Catching up with you

Hi everyone,  I found  I love drawing with a gel pen in my sketchbook. I haven't  put any color on it but it was fun. Sadie is doing  fine. She is our Labrador retriever and I had a true night of terror when she got a leather chewy  2 in square caught in her throat.  I stuck my finger way down her throat and pulled it out ...was afraid  more was stuck but didn't  find more and watched her the rest of the night.  She curled in my lap all 82 lbs and stayed there. Oh boy you know how much I love her, I truly was afraid. I have been working  on a commission and I had to paint  an owl, I enjoyed painting  her. John and I have been painting  the walls in the den today. Glad that is over. I hope you all are doing great we did get 10 inches of rain before the hurricane but very little storm. So very  sorry for the Carolinas.  Love to EACH of you,Diana ps this SAT. I teach at Norfolk Botanical Garden.  Luna Moth and Ferns.

Iris Watercolor

HI, I kept going on the iris and thought this morning I'd lost them. You know what I mean when it hits the point that you say -- ah phooey I over worked it. But I decided to push the thalo blue negatives and I think I'm finished. I'll let it dry and prop it up and look at if for a couple of days. Tell me what you think.. Hope you are staying warm, love, Diana --It's in the 20's here! BRrr...

TONITE would be a great night here in Va. to freeze our washes outside.. watercolor washes that is.. try it and let me know. !!!

Owl Painting ---Little Foot

Little Foot,8x10,$99

Watercolor in progress

HI, Well I put another glaze on my little owl background when I got home from church. I'm sure you can see it's still drying. I hope that will be dark enough. He's a young owl, a burrowing owl,I believe. I put a rusty metal beam in this as well. Love how the colors bled into each other.. I love to paint owls. I need to get busy and do some new bigger pieces but am not sure what I want to do. :)

 Here are the iris that I started at the paint out. These were in a large bouquet of mixed flowers Susan had fixed for us. My eyes only saw the iris.. It's not finished-- I'm just going to look at it for a few days.. and see what it needs. Any suggestions.. What are you doing this weekend?  Any painting? love,Diana

Owl in Progress

HI, I've painted some today. I put in the background behind the owl using thalo blue, sepia, and ultramarine blue. I looked at the way I had the vine and decided to cut it down a little so I did. I also painted around the vines to the right and am going to make it darker behind the little fellow too,so he stands out. I'm making the leaf bigger that is in front of the wood and still have to figure out how much to do with the wood. Plenty to do on this. I like the blues and quinacrodone burnt orange together so much. Hope you got to paint leisurely today. talk to you soon,Diana

I'd love to hear your comments! Thank you!

Number 2 Entry..Canna Lily and Monarch

HI, well I've started the #2 entry. Here's the beginning. I'll have another blossom of the Canna Lily,smaller than the first opposite the Monarch Butterfly.  I'm going to put some leaves in too and am leaning toward the purplish kind with some negative painting to pull them out. I like the pour and want to use that plus I love negative painting! The paintings are due Thursday am..all framed.Sooo I'm going to have to frame both too...I've painted all afternoon and really enjoyed it. Let me know what you think about the leaves in the left hand bottom corner. I don't have to put them in.. anyway. Hope you are having a restful Sunday, talk to you soon, Diana

Cosmos in Watercolor with Masa Technique

HI, Here's my new Cosmos Flowers Watercolor on Masa. It's 8x10. I"ve just finished it the morning. I planted some in my garden. Mama gave me some seed. She has them in her garden and it also used to be one of Gran's favorite flowers. I've painted off and on this weekend as we had company. Our son came home.He just left to go back home. I miss him already. My daughter's in Illinois.. so I haven't seen her in awhile.. miss her too.

Well this week I've got framing to do and a show this Saturday in Onancock at the Harborfest..take care, and enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend. Labor Day here in the USA...love to all,Diana

Painting Pigs

HI, I'm getting ready for another show... Cape Charles Tomato Festival Mason Avenue Art Walk. Check it out in the top right hand of the blog! It's a nice juried show with approximately 40 local artists.

Pictured is the beginning of my new pig painting. I love to paint pigs! These pigs are from a dear photo from my friend Dorothy at The Frog and Penguin Blog.. Check them out at www.thefrogandpenguinn.blogspot.com.(She gave me her permission to use the pig photos--thank you Dorothy!) I 'm going to work on this painting today. The value sketch is above it-- showing I 'll add some dark blue to surround some of the pig.. Hope to have this finished and framed for the show.. take care and have a great weekend, the weather here is perfect for painting outside so I will be!! talk soon, Diana