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!! 

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Watercolor Quotes I love!

Watercolor Quotes I Love!

"Watercolor is a medium of countless options but few second chances."  Gordon MacKenzie from his book The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook.

and

"In my workshops it never fails to amaze me how people will travel great distances, pay out hard-earned cash for materials and instruction, and put up with crowded conditions just so they can study the effects of drying water.  Along with a little pigment and manipulation, that's about all that's happening with watercolor."  Gordon MacKenzie from his book The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook.

For those of you who watercolor the first statement you understand, while the second statement will make you giggle!

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - A Mother's Day Bouquet

A Mother's Day Bouquet

Pastel Pencil and Watercolor

(Daler Rowney 98 lb, Acid Free Pastel Paper)

12x9

2015

Here is a bouquet of Mother's Day Flowers.  I don't think I know one women who does not love flowers, and always enjoys recieving them on Mother's Day and truthfully any day of the year!

This was an interesting painting.  It has been quite a while since I have worked with Pastel Pencils.  (I believe the last one was my rendering of The Corn Poppy (interestingly named after the flower) by Dongen c. 1919).  Working with Pastel Pencil and watercolors gave this painting an interesting effect.  And because it is paper for pastels, the watercolors were gingerly applied.  

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Barnyard Scene

Barnyard Scene

Watercolor

(on Arches Watercolor paper - 140 lb)

11x14

2015

Cruciform composition - my first, but certainly not my last.  I love the way it works!  Once again, the actualy painting is much prettier than the photo of the painting! 

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Work in Progress

Work in Progress

    Working on two paintings right now.  

    A watercolor pastel painting that requires a little more time than anticipated.

     Also a watercolor painting with the cruciform compostition.  Takes more planning that I had originally thought. 

    So stayed tuned . . . . 

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Tuscan Window

Tuscan Window

Watercolor

(Arches 140 lb paper)

FIRST PLACE HONORABLE MENTION RIBBON 

TOMBALL ART LEAGUE FALL JURIED SHOW 2014

TOMBALL, TX

I love this watercolor work and cannot understand why I forgot to post it on my blog!  Well, here ya go!

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Magick Bunny

Magick Bunny

Prisma Pencil 

FIRST PLACE BLUE RIBBON WINNER 

IN THE NORTHWEST ART LEAGUE FALL JURIED SHOW 2015

 HOUSTON, TX

Interestingly this was their biggest show ever with a grand total of 287 entries consisting of beautiful works of art in all imaginable mediums.  I entered the Non-Professional Drawing Category.  The medium for this work is Prisma Pencil.  It is one of my favorites.

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Fun pieces from my art class - April 6, 2015

These are just fun learning pieces from my art class.  Technique is wet on wet.  Quite the challenge because each piece was timed for 8 minutes of painting.  Yes the instructor timed us with an actual timer, which screamed loudly and rudely warning us that our 8 minutes of painting were up.  All paint brushes down please!

The reason behind the timing of the works were two fold:  1.  so the paper would not dry out.  Instructor had us wet the entire paper in the beginning.  2. also for us to learn 'when to stop painting'.  So many painters want to keep on going, thinking they will either correct an error or make the painting better.  What actually happens is that by adding more color or water the painting reacts as a palette by mixing the added water or paint on the art work itself.  The end result is that the work just ends up with muddy colors.  

stormy skies full of clouds over the ocean.  

brilliant sun set

at the harbor at sunset 

I have used both the wet on wet technique and the timed painting technique before.  They still are a challenge to me!

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Special Announcement!

Please visit my new site at:

contemporaryartworksbytheresa.com

Thank you!  I will still be posting on this blog.  I will be changing this blog to reflect my painting journey!  

Thank you for all your views!  Keep coming back please!

