Ocean Feelings

This is one of my favorite paintings. The colors seem to evoke the feeling of the ocean to me. You may see something entirely different. That's the fascination about abstract. I find it peaceful and calming.

Watercolor on Yupo paper = Size: 11" x 14"       Original art, unframed: $250

Emergence

This burst of color began by painting the bright luscious colors freely on the paper and watching as the vibrant color ran and began to form interesting shapes. Later I added the dark to emphasize the cocoon which held the emerging color.

Watercolor on Yupo paper - Size: 10" x 13"         Original art, unframed - $90

Serendipity

This painting evolved by spraying black webbing spray and then looking at the lines and shapes and waiting until I found an area that spoke to me. When I saw the branch form I felt the tangle of leaves and colors. I enjoyed painting this abstract and it feels happy and alive to me. I call it Serendipity because as the definition says: it is the occurrence and development of things by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Watercolor on Yupo paper - Size: 10" x 13"          Original art, unframed - $110

Vein of Turquoise

I love turquoise! As I painted this vein in a rock wall, I couldn't believe how alive the vein and the rocks looked. This kind of vibrancy can only be attained on yupo paper. But the character of the rocks intrigued me too. The entire painting felt like it was a part of me!

Watercolor on Yupo paper - Size: 11" x 14"          Original art, unframed  $140

Sunflowers

This painting began as a loose watercolor but when I noticed a floral form, I used negative painting to pull out the sunflowers. I love the way discoveries can be made in the flow of color. Painted on Arches 140 lb. watercolor paper with many layers of color.

Watercolor on Arches - Size: 9" x 12"  -  Original art, unframed - $125

Mountain Reflections

I intended to paint another rock series painting but this mountain emerged along with it's reflection. I felt the burnt sienna foreground grounded the painting. It's fun to watch what happens on this wonderful yupo paper which is not absorbent at all. The paint sits on the surface and that's why colors become more vibrant.

Watercolor on Yupo paper - 9" x 12"        Original art, unframed - $110

Grand Cayman Shells

I have a large conch shell I got from my trip to the Grand Cayman Islands. We were swimming with the sting rays and after we returned to the boat, the captain took us to another area and dove down and brought up a beautiful conch shell. We were fortunate enough to receive the gift.  I love shells and wanted to try an abstract inspired by them.  I liked the way the blue color suggested the ocean.

Watercolor on Yupo paper - 11" x 14"           Unframed original art: $110

Vein of Gold

I was inspired to paint Vein of Gold while writing in my journal. I realized rocks and layers of rock have always been of interest to me. As a child I loved to dig in the dirt and find rocks. Using a hammer I would crack them open to see what I might discover inside. Often I'd find thin veins of quartz and I thought I'd found gold! This love of discovering the unknown prompted this painting called Vein of Gold.

Watercolor on Yupo Paper - Size: 11' x 14"          Original art unframed: $125

Feelings of Autumn

I began this painting by spraying the yupo paper with a small amount of gold webbing spray. I added watercolor and watched the colors take form. Later I refined the shapes into images and the suggestion of leaves floating in water.  Painting nature in an abstract form allows my Spirit to speak and feel free.

Here in Southern California we don't see the beautiful red, orange and gold autumn leaves. Painting helps transport me into the autumn mood.

Watercolor on Yupo Paper - Size: 11" x 14"           Original art unframed: $110

Underwater Dance

I live about 5 miles from the ocean and find watching the waves to be inspiring. Sometimes I go to the tide pools and stand on the rocks and peer into the dark waters while the waves come and go. Yupo paper is perfect for expressing the feelings and color of the underwater dance.

Watercolor on Yupo Paper - Size: 10" x 13"         Original art unframed: $80

Frosty Trees

Playing with color, I noticed a frosty look to my strokes. When I painted the vertical lines I realized these were trees. Yes, my paintings tell me what the subject will be. It's an exciting way to paint. Your mind stays free of expectations and you allow the paint and brush to be in control. I especially like the way this one looks.

Watercolor on Yupo Paper - Original art, unframed -   Size 8" x 10"      $80
                                             Original art with mat  -     Size 9" x 12"      $90

Wall of Strength

I wish I could say I planned ahead and drew little sketches and did everything many artists do, but that just isn't my style. I paint from the heart and allow my feelings to guide me. I added the softness of the green (maybe something growing between the crevices), to portray that strength and softness survive very well together. The rocks give stability to the plant and the plant gives life to the rocks.

