Although it’s a warm winter here in the Methow Valley (thanks to El Nino), I’m loving skiing. There’s a wonderful network of groomed trails here for classic and skate skiing, and recently Darin and I explored the Rendezvous trails for the first time. The Rendezvous system includes a number of huts and we spent one night in the lovely Gardner hut with a group of friends. The hut was fantastic- a perfect mix of rustic and comfort with a wood stove and propane for cooking and lights. I woke up early in the morning and enjoyed making several watercolor sketches until my paints (and fingers) froze. Note the ice crystals in my cabin sketch sky…
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Last week I posted color chips that I’m exploring for my new Antarctic series of watercolors. Today I’d like to share an actual painting! I’m loving large washes of subtle color, and exploring the specificity of icebergs in the vast environment of the Southern Ocean. There’s something about big, quiet spaces- deserts, really- that I love. The open skies and simple elements provide me with space to think, reflect, and to notice the world around me.
My goals is to complete 10 or so paintings and display a series at Polar Science Weekend in Seattle next month. I’d love to see you there!
Blocky Berg, watercolor, 14.5" x 14.5"
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Happy new year! My life is regaining a sense of routine after the hectic (but great fun) holidays. Whew. I’m happy to be home in the beautiful Methow and back in my studio! So it’s been about a month since I last painted and I’m excited to get back to my series of Antarctic paintings. A few are already completed, but my goal is finish a number more in time for Polar Science Weekend at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle during the last weekend of February. Yesterday I sorted through my reference materials (photos and sketches) played with compositions and color. Exploring color is a particularly fun way to warm up after time away from the studio- I’m in love with mixing Daniel Smith’s Deep Scarlet (D.S.), Quinacridone Gold (Q.G.), and Indathrone blue (I.B.) and the following show some of my experimentations with warm and cool colors.
P.O.= Pyrrol Orange, N.G.= New Gamboge
C.V.= Carbizole Violet, H.Y.L= Hansa Yellow Light, H.Y.M.= Hansa Yellow Medium
R.S. = Raw Sienna, P.B.G. = Pthalo Blue (Green Shade)
Through December 17th, I’m offering free shipping on orders over $100 for prints, sketches, and cards. Visit my shop and check out what’s available!
I’ve just matted and posted in my shop all sorts of gems of studio and field sketches! I invite you to check them out- as well as my new wood-mounted prints. Through December 17th, I’m also offering free shipping on orders for prints, sketches, and cards over $100!
