Autumn on the River

This is one of those paintings that practically painted itself.  I started out splashing the paper with small dots of masking fluid.  Then accidentally I smeared the dots and they became lines.  Not knowing what was going to happen I let the masking fluid dry figuring something would speak to me.  Many times I've heard "Watercolor, let the medium do it.  Well, not having a choice in this case,  I wet the paper and put down complementary colors letting them flow together a bit.  When dry it seemed as if I had autumn leaves.  I added the tree trunks, saw the possibility of creating a river so added blue water.  Voila.....a finished original!

Size 6 x 8 inches

Sophia's Giraffe

In a departure from the colors of nature I painted this pink giraffe for my granddaughter Sophia's room.  She is a sweet, lively one year old who has a lovely room that is fit for a Princess.  Since giraffes happen to be my favorite animal this was a treat to do.  I feel that giraffes are elegant, majestic and appealing.  My son Chris just told me that the morning routine is for Sophia to be picked up from her crib and make a stop at the giraffe painting to just take a look.  Sure warms this grandmother's heart and then some!

Down by the Riverside

 

This painting is done on yupo paper.  This is synthetic paper that has a slick surface and does not absorb water.  The results are unpredictable because the paint moves around in an uninhibited way.  The artist has little or no control over what happens.  The flip side is that sometimes the most amazing things happen, things that you couldn't paint with a brush if you tried!  I was looking for a peaceful river scene with palms and a sandy beach.  When I studied the painting I saw a lfigure at the base of one of the palms.  I decided to emphasize this shape by creating a young girl and gave her a book to complete my  painting.

Sunshine on My Shoulders

  

This  painting was done with the techniques I learned during a 3 day workshop with Don Andrews.  He is quite famous and a very successful watercolorist.  He gave 100% of himself to the class, doing a demonstration three times a day!   It was a lot to absort but so worthwhile.  We were shown how to put figures in our landscapes which is not easy.  Learning the proportion of the human body is the first step to successfully painting a figure.  Then the special use of color, shading along with keeping the white of the paper all add to the ability to create a 'figure in landscape'. 

Late Summer Roses

 

I've been trying to perfect a technique that stretches my ability quite a bit. The idea is to not draw anything, no pencil sketch first, but just go ahead and paint the image without guidelines. I really don't know where this came from but I have to say it is challenging and I enjoy it. Using a photo from my daughter Tracy's garden and a blank piece of watercolor paper I proceeded to create this painting. It's a good feeling to just work eye to hand. I'm happy with the end results so I'll continue to pursue this goal.

Hearts and Flowers

 

This painting is a departure from my usual calm, somewhat tame watercolors. It is comprised of inks, gels, gesso and acrylic paint, still considered watermedia but giving vastly different results. There is no plan, no drawing. I just squirt, spray, pour. Then I use palette knives to texturize and create shapes. Afterwards I search for meaning. Sometimes these 'starts' hang in my studio for weeks before I get some inspiration and forge ahead. The ending is a truly unique piece. I think you'll agree!

Ring of Fire

 

This watercolor painted itself. I was sitting outside on the lanai, playing with paint, sipping a glass of wine and not paying attention to what was happening on the paper. Being surrounding by my family who were visiting from Washington state was far more important. My three granddaughters, who I call Cookie, Cupcake and Candy, were also painting which is something we always try to do when we're togther. It's enjoyable for me to see their lovely artwork and realize they must have creativity in their genes. A few days later I added the silhouette of a sailboat to complete this painting.

Delight

 

I truly love to 'throw water', add splashes of paint and work to create a painting. The learning curve includes staying away from colors that make mud, for example adding green to reds, pinks, and oranges. For the flowers I spatter either bright warm colors or vivid cool colors, then wait for the paint to dry. Studying what has 'happened' I look for shapes that I can work into flowers. Adding varied greens for stems and leaves brings the composition together. The final step is to see if some spiky dark branches will compliment the painting.

Seashore

 

Who doesn't enjoy the crisp feeling of the blue sea and white sands punctuated by waving grasses on the dunes, cries from the gulls and the sound of crashing waves? The feeling you get when you first round a dune and see the water? That is what I wanted to convey in this simple beach scene.

Sailing

 

I painted this scene completely from my imagination after spending the day sight-seeing in St. Petersburg, Florida. We drove across the state for a long weekend, a mini vacation. There was lots to see and do including a busy art sale with vendors from all over, an active pier scene and a thriving food market with lots of interesting offerings and music. We ended the day walking along the beautiful waterfront. I tried to capture the feel of the local harbor which is fronted by a beautiful park.

Grand Slam - Angel Pagan

 

A very generous artist in a nearby community decided to run a fund-raiser to benefit the local Little League teams. He secured the cooperation of 7 Treasure Coast Art Leagues and then approached the NY Mets baseball team for official photos. Artists chose from the photos and proceeded to paint large renditions of Mets players. Their time and talent along with framing costs were donated for this worthwhile cause. Almost 50 paintings were completed and auctioned off to raise money. Through the joint cooperation of the Mets management and the town of Port St. Lucies, a sizeable check was donated to the Local Little Leagues. This is my painting of Angel Pagan.

Awaiting Baby Bunting

 

This is a different version of my painting of Painted Bunting birds. This time I added lots of leaves using a paper doily. I placed the doily on the paper and painted thru the holes to create some interesting leaf shapes. Then I completely surrounded the nest and birds with a leafy canopy to create a feeling of protection. The birds are patiently awaiting their baby to hatch out of the egg. The male seems to be enjoying a short rest before he heads off for more food. Mom sit quietly, keeping her baby warm and safe.

