Amber Ridge Desert

Rock Creek in Valyermo

2011-12-10T13:51:00.001-08:00

Rock Creek in Valyermo, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

9 x 12 water mixable oils on canvas panel. Plein air class this morning was in Valyermo. The fall colors are almost gone. It was cool, then nice when the sun came out, then cool again when the sun moved and we were in shade! When we stopped here, there was a doe getting a drink, she bounded back up into the mountains. A hawk flew over a couple of times. So cool to be out and see the wildlife!

Poplar among Cottonwood

2011-11-26T17:30:00.001-08:00

Poplar among Cottonwood, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

12 x 12 Canvas wrapped board, using Cobra water mixable oils. Painted en plein air off road near Valyermo.It was a beautiful day for painting, the sun was shining, and the weather was mildly warm for late fall. It had been a couple of months since I'd painted, felt SO GOOD!

Small Wash Picnic

2011-09-16T14:27:00.001-07:00

Small Wash Picnic, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

Yesterday Mike had the idea to pack up a picnic lunch and head up over the hills above our house. It had been too long since I'd had time to paint, so I immediately jumped up and had my plein air gear ready to go in about 2 minutes! I don't normally paint small, but decided on a 6 x 8 panel. This is done with WMO (Cobra) oils. It was 1 p.m., so not the prime lighting time for painting, but I take what I can get. LOL!

Soledad Canyon Wash

2011-08-02T05:15:00.001-07:00

Soledad Canyon Wash, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

12 x 12 oil on canvas -- using Cobra water mixable oils. This was my first plein air workshop on July 23. I had one big obstacle, the water mixable oils got thick and gummy in the heat. I posed the problem on WetCanvas and was given several solutions to try. The next week (previous post) I tried one and had success! This painting, because of the gumminess I experienced, I had to touch up a bit at home. I also still needed to add the tree trunks and some spots of color on the sand.
The location was right in the middle of the wash, located in Acton. The sand in the wash was so thick I think the legs on my easel must've sunk a good 12 inches - LOL! It was a great experience and I thoroughly enjoyed instruction from Richard Gallego (gallegoart.com). Rich's impressionistic style is very appealing to me and I hope I can get away from my realistic style.

Hot Hay in July

2011-08-01T13:23:00.001-07:00

Hot Hay in July, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

Plein air in Leona Valley, oils on 9x12 canvas. I did not realize how much hotter it would be to set up on hot, dry, hay rather than the dirt road. The heat reflected up off of the yellow grass hay and made the 3 1/2 hours out there pretty miserable. I did thoroughly enjoy the outing, though, and the scene was SO summertime! There were some blue flowers still blooming in the meadow and the contrasts of yellow and green were very appealing.
I continue to use the Cobra water mixable oils and continue to love them. I mixed linseed oil and water (50/50) and that worked perfectly as a medium to keep my paint smooth and creamy on the palette. Clean up is still soap and water.
My plein air paintings are done with a primary palette -- UltraMarine, Azo Yellow (which is being switched to Cad Yellow), Naphthol Red Medium and Titanium White. I'm finding that mixing in the field is very doable and sure makes for a lighter load in the french easel!

July

2011-07-20T11:58:00.001-07:00

July, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

The July challenge in the Watermedia Forum at WetCanvas was to paint something that described what "July" means to you. When I look back over my lifetime, there are four elements that were always present in the month of July. . .water, picnic tables, ice cream freezers, and watermelon.
When I was a kid, we'd travel from AZ to OK every summer (usually in July) to see family. I remember being at my grandparents farm and taking turns with my cousins sitting on the burlap bags that covered the hand-crank ice cream freezer as Grandpa would churn that ice cream. Grandma had a picnic table that my Uncle Ledger made from steel piping and heavy planks of wood -- it was built to last and it did! We'd always eat on that picnic table in the back yard. Cold watermelon was a usual treat, but I don't remember Grandpa growing melons. . .he had acres of corn mostly, but also one plot of land where he'd grow strawberries and then there was the "house" garden where all the vegies were planted.
Our parents would drive us out to Beaver's Bend where we could swim at the "swimming hole," and we occasionally went into creeks (although my mom didn't let us do this often because of all the water moccasins). We moved from AZ to CA when I was 12, the summertime trips to OK became every other year and then on the years when we didn't go to OK, we'd go to Lake Shasta and waterski every day for 2 weeks! Yes, we'd have watermelon, and we sat at picnic tables, but we didn't churn ice cream. As I grew older, water continued to be a part of summertime, we'd tube the Mokelumne River in Lodi, CA, paddleboard Lodi Lake, go skiinig at Hogan Lake or Comanche Lake and swim at the Lodi H.S. West Campus public pool. Now that I'm grown, my kids associate all these things as summertime "fun in the sun" and I can already see that they will become memories for my grandkids!
My challenge was done on a 5x8 sheet of Raffine ArtSketch paper and I used watercolor pencils (Faber Castell and Derwent Inktense) to paint it and Dr. PhMartin's Bleed Proof White ink for accents.

Reworked - Three Joshuas at Sunset

2011-07-14T11:22:00.001-07:00

Reworked - Three Joshuas at Sunset, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

I toned down the mountains with a layer of glaze and deepend the orange just behind the mountains. Not sure if this is the final or not. . .still studying it on the easel ;-)

Three Joshuas at Sunset

2011-07-12T09:19:00.001-07:00

Three Joshuas at Sunset, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

18 x 12 water mixable oils on stretched canvas.
The purple isn't quite as vivid as it is on the monitor -- I tried to get it to be true to the actual painting, but couldn't quite "get it!"

High Desert One

2011-06-02T18:16:00.001-07:00

A couple of days ago I took my watercolor gear up onto the hills above our house and did a plein air landscape. I used that watercolor as a reference to paint this WMO. I've never painted plein air and decided to give it a try. I plan on doing more studies like this because I had a blast painting en plein air AND I'm hoping it will be a method to help me learn impressionistic style with my WMOs. This painting is a 9x12 on canvas paper. I use mostly Cobra paints, and have a few Holbeins in my box. The only Holbein used on this was raw umber. I'm having problems getting the yellow ochre to not look so orange on my photos! There is NO orange in this painting.

Lone Joshua

2011-05-17T13:56:00.001-07:00

Lone Joshua, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

Oil on 20 x 16 cotton canvas. The lower right corner is not as light as it looks in this post. . .that is purely the result of my poor photography skills :-) The photo reference was one I took while hiking on our hills. I'm finding myself drawn to desertscapes since I've been hiking on our hills rather than walking in the neighborhood. There's so many truly wonderful views providing me with lots of reference photos. I'm thinking lately about hauling supplies up and trying plein air! Desertscapes are new for me; I've always favored lakes, rivers, and large trees. After 18 years of living away from my "preferred" scenery, I'm finally embracing the desert I live in and truly appreciate the many shades of brown, red, lavender and yes, even green!

