Three Small Dahlias

Here I am ... I've finally found myself. I've been in a whirl of ordering materials for my upcoming Journaling class, designing and frame sizing for five pieces for the May Floral Show and, oh yes, don't forget our new "going to the gym" committment three times a week.

But in between all that good stuff, I have been working up value studies for three 5 x 7 inch Dahlia pieces that will fit in the same frame as the BIG Dahlia piece I've already started (yes, the one you've seen some progress upon). So here are the three lil' gems. I got so involved with the rich value studies - they took over a day and a half. Now, I will go to tracing the images to watercolor paper and begin painting.

It's a good time to have lots of projects to work on ... the days can't make up their mind as to whether they are in "Spring" or "Winter". So the more inside activities I have - the happier is my creative "kid" within. And tonight I venture off to a meeting re-creating Open Studios here in the Rogue Valley with the new and thriving Ashland Artisan Gallery and Art Center. It's an exciting prospect where the artists create the Open Studios themselves.

So, life is good and ever reinventing itself. Keep those creative juices flowing!

Stage Two

I'm plugging along with my Dahlia painting ... she's coming along nicely, I'd say. Had several distractions over the weekend but, this week has given me some quiet hours to paint - my favorite kind. I'm comfortable with the colors but, not satisfied completely with the values. But I've learned to work up the entire image and then, areas will balance themselves and change according to what is next to them. Definitely, an exercise in patience and trusting the process.

Bigger Project

I have been missing ... but, I have been progressing with a bigger project. I'm preparing for a show in May with a floral theme - and I'm excited. Looking at reference material of my endless files of flowers has me drooling. How can I select which of these to paint? I love them ALL! Ok, I'm wanting to make these images BIG - well, at least full sheet Watercolor paper (22 x 30 inches). And I'm thinking of "graphic & abstract" rather than "actual portrait", so only a few flowers lend themselves to that visual.

I've chosen a Dinner Plate Dahlia from my neighbor's garden and have designed it to be 21 x 27 inches. Here you can see the 'start' with design sketched and liquid frisquet applied to all areas I what to save as 'white'. I've determined a few glowing yellow areas and dropped in some color to remind me to keep them 'pure'. Which means not to pollute with pigments that would dull the yellow. So, you can see I've not been idol.

But, these big paintings also sadden me cuz I have difficulty keeping my journal currant at the same time. So my daily musings will have to store up - and I do shoot photos or make quick sketches of things into my journal, knowing special things I DO want to write/paint about later. For now ... I'm off, so to speak, to bigger, and hopefully wonderful things!