Start with the background...In this painting, I bagan with the lighter colors. Using sunshine yellow, a dab of orange, a hint of purple, white and ivory, I started in the middle of the canvas bringing my light colors across to create the morning sky. Next, using a deep blue mixed with a drop of black and starting from the outter top corners of the canvas, I brought those colors inward, towards the center. Then I used a lighter blue mixed with a drop of deep blue and began in the middle of the top part of the sky bringing them out to mix and mingle with the deep blue and black mixture. I used this technique of blues and black for the bottom as well, which brings the lighter part of the sky to life. Once this part of the background is set, take a thin brush and underneath the top sky of blue, one the yellow, place a thin line of white. This will separate the sky (yellow & top portion of the blue sky) even though they are part of the same sky and make the top darker part of the sky come forward. Then...on the bottom of the yellow part of our sky I used a black to create the tree-line. Doing this, it tricks the eye and sets our land. Stay tuned for more on this painting as we attempt to paint it step by step.

Ladder by the Apple Tree

Background first! In this painting, I used a sponge to create the background trees by lightly dabbing the sponge in several shades of green, using ivory highlights. Then, to create the tree trucks I used a thin brush with black mixed with brown and then again highlighted with ivory. If you have ever looked in to a clump of trees, branches, limbs, twigs and tree trucks are everywhere! I like painting trees because they are never wrong. This painting is of a picture I take of the same area three times a year. The ladder by the tree is in my yard and has been for fourteen years...why, I am not sure, but everytime I snap that picture, it still looks beautiful.

Simple Pleasures

In this painting, I used my three-step bush technique. (found in detail on my blog) As you can see, this is not only a great space filler, it also adds depth to any painting by adjusting the size and finally, adding the highlights and shading. My three-step bushes work wonders when you need to add or cover up that mistake...or when you just don't know what to put in that spot. For the rocks I used a gray, using a mixture of black and white, this way, gray shades can be controled. Remember, rocks are everywhere in all shapes, sizes and colors. Adding highlights and shading again give them depth and can add to the effect and shape. Simple things

in your art work can make it look great, and as I always say...there is no judging of art and in nature or landscape works...nothing is out of place or wrong, they are exactly where nature intended them to be.

Paintings from the window...

Welcome! This painting is a picture I took out my bathroom window one wintery morning. Sometimes ideas and inspirations come from the strangest of places, so snap that picture and paint it! The ridges on the bottom of the canvas is...from recylcing an old painting and turning it in to a work of art once more. I always reuse my canvas'. Painting them black or even white covers up the old and makes way for the new! Also...I think the ridges give it character and definition. In art, there is no wrong or right, there is no bad or good, it all depends on your own personal taste, likes and dislikes. Just like people, some look good from far away!