Brooklyn Museum Vase and Orange Slice

I used my orange/blue watercolor palette substituting French Ultramarine Blue for Cobalt just to see how I liked the colors. I was wondering if FUB would be more transparent than Cobalt. Anyone have any thoughts about that?

Another pastel

Pastel

I've been thinking about doing pastels in my small size for quite awhile but it wasn't until I thought of pastel pencils that I felt I could give it a go. I find them quite enjoyable to do and it being summer I can do them outside on my terrace and be free of the dust!

Color Theory for Complementary Palette

I have an update for the three complementary palettes that I've been using. They are in my book on pages 27-29 of Big Art, Small Canvas. As some of you may know Daler Rowwney doesn't make Chrome Green anymore. Or rather they have renamed it Yellow-Green. I also substituted a couple of colors since another palette color was close enough. Some colors are not sustitutable but to make purchasing easier I looked for ways to reduce the number of colors needed. Also, using Winsor Violet Dioxazine is much less expensive than Bright Violet by Old Holland.



There is a reason for each color used for each of the three palettes.
There is a true color, a warm version of the true color, a cool version of the true color, a light neutral version of the true color and a dark neutral version of the true color.
I also included a favorite color for a certain reasons (which I will explain in the palette.

In the ORANGE/BLUE palette:
For the oranges: Cadmium Orange is the true color
Chrome Yellow hue is the cool color
Cadmium Red deep hue is the warm color
Naples Yellow is the light neutral
Mars Violet Deep is the dark neutral color
For the blues: Cobalt Blue is the true color
Winsor Blue hue is the cool color
Mauve (blue shade) is the warm color
Violet Grey is the light neutral
Indigo is the dark neutral color
Blue Black is the darkest cool

In the RED/GREEN palette:
For the reds: Cadmium Red Deep Hue is the true color
Permanent Rose is the cool color
Cadmium Orange is the warm color
Indian Red is the light neutral
Purple Madder is the dark neutral color
For the greens: Permanent Green Light is the true color
Winsor Green is the cool color
Sap Green is the warm color
Yellow-Green is the light neutral
Raw Umber is the dark neutral color
Permanent Green Deep is used for making black

In the YELLOW/PURPLE palette:
For the yellows: Chrome Yellow Hue is the true color
Yellow-Green is the cool color
Cadmium Yellow Deep is the warm color
Naples Yellow is the light neutral
Raw Umber is the dark neutral color
For the purples: Bright Violet (or Winsor Violet Dioxazine) is the true color
Ultramarine Violet(or Mauve Blue Shade) is the cool color
Permanent Rose is the warm color
Violet Grey is the light neutral
Mars Violet Deep is the dark neutral color
Purple Madder is a favorite and used as a dark warm
Blue Black is the coolest dark

Bonita Springs demo

Here is one of the demos from the workshop. Next workshop is in August in a small town near Cincinnati and it's only $75 for two days. Probably near full. Check my website for details!

Cloud Series

These are watercolors done with more white gouache than I usually use but I went with it. They are 3x4 inches . I worked on them last week in order to meet a deadline for a MTA submission.
Wish me luck! One good thing about deadlines and submissions is that you get some work done!

Bonita Springs Workshop

I enjoyed my week in Bonita Springs tremendously and was grateful for another opportunity to teach. Everyone was a pleasure to work with and I think we all learned a lot. I've come away from workshops with new friends and I hope it happens again this time!
As you can see the Art League was not only beautiful but well equipted. They even zerox machines to downsize drawings. Feedback was that they learned a lot about color and loosening up (brush strokes) both of which can be applied to any size canvas. I hope I can go back and do it again in 2010 or 2011. Whew! Workshops book so far in advance!
I got to see some of Bonita Springs, especially the beaches which were beautiful. The water was 82 degrees but felt even warmer to me.
One person had to leave early so she wasn't in the group picture. From left to right is Carolyn, Patsy, Laurie, Barbara, Marie, Lydia, Dave, Jan, Julie, myself and Marion.

I came away inspired to try a dry painting technique on a small scale. I'd like to think that I was given this inspiration in return for inspiring students in the workshop. Anyway, it's the best feeling. Can't wait to see what develops.
I have some pastel pencils from my textile design days which I will try first. Any suggestions?