Watercolor on Yupo Paper - Size: 11" x 14"       Original art unframed: $110

Peace in the Depths of Nature

Shades of blue speak of peace to me. Frequently I allow the color to pick the subject. I begin playing with color, blue first, then adding lavender, aqua, green. I have nothing in mind but soon I begin to see a leaf peeking through and floral shapes emerge. Now I have a direction and all I do is discover the forms.

Watercolor on Yupo Paper - Size: 11" x 14"          Original art unframed: $120

Vein of Color on Yupo

What is it about rocks that I love so much? I play with the paint and suddenly rocks appear! With this painting, the warm and cool gemstones wanted to be seen, and sometimes I feel the painting comes alive by itself. It's like Michelangelo sculpting and talking about the form crying to be freed from it's stone casing.

Try painting with watercolor on Yupo. Allow the color to paint itself. All you need is the wisdom to know when to stop. After it dries, give it a spray of clear acrylic gloss to seal the paint and to prevent you from going back and tinkering! The other day I had a painting everyone loved but I felt it needed just a little more. It kept getting worse and worse until finally I washed it all off to start fresh. That's the good part about painting with Yupo. You never waste paper.

Watercolor on Yupo Paper - Size: 11" x 14"     Original art unframed - $110

It all depends on how you look at it......

                                  

On the left: Mountain Mist  

On the right: Tree of Mystery

This is an interesting painting. I began painting Mountain Mist, as a continuation in my rock series. I loved painting it, feeling the cool mist crawling over the edge, and adding the mysterious dark blue mountain in shadow to the right. The strength of the rocks and softness of the mist with a touch of mystery, spoke to me of a woman's character.

When I was finished I turned it upside down and voila! there was Tree of Mystery with snow piled around the tree's trunk. The same feelings of softness, strength and mystery live within the painting turned this direction. I love it! 

This is wonderful. If you get tired of Mountain Mist, just turn it upside down and you have a new painting! This is what I call a "happy accident"!

Watercolor on Yupo Paper - Size: 11" x 14"          Original art unframed: $120

Rock Mountain

Rock Mountain was a more planned painting than I usually do. I wanted to paint the ruggedness of rock mountains. I loved using many colors to portray the interesting rocks. To me, this painting represents the strength of the rocks and peacefulness of the snow covered mountain in the background.

Watercolor on Yupo paper - Size: 10" x 13"           Original art, unframed - $120

Joyful Floral

I feel happy, joyful and alive when I look at this painting. The colors resonate with me and I feel like dancing!  This painting was completed with a minimum of strokes which keeps it fresh and clear.

Watercolor on Yupo paper - Size: 9" x 12"          Original art, unframed: $110

Flower in the Woods

I love the mountains and walking in the woods. This painting reminded me of the discoveries to be found in the dark undergrowth. No, I didn't plan all of this ahead of time. My painting tell me what they will become. This one began with gesso on watercolor paper. As I added paint, floral and leaf shapes seemed to beckon to me and I pulled them out by painting negatively around them.  I liked the shaft of light that lit on the petals.

Watercolor on gesso paper - Size: 11" x 14"             Original art, unframed: $125

Deep in the Woods

Deep in the Woods was done using gesso on watercolor paper. I had nothing in mind and began putting paint down. Soon I felt there were trees in this tangle of growth so I painted the negative space and watched my little forest scene come forth.

Watercolor and gesso - 11" x 14"           Original art, unframed: $120

Woman Emerging

This painting was done on Arches watercolor paper which had been covered with gesso. Using water colors I began to add color and shapes. Soon I recognized a woman emerging from the filmy curtains. By developing the figure with darks and lights, I think the semi-abstract painting took on a nice feeling.

Watercolor and mixed media - Size: 11" x 14"        Original art, unframed - $110

Carnival Abstract Collage

There is something about collage that fascinates me. Finding treasured papers, netting, strings, and tying it together with color is exciting. You are never sure of the outcome. I call this one Carnival Collage because it feels fun, exciting and alive with a hint of the unknown.

Watercolor Collage - 9" x 12"                   Original art, unframed  $90

Blue Collage

Blue Collage was created using torn pieces of Japanese papers, watercolor paint, threads, pieces from a Paris, France map, gold leaf and gauze. The pieces were assembled on a transparent piece of plastic and placed in a clear acrylic box frame.

Watercolor Collage - 9" x 12"       Original art, framed and ready to hang: $110