More Jasper

Here is the latest version of the Jasper project.

Monday paint group

We had an interesting model in paint group yesterday. She wore a pentagram and had a similar tatoo (neither of which I included in my paint study). I may finish it up later and see if I can't soften her up a bit. I haven't worked in oil in so long. It was fun.

tragic painting story

Here is a tragic painting story you may relate to. I started this painting over the weekend and got it close to finishing when I found a little spot on the right side of the head that was sort of rejecting the paint. Thinking there was still a little bit of masking fluid there that I didn't get completely removed I took my Pick Up eraser to it not realizing it was still slight damp in that area. I actually erased a hole halfway through the paper! I dried it thoroughly with a hair dryer and sanded it smooth with some sand paper but I think it still really bothers me so I will have to start the painting over. I'm glad I have learned to do my drawings on a seperate piece of paper so retransfer is pretty easy. Bummer though anyway!

Jasper

Update on Jasper. I did another one since I started this one.

New Gallery Show, up!

This is the new gallery with the first show up on the walls! Isn't it beautiful? Our first show is featuring the watercolors of Sylvia Cameron depicting scenes with children and toys from Mexico. We are co-ordinating with the gala event opening for the traveling Show of hand made toys from Mexico at The Woodlands Children's Museum. Our gallery space is just outside of the Children's Museum at The Woodlands Mall, where Mervins used to be.

Update on Jasper's portrait

Here is an update on the portrait as promised. Going a little slow. I am trying to keep the colors clean and bright. This is a little boy about a year and a half old standing in the shade but with bright sunlight streaming over his left side. Isn't he cute? His name is Jasper.

New Gallery Space!

Okay, sorry, I didn't get back here the other day! This is what I was working on...painting but a different kind! I was painting the walls of the new gallery space I'm working on getting opened in The Woodlands Mall. Here are some photos.

Have had a tremendous cold! Just starting to get over it. I haven't been out of my house since Halloween! Take your vities especially C and D3. I'm going to finally venture out to get some errands done. Will try to post progress photos later of the portraits I've been working on. Cheers, Tonya

Starting new portrait

Here is a new portrait I am starting on I drew it out and applied some masking fluid. This is the first layer of washes to block in the colors. This is actually pretty big for a watercolor portrait...22x23. I have a really bad cold so am going a little slow this week.

This is the final painting for the Parkinson's Auction. I forgot to take a final photo before I put it in the frame.

Here is the second update on the Parkinsons painting,

I entered these two paintings that I had recently been working on into the Woodlands Art League juried show and was pleased to be awarded a first place in watercolor and an honorable

mention in Acrylic on canvas. It was really nice to get the feedback on these two since they were

so experimental for me.

Just to catch you up as to what I've been up to...

I reworked the color on this piece that I like so much...different that it is. I don't know that it makes a big difference as I really don't know why I like this piece so much in the first place. according to my site meter I get a lot of people viewing my blog each week...I would love to know what you think about this piece. Please feel free to comment even if you don't particularly like something. Cheers, Tonya
sold

This is a portrait in progress depicting three different views of a child to show how children have varying personality traits. This is a popular portrait style for me.

This is the painting in progress for the Houston Area Parkinson Society fund Raiser. The symbol they have adopted is the Red Tulip.

Been busy!

I've been busy getting stuff ready for some shows etc., got an abstract into the Watercolor Art Society of Houston (WAS-H) Annual Member Show. Judged by George James.

Monday Model

This is actually one of the artists I paint with on Monday but we didn't have a model so she kindly posed for us. She is actually very pretty and I didn't do her justice I'm afraid. I didn't stay the whole time though so may work on the drawing some more.

Figure Study from Saturday

Here is one of the figure studies I did on Saturday. Our model was Kristina. I didn't really capture a likeness in her face but I liked the pose and composition.

final version

Okay, enough fiddling with this painting! This is the final version.

What I did today

My little Aspen. Bad to the bone....but really sweet. She is half Chihuahua after all! I liked the photo so much that I decided to go back to my roots and do a painting from the photo. Painting in progress and the final version...maybe,...sometimes it's hard to finish. We'll see.

Actually I still have to remove the miskit from the dots and add color...now that I look at it...maybe her eyes could be bigger...

while recovering from Ike...

