A Few Watercolor Paintings

I decided to try out watercolor painting....sold one already (the Cherry Pie) to a fb friend from my hometown. Still working on skills and finding the right products and how to stretch paper properly!

Each one of these is done on a 6x9"piece of Arches 140 lb paper. These were all 2nd tries. I'm pretty happy with them so far.

Gay Pride Cake painting

I did this original 12" x 12" x 1" painting in reaction to the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It will be going on ebay for auction and part of it goes to charity in support of the LGBT community. I kept the theme of this a happy one even tho I did it with the victims in mind.

The sides have the words "Love is Love" and "GAY PRIDE" on them.
(I think I may include words more often on my paintings in the future).

French Honey Dip Donut

The last in this group of single donuts. I want to move on to other subjects. These were fun to do and it helped me with self-discipline and speed. Maybe now I can focus more on slowing down and doing more involved work.

Chocolate Glazed Donut painting

Did this one from memory alone. Testing my abilities. Also did it in one afternoon--2 hrs I think. 6 x 8" on canvas panel.

Card Designs: Valentine's Day or General Love, and 50th Birthday

Photographing candy and candles, and editing with Picasa, resulted in these card designs.

Birthday Cake Still Life Painting

I made this cake for my boyfriend's birthday (50) and within 24 hours it became a model for a still life painting! 

It's acrylic paint on a 12" square stretched canvas. Done in one afternoon! I like doing quick paintings--leaves less time for mulling it over, artist block, and negative thinking to creep in. Just set it up and DO it! That's what works for me lately. 

Gumball Machine Art Painting

Inner child inspired painting of an old Gumball Machine. Acrylic paint on a 12 x 24" stretched canvas.

Peanut M&Ms Painting

First painting of the year. Goes with my other 4 candy paintings. 12x12" stretched canvas. Acrylic paint. Yummy art.

Peppermint Pattie Painting

Fourth in my candy paintings. One of my favorite candies--cool, dark, and low calories and fat too! One square foot, acrylic paint...exhibiting in my living room.

IDK why, but this site is automatically turning up the contrast on this photo, so it's not accurate. Very frustrating because it is making the background look like a mess when it's really smoother and darker in real life...

Tootsie Roll

Another candy painting. I'm learning how much I love the painting part and not the drawing part of art. I am doubtful of my representing the light and shadows accurately. But I just bought a book on Amazon that should help (Color and Light by John Gurney). Until then, this will have to do. But I do like it. I plan to do at least one more candy and hang them all together. So far there's a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, a Snickers, and this Tootsie Roll. Next I will do either a Peppermint Patty or a KitKat.

Some of the steps in making this painting:

More Valentine's cards

Cards made from photos I took today.

Valentine's card designs

A couple photos made into cards designs with Picasa 3 software. Used focal BW, increased shadows, cropped to 5x7 ratio, applied orton effect and/or hdr effect,  and saturated the color...not in that order.

Snickers

Snickers Fun Size Candy Bar painted on a 12" square strecthed canvas with acrylic paint. This was pretty easy. No problems at all. Except for my lack of motivation and confidence. Once I ignore that, it's really easy. I love doing these candy and food still lifes. Trying to make a lot of them and maybe sell them later this year. Meanwhile it's fun.

FINAL

Donuts 2

I always wanted to do a "painting a day." Well I finally sped it up and did this one in 2 days! It is one square foot, acrylic on stretched canvas. I took me approximately 4 or 5 hours. Getting better at my painter's block. I'm counting calories now and this painting makes my mouth water. It is based on a  photo I took months ago of donuts inside the box. Coconut, a plain, a jelly, and my favorite--a chocolate covered white cream-filled.

It matches one I did a few months ago, as seen below.