I'm Bacl!

I am sorry I have been so out of the loop lately. I feel like I have met myself coming and going and that will not end until July sometime but it is all good and life just has a way of happening like that!
I was so honored when my painting "Sacred Shadows" was selected to be in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America Exhibition. Even though I have had awards and have my signature with them I have never been able to attend until now. I had such a wonderful time! I was also able to meet up with many of my art friends there and make new ones so it was wonderful. If you go to their website and check out the latest exhibit you will be very impressed! http://www.watercolors.org/exhibitions/2013/

I hope to begin painting again in July. It is drawn and the first wash is on...I am rather excited as it is very different for me so I will keep you posted as it progresses! Thank you for your patience! 

Umbrellas Watercolor Demo #6

I am unable to get the correct colors with my camera. The blues will not come true at all...but I guess this is not one to worry about anyway...several things have gone wrong. The background is just not becoming even...There seems to be something on it in several places and then in one small area of background it is a different color than it should be. I have no idea how that came about. ha! I used out of the same pile I made and yet it is appearing totally different. This had potential to be really cool but I think I missed it. I still have some areas to work on and will do that tomorrow and call it done...but I am disappointed as I can see it could have been quite an interesting painting had it worked better...but time to be done and move on!

Umbrellas Watercolor Demo #5

Slow as molasses is what I am. I just cannot seem to stick with this at all but did make a little progress. I have to figure out how to paint that complicated background as I do not have any masking and this has so many turns etc I think I almost need it...so I have to give this some thought before I move forward! Here is where I am now and I hope the next time I post the background is in!

Umbrellas Watercolor Demo #4

Well I am sort of surprised at how long it is taking me to paint this! I knew I was slow but really! ha! I am trying to find those crazy cast reflections that are odd but need to be sort of accurate to read the umbrella above...I nearly have it. Hopefully tomorrow I will close the gap on this part...then deciding on the background value will be my big task as when I took this picture outside the background was a dark gray blue. I am worried that everything will get lost in that color...so I have to put my thinking cap on. Now this would be where knowing how to use photoshop would really come in handy!!!  Something tells me there is a simple app on my phone that might help me with this if I can figure that out...but first I need to get the umbrellas and reflections done! 

Umbrellas Watercolor Demo #3

I have worked a little more on these umbrellas...I thought I would be much further by now but I think it is still moving forward and that is the important thing. It was my birthday today so I only painted for a few minutes but even like today with a lot going on I try to get in even 30 minutes and it can make a big difference! So here we are...closing in on the last of the umbrellas!

Umbrellas Watercolor Demo 2

Well it might seem I have not gotten very far but figuring out the details to keep these shapes accurate is like doing a puzzle...once I have it drawn the easy part is painting it! The painting on this is pretty straight forward...but the shapes need to be right on for me...
I might work for another hour today and then call it good...we shall see. An hour can slip by pretty fast! Since this is 1/2 sheet rather than full it seems every detail is so small because I am not use to working this size at all. I could play with the washes more it seems if it had been larger but I just do not have the space for larger pieces anymore. So we shall see how this looks in the end!

Umbrellas Watercolor Demo

I have begun a new painting and it feels like it will take forever but it will get done alot quicker actually as it is just a 1/2 sheet...I finally finished up alot of the drawing on Monday. I felt like I needed to begin painting and then do the finish drawing as I go now because I keep getting lost so adding the color helps to define each area so I can draw within that space. That is what I do every time it is a difficult piece. It really helps you narrow it down to one place and it is easier to focus.
I might work a little bit more today but I might instead go outside and enjoy the weather as it is very sunny out and warming up to near 30 today! It is wonderful after such a long winter.

Iris With Bee

I am calling this done finally! If there is any tweeking that I might do it will be ever so slight and will not change how it really looks.
I have not figured out a name for this yet but surely hope to come up with something that makes sense to me. I have no idea if it should refer to the wildness of the grasses I have made up in the background or refer to the bee. It could simply be The Pollinator I suppose...we shall see.
Well guys I usually have the next one drawn but this time that has not happened. I will hopefully begin working on the drawing tomorrow and in a few days be able to tell you what I plan to paint next.
I hope this demo has helped those of you who like to paint iris or flowers to see how I work carefully in with slow glazing and not until toward the end do I get the intense color so there is no bleeding. I also always have a very good drawing so that I know it is going to look just like I want it.

