Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
Painting # 1 "Lakeside Pier" Image taken at Centennial Park in Orland Park, IL. Spring 2011. Pier and House will be shifted to the left a bit (so not to be in the center) and we'll add leaves to the trees in front. Painting #2 "Woodland Bridge" Image taken at The Center in Palos Heights, … Continue reading You Pick. Which one will be the next step by step painting?
Last month at the art fair, my hubby had the chance to take a picture of a great horned owl that was being displayed by a naturalist. How beautiful and majestic! Let's have some fun by trying something new.... We are going to paint the owl on velour paper. Velour paper feels like suede and … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Great Horned Owl!
Do you remember my hike at Bullfrog Lake after an intense but brief storm? Well, one tree in particular caught my eye. It is a tree which possesses such character, that it stops you dead in your tracts. It catches you staring at it for several minutes straight, like a bad behavior...but it doesn't mind, for it … Continue reading Let’s Paint Storm Over Autumn Tree!
This post and painting is dedicated to my beloved friend and artist companion, Sharon, who was taken away too early in life today, 07-26-2010. She always encouraged me in my art adventures and was one of my best cheerleaders. Sharon also had incredible talent in art but had trouble finding time to settle down and … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Butterfly
Yesterday I visited Papoose Lake in Palos Park, IL., part of Cook County's protected Forest Preserves. I fell in love with a scene just across the lake; a water spout and an elm tree. Can you just imagine all of the peoples past, that went to this spout for relief under that beautiful old tree? It … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Summer Tree!
One of my all-time favorite wildflower is the Woodland Phlox. In many photos you usually see this plant as a blue cluster, however the ones I see in the woods are purple not blue. Here is my reference photo: Isn't it a beauty? OK here we go, let's capture this wildflower in watercolors... Step … Continue reading Let’s Paint Woodland Phlox!
While hiking I found the greatest feather ever! From tip to tip it is 13 inches...wow that's HUGE! So let's make a watercolor painting so we can remember this feather forever... Here is the reference photo. I had to tape the feather down because it wanted to lay on its side. Isn't it a beauty? … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Hawk Feather!
This is going to be a step-by-step demonstration on how to do a watercolor sketch. Sketches are quicker and looser than paintings. It's great to make a sketch when you just want to get the main idea down without a ton of detail. You can easily take your watercolor journal and watercolor paints on the trail … Continue reading Let’s Paint a Spring Trail!
Oh BOY! Do you remember the other day when I had a tiny little chickadee visitor at my feeder? I love him so much that I want to try to capture his uplifting acrobatic personality right on watercolor paper! Here we go, let's make a watercolor painting of the black-capped chickadee on cold press watercolor paper... Step 1: I am … Continue reading Let’s Paint the Chickadee!
I'm so excited for autumn (my favorite season), that this next painting came right out of my head. OK, this one is easy for everyone, I promise! You can do this watercolor painting, no problem, just in time for the harvest too... Step 1: Make a rough sketch on watercolor paper with your pencil. This … Continue reading Let’s Paint the Harvest Moon Kitty!
