Broken Arrow OK Morning

Broken Arrow OK Morning  11x15   watercolor

In May of this year, I was able to attend a workshop “Beyond the Obvious” by Mike Bailey.  It was a great time.  One day, Mike mentioned the building across the street enjoying the sun and shadows.  the next day, he brought in a painting. (He posted his on his blog, dated May 12 2014.)  I just had to try it too.  I was able to get a traditional fresh look with strong light and dark value.  $75 unframed

Sun’s Up Sky’s Bright

Sun’s Up Sky’s Bright   Watercolor 20x27

A barn painted in Watercolor: After struggling and experimenting with acrylic during 2012, it is a joy to get back to my old friend-watercolor. I was not sure there were any more barns in me. Glad to know I found this one. Because it has been a while since I did watercolor, I choose a familiar topic to refresh my skills, with good results I think - and my sister thinks so too. It is freshly painted, with good value contrast, colors that bounce off each other and a bit of texture to entertain. The sky came about because I was looking at some Vincent Van Gogh works-specifically his skies above the wheat fields… light hearted, fun skies…………………

Barn 123 RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

Barn 123 RAIN RAIN GO AWAY 22x30 watercolor, pencil, oil pastel

The motivation for this barn painting was a gift of a ceramic rooster found at a garage sale by a friend. I guess any excuse for putting paint in paper is better than cleaning house! I have had this painting almost finished for a few weeks. Then I added the kids playing the hay loft -waiting the the rain to go away. Van Gogh’s ‘Wheat Field with Cypress’ had some influence on those clouds-but I am sure he would be horrified at the implication. I finally decided that I like it.

Barn 122 Spring Chicken

Barn 122 Spring Chicken     22x30 watercolor, pencil, oil pastel

This barn painting is an attempt to create variations of color- no surprise here. I wanted to place a cooler, transparent, high intensity green next to a warner, more opaque, grayer green. The greens show gradation from yellow green to green to blue-green. And spice it with complements of red, hint of orange and lavender. Each color has a bright and dull sample and high and low value. Always a hint of more neutral gray is added in contrast to all the bright color.

Yes I like it and thanks Bev for the chicken.

Barn 121 Freckled Friends

Barn 121      Freckled Friends    watercolor   22X30

This is a more colorful version of Barn painting  120 Sun Spots. I really like the ‘freckled’ cow and chicken, and the foliage and a lot of stuff. However I am not at all sure that I like the white corners. Perhaps the paintings in which the white spaces and shapes are in the subject are more appealing to me than the white corners.


What do you think? Do you have a favorite?

Barn 120 Sun Spots

Barn 120    Sun Spots            22x30    Watercolor, pencil

This effort seems to have the lighting from the top. The color is a bit more muted or neutralized and white scattered around. I think it is “good enough” but not my favorite. What do you think?

Barn 119 MoooonShine

Barn 119       22x30  watercolor, pencil

After  the last effort "On the Hill"  I had a need to be a little more  free flowing. I do not yes have a name. Any suggestions for this barn painting ?

Barn 118 ON THE HILL

Barn 118   ON THE HILL   Watercolor   22x30

Another in the barn  painting series with more  coming

Barn 117 ALLIS

Barn 117 ALLIS              22x30         Watercolor, Pencil

What to say about this barn painting? Someone commented about the lack of any white. Yes there is no white, however I think the result is yummy warm. What think you?

Barn 116 FIDDLIE TWO 22x30 Watercolor, Gouache, Pencil

This painting is an effort toward a fresher work than Barn 114 which I posted earlier. I am not at all assured that in this reproduced image that the difference is noticeable. In the real, there is a difference. My goal is to produce works that not only have intentional, thoughtful compositions; some creativity; light hearted attitude; but also technical competence. An overworked watercolor is like stale bread. I am pleased with the wonderful mellow, warm colors.