Have a great weekend!

Watercolor Iris Demo #9

Well I have not gotten far but I have been cleaning edges and working on the bee. just a few areas left to work on. What I do notice is that the veins in the wings do not show up so perhaps they are too soft and I need to do more. In person however it seems I see them well so will have to decide that later.
There have been distractions again but still I manage an hour here and there so that helps! I know that I can finish this on the weekend now and so hopefully by Sunday you will see the final pictures!!

I did a close up so you could see how losely I am handling some areas.

Watercolor Iris Demo #8

Well I am home from clothing market in Vegas with my daughter and son-in-law and it was work but fun. I enjoy every minute of it. Think I missed my calling. ha!
I hope that you can see I am developing some areas now...at this point I am really sliding in carefully so that nothing gets too dark too fast unless I want it that way. I have some decisions to make yet but one I made today was to not make the hairs on that front petal defined as it would become the center of attention and detract from the bee. I may still want to put more there but for now I am leaving it alone to make that decision later.
The grasses behind are just a continuous problem because if I darken one it seems I have to darken ten...but that too will resolve itself as I go along.

It was good to finally find some time to paint. After returning home it seemed there were so many other things that needed attention but now I hope I can work on this through the weekend and finish it up...It has begun to buckle on the large petal which is odd to me so I will have to flatten this before it goes to the framers.

Watercolor Iris demo #7

I had hped to have this done but I am getting ready to leave for a week to help my daughter so had to many other things I needed to do. My hubby doesn't cook so that means I get his food all lined up as well! ha! Plus the bird food, cat food and dog food...so you know I have been a busy girl! ha!

When I get back I will finish up the bee which will allow me to then decide the values of the leaves in the background and how dark some need to go yet. I will also look at some of the values on the iris but felt I needed the bee done first to determine how to make it the center of attention or do I want it to be sort of hidden and a secret find to the viewer...we shall see! Have a good week everyone!

Watercolor Iris Demo #6

Well if you have been watching the news you will know that we have had alot of snow that last few days so all I have accomplished is shovel! ha! But I did try to sneak in a little time this afternoon. I had hoped to be done with this painting by Friday but I do not think that is going to be possible at the speed I am going! Seems if there is something to get in my way it will...guess Murphy is working as hard as he can to keep me from completing this. The reason I wanted it done was I was leaving for a week to the Vegas clothing market to help my daughter. I usually go with her and help her with buying for the store and we have so much fun! So I thought it would be nice to be done with this iris but if it doesn't get done it is going to be very close so I just am not going to worry about it right now. What will be will be!

Now Phyl you can really see the location of the bee better. I think that will be the last thing I work on as far as those blacks because they can bleed and I just do not want a problem over there...so I will wait until the very end to bring in the darkest darks.

Watercolor Iris Demo #6

Well again I had hoped for a full day of painting and company arrived! This is life and we just have to roll with it and at least try to get a little time in...every little bit helps! You can now see the area where the bumble bee will sit and I am beginning to define the center of the iris...I am hoping tomorrow afternoon to work that center of the flower and complete it...I will lay in a few values on the bee before I finish those leaves so I have a feel for the values it will require. My hope is to be done by next weekend or before...so we shall see! I guess the older I get the more I realize what will be will be and not to let it bother me as much as it use to. I just need to enjoy the journey!

Watercolor Iris Demo #5

Well I had to stop at this point because I was unsure of the leaves I am making around the bumblebee...I am just making this part up and I have to rethink where the darks of the bumblebee will be so that perhaps the leaf can turn and be light or dark where needed...so that is what I will do next...I want everything around the bee to be done before I put him in so there is no bleeding back and forth of colors...and then once that is in I can decide if I want areas darker and how to finish off the middle and top of the iris...I need to gauge the values when I am making this up so they still make sense...hopefully! ha!