Joshua Soldiers

2011-05-02T16:49:00.001-07:00

Joshua Soldiers, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

I was going to call this Joshua Stand, but changed it to "solders" because of current events.
This is a 20 x 16 oil on
masonite board. I'm attempting palette knife painting; the background sky and mountain were done with brushes, but the entire mid and foreground are done with palette knives. The ref photo is from a personal photo taken up on the hills where I hike with my husband. It was a breezy morning, as indicated by the cloud cover coming over the mountains; those clouds are actually marine layer fog and clouds. The hills still have their dots of yellow from our spring wildflowers.

Sunset on the Delta

2011-04-25T22:12:00.001-07:00

Sunset on the Delta, a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

Water miscible oils on 9x12 canvas paper. This one almost went into the trash, but I posted it on WetCanvas and had some very good critiques and was able to salvage it. I love sunrises and sunsets and am finding them easier to get down with oils than with watercolors.

Still Life Lesson 7

2011-03-10T13:09:00.001-08:00

Still Life Lesson 7 a photo by BYarborough on Flickr.

Franciscan Crinoline Tea Set done on 9 x 12 canvas paper with Cobra and Holbein water miscible oils. The background and shadows are Indigo with turquoise blue mixed in, the teapot, sugar and creamer were done with titanium white with a dot of cerulean blue and then zinc white for some sparkle highlights. The china pattern is painted with quin rose, turquoise blue and pthalo green all lightened with titanium white.
I've always wanted to paint one of my teasets and this was quite a lot of fun! Of course, there's always areas that I'd do differently if I were to do it again, but I'm mostly happy with this.

Lake in Broken Color

2011-02-18T13:38:00.001-08:00

Lake in Broken Color
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

The second part of lesson 4 is broken color technique. Painted on 9x12 sheet of Canvas Paper, using water miscible oils, reference photo from Nel Jansen. An undercoat was applied in vermillion and allowed to dry. I decided on the vermillion because it is the compliment of blue (which there's a lot of in this landscape) and also because it would fit in with the fall foliage.I chose to do the sky and lake smooth and then use the broken color technique for the vegetation. I have a looooong way to go in learning this technique, but found the assignment fun.

Red Tulips

2011-02-10T11:10:00.001-08:00

Red Tulips
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Lesson four in Oils class: lost edge. I was ready for a simpler subject (after two landscapes) and thought these tulips would be perfect since Valentine's Day is coming. I tried something new-to-me for the background by mixing Burnt Sienna and Cobra's Light Gold and applying with a "X" motion. I applied the left side heavier than the right side. In real life it almost looks like suede, I LOVE it! What a fun color this light gold is going to be as an additive! Painted on a 9 x 12 sheet of Canvas Paper.

Sagebrush 2

2011-02-04T07:16:00.001-08:00

Sagebrush 2
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

With corrections. I'm happier with this now.
Now to wait and seewhat my teacher thinks of it. There's ALWAYS room for improvement.

Sage Brush

2011-02-02T14:28:00.001-08:00

Sage Brush
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Still working from the same ref photo, but with a crop. I didn't get the sage bush as blue as it should be, it was more "true" the first time I painted from this ref photo. I DO like it with no clouds. I'm having some problems with my "cools" and "warms" with the oil paints. I think I'm concentrating more on darks first and then am not remembering to check the color temperature.

Juniper Forest-Lesson 3

2011-01-28T15:09:00.001-08:00

JuniperForest-Lesson 3
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

For oils lesson three we continue to learn about composition. Photo ref was taken while hiking in the hills above our house a few days ago. There is a lovely high desert meadow and mini juniper forest that I really like to walk through. There's lots of dappled shade and a variety of desert vegetation. Royal Talens water miscible oil is now under the brand Cobra instead of Van Gogh H2Oil. Same paint, different look to the tube :-) I also have a few tubes of Holbein Duo -- I like all of them equally well.

Pears

2011-01-24T08:59:00.001-08:00

Pears - Corrected
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

We are still working in composition in Nel's class, this week it was to paint with a "path of dark" or a "path of light." Originally the shelf was dark but it melded into the striped wall and made the pears look like they were floating, so I lightened up the shelf. I MAY have lightened it too much as I think I've lost the "fork" shaped path of dark. I do think it's more appealing this way, though.
This was done with two colors plus white and I used Van Gogh H2Oils in Indian Yellow and Blue Violet. I found out that Indian Yellow is VERY transparent, which made the pears to be most difficult. I used a variety of blending brushes, especially on the shadows and shading. Note to self: Check transparency before deciding on colors!

With Corrections

2011-01-19T09:23:00.001-08:00

With Corrections
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Okay. . .I couldn't stand the "marching ants" and so pulled up some of the bushes and gave some others some growth vitamins ;-)
For some reason (probably better/morning lighting) this one is brighter and more true to life.

Intermediate Oils - Lesson 1

2011-01-18T20:38:00.001-08:00

Intermediate Oils - Lesson 1
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

The finished painting after much angst. I haven't painted with oils in over a year and ran into memory blocks while working on this. The vegetation was done at the end of the day and I had lighting problems, didn't see the "marching ants" effect of their placement until just now. I'd like to redo this painting after I finish the course. I love the reference photo and have always been partial to desertscapes that have the red rock against a vivid blue sky.

Jo's Northern CA Coast

2010-11-27T10:18:00.001-08:00

Jo's Northern CA Coast
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I nabbed this photo from my friend's, Jo, Facebook page ;-)
It's a morning shot of the Mendocino Coast. The fog is just starting to clear away. Jo and her husband have a family ranch there and it's her favoirite "get away from it all" place.
I did this on a 9 x 12 sheet of Fabriano Artistico and used American Journey paints. I tend to use the AJ paints mostly on Yupo and every time I use them on paper I wonder why I don't more often! They are pigment rich tubes and very creamy.

Tumbleweed Snowman on Yupo

2010-11-17T17:02:00.001-08:00

Tumbleweed Snowman on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Another WetCanvas challenge for the Watermedia forum. The challenge was to paint a sample for Christmas Cards. We actually DO get snow in the high desert of southern CA, but rarely enough to make a decent size snowman, Many people spray tumbleweeds with fake snow and build a snowman with those prickly, stickery weeds! So here's mine, he's done on Yupo (I sure do LOVE working on this slick stuff!) and I used American Journey paints. The Yupo sheet is 9 x 12

Autumn Road

2010-10-16T17:46:00.001-07:00

Autumn Road
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I got a new art book by one of my favorite watercolorists, Rose Edin. The book title is "Color Harmonies." I've always admired her style but been quite unsuccessful in executing it! I decided to try one more time. The underpainting is poured using the primaries. This one was poured keeping the white of the paper for the center, followed by a band of yellow, then red, and the outer "ring" in blue. After the underpainting is dry, the sketch and painting is done. I used masking on the birch trees, prior to the pouring step. All paints are DS and the paper is Arches, cold pressed (5 x 7)

Roadside Tombstone

2010-10-14T07:57:00.001-07:00

Roadside Tombstone
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Wetcanvas October challenge in the Watermedia forum was for cemetaries or tombstones. I found this reference photo in their photo library. I haven't used my water soluble graphites in a long while, so decided to do the drawing with them. Most of the graphite was lost with the watercolor and gouache, but you can still see it in the texturing of the distant mountains. Done on Arches, cold pressed (7 x10) and used DS paints and some white gouache.

