"Leap for Joy"

This painting was complete quite some time ago and I have just now decided to include it here in my blog; it was more of a study, and not quite typical of my style really; nonetheless I feel joy just seeing it like I felt while painting this from a photo by Lori Andrews on "paint my photo".

Jana's Iris

My first ever Iris and I will be painting more. This one from my own photo taken at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - when I see the beauty in a place like that it makes me wonder "how much more beautiful could heaven possibly be?"

Addie Bleu

She's a sweet, shy, little doll, soft as silk - my feline "Blue Burmese"

Addie Bleu

Addie Bleu is a sweet, shy, little doll - extremely soft, my feline "Blue Burmese"

Inner Glow

Watercolor on 140# Aches, 8" x 12"

Peekiing Through the Grapevines

Photo ref for this is from friend Kounelli "Manny" on flickr; I asked him for permission last year sometime and just painted it; thanks Manny

Tetrad Color Wheel

Some things I've learned about tetrads color groups:

- A tetrad consists of 4 colors positioned on the color wheel in either a square or a rectangle as in this diagram.
- You determine the color choice by deciding what you would like your dominant color to be and the rest will be built off this dominant color choice.
- Choose a "sister" color by moving either 2 or 3 colors to the left or right of the one you chose.
- Number 3 and 4 are decided for you by following a straight line across the square or rectangle, finding the complements apparent if you had drawn an "X" inside the box.
- See my chart below for 9 possible color groups resulting from the diagram above.

Tetrad Color Wheel

Some things I've learned about painting with a "tetrad" color group:
* Choose from the color wheel what your dominant color will be
* Next, choose a "sister" color either 2 to the left or right of the dominant color, or 3 to the left or right of the dominant color.
* Now, the remaining 2 colors are chosen for you by making a straight line across the inside of the color wheel as in this diagram.
* The tetrad consists of 4 colors, not just any random colors; they are in harmony.
* Instead of a square or rectangle you could think of it in terms of an "X" - across from each of your chosen colors, is it's complement. Striking grays can be created by mixing complements, or used in it's pure color make the painting sing.

Tetrad Painting

This study was for two purposes (1) to stay within the 4 colors chosen from my tetrad study below, in this case - the first one on the 3 row. (2) to practice painting in the round

Tetrad painting

This study helped me practice 2 things: (1) staying within the 4 colors chosen for the study, in this case - number 1 on the bottom row of my tetrad study below (2) I've been wanting to practice a round format in WC

Tetrad Color Groups - 9 possible choices

I've been studying tetrads and have created a diagram to better help me group the colors:

Crystal Bowl

Thanks to Vicki Greene for use of her photo and Susan Roper for coaching through the use of her demo, this was a project for the Watercolor Workshop online.

Valentine Roses

Dennis gave me pink roses between our anniversary and valentines day; they inspired me to paint roses and after seeing a photo by Michiel Thomas, he graciously allowed me to use it as a painting reference.

Valentine Roses

Dennis gave me pink roses between our anniversary and valentines day; they inspired me to paint roses and I used a photo by Michiel Thomas for a photo reference.