Brand'n

I got to go take pictures while our neighbor branded and I loved it! Western art is my favorite!
That is why I started painting...to do western art, then I realized just how hard it really is to make it believable, so I ventured off onto other things. I don't think I could ever do the cowboys, cowgirls, horses, etc. justice but I love to try. 
The young man  had no idea how excited I got when I saw he had on a white shirt! That is what watercolorists look for!

This is done on 300 lb Hot Press Arches Paper, with transparent watercolors.

West Texas Watercolor Society Spring Show

This month the West Texas Watercolor Society show will hang in the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock,TX. Ellie won an Honorable Mention. 

Contemporary Fine Art International Art Challenge

The challenge for April was flowers, and I entered my woven sunflowers.  They won 3rd place. There were a lot of beautiful flowers. Congratulations to the other winners!
......http://www.cfai.co/art-challenge-april-2013-flower-power/
 

 

More sketches

 I am still sketching at night. These are done in the watercolor Strathmore Visual Journal, which I love! it is the small one, and the black Tombow marker. The first sketch is from one of our trips. The chef fixing breakfast.

This one is from Wolfforth, TX and the mailboxes are from around Seminole, TX.  I don't remember where the building came from.

the White barn was from around San Angelo I believe. (it wasn't really white) It was done with my Lamy fountain pen and ink, then watercolor.

 The old camper is from Plains,TX. I love that old thing. I have taken several photos of it!

Portales NM Demo

Last night we went to Portales, NM, which is right at 100 miles from here, for a watercolor/weaving demonstration.
We went early enough to visit and have supper with a good friend who lives there. I was a nervous wreck because I truly was taking a failed painting hoping to revive it, and with watercolors you can't always be sure.  There was a big crowd, and they were all very nice and encouraging.
I can't find the before photo, but it was just blah. The trees were too solid and a horrible shape. They needed to be lightened up.  Overall, I think the old barn looks better.  I am considering going back and rounding off the squares in the trees, but will think about it for a day or two before I do.

 

Demo in Midland,TX

Today I went to Midland and showed the art club there how to take a failed painting and turn it into something fun, as well as a piece of art.
I have been doing this for a long time, and the texture is really interesting. I explained it in an earlier post. It was a lot of fun, and the people are so friendly and easy to be with.

Church in New Mexico

I have been preparing for that demo in Midland TX,(Tuesday April 9th) so I haven't turned out any new paintings. I am still sketching each night if I can. This is done on a yellowish, Bockingford paper. I love to draw on it! I use the TomBow pen on this, and then used water to smear some around. I love to do these value studies.