Prelude in Nebula on Yupo

2010-09-13T14:53:00.001-07:00

Prelude in Nebula on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

The idea for this came to me one morning and I just had to try it! WetCanvas has a Sept challenge in the Watermedia forum called "music." I thought about painting an instrument. But an instrument would be difficult (at best!) on Yupo, and I've been itching to get a sheet of Yupo wet. My mind went to painting a nebula (something else that had been discussed on WetCanvas). The idea then grew to include some music notes and do something a bit abstract (nebulas certainly lend themselves to abstract!). I found some sheet music for the theme from 2001 A Space Odyssey and . . .wah lah!! Here it is. The music notes were done with a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and were by far the most difficult to get down (some smudging where my hand rested--it was MOST difficult to draw these lines while holding my hand in midair!!)

Macro Robber Fly

2010-07-22T18:13:00.001-07:00

Macro Robber Fly
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

The only one I'm doing that has legs! Two more to go and then I have to decide how I'm going to "assemble" these for Austin's wall.
Same support, paint, technique as the others.

Macro Rhingia Hoverfly

2010-07-21T15:08:00.001-07:00

Macro Rhingia Hoverfly
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Isn't this one odd? I think I like the reddish eyed ones best. While painting this one for the series I was reminded of how much Austin likes the movie, Monsters, Inc. and that he'll probably associate these flies with that movie. Same support, same technique, same paint. . .and, yes, I'm starting to get bored with same ol', same ol'

Macro Soldier Fly

2010-07-19T09:56:00.001-07:00

Macro Soldier Fly
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I'm not happy with this one and almost didn't post it. I may end up doing it over. One of the features of flies that I've noticed is their "fake" eyes. I know other insects have these and they are defense features. So I ask the question, what does a fly need to defend itself against besides a flyswatter? Frogs are one predator, but are there others?
This is the same support and medium as the previous ones.

Macro Horse Fly

2010-07-18T16:25:00.001-07:00

Macro Horse Fly
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Continuing in the WetCanvas July challenge, and in my personal challenge to get 9 of these painted before the end of the month! Same support, watercolor canvas and same technique, oil pastel, watercolor, gel pen.
The eyes on this guy really were red and green and in this strange zigzag pattern. He's rather plain without those colorful eyes! They remind me of some of those weird contac lenses that some kids were wearing a few years ago.

Macro Long-legged Fly

2010-07-17T18:06:00.001-07:00

Macro Long-legged Fly
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

WetCanvas July challenge. It's amazing how many different flies there are! This is again done on the 5 x 7 watercolor canvas, using oil pastel, then DS transparent watercolors, then DS interference watercolor, Bic black gel pen (for some of the fine hairs). The eyes on this reference photo really ARE these colors -- truly amazing what the macro shots show!!

Green Bottle Fly Macro

2010-07-17T15:56:00.001-07:00

Green Bottle Fly Macro
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Bug #2 for the July WetCanvas challenge in the watermedia forum. I'm using 5 x 7 watercolor canvas and there are times when I wish I were using paper instead! Canvas doesn't "bleed" like paper does and there are parts of these macros that I'd like that wet-in-wet look. The eye, nose, neck and parts on the body were done with a little oil pastel. DS watercolors went over the entire fly, followed with a light layer of DS interference white pearl over the body (you can't tell that it is iridescent on the scan). The hairs were done with paint and then with Bic black gel pen.
My goal is to do 9 of these 5 x 7 watercolor canvas fly macros and arrange them like a collage for Austin's room.

Macro Common House fly

2010-07-10T19:32:00.001-07:00

Macro Common House fly
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I did this for a challenge in WetCanvas, Watermedia forum. In looking through public domain photos, I came upon some macros of flies -- and thought it'd be fun to do a series of different kinds of flies. Here's the first of six and the title is going to be "The Eyes Have It!" This first painting is a common house fly.
I used watercolor canvas (5 x 7) and used DS paints over a light application of oil pastel (on the eyes only). Then I painted the part of the body that is shown with DS interference, violet. I wish the sheen of the interference paints showed up on scans -- it's really cool! The hair was done with a brush and then finer hairs with a Bic black gel pen. This was really fun!!

Dead Banyon Tree

2010-06-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

A dead banyon tree on the beach. Watercolor in 8.5 x 5.5 Raffine ArtSketch book using DS paints and a little touch of white gel pen and micron back pen (for the root "hairs")

The Imaginary Trip to the Beach class is almost over. I have 2 more assignments and then I'll be wondering what to do with my art time!!

Tommy Turtle and Friends

2010-06-23T15:34:00.001-07:00

This was a fun assignment! I've never painted anything that was "underwater" and it sure presented some challenges!! When Austin saw this on my art table, he said, "Mimi! Hi Dude. . . .Bye 'quirt," and then he laughed and laughed. Of course, you have to have seen Finding Nemo to "get this."

Boardwalk

2010-06-16T09:13:00.001-07:00

Boardwalk
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

An assignment from Laure Ferlita's class, Imaginary Visit to the Beach. Painted with watercolor (DS paints) in a 8.5 x 5.5 Raffine ArtSketch book. Grass accents and a few board lines done with micron pen. White gouache touches on the ocean waves.
Website for Laure's classes is
www.imaginarytrips.com/ImaginaryTrips/Welcome.html
I HIGHLY recommend her classes -- lots of fun and good artistic "stretches."

Flamingo

2010-06-12T21:20:00.001-07:00

Flamingo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

An assignment for Laure Ferlita's class, Imaginary Visit to the Beach. This was especially fun -- getting the swoop of the long neck and the variety of pinks and the bits of ragged edge to denote

Ocean Sunset

2010-06-05T22:07:00.001-07:00

Ocean Sunset
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This is an assignment from the class I'm taking from Laure Ferlita, Imaginary Visit to the Beach. It's in a 5.5 x 8.5 Raffine ArtSketch book and is painted with DS paints using waterbrushes. The center of the sun was masked out using a wax crayon.

Conch in Journal

2010-06-03T15:48:00.001-07:00

Conch in Journal
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I'm in the midst of my second class with Laure Ferlita, Imaginary Visit to the Beach, but this isn't an assignment from the class. Our beach scenes sparked me to check the WetCanvas reference library and I found this picture of a conch shell. The pinks were so vivid I wanted to paint it. It's in a Raffine ArtSketch journal and is painted primarily with DS paints, the pinks are American Journey and the white foam is white gouache.

2010-05-31T16:48:00.000-07:00

Imaginary Visit to the Beach - 2

The second assignment for my class was to draw/paint pelicans on craggy rock shoreline. One of the purposes of this class is to learn how to get objects down fast using a limited amount of supplies. It's "imaginary trips" and so we pack as if we really were going on a trip. . .there's no grabbing of supplies from our home studio! We use a limited palette (that is quite sufficient!) and waterbrushes, so no popping into a home studio to get that favorite brush or that different shade of color. It's such a fun class, but also these limits pose challenges!

