This week at Brush-Paper-Water...

Goldcrest, 1.75" x 2.25" (4.45cm x 5.72cm)

watercolor

Tracy Hall

I can't remember how I came across Tracy Hall's incredible work, but I clearly recall being astonished to realize that her miniatures are often smaller than a standard American business card. Tracy is a very versatile artist -- she paints subjects ranging from florals that are as detailed as botanical illustrations to pet portraits and wildlife scenes, and her illustration work for greeting cards and jigsaw puzzles is packed with charm and filled with delightful details. But it is in painting miniatures that Tracy feels most at home. She has made a stunningly good show in the miniature world, capturing the coveted Gold Memorial Bowl at the Royal Miniature Society show just a year after beginning work in this demanding format.

Please pop over to Brush-Paper-Water to see more of her work.

Time to redecorate...

Prickly Pear, watercolor

To my surprise, The Artist's Network has changed the wallpaper offerings and now has my painting "Prickly Pear" available for download. I don't know if they're going to cycle through things repeatedly or if you get just one chance for each image they feature. Whatever -- enjoy the opportunity!! Click here to go to the wallpaper store.

Dress up your computer...

Morning Glorious, watercolor

How cool is this? Now you can download "Morning Glorious" to use as desktop wallpaper on your computer. It's free and you can chose from three different versions to suit your display resolution. Click here to go to the "wallpaper store" maintained by artistsnetwork.com.

Now appearing in Watercolor Artist...

Watercolor Artist (August 2009)
see page 52

WOW!! I got my copy of Watercolor Artist magazine a day ago and eagerly opened it to "Adventures in the Ordinary" -- the feature article about my work. I am so honored to be included in this excellent magazine.

I was thrilled when the editor -- Kelly Kane -- asked if I would be interested in being featured, and it was a delight to work with writer Meredith Lewis. When I saw the galley proofs back in April, I was jumping for joy over the flow of the text and the fabulous layout created by the graphics staff. They did a wonderful job. Hope you'll have a chance to take a look at it!! (Subscribers receive their copies before it appears in the stores. I'll give a heads up when I see it on the shelves of the local chain bookstores.)

This week at Brush-Paper-Water...

Toscana, 21" x 10"
watercolor
Michael Reardon

I first saw Michael Reardon's paintings in the Triton Museum's Statewide Watercolor Exhibition in 2008. From across the gallery, I thought they were Asian scroll paintings, but a closer look revealed that his subject matter was Italian landscapes. The beautiful washes projected such an impression of serenity that I returned to view them again and again. Michael is another fabulous Bay Area watercolorist -- we surely live among some of the most gifted painters in the country -- and I look forward to meeting him in person someday.

Please link over to Brush-Paper-Water to see more of his work.

Richeson 75: Still Life and Floral show...

Morning Glorious, 15" x 18"

My painting is included in the Still Life and Floral show which opened this past weekend. It will hang until July 18 at the Richeson School of Art and Gallery in Kimberly, Wisconsin. If you can't make it to the gallery, you can view the show online.

Road report #3...

We were just wandering around town late yesterday afternoon and, without really planning it, ended up at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. We have watched this site develop over the years from a relatively modest garden into an absolutely marvelous place. In fact, it has recently been voted one of the top ten most inspiring gardens in North America by Horticulture magazine. There are many well-planned and well-tended gardens, interesting paths, and fascinating plants. In addition, they have an incredible Thai pavilion that is one of only four situated outside of Thailand. The visual impact of the gold leaf covering this structure is almost overwhelming -- and my pictures cannot do it justice by any means.


Click on either of the links above to visit the gardens and learn more about the pavilion.

Road report #2...

We came across this sprawling apple tree as we were driving around the back roads near my hometown. There was a flock of cedar waxwings feeding in the tree, calling to each other with their characteristic high-pitched whistles. They apparently were somewhat spooked by my presence and gradually moved one by one to a tree just a short distance away. Although I took quite a few zoomed pictures of the apple tree, I managed to get only one with a visible bird.