Watercolor Iris Demo #5

Well I guess it is time to stop as football is starting and then there will be no concentration in this house! Ha! I am hoping that my background doesn't become too busy for this flower...I can always tone things back and soften them when things are done to see what works. Originally the spaces between the grass blades was to be dark but now I am unsure. I always leave myself options and right now I am wondering if the bottom is dark and it rises into the light perhaps we want that area very light so I will stop with any work at the top until the bottom starts to take shape. The bottom is a problem because when I look at my photo the stem is mostly hidden and now it feels odd...so tonight I need to decide how I will design that area to support this massive flower. I truely was hoping to have this done before next weekend but now I am wondering if that is going to be possible. But each day I make progress and so who knows! Just keep trying ones best is all we can do!

The greens are Daniel Smith Sap Green...that is all. The purple is Carbazole Violet and then I use some Quin. Purple and Quin. Rose also from Daniel Smith. In a few areas you will see some Phthalo Turquoise as well.

Watercolor Iris Demo #4

Well this was one of those days I was unsure I would even get to paint but finally I grabbed an hour and 30 minutes and got to try out some background. It really doesn't matter if you do not find alot of time..the most important part is to find some time. Just getting a little of this in helps me get excited where this is going. I like to weave grasses and even if they are not realistic I just love to make them go in and out like a basket...in the end the flower will be center stage and this is just backup material...space filler but filler with interest vs just a solid color which so many resort to because that is easy...I would rather take the chance and try something else even if it doesn't work. Anyway, this is where I am at as the sky gets gray. It is hard for me to paint in the evenings as I just do not see that well anymore with night lights...even if they are bright it just is not the same as natural light for me.

Watercolor Iris Demo #3

I did not get to work all day on this like I had hoped but still I made progress. I think we as artists have to be happy when we make progress no matter how small because it is still a good thing. We are sometimes too hard on ourselves but we do have lives too and we need to enjoy our art but our homes and families as well! I mostly found the shapes within that front petal...Now I will maybe bring more color into that area but perhaps work on another area to find the shapes. A painting is so much easier for me to paint when I see the map of where I am going. I am trying out Quin. Purple to help liven up some areas and I really do like it alot!

Watercolor Iris Demo #2

I am not very far on this as the last 3 days have required me to be gone but I have done a little and wanted to post that as it helps me to stay on track knowing you are waiting for an update! Seems life can get in the way sometimes but the important part is doing a little when you can as it still is then moving forward.

I have spent time with the drawing in some of these areas to know how the pattern actually goes and think I have alot of that figured out now. I have just gently added some of the front veining to just see if I like the way it is looking...I can now do some washes over them and then decide how dark they should go. Hopefully tomorrow and through theh weekend I can get more done. It is hard taking the picture because we are -30 with windchill so let me tell you...I run out the door and take this shot pretty fast! ha!!! Hopefully next time it will be a more intersting looking flower developing.

Iris Watercolor Demo #1

Well I have begun a new painting and thought I would try to document it more carefully than my previous ones...I have it nearly all drawn and have begun to lay in some of the colors that are light in the upper parts. The fall that comes forward is much darker and I will not start it until I have alot of this background area solved. I am not sure of how much time I have to work on it but I thought if I put it out there and you were watching it would force me to find more time and keep painting! ha! Thanks for proding me on!

Laughing Girls Watercolor

I have been working on this off and on for some time. I hesitated to show it because it has not worked and it was alot of time and effort but perhaps by showing you I can help you. I have been thinking of this painting for more than 3 years. I had seen some of these mannequins and just wanted to paint them into a painting. I always tell my students to know and have references for what you are going to paint but in this case I did not have that. I attempted to make up much of this and because of that I discovered it did not work like I had hoped. It feels like a wasted month or more but I learned my lesson. ha! Maybe someday the solution will come to me but in the meantime it is going into storage. I should get a close up of the bike reflection for you as it is not easy to spot so will do that and post that as well.

White Daylily #2

I decided to do a similar daylily on stretcher bars but not go as dark for the background and see if I liked it better...I am not spending alot of time on these but still are taking alot of time I guess. ha! But at least with these I allow myself to stop and not over work them. I am going to leave both of these now until the weather warms up before I spray them with fixative and then varnish them. That will really bring out the colors and perhaps they will be similar enough to be companion pieces.

Now I am going to spend a little time getting the studio back in shape and get ready to start something new!