The water on this scene was very hard to do without my nice large brushes and without masking fluid to mask out those pelicans! LOL!!

2010-05-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

I've started my second class with Laure Ferlita. It's called An Imaginary Visit to the Beach. I didn't post my work from the first class I took from Laure, no reason really, I just kind of forgot to post to this blog after I'd posted to the class blog. Here's my first assignment:

Patience-Quilt Square on Yupo

2010-03-10T08:50:00.001-08:00

Patience-Quilt Square on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

One of my online art groups has a Spring challenge going in which we are to paint a quilt square. I wanted to try this on Yupo, so here it is. I used AJ paints and this is an 8 x 8 square.
It's absolutely fascinating what some artists are coming up with for this challenge and I definitely want to do more. Some are painting a detailed "printed fabric" and while I don't know how well that would work out on Yupo, I just might try a simple one.

Garden of Gethsemane

2010-02-25T15:16:00.001-08:00

Garden of Gethsemane
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Watercolor on Lama Li paper using Daniel Smith paints. Size is 8.5 x 11.
My, but it's been a long time since I painted anything. It sure felt GOOD to get the palette out and start mixing and splashing. The only painting I've done for the past couple of months has been sketch type paintings in a journal. I was feeling the "need" to really get down to business. I really need to carve out time designated for "art only!"

IL

2010-01-07T08:30:00.001-08:00

IL
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This barn reminded me of a little town my grandparents used to live in in OR. Not unusual to find a barn here and there in the midst of the town. Clearly showing that the "homesteads" were eventually encompassed with houses as the towns grew. Most people maintained the barns well enough to be used for storage or garages.
The sky, trees and foreground were done with watercolor and then the barn and shadows were done with Derwent's tinted charcoals, which are watersoluble. I drew and filled in the barn with the carcoals, gently blended with a Q-tip and then applied water for further blending. Colors of charcoal used were glowing embers, mountain blue, ocean deep, burnt earth, and dark.

Peggy's Pt in Nova Scotia--Oils on Canvas

2009-11-13T13:17:00.001-08:00

Peggy's Pt in Nova Scotia--Oils on Canvas
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This is for the Virtual Paintout challenge for the month of November. To see how this challenge works, and to view other entries, go to:
http://www.virtualpaintout.blogspot.com/
This is painted with Van Gogh H2oils on a 9 x 12 sheet of Canva-Paper. It's my first try at an ocean (haven't done oceans in watercolor yet either!).

Rabbitbrush on Yupo - Again

2009-11-05T19:00:00.001-08:00

Rabbitbrush on Yupo - Again
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Here's my second attempt at my idea for a collage style painting on Yupo. Wow - this one was a challenge! I decided to use Daniel Smith paints and found out real fast that when I put the masking tape on after letting the background dry (to get my square), it pulled quite a lot of the paint off. I tried scotch tape and it pulled off even more paint. I tried applying the masking tape and only pressing down a very slim edge of the paint, and it STILL pulled off the paint! So after washing this sheet of Yupo in the sink with soapy water THREE times, I free-handed with a brush each of the squares. This method did not give me a crisp line. Lesson learned: do not use DS paints for this technique!!
When Kevin Davidson critiqued my last painting, he pointed out two critical points. One is that I needed three squares, not two. I KNEW this, using odd numbers rather than even, just didn't think of it at the time. The second point was to completely (with Qtips) clean the background off in the areas where I was going to paint the subject so I would get the transparency that IS watercolor. Yupo is bright white, so that was a critical point, especially with the yellows. I'm not giving up on this technique, I just am not using DS paints for it again!!

Rubber Rabbitbrush on Yupo

2009-10-28T09:20:00.001-07:00

Rubber Rabbitbrush on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I had an idea to do watercolor on Yupo in a collage style. After talking about this with Kevin Davidson, he suggested using masking tape. It was a terrific technique and one I'll do again. I'm not REAL happy with this because it's not like I had envisioned. But I WILL try again!!
I painted the bg green/yellow and let it dry completely, I masked off the the first square, wiped it clean with a sponge and then painted the bushes and sand. After that was dry, I masked and cleaned off the square for the close-up of the blossom. One major thing I should've done is to paint each of the two squares bg colors on BEFORE I removed the tape (it was a bit hard to keep the lines straight). I didn't want to leave the tape on too long because I was concerned it would remove some paint that I didn't want removed. I think a few more minutes would've been fine.
I'm very allergic to these bushes and they bloom in Sept - Oct where I live! They make the desert colorful, but NAIL my sinuses and my voice! They sometimes give me laryngitis!

Desert Sunset

2009-10-16T15:45:00.001-07:00

Desert Sunset
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This was done in a workshop taught by Claudette Garcia at the Pasadena Art Expo. This is the landscape as it was done in the workshop and I still need to add a bit of orange to the white light coming through the tree trunks and also add some very small bare branchlets to the tree. A terrific workshop!! This is 16 x 20 stretched canvas using Holbein Duos (Watersoluble Oils).

Fall Creek - WMO on Yupo

2009-10-02T15:05:00.001-07:00

Fall Creek - WMO on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Another Fall painting using the water miscible oils on Yupo. I tried doing the "water" on this with the George James' Yupo watercolor technique of smoothing with a sponge roller. It took several tries and I'm still not 100% happy with it. Watering down the oils works very similar to watercolor, so I'm eager to try some other watercolor techniques with it, I just don't want to get too overboard or I might as well work with watercolors on the Yupo! A fun painting and probably the last I'll have time to work on for a couple of weeks.

Yea, it's FALL! - WMO on Yupo

2009-09-30T11:30:00.001-07:00

Yea, it's FALL! - WMO on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Every Spring I think it's my favorite time of year, and then every Fall I think the same thing. I guess I like "seasons" and am so thankful I live where we have them. How boring it must be to live where there is no temperature or scenery changes. This is water miscible oils (I'm still using the Van Gogh H2Oils and LOVE them!) and it is painted on 9 x 12 sheet of Yupo. The reference photo is from WetCanvas - they have over 800 Fall Landscape photos in their library!
I fell off on my goal to art journalize every other day in September, but I'm not going to beat myself up for failing. I've decided I'm just not the type to consistently do art in a journal. Although, having said that, I'll be one of the first to sign up when Cathy (Kate) Johnson offers her online class on art journaling!! I've been working on this Fall scene for several days as some steps required the previous layers had dried.

Butterfly in my journal

2009-09-18T08:15:00.001-07:00

Butterfly in my journal
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This is not really post-worthy, but I'm trying to get back on track of journaling every odd day in September. One of the ideas I had for journaling this month was to experiment with techniques and medias. This butterfly is done in my 7 x 9 Raffine ArtSketch book. I painted the entire sheet with a gradated wash of a cool green. Then I started with the background and did some negative painting -- a technique I'd really like to get better at. It's really hard for me to wrap my brain around the concept!! Then I combined watercolor and watercolor pencils on the butterfly. I used Faber-Castell's Albrecht Durer pencils. The white on the butterfly is white acrylic.

