Minutes

I cherish the tiny moments. Aloha!

More Hanalei!

If I could be there to paint this every day, I would...here's a small panorama. Aloha!

Mist

A very small sketch that holds a moment and a feeling. Aloha!

Hanalei Turquoise

Vibrant colors like magic...sigh. Watercolor and watercolor pencils. Aloha!

Namolokama Waterfalls, Hanalei

These have been on my mind for a long time. Finally had that moment and so glad for it. Followed by wonderful slack key guitar concert! Aloha!

Hanalei from Princeville

Painting again finally! How not, with this view? It was a tough year...but that's all being washed away. I think this one shows that struggle a bit, and I'm good with that. Aloha!

Begin again

It's been a long time...like ancient history!  But art never gets old, and it always renews. I'm so happy to have had a wonderful friend join me today to draw. It's the first I've done in almost a year. 

This Greek Torso of Aphrodite at the North Carolina Museum of Art captivated me with the exquisitely subtle curves of every contour. I could have stayed there all day, just in this one spot. No time to do justice to the draperies or do more than enjoy it all. My being is so much better off today. Mahalo to the artists and the art lovers!

Jordan Lake Light Show

Jordan Lake light show...from my reference photo taken on an April evening. There were very ominous storm clouds just south of here but the sunset had this lovely promise of light. It wasn't clear where the sun was. It was as though it was trying some new ways of making rainbows. 

On a technical note, this painting is watercolor on watercolor canvas, which is new for me. Very different handling from any paper! Guess I'm exploring new ways of making rainbows, too!

To purchase, please follow the link: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/melle-ferre/jordan-lake-light-show/391405

Aloha!

Geese on the Pond

A pair of Canadian Geese who seemed the dominant residents at a small water retention pond, although a solitary Great Blue Heron and pair of Mallard ducks were present. This pair stayed close together and kept a close eye on me. The reference was a photo I took in the early spring, so it'll be interesting to go back and see who's there now. 

Done for the Daily Paintworks "critter" challenge. Just a little behind on those!

To purchase, please follow the link: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/melle-ferre/geese-on-the-pond/389795

Aloha!

Buoys on the Lake

A bit of gray, a bit of wind this morning on the lake. Pastel pencils on paper.

To purchase, please follow the link: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/melle-ferre/buoys-on-the-lake/388049

Aloha!

Crystal Palette

Okay, pun intended! Original still-life from watercolor class today...I'm thinking it may be the only painting of a crystal vase and a watercolor palette, but I would be happy to see other examples! 

To purchase, please follow the link: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/melle-ferre/crystal-palette/387768

Aloha!

Green, green, green

Fair warning: this is clearly plant pornography for the gardening addicted! Most of this painting was done en plein air at a fantastic local gardening center, of the kind where you can't stop looking, but what you really want is to just move in. This is looking at the backside of a free-standing fireplace. I know, I know. You're thinking "built like a brick house". Hey, don't tell my husband, but I'm going to have to go back again. And maybe paint the front side. 

To purchase, please follow the link: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/melle-ferre/green-green-green/386651

Aloha!

Field and Forest

My second painting in the hayfield today. I especially like the strong contrast between field and forest, which drove this painting. I'm told the hay will be hauled away soon, so I'll have to "make hay [paintings] while the sun shines"! 

To purchase, please follow the link: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/melle-ferre/field-and-forest/386360

Aloha!

First Hayfield

A real adventure en plein air-drove past this morning and just had to go back. So I screwed up my nerve, and walked up to the farm house. Permission asked, and very nicely it was given to me! The owner,  Brenda, drove up as I was painting and very graciously pointed directions to another (more shaded) hayfield, so I might try there also. The geese were also quite gracious about modelling in this first one. I don't feel that it's quite finished, so it may change later. First, something cold to drink and some shade! To do list: get umbrella!

Aloha!

Green Thumb?

Do you think they'll grow? This was a still life from "life" done in Rocky Alexander's watercolor class today. Spent a few minutes at home tidying it up. I try to take care of my brushes, but it surely would be nice if they would self-propagate!

To purchase this original watercolor, please follow the link:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/melle-ferre/green-thumb/386133

Aloha!

Return of the Heron

Back at Lake Crabtree in mid afternoon. Thought I was going to be rained out, but the shelter of the gazebo kept the light rain off my paper and it blew over. I left the gazebo and the dock out of this painting (if you recognize the view from A Place to Rest). The heron was a little annoyed to be bothered in this fishing spot, so I tried not to jump every time the bumblebee buzzed me from behind and the skinks made their surprisingly loud racket in the underbrush!

Aloha!

Shadows and Shore

En plein air watercolor sketch of grasses and waves. Just enjoying the colors without being overly concerned with the structures. Most of the painting I did this week isn't finished yet, but I'm gearing up for another round of Ultimate Painting competition tomorrow! Funny how having the major time limitation of 20 minutes  lets you throw all the other ones aside!

Aloha!

This Old Truck

This one is for Carol Marine! She loves to paint old trucks, so when I saw this old Chevy Truck parked on display, I had to stop and give it a try. Not many choices of vantage point, and a couple of fire ants objected to where I set up! Still it was a worthy subject!

Plein air, watercolor pencil and water brush on 140 lb paper

Aloha!

Springtime Jordan Lake

Plein air watercolor on a beautiful morning at Jordan Lake. This is a popular fishing spot, so I had lots of company and a backpack and fishing rod parked on the rocks briefly. Of course, by the time I take the references on scenes like this, they have changed so much! 

Follow link to purchase or see other available works

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/377869

Aloha!

Silver Morning Flight

Silvery light around nine in the morning. It was a little brighter until the clouds shifted and the sun rose up more behind them. Have been thinking about flight and the heron did some fly-by's this morning, but it was the soaring hawk that got in the picture.

Follow the link to purchase or see other available works

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/377241

Aloha!