Leafy Reflections

 

A very simple painting, done to demonstrate watercolor techniques on how to paint glass. Realizing that you start with a flat, white piece of paper may make you understand that this is indeed challenging. Showing the stems of the foliage under water requires some distortion at the waterline to make them appear natural. Pay attention to the reflections on the glass because they help create the necessary transparency.

Watercolor 6x8 $65
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Swiss Alps, St. Moritz

 

On a trip to Switzerland we stayed in St. Moritz for a few days. It was early June but as we drove over a mountain pass to Gstaad we experienced a mini snow storm. Totally unexpected for the time of year! This view of the Alps was right outside our hotel window. I had purchased some hand-made brushes in Nice, France and wanted to try them out. The compostion is not the best but it is what was visible from our tiny balcony. These mountains are both imposing and formidable. I tried to capture the fearsome aspect of their immense height and the total dominance of the landscape.

Watercolor 22x30 $350
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Birdsong

 

Once again I am treating you to a painting done long ago when I first began to paint. I love little birds and enjoy watching them in action. They are so free and seem not to be concerned with a thing. Maybe this is attractive because us humans have lots of concerns and sometimes they are burdensome? Birds sing as dawn breaks and if we hear their joyful song, it can uplift us for the day.

Watercolor 7x10 $55
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Autumn Drama

 

Another unusual piece that started with pouring, layering and dripping art materials on paper. Inks, gels, acrylics & gesso are some of the things used to complete this composition. I think of it as "Halloween Flowers" because it's a bit scary and of course, the orange and black coloration. These abstracts take a lot of imagination to finish. Believe it or not!

Mixed Media 14x18 $250
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Fresh Fruit

 

This was painted about 10 years ago, when I first started taking lessons. I signed up for classes at the local Art League and learned techniques from an excellent artist, Steve Lampasona. Another new artist and I would get together at our homes and paint about once a month. We'd set up a still life, or drape scarves or work from magazine photos to give us inspiration or subject matter. I was pretty pleased with the peach in this composition of real fruit.

Not for sale

Cowboy Blues

 

This painting is a departure from my usual representational work. It's a mixed media piece created with inks, gels and acrylic paint. The start was sticky paper in various sizes placed randomly on the paper. Paint was added in harmonious colors. When dry the spaces were uncovered revealing unique patterns. I united the spaces with outlines of black paint. Looks like horseshoes and broken cowboy boots. No wonder the cowboy has the blues!

Mixed media 22x30 $400
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Alba Wine Region, Italy

 

When I saw this medieval manor house I had to take a photo, knowing I would be painting this scene. The Alba region of Northern Italy is very scenic. Roads in that area straddle the high ridges of the mountains. It is possible to see wide vistas of vineyards on both sides of the road, sweeping to the valley floor like an undulating green carpet. Amazing. Ancient walled cities sit on top of mountains, totally surrounded by the growing vines. The wines are delicious: Arneis (white) Barolo, Barberesco, Barbera (reds). Asti, a sparking variety, comes from this region too.

Watercolor 9x12 $99
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Keen

 

The word 'keen' always brings sharpness to my mind. Since this painting embodies pointed edges it seems like the best title. When I trim my garden plants I bring the leaves, twigs, flowers and rose hips to my studio desk. Using an imprinting technique I create bouquets of these cuttings, continuing until I see an integrated grouping. I then add a container to pull it all together. There is life and energy in the completed painting that I don't see in other works I do with a brush.

Watercolor 12x16 $195
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Magenta Lillies

 

One of my students asked to paint lilies during a watercolor classes. It is one of the harder flowers to replicate. This is my rendition of a bunch of these flowers. I chose magenta as the dominant color which pairs well with greens. Magenta is one of my favorite colors and is used in decorating my house. When I was a youngster I colored with the 'red violet' crayon until it became smaller than a nub. I would pair it with chartruse and turquoise when I colored in coloring books. Kind of a wild combination but one that appealed to me.

Watercolor 6x8 $40
Email sferina222@yahoo.com

Caleigh

 

This is my 11th grandchild, just a year old now. Caleigh is a sweet girl who is good-natured and happy. She talks all day long, baby talk of course but the happy kind with a smile on her face. The technique used to do this painting is called batik and it's done on rice paper. Hot melted wax is applied, layer by layer, until the whole paper is coated. In between watercolor paint is added until a satisfactory finish is achieved. The wax is then cracked off by crushing the paper. Black paint is aplied in an even coating. The excess is blotted with paper towels. The final step is to iron off the residual wax between layers of newspaper.

Not for sale

View From Ravello

 

I painted this while sitting on an ancient stone wall in Ravello, Italy, feet hanging, with a big drop beneath me. The view was just breathtaking. The village was clinging to the hillside, surrounded by stepped vineyards and a sweeping panorama of mountains. This area is along the Amalfi coast. A lesson had been booked for me and surprise, it was with Leo Kennedy, an Irish painter living there at the time. The good thing was that there was no language barrier. The rest of our group took a cooking lesson so we all ate scrumptious food together at the end of the day. Very special time.

Not for sale

Mrs. Cardinal

 

This Cardinal is a pair with the male, the red bird. It is very sweet to see these mates, together hunting for food, probably bringing it back to the nest for the babies. Their song is distinctive and once you recognize it there is no mistaking it. Nature provides the quieter coloring for the females and young giving them more safety by not being so noticeable. Even here in Florida we have Cardinals and being a small bird lover, it makes me happy to see them.

Not for sale

Cardinal

 

One day I asked my sister-in-law Patty what she would like me to paint for her. She said she thinks about her mother whenever she sees a cardinal outside the window and would enjoy a painting of one. The reason is because immediately following her mother's passing, a cardinal was pecking on window constantly like it was trying to get inside. This is my gift to her. She is a very loving person, one that I'm glad is in my life.

Not for sale