I did this odd little painting that came to mind from one of my Wednesday model studies. You can scroll back and see which one if you're interested. It's done on a 13 & 3/4 inch square gallery wrapped canvas primed with gold gesso which peeks through the paint. It is definately different but I'm really liking it in it's oddness. It's sort of mysterious. It seems like a good cross betweem my abstracts and my figures. let me know your thoughts on it.

Wow, my friend Jan has been busy with her bead making! go check out her blog and see some cool stuff! I can personally never resist even though I make beads myself! LOL! Find her in my links. Cheers, T.

Ike, no gentleman!

Well, that Ike was not a gentleman! We were out of power for four days here. lost a tree and our back yard fence. I know some people are still out of power and got flooding and major damage to their houses and lost all food in their freezers so we feel very lucky. I know some parts that had power last night don't have power this morning so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for all the prayers! Please keep them coming for all still in dire straights here in Texas and areas in Ike's path!

Here is a picture of Boomer my Granddog that we are keeping until he can join his family (My son and daughter-in-law) in Japan on October the 6th. He is waiting for Ike to come in. He seems to portray the bordom of those that are waiting for the big storm. I'm sure we will be praying for bordom soon! LOL! Cheers and good luck to all of you in the path of Ike. My prayers are with you!

Here also is a photo of my little Chiuahua/maltese mix, Aspen who is my constant companion, posted for Dawn Mckelvey, a wonderful artist and friend of mine. Check out her blog... www.dawnmckelvey.com

Waiting for Ike!

This was the first one. The lines were so much nicer than the second attempt but I had started too far over on the page. In this photo I put the first and second together to add some of the upper leg. Funny that they fit together so well.

While we are waiting for Ike to blow in I thought I would post some of this week's quick sketches from the Watercolor Society of Houston's weekly Wednesday session that I attend with artist friend Liz Hill (http://www.lizhillart.com/) .

...Demon's at the door

The background Details didn't lift on this paper like I expected them to. Possibly because I'm working on the back side of it. I will put it away for a few days to see how I feel about it. I may start another one in transparent watercolor on cold press and finish it much lighter just to see

the difference. This looks like it should be called

'great life except for the demon's at the door'.

I'm starting my drawing class on Tuesday so probably won't begin anything large this week. I like to just focus on the students and getting the class off to a good start. Cheers, for now.

update on painting #1

I think I will have to wipe it all down to get that washed out look again...at least on parts. Her shirt was yellow, I changed it to red...hmmm,...we'll see.

Yesterday Sketch

Yesterday's last sketch of the day at the Watercolor Art Society Houston aka WASH. The weather was rainy but went anyway. Also a fun little watercolor from Monday paint session with a cute model dressed as "little Bo Peep". She sat for us once before as a Fairy but I missed that one.

So now back to painting #1 with the dread locks. Hopefully I will have some changes to show later. Its pouring rain so I'm not going anywhere!

Finally back to the first painting!

Okay, finally back to the first painting! It was hard to work on it as I really liked the washed out version. I'm committed though, to my original vision. She is an older woman with wonderful dreadlocks that I met at the Renaissance Fest last year. I hope I can do her justice. I decided to make her headwrap a different color as it was almost exactly the color of her skin. There is a black part in the back of the blue wrap on her head that has some detail that I haven't put in yet. I want the background to be dark but it was so interesting with all the wind chimes. I will have to really focus and not be distracted by the shiny objects...as Dawn says. Let me know what you think. I'm sure I can use the help. Cheers for now

Here are some of my sketches from the Wednesday model session...

Today's installment..

Today's efforts. Didn't get to the other painting, just got focused on this one. Still trying to get away from literalism but of course it's hard for me. She is such a lovely girl, it's hard for me not to try to capture that. Until tomorrow then! Cheers from me.

Experimenting with design changes

This paper really does let you change things up dramatically compared to regular cold press or hot press papers. Didn't like the design so am moving things about. Watched a video by Carla O'Connor and am inspired to try new colors and shape elements. Got a long way to go on this one it's still in the ugly "what was I thinking?!" stage. LOL! Have a great Sunday. I'm off to work on the other one.

Here is an update on the first painting with a darker background which I wiped out, and then the beginning of the second
painting. I didn't show the drawing of the second
painting because it looked just the same as the first
and isn't that exciting to see.
With this paper the the fun of it is to be able to add washes and then wipe them out and keep adding and subtracting in that way to get very interesting and varied surface results
that can't be had with cold press papers. Lots of fun! Let me
know what you think or what your preferences in paper are etc. Cheers, Tonya