Watercolors!

My Watercolor Palette!

So many of my friends have asked about my watercolor palette.  I set it up to be similiar to the color wheel.  Beginning with different tones/shades of yellows - then oranges - then reds, moving around to blues, greens, browns and I save the last two cups for Payne's Gray and Titanuim White.   All my paints in this palette are squeezed from tubes.  I do have other palettes that come in hard squares that you just pop into the palette.

Actually this is a fairly basic palette.  I like to use strong colors and then mix to create new colors that will be all my own - never to be matched by anyone else.  

A few fun pieces

Always having fun sketching and watercoloring 

This one is of three friends on the beach front

These are geraniums from my front garden that I sketched a pot to add demension.  First I sketched it with graphite pencil and then did a light water color wash. 

I call this In Her Easter Bonnet!  Cute!  Taken from the Art of Vogue 1909 - 1940.  Pencil sketched  and then did a light watercolor wash.  

This is my home - a work in progress.  Sketching with graphite pencil. It was built in 1996 and I thought it would be fun to add to "the wall" . . . I hang my work all over my home!  Much to my husband's distress!  LOL. 

And this cute little bird was a Art Trading Card event held each month (or so) by Grumbacher.  I entered and then they post all the entries.  Fun.  Oh participants also get a trading card in return.  After a number of trades you receive free product from Grumbacher!

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Sketches

Having Fun with Sketching!

March 2016

The next sketch was taken from the cover of The Art of Vogue  1909 - 1940.  Its a fun source to find interesting people and fashion to sketch. This is a young girl checking her makeup in a hand held mirror compact.

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Sweet Teenager

Sweet Teenager

Graphite Pencil with Watercolor Wash

3/12/2016

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Sneakers . . . .

Sneakers

or do you prefer to say Tennis Shoes?

Graphite Pencil with a Watercolor Wash

3/12/2016

I like to sketch.  Actually that is a lie.  I love to sketch.  I started out with a pencil learning to draw, drawing in the negative space first to get your actual picture, than adding to or taking away from it to make the sketch the way you wanted it.  Then I started with watercolors.  Wow, how I loved those watercolors but they are so unforgiving.  So if you make a mistake - consider it a part of the painting and just work it in somehow.  Unlike acrylics, oils, prisma or pastel pencils there is no painting over to correct an error.  So I learned to love my mistakes with watercolors  . . . and so here I am.  Today.  Loving sketching and watercolors!

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Bridget, inspired by Saint Briget of Kildare, Ireland

Bridget

Graphite Pencil, Watercolor Wash

March 10, 2016

Meet Bridget

Bridget got her name by an artist friend of mine, Peggy (check out her amazing creativity on her blog TheHouseofKent.blogspot.com).  When I told Peggy I loved this painting of mine so much that I wanted to name her - Peggy wrote:  Bridget, inspired by Saint Briget of Kildare, a patron saint of Ireland.  She shares her name with an important Celtic goddess, and there are many legends and folk customs associated with her.  She was a goddess poets adored and associated with Spring.  Peggy also said, "She just looked Irish to me, I think with the red hair."

Thank you Peggy for giving my art lady her name!  Bridget - I love it!

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Sketching Every Day!

Catching up on my posting . . . . . sketching every day to improve my skills - I can see progress!  And some I've even added a water color wash, since I love watercolors and their transparency!

White Heron as seen in my back yard pond! Febuary 2016 Graphite Pencil

Girl Scout - February 2016 - Graphite Pencil

Sweet Young Girl - March 2016 - Graphite Pencil

First Oscar in celebration of the Oscars!  Febuary 2016 - Graphite Pencil 

Birthday Surprise!  March 2016 Graphite Pencil with a Watercolor Wash

 Rainy Day Sketching just for the fun of it.  1950's fashion!  Graphite Pencil March 2016

More rainy day sketching Graphite Pencil March 2016

Just plain ole' fun listening to CNN reports the winners of the primary day voting in some states.  Watercolor pencil - March 2016.  My kitty trying to hide from me!  LOL

A Million Pillow Cases Humanitarian Project

A Million Pillow Cases Humanitarian Project

Quilting Clubs around the US are donating hand made pillow cases to sick child, foster children and the elderly through charitable organizations.   Their hopes are to collect One Million pillow cases! 

I did contribute, but than I made these for my grandchildren.  They came out sweet.  For those of you interested in making a pillow case for the cause, or for your own use, goggle sausage pillow case or buritto pillow case for instructions either in the printed form or on You Tube.  

These are very easy to make in less than one hour.  An excellent project for teaching a child to sew. 

Just Saying!

Just Saying!

Shiny Romantic Things . . . . .Pretty, Pretty!

Shiny Romantic Things

Yes, this fireplace mantel is in my room!

I bought some mini mini mini lights (although on flash camera they look larger) that run on battery so that I could add (another) a touch of romance in my room.  So super cool!

 A slightly different angle - pretty pretty!

I Love To Quilt

Very Southern Quilt

Lap Size Quilt also known as TV Quilt

The quilt top was pieced in 2015, however I did not get around to Free Motion Quilting it until January 2016. 

I just love the way my Very Southern Quilt sits in the center of my king size bed (on top on my king size white hand quilted quilt!). 

Here's a close up of the pretty quilt! 

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - A Note to My Readers. . .

Note to my Readers

I haven't been posting for a while but will soon be back once I catch up with things.  Along with my travel and art work, I have returned to quilting and sewing and have been consumed with my love for all these creative enjoyments.   In 2015 I pieced and quilted SEVEN quilts!  Call me crazy!

And so enters another interest - a new one for me!  Photography!  I have made a major investment (well, for me and my budget that is) in a Nikon D7200 and I am in love!  I am in the process of taking an on-line course.  For my Houston area friends who are familiar with our landscape, I hope to find the time to go to Rice University in March for an 8 week course. 

So here's my promise - I will be catching up on all my posting real soon!  I will be adding more quilts and some photography!  

I Love To Quilt

Just Call Me Scrappy

Quilt

Double Bed Size

Premium Cotton Fabrics

I Love To Quilt

A Quilt for Janie

Pretty Little Pinwheels

Quilt

Double Bed Size

Premium Cotton Fabrics

I Love To Quilt

So okey its not actually art with paint - but putting fabrics together, getting 

colors and design right - putting all this together is a work of art!

Quilt Works 

Hoochie Coochie Momma!

SaveSave

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - My Guardian Angel

My Guardian Angel

Watercolors

8 x 10 

2015

A commissioned work.  I love how it all came together.  

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Status Update!

I'm back!

Had a wonderful, wonderful vacation!  A 16 day cruise and land journey around and through Alaska!

Raw wilderness - raw beauty!

I think I have way too many photos to paint - but I will try!

See you soon!

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Sweet Girl!

Sweet Girl 

Watercolor Portrait

(Arches Paper 140 lbs)

Private Collection

5x7

2105

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - A Vase of Springtime

A Vase of Springtime

Acrylics

( on Premium Artist's Canvas Sheets)

8x10

2015

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Just a bunch!

Just a Bunch

Acrylics

(Paramount Premium Quality Artist's Canvas)

8x10

2015

This is a no brainer - everyone knows carrots are good for them!!