Through the Shutters

 

This painting is a demonstration piece for my watercolor class. I found it very engaging to be painting a view from inside to outside. It's like looking at something from the safety of your home, a very comfortable feeling. Some of my students were very new to the media and a bit intimidated by the apparent complexity of this piece. In the end they were quite pleased by the ease with which they were able to replicate it. I liked it so much I chose to do another with a tropical view through the shutters.

Watercolor 9x12 $155
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Gentle Ben

 

I usually ask my students what they would like to paint the following week. Sometimes I get a surprise, like when one student asked if we could do tigers! Somehow when I paint animals or birds they wind up with a personality and I have to give them a name. This big fellow looks quite meek and harmless and has an appealing look in his eyes, hence the name Gentle Ben.

Watercolor 9x12 $135
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Replica of John Singer Sargent's Cottage

 

If you ever want to look at an enchanting watercolor book, try the Watercolors of John Singer Sargent. I took it out of the library but found his work so captivating that I just had to buy it for myself. It's on order right now. My class painted this picture to learn about shadows. Aren't these shadows just so great? And what you're looking at is is my painting, a copy. His, the original, is absolutely amazing.

Watercolor 9x12 $120
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Rose Bright

 

This is not my compostion. I found it in a watercolor book and decided my class would enjoy the simple, straightforward way it is designed. It can be painted petal by petal until completed. The lesson was actually on 'backgrounds' which are always challenging. Do I paint the object first, or the background? That is a question I am asked over an over. The answer depends on the subject matter, how you feel that day and what you decide to do!

Watercolor 9x12 $175
email sferina222@yahoo.com

In Memory of Jean

 

This painting was originally done by Philip Steele and sent to me as a postcard. I decided it would be a good lesson in values for my class. One of my students was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given a short time to live. This happened very suddenly. Her name was Jean and she came to class that day to say good-bye to all of us. She sat next to me as I painted. When I demonstrated how to do lettering I got a sudden inspiration to put her name on the boat.
I have since given the painting to her son. We all miss her.
I recently learned that the painting is hanging on her son's boat. Seems just right.

Enjoying the Surf

 

Once again my painting is a demo that was done to show a technique to my students. In this case the object was to show how easy it is to depict people in the distance. It's merely a dot of paint for the head, a longer one for the body, then arms and lets. It helps to make your people have motion, it adds to the energy of the painting. This connects with the majesty of the ocean and gives a nice feeling to the work.

Watercolor 9x12 $115
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Lovely Lilacs

 

I still remember the first time I painted lilacs. They wound up looking like rockets flying up out of the vase! They need to be soft looking due to the multiple tiny flowers that compose each blossom. It's easy to overpaint and wind up with hard looking flowers. I'm happy with this version that was demonstrated for my watercolor class.

Watercolor $65 9x12
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Sea Turtle

 

Jensen Beach FL, where I live is well known as a spot where sea turtles lay their eggs. The turtles swim to shore, walk up the beach to dig holes to protect their young. When the eggs hatch the little turtles know enough to head immediately to the sea. Groups of people monitor this process and watch to see that electric light is shielded to ensure the proper growth of the hatchlings. It is very fitting that my watercolor class painted the symbol of our area.

Watercolor 9x12 $90
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Pineapolis

 

This was painted during my phase of using bubble wrap, saran, wax paper, foil etc to make imprints on paper. I've constantly worked to loosen up and be painterly about my watercolors. This is one way to create representational abstracts, meaning you can detect the images created and identify the subject matter. This painting is like a city of pineapples, like Minneapolis, Indianapolis..........

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