White Day Lily Watercolor

I am finishing up some things that I just did not bring to completion this fall. I have one more that is drawn and will try to do it similar to this one so they can be a pair. This is 8x8x1 wrapped arches on stretcher bars. This still has not been varnished and once that is done the colors will be much more vivid. These are sort of fun to work on and just something different for a change.

I am sorry the first one is not very straight and then from the side I do not know how to use a program to block out the background to make it solid...guess that is the next thing I need to learn!

Watercolor Hunting Dog

This is a commissioned watercolor of a hunting dog that passed away recently. Her name was Holly and she was well loved. I will be delivering this to the family tomorrow at church for Christmas! I hope they feel I captured her in this and that they will have fond memories of her every time they see this!

Page, Arizona finished!

I am calling this watercolor done so I can move on...I will get it to the printer this week to get a correct scan of it so I can offer it in giclees and cards. I still have not titled it but have thought of  alot and only can come up with the obvious.,.Reflections of Page...and that is not what I want. But the title will come this week I am sure.
I have often wanted to do a landscape but they intimidate me because I am so unfamiliar with them. There are so few edges and yet you have to define the shapes so that it appears to be mountians and cliffs...I will do another one yet this winter I hope and then maybe it will be easier the second time around!

If you ever get a chance to go down the Colorado River  in Page, Arizona you will be blessed spiritually. This is 3 hours of still waters...the rapids come right where you get off. You could not hear anything but the water and an bird every so often. It was as if I had taken a long nap as I was so relaxed at the end of this trip I could hardly stand up! ha!  It was totally amazing and I want to do it again one day.

Page, Arizona watercolor phase 3

Ok guys! It may not seem like alot but I have nearly completed the rocks...there will be minor things once the water is done which I plan to complete between tomorrow and Saturday...tweak on Sat and Sun and call it done! YIPEE!

I must admit this was such a challenge for me but decided I had to try as I love landscapes and decided if I was patient I could figure it out. I think I have for the most part and now we will see if I can bring it to a closure this weekend!

Page, Arizona Watercolor phase two

I have not been painting much at all. I had to put together a show and that is now hung and had the opening so that is behind me. I have had other interruptions too and will be gone all day again tomorrow...so I am grabbing time where I can. This painting will hopefully be done by the weekend if all goes well, It seems to be photographing a little too orange and too turquoise blue...and so I need to use a different camera next time to see if the colors will be more accurate. But this shows you the shapes I am finding and how it is developing value wise at least. It has been a struggle for me as I just do not paint this way but I wanted to go outside the box for me and be a little looser. I sure hope it turns out!

Watercolor Of Page, Arizona

A few years ago I took a trip with some of my artist friends and we went down the Colorado river from Page, Arizona where it is still with no rapids. It was wonderful and finally I am attempting to paint one of the river bends. This is way out of my comfort zone let me tell you but I am just taking it one step at a time and hopefully by the end of next week I will be done.  I am so use to working with definate shapes and so this has been a very large challenge for me. Please remember there is more work to do on this but I thought I would show you where I am at this point.
I have not been painting much since June and I have gone through some problem solving on my health issues. I am thinking by spring I am going to be a new person with much more energy! I will get my stitches out in 2 days from some cancer surgery on my ear...it is healing nicely. I am wearing yoked prism glasses at this time to correct my midline shift from a fractured skull 27 years ago. I did not know all the seemingly unrelated problems that this will help. It is a long story but I am improving and doing quite well!

I hope that I will not be away much again. I am drawing and working on several pieces so I hope to keep you updated on my paintings as I progress! Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Daily Artist

I am very honored to have been part of an article on Daily Artist written by Jennifer King! I had no idea this had happened until someone pointed it out to me and to my delight Jennifer King wrote it who was the US editor of International Artist Magazine for a number of years and wrote my article there! I was thrilled to see it because as many of you know I have been sort of inactive over the last couple of years because of health reasons. So it really gave me a shot in the arm!~ Here is the article so you can read it! http://www.artistdaily.com/blogs/theartistslife/archive/2012/10/11/5-tips-for-using-social-media-to-market-your-art-business.aspx

Carrie Waller Interview!

