Fresh Market, colored pencil on paper

Fresh Market
colored pencil on paper
5in x 7in
copyright 2013 Rose Welty
$45

This little bluebird recently flew into my yard for his daily shopping. He caught a sale on the berries in the holly bushes - and had quite a feast. I, too, enjoyed myself as I watched him.

Fresh Market has been matted to 8inx10in and is ready for you to frame:

Please see my FAQs page or email me with any questions.

I offer free delivery to 27587 or USPS delivery

Free local delivery in 27587 $45.00 USD USPS Delivery $50.00 USD

Looking for a Suggestion

For a long time I've wanted to understand the philosophy behind Chinese and Japanese ink painting. It's not easy to find a book that goes beyond the "how to". I have a few "easy sumi-e" books. I'm not all that interested in learning how to wield a Chinese brush. I'm much more interested in understanding their composition decisions and what makes a "good painting" from the eastern perspective.

Recently I did find The Way of the Brush and happily received it for Christmas.

I'm loving the book - it has answers to many of my questions. Although, I will admit that I probably also need a more basic book or, at least, more reading on the subject to fully grasp everything.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Also, I'll be sending out my newsletter in a day or two - please sign up through the link to the right so you don't miss out.

Starting in Pieces (Start 3/30)

Camera Bag (Start 3/30)

This post is the third installment in my "art of the start" project.

This was a different style of start then the previous two starts. It felt wildly out of control, but quickly came together.

Next time I will list several ways to start a colored pencil piece and reveal which ones I'm using for the project.

Onward and Upward 2013

Onward and Upward
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper
copyright 2012 Rose Welty

My three goals for 2013 should look familiar. Listed below each goal are some possible ways to achieve each goal - but I'm not going to commit to those. As I did in 2011 and 2012, I'm going to evaluate each step of my journey and see what looks best to shoot for as I go.

1. Develop my work
• improve my eye by working from life (30 starts project, which has begun)
• sketching larger
• more study of eastern painting philosophy - got a few draft posts on this for you
• exploring mark-making
• using varied color as an edge-softening device
• improving my ability to convey texture (e.g. clouds)
2. Share my art
• continue with my biweekly newsletter
• daily facebook studio page updates
• getting involved in area artists association
• entering competition and possible craft fair
3. Build my skillset
• regular photo reference trips
• reading a few photography books - been having fun with PSE 11 already
• origami
• doing portraits more often
• mobile photography - this has begun already too, more later.

At the end of 2013, I hope I can say that I have developed my artwork further, shared my art with more people, and added to my skills, in whatever form those goals are achieved. Let's get down to business...

Start Number Two

Sketch of young man (Start Project 2/30)

I mentioned last time that I was beginning a new project - essentially starting 30 or so drawings from life using three different ways of starting.

Above is my second start. This sketch is fine as far as it goes, but in terms of what I intended to do, this falls short. It sounds easy to try a different way of drawing (or starting a drawing) but actually, it isn't that easy when you've had the same habits for years!

 

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Simple Should Be Simple

Only sometimes it's not. A while back my charming husband brought home flowers. There was one that had gotten bent off, so I rescued it and put it in a little jar and put it on my kitchen windowsill. I think I enjoyed that single one as much as the whole bouquet. Somehow it reminded me to be mindful of small things, to enjoy the littlest of pleasures:

Immediately I thought how fun it would be to do a series of "simple pleasures" pieces based on my own life.

Well, the fun may be waning.

My first go at this first piece: The Underbelly (aka the ugly stage).

I tossed that a few days ago. Second go:

And today I'm going to give it a third go. Amidst the irony, I press on.

It's Like a Fall Cleanup Around Here

Azaleas
colored pencil on paper
7in x 5in
copyright 2012 Rose Welty
click to buy, $45

I mentioned in my last post that I had been painting, that continues - onto a blue and gray living room and hallway. That's how it works with stuff around the house, isn't it? Once you paint one room, you realize the next room looks bad, and then there's that project you've been putting off...

After seeing to some more storage in the kitchen on Friday, I ventured into the garden today. I removed four small bushes, trimmed several large holly bushes (which grow far too fast and too large for my liking), and planted four more azaleas in place of the bushes.

Once I get all these rooms painted I should have an open studio, then you can see it all. :-)

Work in Progress

Dogwoods - work in progress, crop

I've been working on a new large piece, you can see a small crop above. I'm hoping to get this finished soon - I'm itching to get on to something else.

I'm trying out a new configuration for drawing - more about that next time.

I Know That Face

The Artist's Eldest Son
colored pencil on paper
13in x 9.5in
copyright 2012 Rose Welty

Jumped into another portrait. I'm really enjoying doing these.

Rhododendron

Rhododendron
8in x 10in
colored pencil on toned paper
copyright 2012 Rose Welty

Couldn't resist doing this rhododendron I saw in Asheville this summer.

