This is how far I have come as of today. I'd say it's probably half done. I still need to adjust the colors on Kenzie, and paint her features. I also need to remove the mask and adjust the whites to not be just white and "raw". I will get a better picture of it when it's finished so you can see the textures in it.

This is the bare beginning of my painting of my niece. You can tell its still wet here. Plus, I used a lot of masking, which I normally don't use, but I want this piece to have a lot of texture. I also used ARches rough watercolor paper, another first for me. It's 22 x 30.

I haven't had time to post the past few days with 2 jobs, and cleaning the house for a birthday party, but I have been painting. These are some of the new paints I got for my birthday (Thank you Dad and Carol). I am already using them!

The first Sketch 12 x 18

This is what I'm working on presently. I do a "rough" sketch on drawing paper with a #2 pencil. I feel out the shapes, both light and dark, and outline them. I tend to always draw this way. When I am happy with the sketch, I'm going to transfer it to 22 x 30 watercolor paper, using a very old fashioned method. (I trace the lines on the back of the paper, and then place it carefully on the watercolor paper. I then go back over the lines on the front of the paper and voila! I can start painting.)

This picture is of my niece, Kenzie, at the beach. I know you can't tell that now, but by the time its finished you should be able too! This is for a figure painting contest due in Sept, so I probably won't have much time for the smaller pictures till I get this one done. Did I mention that I got a part time job and that my nieces are back for the school year, so I will be a very busy bee.

Global Warming 9 x 15

Today's image...I was not in the mood to paint a "pretty" picture last night...so I used the mood to paint a subject and give it a meaning close to my heart. I guess its my political piece of the week! I will probably keep working on it a bit, possibly change some things, but here it is for now. $99.00 plus $8.00 shipping and handling.

Florida Still Life 15 x 18

This one wasn't a one day painting either, but I worked on it today, so its my painting for today. Its for a local contest. Think positive thoughts for me that it wins!

Moto Bello, 18 x 23

This one was definately NOT created in one day. It took me weeks of layering color on color to get this far. The original is not for sale, but prints are for sale, just click on the link for prints on the home page of my blog.

Fingerpaints 9 x 15

$99.00 plus $8.00 shipping and handling.

This one started because I wanted to be able to incorporate many of the colors on my palette, and I was in a playful mood and not of a mind to lay it out straight. I have had the idea of "finger paints" bouncing around in my head for awhile, and decided to put the idea on paper. I will probably make a more serious study of this subject for a future painting.

Orchids at Night, 9 x 15

$99.00 plus $8.00 shipping and handling.