 Barn 114      AND THE FIDDLE - see below

Barn 115 CITY COUSINS

Barn 115 CITY COUSINS watercolor /pencil 22x30

Another painting in Barn Series with variations on the same two major structures that a have been in the last 14 paintings. My motivation here was again color and a play between vertical/horizontal lines of the barns and diagonal light. The color choice was a response to a painting by Nancy Barch- the beautiful greens are in contrast to the very warm red and orange I frequently use. As is common for me lately – it is, hopefully, a more playful setting.  I like it

BARN 113 COW DANCE

BARN 113   COW DANCE     22X30     Watercolor,  Gouache, Ink

 A more fun barn painting! We learn by using what we already know as a bridge over which we pass to the unknown (wrote A. W. Tozer). I have been painting  for years and I know composition: how to fill the page, repeat with variety; temperature dominance; use of pure and neutral color to emphasis and minimize. Here, however, I explore pattern: abstract circular pattern dancing across the paper- wanting freedom and uncontrolled takeover-yet needing to be limited for the sake of the whole. I think it worked.

Someone said the difference between pattern and texture is that pattern has larger piece that can be counted

Barn 112 Let's Play

 Barn 112 Let's Play   22x30  watercolor and ink

Composed with wash and line and play

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Barn 111 Hill farm

Barn 111 Hill Farm  22x30  Watercolor

This is a painitng I started as a demo --maybe two years ago.  I add a lot of  color and some addtion shapes to fill the page.

Barn 010

Barn 010   22x30   watercolor/mixed media

Barn 010 Take one 22x30 watercolor/mixed media

The effort in Painting  Barn 010 was to entertain with texture using collage. I am not at all sure that I like this one. It seems too worried and it took a long time – long for me. I worked on it for three days waiting for acrylic glue to dry in between applications. Barn 010 Take one did not have color dominance. There was too much green demanding attention so I reduced the amount by increasing the purple color.

The next will be less worked. What do you think?

Barn Series

It seem to me that the motivation here is finding something familiar on which to hang color.

barn painting       Breakfast  - 22x30    watercolor

barn painting     Foggy Morning     22x30 watercolor

 barn painting      Ridge Farm     15x22   watercolor

  barn painting     Springtime on the Farm.   22x30   watercolor

  barn painting     Coulee Barn   15x22

  barn painting     After Visit Home   22x30   watercolor

  barn painting    Chicken Strut     14x22  watercolor

  barn painting        Dillman Barn    15x22

Barn 009: What’cha doin?

Barn 009 What’cha doin?  22x30   watercolor/ pen



The goal herein this barn painting is line and wash. The plan was to not outline and to get some washes to flow from one shape to another. Some lines could have been wider for more variety. When I started with the line, it wanted to have more kinks that I had anticipated. I like it quite a bit. It feels warm and friendly to me.

Barn 008 Over the Moon

Barn 008  Over the Moon                   22x30     watercolor

Blue blue blue barn painting . Not a soulful, moody blue, rather an energetic blue. I have not wanted to do blue for a long time- years in fact. I have begun this challenge of variations on a theme - this theme being: barn (Thank you Myrna Wacknov for your inspiration.)  So I felt it was time to do cobalt blue, and here it is.  The direction of this and past couple paintings is color dominance. Color that has taken control and gives direction to the work. Throw in some pattern for decoration and whimsy for light-hearted and there you have it! Next one it line and wash.

Barn 007 Looking Out

Looking Out        22x30

While painting this one, I was aware of enjoying the technical skill build on many years of warm-ups, experimenting, putting-paint–on-paper, working in series and more. Stacks paper, painted with no thought of ‘production’ but rather to learn what happens. I have attended many workshops over the years, but I taught myself to paint by painting. (The idea is much like the one who watches Saturday TV football may not ever be able to get a football across the line.) So I was enjoying the process of putting-paint-on-paper. I was enjoying the design choices- the juxtaposition of shapes and colors.  Then there is the energy that comes for the peace of my convictions.

Barn 006

Barn 006           7.5 x 11

Now this one id giving me  an idea for a full sheet.  I like the  cleaner colors better.  more soon