Here in Madison, we've been busy visiting with friends since we arrived. Last night we went to a favorite restaurant -- Husnu's -- in the heart of the UW campus area. State Street is definitely the place to be on a Friday night -- the constant parade of people out to see and be seen is always entertaining.

We also spent an enjoyable afternoon visiting some of the artist's studios on the Spring Art Tour in some of the small towns just outside of Madison. I was delighted to finally meet watercolorist Peggy Flora Zalucha, whose work I have been admiring for years.

Later today we're going to the University Arboretum to see an exhibit by a local artist. The fabulous lilac gardens are unfortunately past bloom, but I'm sure we'll find some other wonders in that amazing place.

Transparent Watercolor Society exhibit...

my painting "Heirlooms"

Well, the TWSA show is wonderful and, as always, the reception and dinner was an opportunity to visit with many of the artists -- both old and new acquaintances. After many years of admiring her work, I was very pleased to meet juror Judy Morris, following her virtual "gallery walk-through" presentation. I had most enjoyable visits with Tom Francesconi and with Kathleen Conover, both of whom received their Master signatures this year (bestowed on artists who have been accepted into 10 exhibits), the chance to chat briefly once again with both John Salminen and Ratindra Das, and the pleasure of meeting Ted Nuttall. I always enjoy my conversations with Donna Jill Witty, limited as they are to my occasional attendance at these events, and I met some new artists as well -- Angela Chang and Kaaren Oreck. Although she was not at the reception, fellow blogger Katharine Cartwright also had a painting in the show, as you can see on the left side of my photo.

I'm visiting my family for a few days and then on to Madison, Wisconsin for a few more days. I'll post again whenever....

Road report...

Snow in June????

We arrived at Señor Terremoto's sister's home in a Chicago suburb in the midst of a "snowstorm." There are drifts along rooflines and along the curbs. The wind picks it up and it swirls in little eddies and any protected spot is drifted deep.

Any guesses?

Hint: There's a very large tree next door. This type of tree is often found along rivers and was a welcome sight to the early pioneers as they crossed the great prairies. The large triangular leaves are attached to the branches in such a way that they have a characteristic flutter and sound in the wind.

In doing a bit of research today, I discovered that the Dakota Indians ate the sweet inner bark of young sprouts of these trees in the spring. They also fed young branches to their horses, and a dye was made from the leaf buds. The Sacred Pole, used in ceremonies of the Omaha Indians, is made from this tree. (This information is from a website maintained by Northern State University of South Dakota.)

Answer: Eastern Cottonwood, Populus deltoides.

This week at Brush-Paper-Water...

Wehi-Lani, 25" x 39"
watercolor
Kathleen Alexander

Kathleen Alexander is another one of my acquaintances whose skill with watercolor is amazing. Her subjects, primarily Hawaiian flowers and other lush tropical plants, are beautiful in their own right, and in Kathleen's hands they become even more exquisite. The combination of her skill with the medium and her choice of subjects has earned her well-deserved awards in national shows and a following at local art fairs. She is a new member of Viewpoints Gallery in Los Altos, CA.

Please jump over to Brush-Paper-Water to see more of Kathleen's work.

Captain Hook...

Captain Hook, watercolor, 4" x 4"

I'm getting ready to go back to Wisconsin for another visit with my parents. This visit was planned some months ago, long before my last-minute trip about 5 weeks ago. Anyway, I've been running around trying to get everything finished up before I leave. I squeezed in time for the little salt shaker painting too.

I hope to post once in a while during my trip. Included in my itinerary is a stop at the Transparent Watercolor Society of America exhibit -- my painting "Heirlooms" is hanging in the show -- and I'm also planning to visit some dear old friends in Madison, where I lived for many years.

Ciao for now...