Sunny Resting Spot

 

This is a perfect example of Mediterranean architecture. Steps, stones, ancient doorways, wrought iron trim....it all adds up to a quiet spot in a small alleyway. On the way to where? Who knows? It could be a pass thru to the town plaza, the entrance to a monastery, or perhaps even someone's home. I added the cat because it just looked like the perfect spot to catch a 'catnap'.

Sand and Shadows

 

This is the first lesson I gave at a new location, a senior living complex located in Stuart FL. The students were fairly new at doing watercolors. We imprinted the sand fence using short pieces of matboard that we trimmed as we went along. This made it easier to gain perspective and add depth as the fence diminished in size toward the water. The shadows were added the same way. Adding sea grasses, gulls, water and shadows helped to give this painting definition. Everyone did a great job and were pleased with the results.

Plein Air on the South Rim

 

It was truly an impressive experience to sit on the ground at the Grand Canyon and have the opportunity to paint plein air. Wow is all I can say. So majestic, so quiet, so inspiring.........just to view this magnificent natural wonder fills one with awe. Trying to capture the striated rock that lines the canyons top to bottom was challenging. It was difficult and while I enjoyed having this chance to paint, I was also the quintessential frustrated artist! Returning home I took a second look at what I had painted and decided it just needed definition. Using a pen I outlined the many variations in color and this is the result.

Nesting Time

 

It pleases me to paint small birds. These two are Painted Buntings. The composition came from a desire to marry the colors in the birds to the foliage for a cohesive look. I have an East Palatka Holly tree in my yard, planted to attract birds to my property. This time of year the tree fills with red berries and is quite attractive.....to me and to the birds. This foliage added the right touch along with the nest and the suggestion of future baby birds hatching. The proud parents happily await the big day.

Watercolor 12 x 16
Contact sferina222@yahoo.com

Back in the Day

 

It brings so many memories back to me, painting this old bicycle. The plain fact is, I still have my old bicycle. It is now over 25 years old and I have more than 5,000 miles on the odometer. I tried purchasing a new bike when we moved to Florida but I just didn't like how I sat. Wasn't comfortble. Got the old one refurbished instead and I happily ride it around, doing about 5 miles at a time. The painting is of an old cottage at Edenlawn in Jensen Beach and yes, the rusty old bike was leaning against the tree like it had been there for many moons!

Not for sale

Built to Last

 

The subject matter of this painting is a local House of Refuge. Well over 100 years ago the mainland of Florida and the barrier islands were not connected by bridges or causeways. The only way to traverse this water, the Indian River, was by boat. Many ships ran aground on the hidden reefs in this area of the ocean. Our government build these rescue houses, spacing them about 25 miles apart. The rangers that staffed the houses were responsible for the passengers and crew of any ships that capsized within that radius. After the rescue they would house these survivors until they could be transported to the mainland. It is such an interesting and beautiful spot on the Atlantic coast. Great for plein air painting which resulted in this rendition.

Watercolor 16x20
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Kimba

 

Once in a while one of my students will ask to do a tiger or other wild animal. This guy was painted doing lots of dry brush technique to achieve an impression of fur. When done I washed out a bit of the painting and instead of covering it I decided to leave the area as white fur. I call him "Kimba" from the white lion cartoons my kids used to watch on Saturday mornings eons ago.

Watercolor 10 x 14
email sferina222@yahoo.com

On the Beach

 

Imagine being on a pristine beach with white sugar sands..........all by yourself or with your loved ones? That is what I painted, the chance to enjoy peace and beauty undisturbed by noise, chatter or interruptions of any kind. Picture pulling up to this beach in your boat, getting ashore and then just enjoying the serenity and beauty of the water, the sand and sunshine, all in your own little world. Yay!

Watercolor 14 x 18
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Astilmaria

 

During a class I demonstrated how to use paper doilys to created a whimsical ground for painting a vase of flowers. After positioning the doily, an atomoizer is used to spray the paint on. It is a small gadget, somewhat L-shaped, that is placed in a watery solution of paint so you can blow the paint onto the surface. Other impressions can also be made this way, such as leaves . It adds another dimension to using watercolor techniques and produces a beautiful impression of lace. I chose to add a very colorful but muted background.

Watercolor 8x10
email sferina222@yahoo.com

On the Farm

 

This watercolor demo was done to show techniques giving texure to wood. Using the wrong end of a brush, an end that is rather pointy, you just draw lines and boards are formed. It has to be done carefully because once a depression is made in watercolor paper, it can't be removed! Some artists sign their work this way because of it's permanency. Using drybrush technique is a way to make wood look old and weathered. You can see how important shadows are to a painting. They give depth and reality along with perception. The farmgirl carrying a basket is the result of a mistake. Meaning I covered something up creatively!

Watercolor 12x16
email sferina222@yahoo.com

Jake

 

One of my friends, Zee, lost a pet due to advancing age and medical issues. He was a very special dog named Jake. She was heartbroken. The only way I knew to try and make things better was to offer to paint a watercolor of her precious buddy. When I sat down to paint I tried to invoke the essence of this special companion. I wanted her to recognize him and feel comforted by his image. She was very pleased.

French Cafe

 

This is one of several versions of a composition based on a cocktail napkin. Some of these napkins are really very attractive and I'm sure they are created by artists! Changing the colors, adding the people and naming the shop were fun ways to use the original and convert it into my design. It was done in watercolor class and the students enjoyed the whimsical feel of painting a charming French cafe.

Not for sale

Leafy Impressions

 

This is one of my creations using garden clippings. Taking the trimmings from the plants in pots on my lanai and the bushes surrounding my home I then monoprint with watercolor paints. It's fun but a rather messy propostion. First I coat the leaves with paint and them imprint them on paper trying for a pleasing design. The container is added last which brings the compostion together.

Watercolor 11x14
email sferina222@yahoo.com