A little side trip (so to speak)

Have been taking a little respite from current projects with some 3" x 3" scratch board pieces. I like what's coming out but have been unsuccessful with the thick resin finish I prefer. Will keep working on this. 

In the meantime, I have info on the various qualities of several high gloss finishes…

"American Empress Steamboat Cards"

New "American Empress Steamboat" watercolor cards

with Washington State trivia on the back.

The Boat will be returning in March.

There are 3 of 20 I need painted for my card rack

that will be in the gift shop.

I decided to do a different card than 2015, this has

trivia on back.

There are usually 300 passengers from all over the

country that take that cruse from Clarkson to Portland

and back around all summer.

The Boat docks at the Richland Howard Amon Park

each week and the passengers get special trips to

the various places during the day or just walk around

our park.  The saw my cards at Allied Art Gallery and

that is how I got in the Boat gift shop.

Gail Roadhouse

full time artist / instructor

#USkTC urban sketcher

 

Progressing slowly

I am working slowly with this one, and not sure whether they look like bubbles. Well if they don't, at least I tried, and I have just come up with another idea waiting to be tested....just for fun.

Working on the cat

This is the result from the first wash, all in one go. I was unhappy with it yesterday, but it somehow improved itself when dried completely...this is the magic with watercolors. I find the color a bit too cool; will add some warmth somewhere.

What's New With Painter Girl? [day 13]

I've been lurking in the wings this year. Though this is my first post this year, I have been diligently painting daily with paint under my fingernails and even on my pajamas to show for it. Here's a quick showcase of my 13 finished paintings to date, in a grid format from my cool Layout app. Some of these images are just snippets of the actual painting. The full sized images are represented on my blog: http://ldgablepainter.faso.com/blog. Most are small (about 6x8) with 8x10 as the maximum size.

I'm also participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. She hosts it every January, encouraging the masses to paint or draw daily (just like Bobi encourages us to do something creative daily). She hosts a regular podcast on AHA (Artists Helping Artists) Radio, so reaches a lot of people. http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/blog

I know our blog here has a good many viewers from looking at the page stats (with 50-100 views per day), even though we don't get as many participants. Here you can learn in depth, the process that goes on behind and inside the creating. Encourage your fellow artists to participate and follow along. And I'm enjoying what each of you are also creating in your own studios. It's great fun.

Urban Sketcher outing "The Buckle"

Wednesday mornings are set aside for my morning Urban Sketchers.

#USkTC.

Today we met at The Columbia Center Mall Food Court then branched out.

I sketched the window of The Buckle.

Gail Roadhouse

full time artist / instructor

Urban Sketcher and member of

The Mid Columbia Watercolor Society.

The Urban Sketchers are showing with David Wyatt The

month of February at Allied Art Gallery.

Princeton synthetic sable one stroke brushes

My progress with the cat and bubbles are at the stage that probably no one'd care to see, including myself. I needed to do something different, so I played with the new brushes I recently bought.

I love those Princeton stroke brushes our teacher got for us when we first started with watercolors; they carry water and color well, and they are easy to handle. I use them all the time. After seven years, they are in a sad shape; time to get replacement.

I found Robert Simmons Sapphire stroke brushes at the local Hobby Lobby store, and absolutely love them, especially the 1/2" one.(the 1/4" one does not hold up as well) but I want a larger size that the store does not carry. I looked up online for it.

I did not find Robert Simmons Sapphire stroke brushes, but I found Princeton synthetic sable stroke brushes with the larger size, so I placed an order for them.

I was disappointed when saw them, They are so thin compared with the old ones, that I doubt their water / color carrying ability.  I tested them on the pages of a watercolor sketchbook, and found them alright, not as good, but alright. Because they are thinner with less hair, it's easier to get sharper edges.

I am still looking for better stroke brushes though.

more bubbles

I am trying to do better bubbles, and with different approaches. I masked them when I did the background, now I will paint them one by one. The bubbles I did for previous postings were all fast...with the background brushed into bubbles in one go, which was fun, but I did not like those hard rings. I will see how this painting turns out.

Pugs progress

Getting close to done.  Now to balance everything to move the viewer's eye through the painting. 

