new "set sail" painting

A slow start to this painting. I now know more about boats than I every thought I would need to. Why do some Artists (me) feel they have to know all the truths about a subject. I would like to just let go and paint. I find myself too involved with facts and rules when I do a painting. I must work on that. Any way this is the start of my boat painting. (a gift to a newly wed couple) Can you guess her name? ha

So new prodject # 1 is to draw something in my sketchbook every day.

These were from drawing tutorial .com, great video and info. 

bird and bird house day... 

Prodject # 2 is for a crafts fair I go to in Maui every year, I am making table runners and possibly stockings

I have dyed the "brown" fabric from Maui Mud... 

This is a fun pattern, you can make all kinds of patterns with the color combos. More to come

Well, I think its done.

I still am fussing about the lower right corner, but haven't touched it yet.

I could use some feed back... someone? ANYONE....

So added some more color to the tulips, will finish the top left flower before I add some more shadows. I want to try and bring the light from top left, across to the middle flower then to the bee. we will see if that works out.  More to come, stay tuned.

I painted in the little bee in the bottom corner. I am very happy with how he turned out. I am going to back out a few highlights on him, but had to wait until he was dry first. Next I will be working on some of the shadows on the petals and local color of the flowers. Its looking good so far, I am keeping my fingers crossed... I haven't painted in a long time it seems so I am going to go slowly and try and remember all of the "rules", just so that I can break them. ha. let me know how you like it so far, would love to hear some feed back.

I started with the yellow centers and yellow highlights on the petals. I also decided to put in some of the dark background to give me a better value scale to work with.
I think I will paint the little bee too.... just cause!
Stay tuned for more on this painting.

OK, so I used a little different picture for the painting, I liked the bee and close up of the flowers better as a composition. I simplified the shapes, by overlaying tracing paper on the photo, and putting the simple shapes on the paper to "mark space...save space..." I then "traced a few significant details, like the center of the flower within the circular "space saver" line. I have done this MANY times so I then worked directly with the photo, but I could have added simple shapes or more details to look at and get them on my painting paper. By doing a drawing this way NOT looking at all the details of a photo, only the shapes you put on the tracing paper, you learn to see fast and more accurately. I don't actually trace onto the painting, I wish there was another name other than "tracing" paper, maybe seeing paper!! ha. I think about that. More progress to come on my little bee tulip painting.

Hope everyone had a Hoppy Easter...ha
I finally got my web site up and running again.
Please visit me, give me any comments and help
www.artdogstudio.net
Also new Watercolor class starting Tue evening
TOMORROW
through Los Gatos Saratoga Rec. Dept
lgsrec.org
come join the fun.
Tell your friends
Thanks Jolene

Im thinking this will my my next painting. I have been so discombobulated with selling our house and finding a new place, blablabla, that I havent been painting. I have been drawing in my sketch book at least. And will be starting a new class at the Rec. Dept. next week so... Im off and running. Lets hope.

I have configured a new web page and it should be up and running soon. Check it out www.artdogstudio.net.  and like my facebook page at same address (artdogstudio). Im trying to get media savvy!?! We shall see, so help me on the journey with likes and or suggestions. thanks Jolene