HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ME!

Jerry with camera

I have been wanting the new iPad Pro since they came out.  Since there was no enthusiasm from my family to present me with this as a gift,  I treated myself.  It turns out that the Apple Pencil (a special stylus designed exclusively for the iPad Pro) was a very scarce item, I decided to track one down because drawing was my main interest in this new pad.  No sense in getting the tablet if I wasn't going to be able to get the stylus at the same time.  The backorder from the website was 4 to 5 weeks! I called the closest Apple Store and was told that they were out but to call the next day at about ll AM to see if any came in that day.  Each store gets a shipment of products every day.  This morning when I called the helpful operator told me the closest store that had one.  I was able to pay for it over the phone, bought the tablet as well, along with a simple cover and picked everything up in less than two hours!  So that is the trick to getting scarce products. 

Getting things up and running was not quite as simple.  I was hoping to transfer everything from my iPad Mini to the new iPad Pro but for some reason that wasn't an option, so I manually downloaded the apps.  This was actually a better idea since I didn't need everything on this device and it saves space. I opted for the for the smaller capacity so I will be more selective in what I store on it.  I was able to easily get the Apple Pencil synced with the tablet and I started checking out the art apps I have.  This is a drawing I did tonight with the app VELLUM .  The stylus is so fabulous.   You can hold it like you would a pencil when  drawing rather than writing.  For greater control you can rest your palm on the screen and it doesn't accidentally make a mark.   The larger surface to work on is fabulous and zooming in to to see or work on details makes things HUGE!  

Does anyone else have a the new iPad Pro?  Any tips or apps ideas to share?  I look forward to hearing from you.

SLIGHT VARIATION IN THE SURFACE

Every Line Tells a Story

I was anxious to finish this painting before our Thanksgiving trip which starts Sunday!   Now that I am looking at it as if from afar I see an area I want to change.  I guess that will have to wait until next weekend.  I put a glaze of very thinned down gesso over the reconstructed Tyvek surface and let it dry before starting this painting.  It is a subtle change but I really like how the paint reacts to this surface in a different way.  You can enlarge the image by clicking on it to see what I am talking about.  A more granulating effect is achieved.

I plan to take a small watercolor travel set with me and a sketch book.   I hope to have something to share with everyone when I return.  

This year I am giving thanks for a wonderful family, good health and the opportunity to create and share art.  I hope all of you have similar blessings in  your life.

ON A ROLL!

I just finished this painting today.  It is another watercolor on a reconstructed Tyvek surface.  I love how the paper impacted the final image.  This is a portrait of a lovely gentleman I met at the opening of the National Watercolor Society reception for the annual International show.  I asked to take his photo but failed to get his name.  If anyone recognizes him, please sent me more information.  

ANOTHER PROFILE!

I found another interesting profile to paint.  This one is on a torn and reconstructed Tyvek surface glued down with YES Glue so it would accept watercolor.  I love how the surface exaggerates the craggy features.   I am going to my studio today and prepare another sheet with the torn Tyvek.  I am inspired to start another portrait on this fascinating surface.  

If any of you have tried painting on torn and reconstructed Tyvek, please share your results with me!

PROFILES IN COURAGE!

It takes a lot of courage to paint portraits in watercolor because it is difficult to make corrections.  That is why I show students how to paint on a gessoed surface.  Here is the demo I did for the portrait class I am teaching right now.  The lesson was on profiles so why not go for an extreme example!  By putting down a coat of gesso on the paper first, I was able to make lots of changes in my painting, with ease.  

I think gesso may be my favorites painting product.  You can make poor quality watercolor paper usable, cover over a disaster of a painting and start again, texture the paper surface, stamp with it, stamp into it, sand it smooth and so much more!  Be sure and purchase the extra heavy body type.   You can always thin it down but you can't make it thicker.  Be sure and save your expensive sable brushes for a different surface as gesso is too abrasive.   

A LOVE STORY

MARK AND SHIRLEY

We were recently privileged to attend a wonderful wedding of two senior citizens who found love later in life.  The bride wanted a traditional wedding as it was her first!  It was a beautiful event, celebrating love at any age, new beginnings and life lived at it's fullest every day we are lucky enough to be on this planet.  

I decided to attempt a portrait of this special day.   This was supposed to be a preliminary sketch for a painting.  I loved the sketch but the painting was a total disaster.  After three attempts, I decided to call it a day.   So, this was framed and presented to the newlyweds.  Normally, it probably isn't a good idea to give a gift of this nature if not requested by the couple.  This can present a problem to the recipients if they don't like it.   We don't socialize with this couple,  so we will never know if it is hanging on their wall or hanging out in their back closet, so no pressure.   I enjoyed creating this portrait and I hope they get joy from reliving this special moment every time they look at it.

SATISFACTION!

BILL

I spent a wonderful week in Reno with the Sierra Watercolor Society.  I presented my Variations workshop and then on Saturday I had the pleasure of doing a demo for the entire society.  This is the painting I started.  Today I spent an hour finishing it up.  The surface is another torn tyvek collaged over a failed painting.  Here is what the painting looked like after the two hour demo.  Can you see the changes and refinements that I made?   

For the workshop, I have everyone using the same image and each day we create a variation with an emphasis on a different element.  Everyone has a different combination of major element, minor element, and color cord.  Here are my value element painting and line element painting.   The shape painting was a disaster!!   

Value Painting

Line Painting

Here are all the fabulous paintings that were created in four days. We were able to put them all on one wall.   Amazing variations and we were just getting started!   If you click on an image, you can see each photo in greater detail.