Wednesday, June 17, 2009

"Red Canna Lilly"



                                                               "Red Canna Lilly"
                                                               Watercolor 16" x 20" $175.00

 I saw this lily in a garden on the campus of the University of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg where we were living while I was getting my MFA. The lilly reminded me of a garden we visited in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. San Miguel de Allende was full of Canna Lillies of all shades and colors and suddenly I felt as if I was standing in that same garden listening to the sounds of Mexico. This image was painted from life and all the rich colors of Mexico are represented in the bold elegance of the Lilly.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Apple and Pitcher




                                                                  "Pitcher and Red Apples"
                                                                      Watercolor 18"x 24" $850

The magic in this image is in the bold folds of yellow fabric, the muted blue of the ceramic pitcher and the bright red apples. These are all complimentary colors. The movement of the fabric flows against the structured forms. The rich warm color of the background wall made the colors of the fabric, apples and pitcher stronger and more vibrant. I painted this with my watercolor students at the Lumberyard Arts Center in Baldwin, Kansas.