Desert Sunset 1

2009-09-02T16:59:00.001-07:00

Desert Sunset 1
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

One of my "Aussie" friends, Wendy Shortland, and I have challenged each other to work in journals this month. We are planning on doing a journal page on every odd numbered day in Sept. This is my 9-1-09 work. I've decided to use a Lama Li book that is 7 x 9. For quick watercolors, I LOVE Lama Li paper -- pure 100% cotton rag, handmade, terrific rough texture and no sizing. It doesn't handle masking or very much scrubbing, so you get it down and leave it! I used American Journey paints on this one. It took about 10 min to get this one done. I was going for QUICK - LOL!!

Desert Sunset

2009-08-31T17:17:00.001-07:00

Desert Sunset
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

WM Oils on Yupo. Inspiration photo from my friend, Dani John.

Beach Bike - WM Oils on Yupo

2009-08-27T20:19:00.001-07:00

Beach Bike - WM Oils on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Water miscible oils on Yupo. One of the hardest steps for me in using oils is that I lose my sketch lines and have a hard time finding them and redrawing with paint! I'm SO used to drawing and the graphite staying on the paper while I watercolor. Drawing this bike was most DIFFICULT for me and I didn't get it right, but figured I'd post it anyway. I DO like the way my pot and plant came out :)

AV Annie Oakleys

2009-08-24T08:13:00.001-07:00

AV Annie Oakleys
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This is a commission piece done for a local women's shooting group. Done in watercolor on Acquarello Artistico paper with WN paints. This painting depicts subjects common to the Antelope Valley (AV) which are it's beautiful sunsets, a large desert valley surrounded by mountains, joshua trees, poppies and the California quail. The group will be formatting this for a logo -- possible shape suggestion is a hexagon.

Landscape 2 - Yupo

2009-08-22T15:31:00.003-07:00

Landscape 2 - Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Watersoluble oils on Yupo. (The light line through this is not on the painting, it is reflected light from the photo I took.) This ref photo is probably too complex for someone who has not painted in oils (that would be ME) -- but I did enjoy the challenge. I'm still finding that I really like watersoluble oils on Yupo!!

Landscape 2 - Canvas

2009-08-22T15:31:00.001-07:00

Landscape 2 - Canvas
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

My second landscape for the oil class. Reference photo is from WetCanvas and is one of their August Challenges in their new forum, Water Solube Oils.

Landscape-Yupo

2009-08-07T08:16:00.001-07:00

Landscape-Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Yupo version of lesson 4 from Nel's Oil Painting Class. It was difficult to get the sky in and to soften the cloud edges on Yupo. I have some ideas to try to improve this on Yupo the next time around. Ain't it fun experimenting and learning?! Roadway is too purple and since I was painting this side-by-side with the canvas version, that's the biggest boo boo on both of these landscapes.

Landscape-Canvas

2009-08-07T08:14:00.001-07:00

Landscape-Canvas
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Nel's Oil Painting Class assignment for lesson 4. It's quite obvious that I got the road too purple : )
Otherwise. . . this was a fun assignment.

2009-06-24T15:07:00.001-07:00

Virtual Paintout-Florence, Italy
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This painting was coming along quite well until I added the shadow! The shadow is from buildings that are across the street from this one. Just goes to show that I really MUST evaluate a photo reference more thoroughly before painting!! The photo I printed from the google map is shown on the far right. Virtual Paintout Blog sets up monthly challenges where a city is listed, along with the google map (street view), and participants can choose any scene from that city. You can print the scene right there on google maps. The address for this one is 4 via dei Banchi in Firenze, Tuscany, Italy. Check out the blog here
The Virtual Paintout

Brick Cottage

2009-06-13T12:46:00.001-07:00

Brick Cottage
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I'm still toying with the brick house with ivy. This is done on Lama Li using WN paints. I used a gray crayon again for the random brick mortar and the leaded window. I REALLY like the effect it gives. As I was working on this it occurred to me that I'm working faster, but not really any looser. I need to re-read the lessonsand then re-do some of the exercises in the current course I'm taking, Watercolor-Fast and Loose!

090523EDiM

2009-05-25T15:04:00.001-07:00

090523EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Lesson 3 from Watercolor Fast and Loose. I honestly didn't realize that the ref photo from the last 2 door paintings was SO similar to this lesson. I had glanced briefly through the lesson and set it aside, the image must have been in my subconscious! I have to say that I am most definitely getting faster from taking this course. Sometimes I do feel like I'm getting looser, other times I seem to want to nit and tweak here and there. This is done in my 6 x 9 Lama Li pad and I used WN paints. The techniques for this lesson were wax resist, digging in, scraping, spatter and rigger. None were new to me, but I sure don't use several on a regular basis so it was fun to apply them here.

090520EDiM

2009-05-20T16:42:00.001-07:00

090520EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Ever since the end of March I've been tuning in throughout the day to see the live eagle cam in Norfolk, WV -- this has just been such an awesome live video cast!! This morning, the biologists removed the female from the nest to fit her with a satellite transmitter. The public will be able to track where she goes once she leaves the nest, in about 2 weeks. It was fascinating to see how they got her out of the nest and back into it--and such CARE was taken during the whole procedure. She was so cooperative, she even fell asleep during the ordeal and they had to wake her to get her picture taken by the media. The other two eaglets were calm throughout and the mom and dad eagles circled high in the air, but didn't appear to be alarmed. The live eagle cam is here
www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html
and the wildlife tracking site for her is here
www.wildlifetracking.org/index.shtml?tag_id=83736
Her name is Azalea and I look forward to seeing where she goes! I did this sketch QUICKLY while viewing the video and colored it in with Derwent Watersoluble Tinted Charcoal. It is in my Raffine Art Sketchbook.

090516EDiM

2009-05-16T14:02:00.001-07:00

090516EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Lesson 2 in Watercolor Fast and Loose -- a study of Edward Seago's work. I like this "minimalist" lesson and hope to do a few more. I used WN paints in Raffine Art Sketch book. This reminded me a bit of John Pike's work -- probably because of the palette used. Just three colors here, FrUM, Burnt Sienna, and Burnt Umber.

090510EDiM

2009-05-12T09:08:00.001-07:00

090510EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Well, it IS harder to do the technique from class on a composition all my own! I really like this photo of Burano, Italy, that I got from www.googlemaps.com "street view." I would like to try this one again. . . I need more blocked out white areas and I need to plan for my colors better so I can drop them in for interesting blending. This was supposed to be "Watercolor, Fast and Loose" -- is was defniitely NOT fast (I really overworked in some areas) and it's that same ol' loose that looks kindergarten! My next lesson comes tomorrow -- I hope I can get at least one more of these done today! It is in Lama Li 6 x 9 book and I used DS paints.

