Lily pad linos

Linocut with color added

Hand pulled linocut

I tried something different with my lily pad photos last week. What do you think of these? I like them, especially the watercolored one. I do like to mix things up a bit once in a while so my brain doesn’t turn to much and I hadn’t done a new linocut in a while. They are now available in my etsy shop.

Three mini paintings done.

All done

I finished these three 4×4 mini pond paintings and will probably list them this week after I varnish them. I’m not sure how much I will list them for yet, but there are more hours in them than you might think.

I kind of like the way they turned out and think they would look very nice on a little easel on an end table or framed as a set on a wall.

Maybe it’s done now

Is it this one

Or this one

There are only a few subtle changes in these two. Can you tell which is the final? Look for the little bit of change in the blues and whites, especially around the flowers.

Okay, it is the top one. I took out a bit of the reflections. Not a big deal, but it made a difference to my eyes. I am taking all of my pond paintings to a photographer to have really good color quality pictures for marketing them. I got accepted into the on-line art print dealer Turning Art and I want the absolute best representation for them. Don’t get me wrong. I like what I have done for my Society6 shop on my own. I certainly would not put up something I was unhappy with, but I think it is time to up my game.

I think out of all of the pond paintings I have done these last two years, this is my favorite. What about you? I think if you search for pond paintings here, they should come up.

Mostly done

More paint on

Subtle changes

Is this is mostly done? What does it still need? A lot, actually. I know it is hard to see, but the bottom one is a later version and I still think it needs a lot of work. It is still quite flat looking and not enough tonal difference. I changed the photo to black and white and it definitely showed that the tonal balance was off. The good thing is that the more I do these, the less afraid I am of making alterations. I think you will like it when it is done.

Pond painting number 9!

Pencil up

Two days in

Can you believe it? I counted up the pond paintings I have done since I started in 2019 and there are now nine of them. Although frustrating at times, I have learned a lot about acrylics and enjoyed every minute. I am running out of photos of the pond at the Boise Train Depot and will have to go back for more. And visit family. Too bad for me. LOL

I really just use the photos for a basic reference on placement of the lily pads and minorly for some of the colors. Once I get going, I just let it flow and the picture tells me where to go. I will just tell you now, though it took a lot of tweaking (just like the stream painting) it has turned out to be my favorite one.

More lily pads

Base coat and pencil up

Acrylic layer one

More lily pads. I am currently working on three house portrait commissions but I wanted to show what I had been working on before I started on the new ink and pastel work. The pond works may be a bit boring for some by now, but I am totally enjoying painting them and trying to be creative so that none of them are very alike.  I feel pretty successful in that endeavor. Also my technique is improving, don’t you think. LOL

Also, I have items with my images on the Society6 website and the pond paintings have been popular along with the Boise paintings. Another big plus. Check out the link in my blog roll if you are curious about my art on various household and personal items. I am pretty pleased with the variety.

I can’t decide

Is it done?

I can’t decide if this is done or not. Sometimes I like the reflection area above the lily pads and sometimes I don’t.  I think I need to lighten it, maybe with a glaze, maybe with some repainting.  So much fussing with these three pond paintings.  

I have started working on two new house commissions so these acrylics will be on the back burner for a bit.  Maybe I will get a little perspective.

Another lily pond

Intermediate layer

Final layer, maybe

The lily pad paining number five may or may not be finished.  I have let it set a few days and I still can’t decide. I’m more pleased with it than when I stopped, but I am not yet convinced that it is done.  I think the gloss varnish will help deepen, yet soften the colors, but I’m not quite ready to take that step.  Overall, I am happy with the balance of colors.

Another lily pad painting

Under-painting

Lily pad’s first color layer

The lily pad paintings have been calling to me to do another one. I went back to the photos and picked one with pink lotus flowers instead of white and a nice mixture of colors for the pads.

This is 12X9 and the lily pads are larger compared with the other two paintings close to this size.  I will have to find a good balance of detail versus abstract.  I still have way too much problem with any intricate brush work.

One Last Pond Painting

Koi pond

I decided to paint one last acrylic of the Boise Train Depot pond.  There were quite a few large koi swimming in the pond and it seemed a shame to ignore their presence.  So here are a few more lily pads and one large koi.

Somehow, I forgot to take progress photos of this one, so you get to see the final right away.