Watercolor Painting Demonstration at St. George Art Museum

One of the things I really like about the St. George Art Museum is their willingness to reach out to the community. I often accept the invitation to speak, or present watercolor painting demonstrations to school and community groups there. This morning I made presentations to two fourth grade groups of 10- and 11-year-olds. I'm always amazed at the thinking ability and interest levels of today's kids. This great group was no exception. Even though it took me out of my painting studio for half a day, I feel I'm helping make a little contribution to the future generations of artists.

Painting of Bavarian Street Scene

This is the final painting in the series I've been working on the past month from my European travels in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It's been fun to dip into my sketchbook drawings and photos to renew my memories of that grand trip. This painting features a street scene in Fusson, Germany, the location of King Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle.

Painting of Fusson Germany purchase information

Stone Barn Painting of Europe

The inspiration for this painting was a photo I shot while hiking in the European countryside. What caught my attention was the way the light streaked in from the left and warmed up the grassy field and cast a red glow on the shingles of this stone barn. I added the stone wall for interest.

Painting of Stone Barn purchase information

Best of Show Award Visual Arts Association

I was pleased to receive the Best of Show Award at the 2007 Fall exhibit of the Visual Arts Association. My entry, "Thawing Out" is a transparent watercolor painting of a snow scene near Annabella Utah. The same painting also received an award previously this year at the Shenandoah Invitational at Southern Virginia University.

Best of Show Southern Utah Watercolor Society

Last night I was honored to receive the Best of Show award at the annual Fall juried exhibit of the Southern Utah Watercolor Society. The society, which consists of about 80 active members, is one of the more vital watercolor groups I've been involved with, hosting many workshops and exhibits annually. I was surprised and honored when the award was announced by Southern Utah Watercolor Society President Dick Rose for my painting "Stone Buttress", a transparent watercolor painting of Zion National Park, Kolob Fingers section. The watercolor exhibit will continue through December 22, 2007 at the St. George Art Museum 47 East 200 North, St. George, Utah 84770. Telephone 435-627-4525.

Watercolor Painting Workshop

I just finished up teaching a watercolor painting workshop with a great group of fellow artists. I love getting to know artists from many parts of the country and seeing the wide variety of styles they use. this class included: Dan Ludwig from New Mexico; Janice Jones from Heber, Utah; Stanley Cyr from Minnesota; John Iverson from St. George, Utah; Peggy Peterson, Joanne Johansen, Diane Taterka and Barb Worley all from Mesquite, Nevada.



Janice Jones purchased this painting of a Utah snowfall during the watercolor painting workshop. I used the painting as an example while demonstrating how to paint snow in watercolor as part of the watercolor workshop.

Green Shutters - Watercolor Painting of Switzerland

I zoomed in on a set of green shutters framing the windows of this large Swiss home. It seemed right to add the flowers since they are everywhere in Europe. I used the technique of softening the distance mountains and trees by creating hazy edges and less detail. This effect, called aerial perspective, enhances the sense of depth in a painting.

Click for information on purchasing this painting of Switzerland

Watercolor Painting of Swiss Chalet

On this little painting I just loosened up quite a bit on the sky and the hillside field, letting the brushstrokes tell the story. Examining the field you can see evidence of the backpainting or negative painting technique I use frequently in my landscapes.

Looking closely you can see the rough pencil sketch on Arches watercolor paper. I use very loose washes for the sky.

Now I begin tightening up the edges by using darker glazes over the light passages. Since the chalet is darker than the sky I can paint right over it. click to see painting of Swiss Chalet on my website

New Painting of a European Country Garden

I'm still working on a series of small painting of the European countryside from sketchbook drawings I did on previous visits. I came upon this scene while taking a walk in the countryside in Switzerland. The vegetable garden was lush and rich, while the flowers added just the touch of color and vibrancy the scene needed. Although the inspiration came from a trip to Switzerland, the scene could really be almost anywhere in the European countryside.

Click here for purchase information

The painting begins with a small thumbnail sketch to help me determine the overall composition and value relationships.

I am painting on Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper which is stapled to a board and trimmed with tape. After lightly sketching in the outlines with a 4H pencil, I begin by laying in loose washes of color wet in wet.

While preserving the whites in key areas I continue to layer on glazes to identify edges. As I use more drybrush techniques, the objects begin to come into focus.

Painting of an Autumn Farm in Vermont

I love painting the pastoral New England countryside, especially in the fall. We have visited Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire many times to paint the fall colors. This painting is based on a farm I found in upstate Vermont, although I have changed many elements of the scene to capture the warm glow and peaceful feeling I was looking for.

Click here for Purchase information for my painting of Autumn Farm in Vermont