090509EDiM

2009-05-11T13:05:00.001-07:00

090509EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

My first lesson in the course, "Watercolor, Fast and Loose," is also doubling as the Every Day in May entry for Saturday. Done on 6 x 9 Lama Li with Van Gogh travel palette. Ooops, I forgot to erase my gridlines. Not a complicated drawing, but I needed the grid lines. This was pretty simple because I was following along step-by-step. I need to try my own reference to see if I can REALLY do this technique!
Over the weekend I fell behind in the EDiM challenges. I think this is going to be a continuing problem for me. I guess Mondays and Tuesdays are going to be my "catch up" days.

090508EDiM

2009-05-08T22:12:00.001-07:00

090508EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

For the Every Day in May challenge I've been trying to do art that had something to do with my day. Absolutely nothing was coming to me until the evening. My grandson noticed the moths on the patio and he was afraid of them. My son caught one and let it sit on his hand to show his son that they were nothing to be afraid of. This was a quick sketch that I redid in my Raffine with water soluble graphite pencils. I used the Nero extra soft and the 4B. Watercolor can be added to works done with these pencils, but is best done after the graphite has been wetted and dried thoroughly.

090506EDiM

2009-05-06T17:44:00.001-07:00

090506EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I was going to sketch and paint the loaf of Artisan Bread I baked today, but when I saw my Christmas cactus with a BLOOM, I knew it would be my EDiM post. This poor plant is so neglected, and yet it just thrives. Sometimes I don't water it until it's bone dry and the leaves are wilted. It is in the formal living area of my house and I don't go in there often, so "out of sight, out of mind." The only houseplants that do well for me are the ones that seem to like to be left alone. This past Christmas it displayed the most profuse bloom ever. Of course, it's almost time to repot it and that's why it bloomed so well!
It's in my Raffine ArtSketch book and I used the Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Crayons. I'm kind of liking the watersoluble crayons in this sketchbook, don't like them AT ALL in the Moley Sketchbook!

090505EDiM

2009-05-05T16:26:00.001-07:00

090505EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Today I ran multiple errands, did some laundry and wrapped, boxed and shipped my mom's Mother's Day gift. I LOVE my handbag hanger, it's SO nice to hang my handbag on a pretty hanger instead of sitting it on the floor in a restaurant! Whoever invented these was a genius. A couple of weeks ago when I was in LV visiting my daughter and her family, I found a very nice selection of these hangers at a very reasonable price. . . so I bought a whole bunch of them to have on hand for gifts. I've gotten my mom and both sisters onto the Bath and Body Works Lavender Chamomile nighttime products, in particular the hand lotion and pillow spray -- sent Mom some of those, too! This is done in my Raffine ArtSketch book, drawn with micron pen and colored with Caran d-Ache Neocolor II watersoluble crayons.

090504EDiM

2009-05-04T21:21:00.001-07:00

090504EDiM
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

For the Every Day in May challenge I'm sketching/painting something each day that pertains to something I've done that day. Monday is usually my "rest" day, but I decided to do a little travel instead! So . . .
I went to Paris, France . . . via www.googlemaps.com "street view" -- how FUN! I printed out the street with this little restaurant on it. You can see it too, just go to the map site and type in the address. I found out about this fairly new feature on google maps from virtualpaintout.blogspot.com/
Painted with WN travel palette and Niji waterbrush in Raffine ArtSketch book.

090501EDim

2009-05-02T07:15:00.001-07:00

090501EDim
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I've been away from art much too long! I decided to do the Every Day in May challenge. What better way to get back into art than journal work! This is the first sketch/wash I've ever done of a young child. I'm not even good at drawing adults, and children are even more of a challenge. My goal for this month-long challenge to to improve my drawing skills and to loosen up my watercolor washes. This was drawn with a ball point ink pen and the wash is WN travel palette and Niji waterbrush.
I'm really hoping I can keep up with this challenge all month! I had decided that I need to get back to basics with my art and then the Every Day in May challenge came up. What a terrific incentive.

Tulips

2009-02-19T04:23:00.001-08:00

Tulips
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

On WetCanvas there was a class showing how to paint tulips with just one stroke. I did the painting for the class but wasn't happy with my color choices. I wanted to try the "one stroke" technique again. This was interesting because the flower on the left didn't turn out very well and I went back over it with a couple of layers of glaze. . . I can really see the difference between it and the other two! I used DS paints, Quin Red and Quin Coral for the petals -- love these colors together.

2009-02-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

SF PAINTED LADY - INK AND WATERCOLOR POUR

The photo ref for this is from Different Strokes from Different Folks This is the very first watercolor pour I've ever done and there's PLENTY I'll do differently the next time around! I don't usually do architectural drawings or paintings and so the drawing was a stretch for me. After drawing with pencil I then went over my lines with a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and then did the pours. After the pours were dry, I touched up places here and there. I would like to try to do this again. Since the drawing was much more detailed than I'm used to, I copied it so I can transfer onto another sheet of watercolor paper.

2009-02-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

NEGATIVE PAINTING ON YUPO

This is the second negative painting I did for a WetCanvas class. I just HAD to give it a try on Yupo :) This is a very fun project. . . you just drip some big drops of color onto the paper and then do a yellow wash around the drips, let dry and then put a couple of more layers on using a green mix. You are supposed to do some negative painting of leaves on the last layer but I couldn't get it to work with the Yupo. So I decided to let Yupo DO what Yupo DOES best. . . I spritzed some water onto the dry painting and just let those "Yupo runs" do what they wanted. I have a pad of Translucent Yupo that I don't care for and used a sheet of it for this experiment. Glad I did, because it worked out pretty well and now I have a fun technique to use that pad up!

2009-02-05T10:34:00.000-08:00

KATHLEEN'S POND

Kathleen York took a marvelous photo that I really wanted to paint. Thanks, Kathleen!! You can see the photo here www.flickr.com/photos/kayork/3227076837/This was done on Lama Li paper using AJ paints. A limited palette was used. . . yellow ochre, indigo, burnt umber and a teeny smidgeon of poppy (which is a dark cad red)

Teri's Rose

2009-01-20T16:53:00.001-08:00

Teri's Rose
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Reference photo is from www.flickr.com/photos/teridc/3195909898/ Painted on Lama Li paper using DS paints. I used a white Crayola crayon for the resist. This was really a fun project.

2009-01-20T11:04:00.001-08:00

January Virtual Sketch Date
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Done on Lama Li with American Journey watercolor paints and a little bit of white acrylic paint. The reference photo along with the "rules" for the challenge can be seen here
Virtual Sketch Date.
This was much more challenging than it looked! It was difficult to get the white pith covering the clementine and also on the inside of the peel.

Pt Lobos on Yupo

2009-01-10T11:11:00.001-08:00

Pt Lobos on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This has been a weeklong project. . . a little bit here, a little bit there, remove a little here, remove a little there ha ha. I'm not satisfied with it, but ready to move on to something else, so here it is. Still struggling with what I want to be "my" style with Yupo. This is 9 x 12 and I used AJ paints. I just rec'd an order of 7 more tubes of AJ, so I should be pretty set with my AJ palette . . . for now. LOL!