The Artist's Son

The Artist's Son
13in x 9.5 in
colored pencil on paper
copyright 2012 Rose Welty

I jumped into another portrait. Lots of fun to do these!

Still In Progress

Work in Progress
12in x 9in
colored pencil on paper
copyright 2012 Rose Welty

My artwork has taken a bit of back seat to gardening as of late - I'm desperately trying to get the yard in shape before the heat really comes. This should, of course eventually, aid the artwork - I plant lots of flowers as you might have guessed.

But, I have managed to squeeze in the above 9in x 12in in the evenings. This piece needs to sit a bit, it is nearly what I had in mind, but I think it may need a few tweaks - time will tell.

Gdansk, Poland

Just wanted to pop in and show you a little sketch I've been working on. I did it using Google Street View - Gdansk is the Virtual Paintout this month.

This is the Google Street View.

Hope

Hope
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty
click to buy

My kitchen sink is in the corner of the kitchen. Consequently, I have two windows to look at when I'm washing up. One looks onto a redbud tree of mine, the other looks onto a white flowering tree of my neighbor. I haven't had a chance to ask him what it is, but it so lovely this time of year. This bud is from his tree. It starts out green like it is here, then when it unfurls the petals turn white. I will be doing another drawing of the white blooms.

I was down in the dumps last week - I had been trying to photograph some birds and not having even mild success. Then, as the sun was setting I looked out at that tree and saw these elegant buds - my hope was restored and I went out with my camera. I got some great shots and went out again the next day and found more beauty - even a few birds.

If this "Hope" has caught your eye, you can purchase it at my Daily Paintworks gallery. It will come to you matted (to 8in x 10in), ready to frame, as below:

Hope, matted to 8in x 10in

Just A Glance

Just A Glance
5in x 7in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty
SOLD

American Robins are quite plentiful around where I live. They are some of the first birds you see as winter slips away and spring edges closer. I love their beautiful golden breasts and dark gray heads - a lovely combination. They are quick - you only get a glance before they take off.



Also a shout out to Ann Thompson Nemcosky - I was a part of her daffodil challenge over the weekend. Ann does some lovely work and has been a good friend over the years. We met through our blogs but really got to know each other better studying a color project together. Check her out!

Keeping An Eye

Keeping An Eye
5in x 7in
colored pencil on colored paper
copyright Rose Welty
click to buy

When I was out photographing flowers the other day, I turned away from the tulips and was startled by this cardinal standing behind me. He didn't tell me what he thought of my photography, but he did allow me to grab a few quick shots before he scampered off.

This piece was done on Stonehenge "Fawn" paper. It's a "tan" sort of color - the paper shows through in several areas.

"Keeping an Eye" is available for sale at Daily Paintworks. It will come to you matted to 8in x 10in, as below:

matted "Keeping An Eye", copyright Rose Welty

Spring Burst

Spring Burst
5in x 7in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty
Sold

The other day I was on a walk with my husband at lunch time - this tree stopped me in my tracks. We were walking more for exercise than viewing pleasure so we had to push on, but I did go back later with the camera and snap a few photos.

It is a gorgeous time of year here. The whole town is yellow - there is that much pollen in the air - but the blooming trees are absolutely stunning.

Spring Burst has now sold. You can purchase it as a notecard at FineArtAmerica. For other originals I have for sale please see my gallery at Daily Paintworks.

Two Old Birds, colored pencil drawing

Two Old Birds
5in x 7in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty
SOLD

On and off over the last few years I've thought of drawing origami. Line is so important in origami and I think there are some interesting graphic explorations to be made. So the last few days I've spent time on "Two Old Birds". They aren't old cranes, they were newly made for this project - but they weren't folded by an expert and they had to be touching to remain upright - they just seemed like an older couple living out their days in love and support of one another.

I think I have tried to draw or paint origami once before but failed (I can't find the attempt, but I did find some more ambitious origami I did a few years ago). I don't know that I'll do a series, but I'll think about it.

Spring Magnolia

Spring Magnolia
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

Earlier this week I went to sign up for some summer activities. It was a gorgeous morning at Blue Jay Park and I couldn't resist taking my camera. I heard many birds and saw a few squirrels. Most of the spring blooms have yet to arrive, but the Jane Magnolias are out and were the focus of my attentions.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation,  Jane Magnolias are a "member of the "Little Girl" group of hybrid magnolias developed in the mid-fifties at the U.S. National Arboretum."

For A Moment - updated

For A Moment
14in x 11in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

Sometimes a piece just falls short. It doesn't meet up with what you originally intended or you just feel there is more in there waiting to break through the surface. It's that latter case that drove me to update this piece. Somehow I just felt there was more in the composition then I was bringing out.
So this past week I spent a bit more time with this image. Below you can see the original stopping place and the original post.