Saturday, January 4, 2014

Where's Waldo ???

















The question is which one of these photos is not me?

Friday, January 3, 2014

Watercolor Portrait Sequences








 These are two 11X15 inch watercolor studies on 140 lb. Arches cold press painted from a reference photo of one of my Sacramento City College students. I had no specific plan in mind except to play and keep the portrait as bold and lively as possible. I sometimes will take off paint and put paint back on again. I use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser most of the time for that purpose. I do not mix more than two or three colors together for a wash, and I make sure that I keep my over all value contrast strong. The greeny study shows some nice dry brush strokes in his glasses. Parts of the studies were done with nice juicy wet-on-dry washes and others with juicy wet-on-wet washes. If you have any questions or remarks, I will be happy to address them..




Friday, December 20, 2013

Recent Developments






I have just been notified that I have passed the first round of a three round judging process for the World Watercolor Competition under the auspices of the French magazine "The World of Watercolour". I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one. Meanwhile, here are three small 11X14 inch watercolor studies that I have just completed. They were all painted on Arches 140lb. cold press paper. The female subject is my fifth study . . . just can't get enough practice! Oh, and one more thing dear readers . . . HAVE A ROLLICKING GOOD AND PROSPEROUS 2014!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

WOW!!!! It has been awhile since I posted!




Not only have I been very busy with my California art workshops but also with my teaching at Sacramento City College. I'm teaching an art history class this semester, and that just eats ups tons of my time. Next semester, I will be back to only art studio classes . . . way better! Meanwhile I have just finished an interview via email and Dropbox with an editor of "Pratique des Art", a French art magazine. I am very honored and excited about this. Both of these portraits plus some more, I hope, will be in the magazine's January, 2014 issue devoted to portrait painting. Pratique des Art discovered my work through my relatively new website. Check my site by clicking here.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Building Armando




I have always liked "unfinished" paintings like the top image. This top image is the start of "Amando". In the second image, I continued to paint in color and eat into my initial "unfinished" look. The third image is now totally painted in and of course no longer has an unfinished look. My final stage will include some jazzy colored conte crayon line work. I shall post the finished watercolor soon. Dear reader - what is your opinion on this painting? Would love to hear from you.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Remembrance


Just completed watercolor of a retired ballerina. Painted on a funky sheet of Strathmore 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper, but it worked!!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Putting on the Face

One of my A+ art students at City College who is not at all embarrassed about putting on some faces. She is one of my fav. models for that attitude! This was watercolored on a half sheet, 140lb., cold press watercolor paper and painted with a verve to match her pose.