Pelican Perch

 

This watercolor was painted as a demo for my class. The focus was on texture. Creating a weather wood effect takes practice and learning how to make your brush behave. Just the right amount of paint is needed to get the stippling result needed to mimic woodgrain. Too much paint and it flows, too little and nothing happens. Just right and the paint just touches the uneven bumps in the paper and leaves a sparkly effect.

Watercolor 9x12 $175
email sferina222@yahoo.com

House of Refuge frrom the South

 

The House of Refuge is a local historic building built to help the survivors of shipwrecks. It is located by an underwater reef just off a barrier island. There were many catastrophes due to this hidden peril. Survivors would swim to shore and then be stranded without food or water, nor a means to reach the mainland. In current day it is an active museum. The surroundings are breathtaking. The ocean crashes, the wind blows and you get a feel for the isolation that occurred before it was built.

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House of Refuge from the North

 

The House of Refuge located on Hutchinson Island in Stuart FL is over 100 years old. It was built to rescue survivors of shipwrecks who would reach shore and be stranded. Without food or water nor a means to reach the mainland, many perished. The guardian of the house would be in charge of the shoreline for 25 miles in each direction. It was a lonely life. Mosquitoes abounded, it was hot, humid and very isolated. Boat was the only means of transportation to leave the island at that time. This was painted from photos I took on site.

Watercolor 9x12 $200
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Twinkle Toes

 

I found the reference for this painting in the newspaper. The toe dancing young lady's part was in the "Nutcracker" and I felt she looked so graceful. I learned a lesson about masking fluid from this work. Never put it on the paper if the paper is wet! When you try to remove it, the top layer of the paper lifts up. So, of course it was the last thing I did and the painting was rendered unsaleable. Never one to be discouraged I finished it and had notecards made.

Sunday Options, Pray or Play?

 

This particular painting was done in response to an exhibit requesting reflections of Florida. This church was just named to the list of historical buildings in the area. It's over 100 years old and is still in use as a church. One day as I drove past it I saw the boat and trailer parked close. It just clicked in my mind that this is how it is in Florida. Workmen take breaks to fish if they are working near a pond and it's accepted as the norm. I can just see someone dashing into church for a short spell and then hitching up to go fishing for the day.

Watercolor 18x24 $350
email sferina222@yahoo.com

For Cheyenne

 

This painting was done when I first began to do watercolors. My granddaughter Cheyenne was turning two, she will soon be thirteen! Anyhow, sometimes it's good to look back to the beginnings of something. This is a painting I feel good about. Trust me, there are some that show a novice at work, very basic stuff. Those have the ability to make me see how far I've progressed and so, have a purpose too.

Fireworks

 

This is how to create a floral design by starting with just drops of water on the top half of the paper. Then begin dripping colorful paints onto the paper letting it run together a bit. This is about the only control you have, choosing the colors. Add a container, pot or vase to hold the flowers. Then some greens for leaves and stems to complete your painting. Voila!

Watercolor 8 x 11 $115
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Spring Illumination

 

Tulips continue to be one of my favorite flowers and also continue to be a challenge to portray. I visited tulip fields in southern Washington state that were just magnificent. Color, bright color everywhere! Fields of different colors and varieties of tulips on all sides. I find it very uplifting to visit all kinds of gardens. That day I was able to take photos of my grandkids 'posing with the tulips' and they are definitely treasured.

Watercolor 9x12 $110
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Crashing Waves

 

Painting this watercolor took many washes of several different colors of blue to produce the threatening sky and moving water. The white foam is nothing more than the paper without paint. It's tricky to preserve the white paper while using so many glazes of paint but essential to produce the necessary effect. Masking fluid can protect the paper but leaves a hard edge while white paint is opaque and doesn't provide the transparency that makes a watercolor so appealing. Let it happen!

Watercolor 9x12 $175
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Village Street in Italy

 

This painting was developed from a photo taken by my student Sandy. It's a village on an island located near Venice.
Very typical of many little towns and villages throughout Italy with their narrow streets, cobblestone or slate paving and wash, always wash hanging across the way. No one seems to care is you can see their underwear hanging in plain view. It's just the way.

Watercolor 9x12 $145
email sferina222@yahoo.com