos ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
12x9 Watercolor, Arches paper

Amorgos Monastery ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis

Elva # 62 and 63

Haven Farm

The people who own Haven Farm take such pride in their yard and house .... and have the best U-pick blueberry patch I know of.  On opening day we arrived half an hour early to get in line for the opening.  Waiting for the patch to open gave me a chance to sketch.  

I added paint the next day -- after Dale and I had our 113 pounds of blueberries in the freezer.

Bee Paper's Aquabee Super Deluxe sketchbook 93# paper.

After painting the first one I got an itch to paint a simpler farmhouse on better paper and without the ink.  I like how the sun hit the house in the first one and was set off the shadowily trees in the background.  As you can see I used basically the same composition.  

I hadn't painted anything on Arches 140 # cold press for awhile.  It just might be my favorite paper.   

Elva # 61 Harney Lake

I've watched this snag grow older and older as the years go by.  Last year Harney Lake had way above average precipitation.  Normally on dry land, the flooding was too much for the old snag and it tipped, but it still is a beautiful sight and a wonderful perch for various birds.  Pelicans and coot were using it when I painted this on location.

Stillman and Birn Beta Series (180# rough paper), pen in ink plus watercolor -- lovely heavy paper for this type of art.

Aschaffenburg Castle - Terry #19

This is 7x11.  I'm trying to paint a bit faster and having a blast.  Since my Imaginary Visits are done till August's imaginary trip to Paris, I'll try to get ahead on this challenge.  I try not to post my Imaginary Trip paintings since I get feedback during the class - but do welcome any feedback in this blog.  I'd like to paint less photorealistically but not sure how I could do it with a photo like this.  Thanks.

Elva #60: Rusty, a Sandhill Crane

I painted this portrait of Rusty, a sandhill crane for my blog.  I've been writing a three part series about Rusty and Broken Toe.   I painted this from one of my photographs.  Late afternoon sun was hitting parts of the little marsh and Rusty.

Painted on Lanaquarelle 140# Rough .... it is always a treat to paint on good paper.  I liked how I could rewet an area without leaving any harsh lines.  I found paint did not lift as easily as on some paper.

CathyO, #32 and 33, Mt. Hood

We have been having cloudy, rainy days lately but Mt. Hood popped out of the clouds the other after and I rushed outside for a pleasant few hours of plein air painting.

CathyO, #31, Nishikigoi

This is another painting from Laure's Japanese Garden visit.  The assignment was to get the fish submerged in a 30 minute sketch.  At first, I wasn't very happy with it and closed my sketchbook when I opened it a few days later I decided it wasn't so bad!  

The title "Nishikigoi" means brocaded carp in Japanese.

#40 Boats again!

An artist friend said that one should only paint something when it moves you and touches your heart! These boats in Kerala certainly did! There is something fascinating about boats, especially the country ones we have in India.... of so many varieties as well! The combination of the water and the boat, the stillness and calm of the moment, filled me with a feeling of wanting to capture the moment....so here it is....