2008-12-31T09:57:00.000-08:00

I reviewed my Art Goal list for 2008 and find that I'm pretty much repeating it for 2009. I've added some specificity to it with the hopes that I'll achieve more this year!

Here's my art list for 2009:
1 - Plein Air work - at least once per month
2 - Do art daily - can be sketch in a journal or painting
3 - Work and study art books and DVDs
4 - Take workshops and/or classes - either online or "live"
5 - Finish my food blog so I can have the cookbook printed at the end of the year - must do at least one post per week.

One idea I got from Ann in the EDM online group was to mark off the art goals on a calendar. She prints her calendar from this site. I decided to use this printed calendar, which prints onto one page, and will color code my art goals onto each day using the following key:
Yellow = Plein Air work
Red = Journal work
Blue = Painting
Green = Food blog

I can also list the books/DVDs/classes/workshops on the back of the calendar or footnote them on the front.

Christmas Corsage

2008-12-24T09:46:00.001-08:00

Christmas Corsage
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I'm one of the wedding coordinators for our church and we've had three weddings this December. This is my interpretation of a corsage from one of those weddings. Decorations of pine boughs, pine cones and green and mocha colored ribbons were stunning. I brushed some gesso onto a sheet in my Lama Li sketchbook in a zigzag pattern before sketching and painting. The gessoed areas took the paint much differently than the bare paper. A fun technique I learned from KreativeKay at WetCanvas www.kaysmithbrushworks.us/

Nov VSD on Dumpr

2008-11-24T17:36:00.001-08:00

Nov VSD on Dumpr
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

There's a fun little "toy" through flickr called dumpr.net
I couldn't resist and just had to see what the VSD image did when it got "dumpred" -- I thought it turned out interesting and I rather like it!

Nov VSD on Yupo

2008-11-22T06:21:00.001-08:00

Nov VSD on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

The November Virtual Sketch Date reference photo is just beautiful, but I found it quite a challenge for painting on my beloved Yupo. I got the composition all wrong, the horizon line is dab smack in the middle and I didn't even realize it until I was finished-UGH! Using the Kevin Davidson style of laying in the background wash on an easel and letting it run (really, it's like a pour) means than you can't redo the backgroundg once it's down and dry. So while I could've washed away the horizon, I wouldn't have been able to fix the sky. So . . . it's DONE. This is more in keeping with Kevin's style and I'm convinced that this is not the style for me. As much as I love Yupo, I'm finding working on it to be more work than fun and am thinking of taking a little break from it.

Ornament on Tyvek

2008-11-13T16:14:00.001-08:00

Ornament on Tyvek
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I've got a few ref photos that I'm painting for my Christmas cards this year. This is the first one, done on tyvek with DS paints. I painted the background and then rubbed it in with a tissue so the wonderful texture of tyvek could shine through. After I paint all the Christmas scenes, I'll print them out onto cardstock and am thinking of touching them up with iridescent paint.

Pumpkin LineUp On Yupo

2008-11-12T19:29:00.001-08:00

Pumpkin LineUp On Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

9 x 12 Translucent Yupo using AJ paints. I've used the translucent Yupo just once before and didn't care for it. I thought I'd give it another try. . . I still don't care for it, LOL! This is a bit more like Kevin Davidson's style. I still want to work some more pieces using his style before I start incorporating other styles into it to make it my "own." I taped the Yupo sheet to a foamboard and placed it on an easel. I then laid down a wash with yellow and green and let it dry completely. I worked the rest of the painting on top of the underlayer. Kevin wipes off the areas for his subjects, but with the light value of wash, I just painted the entire painting on top of the underlayer and it seemed to work fine.

2008-11-05T16:24:00.001-08:00

Autumn Woods on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I REALLY tried to do this Yupo using Kevin Davidson's technique. . . just couldn't "get it!" I attended Kevin's workshop at the Pasadena Art Expo and absolutely LOVE his work on Yupo, and will continue to experiment with his methods. Kevin works on an easel and he doesn't layer like George James or Taylor Ikin do. Kevin lays in the background as a wash - which really runs right down the slick surface of the Yupo. After that dries, he washes off the areas where the subjects/objects are to be painted and paints them in. One area at a time is painted and allowed to dry before the next area is painted. After three attempts, I finally gave in and incorporated a little bit of George James (the sponge roller technique) and am somewhat happy with this. I did keep the "drippy" background and did clear off the area where the lighter yellow and gold trees are, but found that I couldn't get the leaves to look right without a roll from the sponge. The stream on this doesn't read right, but I'm finished with working on it. One of the really cool attributes of Yupo is it can be washed off -- which I did NUMEROUS times and in various areas - LOL!

Pumpkins and Tree Trunk on Yupo

2008-09-26T16:23:00.001-07:00

Pumpkins and Tree Trunk on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

It's that time of year again! I love Autumn -- the season of harvest. I love the color changes and the cooler (but not cold) temps. I haven't posted in a long time. . . just not been able to paint anything post worthy. It's been a long slump, but I feel like I'm coming out of it. There's several things about this little scene I'd do differently, but at least I felt some creative juices flowing while I worked on it. And I do so LOVE Yupo and all the little surprises that just "happen

2008-08-28T19:13:00.001-07:00

Wordle
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This was fun! I popped in on some blogs I haven't visited in a while and read on Felicity's blog about "wordle." You type in the url of your blog and Wordle takes the most used words from the recent posts (I don't know what their actual definition of "recent" is) and then they put the words together. You can't save the finished product, but you can print it, scan it and then post it as I've done here. If you look back on my recent posts, you'll see how they've come up with my custom wordle!
I've been in the midst of an artistic slump. I've been painting, but nothing is working, nothing is postworthy!! I've gone back to the basics. . . thumbnails sketches, preliminary sketch/wash, and still I'm failing. I've tried looking at art blogs, looking through some of my art books, using different mediums and still. . . nada! I absolutely adore Yupo and am so frustrated that I don't seem to be able to paint on it anymore. I did this wordle and somehow it's inspired me to keep on keeping on, I've got to just hope that this slump will not only end, but that I'll grow in my skill through this process.

Joshua Tree on Yupo

2008-08-05T18:59:00.001-07:00

Joshua Tree on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

American Journey Paints on 9 x 12 Yupo. Love my new AJ paints, very creamy. I have a limited palette, so did a whole lot of mixing for this. The scan didn't turn out too well, the sky is Arctic Blue (which is Cerulean). I'm really not fond of Joshua Trees, but a friend of mine wants me to paint one for her and I'm practicing!!

Fruit WS Pastels

2008-08-02T07:53:00.001-07:00

Fruit WS Pastels
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

Change of pace! This is just a little exercise I did for the Watermedia Forum on WetCanvas. It's in my Raffine Sketchbook and done with Stabilo Carbothello watersoluble pastel pencils. I wanted to see how these pencils would work if I blended and burnished with a tortillon before I applied water. Worked great! The basket is wonky (as it was in the ref photo) and the red apple looks like it's ready to topple out (NOT as in the ref photo) ha ha. A fun change, but I've gotta get back to my Yupo - LOL!!