Theresa 

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - NWAL Spring Show 2015

Ready For The Northwest Art League Spring Juried Show 2015
Houston, Tx

March 21, 2015

White Frame:  Watercolor of White Cosmos - Medium is Watercolors

Black Frame:  Spring Flowers in a Water Pitcher - Medium is Watercolors

Gold Frame:  Magick Bunny - Medium is Prisma Pencil 

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Viola

Viola

Watercolors

(Arches - Hot Pressed - 140lb)

7x10

2015

Viola is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family.  Some Viola species are perennial plants, some are annual plants, and a few are small shrubs.  A large number of species, varieties and cultivars are grown in gardens for the ornamental flowers.  In horticulture the term "pansy" is normally used for those multi-coloured, large flowered cultivars.  So you see, although you may have wanted to call this a 'pansy', the terms "viola" and "violet" are normally reserved for small flowered annuals or perennials.  

(I painted this as part of a tutorial with Anna Mason from Watercolours With WOW).

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Vitamin C to the 10th Power!

Vitaming C to the 10th Power

Watercolor

(on Arches Hot Press Watercolor paper - 140 lb)

9 x12

2015

Juicy and sweet and renowned for its concentration of Vitamin C, oranges make the perfect snack!  They also contain high amounts of antioxidants and other nutrients that can help to boost the immune system.  

((I painted this as part of a tutorial with Anna Mason from Watercolours With WOW).

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Garlic Clove

Garlic Clove

Watercolors

(on Arches Hot Press Watercolor paper - 140 lb)

7x10

2015

Garlic is a species in the onion family.  Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, and chive.  Garlic is widely used around the world for its pungent flavor as a seasoning or condiment.  

The garlic plant's bulb is the most commonly used part of the plant.  Garlic cloves are used for consumption (raw or cooked) or for medicinal purposes.  They have a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows an ssweetens considerably with cooking.  Some human studies found garlic supplementation to produce small reductions in blood cholesterol.  

(I painted this as part of a tutorial with Anna Mason from Watercolours With WOW).

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Snowdrop Flower

Snowdrop Flower

Watercolors

(on Arches Hot Press Watercolor paper - 140 lb)

7x10

2015

The Snow Drop flower is formally known as Galanthus, Greek for milk flower.  These are perennials which grow from bulbs.  Each bulb generally produces just two or three linear leaves and an erect, leafless flowering stalk.  They flower between January and April in the northern temperatures.  There are a number of gorgeous Snow Drop gardens in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.  The short story "The Snowdrop" by Hans Christian Andersen follows the fate of a snowdrop from a bulb striving towards the light to a picked flower placed in a book of poetry.   

(I painted this as part of a tutorial with Anna Mason from Watercolours With WOW).

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - White Cosmos Flower

White Cosmos Flower

Watercolors

(on Arches Hot Press Watercolor paper - 140 lb)

7x10

2015

The Cosmos is a flowering plant in the sunflower family.  Spanish priests grew Cosmos in their mission gardens in Mexico.  The evenly placed petals led them to christen the flower "Cosmos" the Greek word for harmony or ordered universe.  Cosmos, like many of our warm weather annuals such as marigolds, originated in Mexico and South America.  

(I painted this as part of a tutorial with Anna Mason from Watercolours With WOW).

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Basil Leaf

Basil Leaf

Watercolors

(on Arches Hot Press Watercolor paper - 140 lb)

5x7

2015

The word 'basil' comes from the Greek meaning "king".  Basil is commonly used fresh in cooked recipes.  In general, it is added at the last moment, as cooking quickly destorys the flavor.  The fresh herb can be kept for a short time in plastic bags in the refrigerator, or for alonger period in the freezer, after being blanched quickly in boiling water.  The dried herb loses most of it flavor, and what little fllavor remains tastes very different. 

(I painted this as part of a tutorial with Anna Mason from Watercolours With WOW).

Contemporary Art Works by Theresa - Harnessing the Energy Within #1

Harnessing the Energy Within #1 

(in a series of 3)

Watercolor

(on Arches Watercolor paper - 140 lb)

11x14

2015

The Cobra yoga pose is a back bend that stretches muscles on the front of the torso and strengthens your arms and shoulders.  Open your heart and roll the shoulders down to promote flexibility in this pose.  This pose also helps to open the chest and lungs.  

Aura:  Pink as a dominant color in the auric field indicates the presence of compassion and unconditional love.  This person may have a great capacity for caring and for empathizing with the needs of others.  These people often choose to work with those who are generally shunned by society.

Namaste!