I am very honored to have been interviewed by Carrie Waller on her blog. She did a great job and I have loved her work so much so it was so nice to get to know her better! You can view the interview here:  http://carriewaller.blogspot.com/2012/09/friday-feature-jane-freeman.html?spref=fb
I have not been painting much lately. However the tulip I posted sold over the internet and is now living in Baltimore, Maryland! So that was a nice surprise! Perhaps I should try to sell more of my things that way...we will see!
I have been doing some drawing and have one nearly done and another about 1/2 done so am getting things ready for winter so I can just paint. That will be wonderful. Most people hate winters when it gets so very cold here...some times -20 to -40 but not me! I am snug in my studio painting and do not come up for air until spring! ha!!! Hope you enjoy the interview and getting to know me a little better!

SPLASH 13 Is Out!

Finally Splash 13 is available although I have not received my copy yet. It is always so exciting to see ones work in a publication of this caliber. I have been in SPLASH 6-7-9-12 and now 13!! The competition is fierce to get in and the judges have a pretty tough time picking the few who get in so I feel very honored to be on a page! Hope you are able to buy a copy as looking at all the artist's work and reading what they have to say about what they did is always such an education.

Lady Slipper Watercolor

I just realized I did not post the other 8x8 stretched paper painting. These paintings are varnished with a UV polymer and are really quite tough. They can be hung as they are or framed in a shadow box that really sets them off nicely. This is the Pink Showey Ladyslipper.

Red Tulip Watercolor

I just completed another stretched watercolor paper painting. This is again 8x8 over stretcher bars and you can see there is some depth with picture two...Getting reds to photograph correctly is not easy but I am close. I am hoping I can get a collection of small pieces to sell at some point...as they seem more marketable because they are without frame, glass and mat and are varnished for protection which seems more modern for the younger collector. We shall see!

Pink Showy Ladyslipper Orchids

This summer I have completed only a few things and one is this group of Pink Showy Ladyslippers. It is our state flower and we are so blessed to live in an area where there are many varieties of orchids that bloom! Seems odd doesn't it as we are such a very cold state but they thrive here. You will find them on the edges of the forests and growing in the ditches...it is pretty amazing! I have painted them before and my first original was purchased by the Secretary of State a few years ago to hang in her office. That was a great honor for me. Hopefully this one will find a good home as well!

Happy Fourth!!

This is a card I created for July 4th and for my son's dog Taylor...I will write what I put on the back of the card which I think is important for us all to remember everyday not just today.

I did this painting for my son in rememberance of his wonderful dog Taylor. She loved to go on the pontoon for rides. This was the 4th of July and she loved to get her scarf on and be in all the excitement of the regatta on Movil Lake. She put her whole heart into it and smiled the whole time. Our freedom is very dear and we are so proud of all those who have fought to keep us free. Next time you see the flag go by in a parade...remove your hat and place your hand over your heart and mean it. We are a very blessed nation and we need to show that pride like our grandparents had. My grandfather always stood at attention for every flag and he taught me to do the same. It is one small way to honor our country and show our gratuitude to the military for their service. And Taylor might add one more thing....SMILE!

Paul and Babe in Watercolor!

Here in Bemidji we will be celebrating 75 years of having Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox as our city mascots! I wanted to paint them but thought I would paint them differently than usually they are seen. I used salt and pepper shakers and made it appear that they are on Lake Bemidji with their reflections in the water. Reflections of the stars and moon are there as well! A fish has jumped in the water and they are gazing up into the sky at the Big Dipper where the North Star is located. This was a fun painting for the anniversary and hope it will do well this summer! I made cards and giclees of it.

Afternoon Delight watercolor with pears

I am not done with this yet as I cannot figure out what should be on that little tag hanging there and thought the title would give me the answer but it doesn't...still some painting to do but I have stopped hoping to come up with some solutions and none are coming. ha! I am thinking of calling it Afternoon Delight..but not sure on that and open to suggestions!!

Watercolor Workshop

I am going to offer a watercolor workshop here in Bemidji, MN this summer. The dates will be June 28-30th and the price will be $185 for all three days. I am hoping this will then make flying here seem affordable. The contact is Janet at 218-444-5606. Her email is jbrademan@yahoo.com I am hoping this will turn out to be a wonderful time for people to get away for a few days before summer gets too busy! Any questions, just ask!

