Secluded Beach

 

Sometimes I start a painting wet in to wet with a sky, in this case a mingled wash. At the same time the water and sandy foreground was added. After drying I let inspiration guide me into a finish. Palms of course, groundcover too. Afterwards I added a couple of folks in sand chairs with an umbrella and cooler. Last I decided it looked secluded so I added a means of reaching this private beach.

Watercolor 10x14
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Barely There

 

Painting when I travel is part of my life. It's easy to do watercolors everywhere so I always bring a travel pallette, brushes and paper. If there's some down time in a hotel or on a beach, or even in a jetplane, I paint. It is such a pleasant way to pass time and it's also productive. I did this little vase of flowers in St. Petersburg FL while on a trip to celebrate my birthday.

Not for sale

Bright Bouquet

 

This was painted on a watercolor card which is about 5 by 7 inches in size. I enjoy the uplifiting feeling I get everytime I look at it. Sooooo, it sits on my studio desk as a reminder to paint with joy and beauty and thereby bring happiness to the world.

Not for sale

John Singer Sargent's Thistles

 

Every once in a while I choose a painting from a past master to demo for my class. There is so much for us to learn from the successful artists of yesteryear. John Singer Sargent did many wonderful watercolors throughout his career as an artist. I truly appreciate his work and strive to make my work have the impact that his paintings had. He took a simple subject of 2 thistle plants and made a masterpiece out of it.

Watercolor 6x9 $110
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Inspired

 

Another in a series of grape, vine, winery inspirations. Grapes are so fascinating to me and not just because of their delicious products! I love how they grow, hidden by spring green leaves, the grapes first a whitish green and then ripening into a darker maroonish purple. These are my favorite colors. Add a bit of aqua blue as accent and it's just right. This painting says: "Sharon's favorite colors".

Watercolor on Yupo paper 9x12 $155
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Ready for Wine and More

 

This is another piece painted on Yupo paper depicting grapes. I'm facinated by them and realize it's because my parents had a grape arbor in our yard. I loved riding on a swing so my Dad hung one under the grape arbor. In the summer, as a young child I spent lots of time happily swinging to and fro in the cool shade of the grapes. Then I would watch my mother work so hard to prepare and preserve the grapes for juice and jelly. It was a messy, ardous process but we got to enjoy grape juice all winter and were able to slather homemade grape jelly on our waffles and sandwiches. Delicious.

Watercolor 9x12 $175
email sferina222@ yahoo.com

Napa Valley Winery

 

This is a mineature painting, only about 2 inches by 3 inches in size. It's very detailed and captures the essence of the beautiful Napa Valley. I know that I repeat myself but the very 'air' is different there. So soft and peaceful and fragrant! A delight to the senses, a chance to treat your eyes to beautiful scenery and your pallette to delicious tastes of local wine. If you have the chance, go.

Watercolor 2x3 $75
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Waterfall

 

This is my first and possibly, last, attempt to paint a waterfall. Duplicating moving water takes lots of creative talent and most likely, lots of practice. Perhaps I was so discouraged that I never tried another? The ducks were added to pull the eye away from the falls.

Watercolor 12x16 $150
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Hollyhock Memories

 

While I was growing up in Valley Stream, Long Island we always had a beautiful flowering garden in our backyard. There were roses, lilacs, daffodils, iris, bridal veil and always....hollyhocks. These stately perennials are really beautiful to see, tall, graceful and filled with blooms. Since my mother passed away I wanted to honor her memory by planting a hollyhock in our yard in Suffolk County. It flourished and gave me some fond memories when I looked at it. Before we moved south I took photos enabling me to have a painted memory.

Not for sale

For Me?

 

This watercolor evolved over time to become a surprised lady, maybe being given flowers? Or a gift of some kind? Done on Yupo paper it was started by putting colors down in puddles and letting them mix and mingle. When dry, I search for a clue to proceed, find meaning, emotion, and/or a feeling to complete the painting. These pieces of artwork really create themselves.

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Lilac Farm, WA state

 

The Pacific Northwest has great weather for growing flowers. I've been to tulip farms, rhododendren and rose gardens and also one stately garden that is strictly lilacs. It's not a large area. maybe several acres. It was cultivated soley by one woman who loved lilacs. At one point a flood destroyed almost all the bushes but she lovingly re-planted what she could salvage to restore her life's work. It was so beautiful with all the lilacs blooming at the same time,which was April, and the fragrance was uplifting. A nice experience.

Watercolor 10x14 $200
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Winter Wonderland

 

I went into a local thrift shop and saw 6 unframed prints for sale. The idea popped into my head to purchase them and use them for my watercolor class. They were placed face down and I asked each student to choose one at random. Sort of like a lottery. They were given the option of trading with each other if they really felt unable to paint the one they wound up with. I don't advocate copying others work except in a classroom situation. It does help students learn about compostion, color, shadows and values. This print was signed R.W. Ware and this is my rendition of his work.

Watercolor 10x14 $115
email sferina222@yahoo.com