Seven Blues, for artists

"Blue Tree," 5 x 7 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Favorite color is blue, and I find I use more blue paint than any other. 

And there are so many hues.  I ran across these quotes today, and had to follow Gauguin's advice. So here it is, courtesy all the blues I have,  Ultramarine, Cobalt, Prussian, Phalo, Cerulean, Teal  and Turquoise speaking to me.

 "If you see a tree as blue, then make it blue."

― Paul Gauguin.

"I never get tired of the blue sky."

― Vincent Van Gogh.

"The sky was a midnight-blue, like warm, deep, blue water, and the moon seemed to lie on it like a water-lily, floating forward with an invisible current."

― Willa Cather, 'Sunrise On The Prairie.'

Adobe and Blues, for OVAC

"Adobe and Blues," acrylic on 12 x 12 gallery wrapped canvas

Every year the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition hosts its 12 x 12 fundraiser  and this is the third year in a row I'm proud to be one of 175 participating artists for the Sept. 16 auction.

Artists offer art measuring no more than 12" x 12"  for bidding, starting at $200 and OVAC gets a percentage to help fund its many activities.

I returned to a favorite subject, the colors of the Southwest, always multi-hued, so here it is, soon to be delivered to OVAC. 

Manzano moon shadows

"Manzano Moon Shadows," 8 x 10 watercolor, 140 lb d'Arches rough press paper

Study in blue, first painting of 2021...full moon shadows in the Manzano Mountains of New Mexico

Inspired this week by the shadows of bare tree branches on snow outside my window in the middle of the night. 

Palette: Manganese blue, Peacock blue, Ultramarine blue, Royal blue, Prussian blue

Study in blues

"Winter Blues," 5 x 7 watercolor, 140 lb Fabriano Artistico extra white cold press

"Shine."
Today's #WorldWatercolorMonth prompt brought several ideas, images and possibilities, but...
Some of them, like the shine off a metal cup or crystal glass, I'm just not capable of rendering  in watercolor, like some artists I know of who do incredible detailed work.
I thought about painting a black eye, a "shiner," but I've tried that before. Fun, but sorta ugly. We've got enough ugly in the world and country right now with the pandemics of virus, hatred and political chaos.
Then I thought about the moon, reflecting on snow and a creek. It would have been easier perhaps to paint a porcelain jug with a cork in it for "Moonshine," but...it just didn't appeal.
Back to the moon, thinking of the song "Shine on Harvest Moon," but a winter moon in today's July heat is better. Rings around the moon in icy sky, reflected  on mountain snow and a creek, reminiscent of Christmas cards I've done, is easier, and more fun.
So here's a study in blues: Peacock, Prussian, Royal and Ultramarine. (The white is the paper).

The colors of challenges

"Ice cave 1," 5 x 7 300 lb d'Arches cold press papaer

"Ice Cave 2," 5 x 7 140 lb Fabriano Artistico cold press aper

"Can you get these colors," Terry, essentially asked my cousin Rosaleen Salvo in Florida this week. 
She sent a photo of an ice cave beneath a glacier. I've tried painting ice bergs before, with no luck, but...
I had been stuck, but the chance to play with color helped me get started. The first day I just played with some Peacock Blue, some turquoise, some green and a touch or two more of other blues. I also Googled a lot of photos of ice caves, looking for ideas for a composition.
Finally today, I just went for it, painting quickly, blending colors, hoping for transparency and light to catch the magic luminosity of those caves.
The first one was a little too uptight, and the second one much quicker.
I'm not sure I've captured them yet, but I'm close, and I got to have fun with my favorite colors...blues. Which do you prefer?
Thanks for the challenge, cousin. I'll try again.

Blues are also colors of Christmas

"Starlight," 5 x 7 watercolor card

Blues. I use more blues in painting than any other. Don't know why.

As my three month individual Christmas card watercolor challenge continues, this one reflects my love for the Southwest, for the big skies, for the iconic yucca.

Blues used: Royal, Ultramarine, Peacock.

And I found out this week that the color for the name "Terry" is blue. Hmm.

Shades of Blue, and Simple things

Blue Moon rising on a Storm-Tossed Sea, 140 lb. d'Arches cold press pape

Daily prompts from Worldwatercolor --yesterday, Shades of Blue, and today, Simple Things.
I probably use more blue pigment that any other. I don't know why, but it works that way.
The challenge of daily painting leads me to abstract thinking and eventually painting. So here is "Blue Moon Rising on a Storm-Tossed Sea"--eight different blues, 8 x 10. Metaphor?

And today, much simpler. "Remember When," that little red wagon you had when life and fun was so much simpler? 5 x 7.
Tomorrow's prompt? "Playing Games."

December colors

:December Colors," 8" by 10" watercolor, d'Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper

Three  blues--Ultamarine, Prussian and Thalo. Today's larger watercolor, comes from the earlier card. Matted in white and ready to frame. Yellow tint on mat from incandescent light.

(Day 16 of 31 December paintings)