Sharing My Posts!

I have now added a link on the side bar and also below each picture that will allow you to share with facebook and also to tweet it. If you click on the title for the post, it brings you to a page that is just that post and then share it, that picture will come to Facebook etc...and the perfect thing for me is that when viewers click on it they will be brought back here to my blog to view it. That is terrific as then my blog will get more views! So I really appreciate it when you do that for me. It means alot! Thanks!

My Friends the Squirrels!

I have begun a painting but it is progressing very slowly and I will not be doing a step by step on this one. It just might be one of those that is going to take a long time as I am working out the background now and it will be complicated and not easy to do.
This is one of my buddies who visits me and looks through my windows to find me to let me know he wants peanuts. I have 6 that come but one seems to know I am the source of all his enjoyment! ha!
My pet Bluejays still come as well and oddly there are 6 of them! I guess 6 is my lucky number! hee!

I have so many things that need to be painted for upcoming events that it is taking all my time away from this. Hang in there...I hope to have some things to show you but for now I am sorry it is so quiet.

Roses Watercolor

I have not given this a title yet but wanted to get it up for you. This is a full sheet in size so it is pretty good sized and took awhile to do. I think it was a struggle to save the glow when I was going so dark in the shadows but I hope that it still glows! Any suggestions for titles are welcome!

Lean On Me

Well the more I looked at this painting below I felt I needed to change that area on the left behind the fence as it was now an entirely different painting once that heavy fence went in...the airy quality there was totally different from the heaviness of the rest. At first what I tried was awful...and I had to scrub...which I hate to do but had to save this. I think it is ok but if only I had had thought this through I would not have had this problem...therefore...do as I say, not as I do! ha! Always know your background before you start a painting. I always do but then I will change my mind and make things up and as you can see I can nearly wreck things...I need to put a very large sign up above my studio table that says...WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? DON'T CHANGE YOUR MIND!  Ha!!!  I went in and redid some edges as well on the peony along the dark side of the fence and other areas...I bet I could spend two more days adjusting things but have decided to instead start something new and I turned this against the wall...I cant look at it or I will tinker with it again!!! I will head to the printers that is 3 hours away sometime next week and get this scanned so giclees can be made and cards.

White Peony Completed

I cannot get a very accurate picture as we are having a blizzard but thought I would post this anyway. It is close. I want to be done with this as I have already begun my next painting and I am so anxious to get going on it! I will have to wait until tomorrow but in the mean time I can clean up the studio and be ready to go!

I darkened the sky in the very last because to do it any sooner I might have gone too far. Darks of course are such great contrast but I am always looking for another answer...it is easy to go dark but I wanted a composition back there. I still might do something with the left upper area but decided to wait and think on it. I hope that I can call it done and move on but in reality there is so much I could tinker with and adjust I could be on this another week!! So for now I am calling it done and the title is going to be Lean On Me I think. It was a title suggested to me and I think it is a very good one!

White Peony Demo Continuted

I am a little further...but not as far as I had hoped. Life just keeps getting in the way and so paintings do not get done like they should...but that is just how things are for me right now.

I started the fence and decided to go quite dark with it for contrast but that is going to require alot of adjusting with the values in the peony. I do not think that will be hard however but have decided I need to get the leaves figured out and in so that I have all the other values to look at to make my final decisions on the peony. Each time I wash over the browns in the fence they fade out as transparents will do so then I have to go back in and add some details again so it is taking a little longer but I always enjoy this back and forth play with the painting. I hope after tomorrow I am working on the peony and bringing this one to a close!

Another White Peony!

I started working on another white peony and before Christmas had it blocked in as you will see in the first picture and then finally did some thinking on it and today I added the beginnings of a split rail fence. I am hoping this will work out but means I have to darken all the values again in the peony. The grays are the ones I always make from my triad of Quin Rose, Indanthorne Blue and New Gamboge. The fence is an attempt to split the background into a Golden Mean of thirds to see if I can add interest and hold the eye in that upper third on the right. I should learn photoshop and not experiment with a painting I really like but it is what I do...ha!!

Hope everyone is having a great New Year!!