Day 11

Interesting that I feel that these 2 are done.  I felt very wise with the last 2 thinking I would get back to them after a few days doing something else.  Now, who's wise?  I am packing up my things (sigh) because I am moving on Wednesday but will get back to this as soon as I possibly can...

"Sweet Dream"

"Sweet Dream"

16x20 watercolor and iridescent paint

on arches 140# with sharpie.

Gail Roadhouse

full time artist / instructor

urban sketcher

 

Getting started with the cat

I was thinking about ways to approach this painting, and debating with myself whether to mask, because I'd love to have a softer look for my cat. I did a small test run on a 6 X 6 paper, and decided to mask a little.

Day 10

So close.  I wanted to make one of these so much more subtle but pushed it further than I had planned.  I really like the light colors but wanted less...

my very first try on a cat

My daughter sent me a photo of her blue cat long ago, I've sketched it, but never dared to paint it. As for this month's challenge, I am going to try. Now the scary part will begin.

" Wish Me Luck Sunday"

"WISH ME LUCK"

Sunday Lord of Life Lutheran children will be getting a demonstration from me.

I am going to show them how to paint hearts in watercolor.

The age group is 6- high school and it is aprox. 45 minutes.

I got student grade watercolor paper and a 21 color palette that will similar

to beginner level palette.   The drawing is done in pencil with various cookie cuter shapes and then out lined in sharpie.  After sharpie out line dries we erase the pencil drawing.  The brushes are plastic handled and can take a lot of washing.  I have used them for several summers at various summer workshops.  At the end they will write a prayer over the painting or maybe along the edge of the painting.

I am really happy I don't have to use this watercolor palette.

It is very chalky but it will be fine for the kids.

Gail Roadhouse

full time artist / instructor

urbansketcher 

what to do with these colors

I got this box of Japanese watercolor last year during my trip to Taiwan, when looking for some Chinese watercolor for Chinese brush painting, and forgot about it.

Now I have tested the colors, and they are so pretty, but what to do with them? My palette is more subdued than this, so I guess I'll have to mix them up a bit. 

Exclamation Earrings

Acquiring a relationship with my new studio is surprisingly awkward. First-date awkward.

 My hand tools ought to be on my right but they fit best on the left.  I can't find a tape measure. 

The soldering station has a different orientation.  There are no windows. 

 Today's makings from misc scraps

Copper w/sterling ear wires

Day 8

Didn't post yesterday (sorry) so this is the second day on these 2 new ones.  The more I do these, the more I am aware of color, light and shadow and the MIRIAD of combinations.  I love that I HAVE to make very few strokes (thoughtful strokes) before I must stop and let them dry completely.  It keeps the color so true.  Patience & thoughtfulness - almost like a New Year's Resolution.

masking fluid, revisited

I was not happy when my new Daniel Smith masking fluid did not work as it should. I decided to twist open the cap and check... it has dried. (I wonder there should be some thing like expiration date for us to save money and trouble) I added some water and stirred, and it did not mix well, so it was useless.

Unhappy with the wasted money and time, I was about to throw it away when an idea occurred to me....maybe I could pour my trusted Winsor Newton masking fluid into the bottle and try it. I emptied the bottle, cleaned it, then added some WN masking fluid, replaced the cap, and added the applicator... I am a very happy girl!!!! Now I have a really nice tool for applying masking fluid.

Today I...

Started a business,
perhaps finally understand the difference between domain name, server and host (no, not really)
- and that they each cost me $$ and renewals kind of pop up out of nowhere,
Spent a nice hour on help line with Chris addressing above,
received a credit,
Printed things I have no idea where/how to file
purged my home of numerous unneeded things,
taught a yoga class,
downloaded a new health/exercise program, (what was I thinking!)
made dinner, bank transfers, 3 shopping stops, brushed my teeth, showered, squeezed the menfolk in my house, joined a new fb group, downloaded manuals,
picked up a "find" from Buy Nothing Tri-Cities friend (cool thing, look into it)
took a nap
troubleshot blog
took out the garbage
sent invitations to an event
wrote/answered emails
have yet to "zero out" my emails - ever - but whittled it some
Claimed this as 'creative writing' for Art-a-Day

Okay - that was kind of whiny and lame so I brainstormed more hearts.