Beach Hammock 2 - on Yupo

2008-07-29T20:04:00.001-07:00

Beach Hammock 2 - on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

If you look closely, you can see the leaves from the acrylic painting on the backside of this sheet of translucent Yupo. This wasn't as different and interesting as I thought it'd be. Possibly a different scene with maybe just distant background painted on the backside with acrylics and no watercolor on top of it on the frontside. I'll try again. Also, the translucent Yupo is 104 lb and yet it is flimsier than the 74 lb regular Yupo--doesn't make sense to me.

Beach Hammock 1

2008-07-29T20:03:00.001-07:00

Beach Hammock 1
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This is the first step for my first Translucent Yupo piece. I painted these trees on one side of the Yupo with fluid acrylics. Then I let it dry and turned the sheet over and proceeded with the watercolor.

Beach on Yupo

2008-07-28T20:44:00.001-07:00

Beach on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

DS paints on 9 x 12 Yupo. I found this ref photo on WetCanvas and thought it was a simple scene to try the lighter approach on. I ended up using George James' paint roller technique , but did stick with Kevin Davidson's lighter layers technique. I still can't quite get the smooth coverage Davidson gets! I'm not ready to give up, will try, try again! I'm pretty sure he must use a thicker water/paint mix -- maybe the consistency of cream. I'll try that on the next go around.

2008-07-27T12:08:00.001-07:00

Blooming Desert on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

DS Paints on Yupo 9 x 12. I saw some of Kevin Davidson's work on Friday at the Laguna Beach Art-A-Fair and absolutely LOVED what he is doing on this support! I started this piece out trying to emulate his lovely handling of watercolor on Yupo and failed. I reverted back to mixing a little bit of George James' and Taylor Ikin's techniques. I'm not giving up -- but absolutely couldn't get his clean strokes and oh-so-light layering on this piece. I think I need to use a very simple composition --which believe it or not, I thought I was doing with this desert scene. . . but it grew and grew and grew. LOL! The photo ref just had some sage and distant junipers. . . I decided it was going to BLOOM.

Desert on Yupo

2008-07-24T20:34:00.001-07:00

Desert on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

DS paints on Yupo and this time I tried something new! I used YES! paste and tissue paper on the Yupo to get a "collage" type texture for the foremost bush and also the one in the back left. I let this dry and then proceeded with applying the layers of paint. I used the George James technique of smoothing with a sponge roller not just on the first layer, but also on subsequent layers and especially for the ground. I thought it really gave me a good "dirt and sand" look. I used Taylor Ikin's technique for the sky and also for the large bush on the right and back. I tried something new with the prickly pear cactus and just did regular brush stroke painting, very carefully so as not to disturb the underlayers, and then I speckled it with a stippling method. This works only if you make ONE stroke. In the George James DVD, he tells that it is not the water or the paint that causes the underlayers to lift, it is friction on top of the new wet layer which can be caused in several ways, one of which is the brush. All in all, this was a fun project and I just keep striving for more Yupo knowledge!!

Waterwheel on Yupo

2008-07-20T05:45:00.001-07:00

Waterwheel on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

DS paints. Photo ref from WetCanvas. I continue to experiment with painting on Yupo. I tried one of George James techniques on this one, I'm still trying to figure out how I want to meld some of Taylor Ikin's and George James' techniques into my own style. The technique from James that I used is spraying with a mist of water, laying a tissue over the area and then rolling over the tissue with a small sponge house painting roller. This removes the pigment and creates a white splatter effect. It's all just part of the journey!

Abstract Cactus on Yupo

2008-07-15T13:39:00.001-07:00

Abstract Cactus on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I just wanted to have fun with Yupo -- I know absolutely NOTHING about abstract painting, but I'm going to call it that. LOL! I sectioned off nine uneven squares and painted them with the same colors and really just let the paint do what it does best on Yupo -- whatever it wants! After all the squares dried, I did some cactus plants. . . it's DIFFERENT, that's for sure!! And I did have fun watching it flow and form interesting shapes.

Fountain Revised - on Yupo

2008-07-12T15:27:00.001-07:00

Fountain Revised - on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

The more I looked at the first fountain, the more I disliked it. So I decided to wipe off all the foreground and much of the middle ground and redo it. After all, wiping off COMPLETELY is one of the advantages of Yupo! I wanted to save the fountain, so was very careful about wiping around it with water-wet brushes and Qtips.

Fountain on Yupo

2008-07-09T13:06:00.001-07:00

Fountain on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

DS paints on Yupo. I've worked and worked this one and feel I just have to quit because I'm getting too fussy. I laid out the first layer and then wiped out the area for the fountain. Because I thought the fountain was going to be the most difficult, I painted it first and was quite happy with the patina I got using the UM Turqouise mixed with a tad of Manganese Blue Hue and then touches of Quin Gold -- really shooting for the look of copper that has verdi patina from age. After it dried, I dripped some water on with an eye dropper and then blotted with a tissue. Then I wiped up and defined my "drips" using a very small scrub brush. I used very diluted Indianthrone Blue on the "drips" and the water in the fountain. Next I tackled the trees and the fg grasses. The tree branches were laid in on the very first layer and the one on the left dried just perfectly! I didn't do anything more to it and the way the paint dried determined where my sunlight was going to be coming from. I struggled with shadows and shade -- this seems to ALWAYS be my struggle!!

Canadian Lake on Yupo

2008-07-07T19:17:00.001-07:00

Canadian Lake on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

I used several new DS paints on this. Their newest triad, Sand and Surf, provided the Indianthrone Blue that is the distant mountains, the Ultramarine Turquoise which is used on the lake and Goethite, which is the brown areas in the foreground. I also had bought Shadow Violet, which I used with the Indianthrone on the mountains and for the tree shadows. The lake also has a bit of manganese blue hue and ultramarine. The foreground has buff titanium (the lighter areas). The photo ref for this is from WetCanvas and is, in fact, a July challenge.
I really had a difficult time with the sky on this! I wiped it completely off and tried again. I'm still not thrilled with it. . . I think I REALLY need lessons on clouds!! And then I found myself getting too fussy with the trees and made myself STOP.

Stone Bridge on Yupo

2008-07-04T15:31:00.001-07:00

Stone Bridge on Yupo
Originally uploaded by BYarborough

This is the same photo ref I used a couple of months ago for a "traditional" watercolor. I just had to give it a go with the Yupo and DS paints. I'm trying to combine some techniques. . . and here are my goals. I want to create texture with both the natural flow of watercolor on Yupo as well as some stippling and other brush strokes. I want the vegetation to be "fluffy" and the water to be "flowing." I'm having so much fun trying to "go with the flow on Yupo" and also reining it in with brushstrokes and more pigment in certain places. It sure has been a fun challenge thus far and I'm constantly thinking of things I want to try "next time!"