Revisiting an old painting

About a year ago I painted this scene of waves hitting the rocks, but it needed something more.  Last week I added the two birds and call it "Instrument Landing."

Falling into the Mist

Recently I painted this scene of roaring falls and mist in the mountains.  I tried to capture the combination of the energy of the falls and the solitude of the mist at the bottom . . . all the while, retaining the large mountain scale.

It's Fall, Y'all!

This is a small painting I did for our Thanksgiving card . . . it sets the stage for fall, food and relaxing times.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Paris (?) Plein Air

Several weeks ago a number of fellow watercolorists and I, all members of Southwestern Watercolor Society, descended on Paris, Texas, for a weekend paint-out.  Here are three paintings I did on Saturday.

Getting Away

Don't we all want to just pick up and take off for the islands, lay in a hammock and sip a cool one?  Well, here's one way to do that.  It's called Island Sunset.  Ahh!

Different Approach to Painting a Tree

Last week I painted a tree (boring) on a different ground.  I did an under-painting, then coated that with a diluted wash of matte medium, providing a base where the watercolor paint sits on the surface.  It's easy (sometimes too easy) to lift, but harder to get good dark colors.  A fun challenge.

Autumn's Comin'

In anticipation of fall (it's only 103 in Dallas today), I just finished this painting of an aspen forest, complete with a woodsman.  It's titled Changing Colors.

Another Ink and Watercolor . . . and on the water

My last post was an ink and watercolor painting.  Here's another that I just finished.  It's simply titled: "In Port."

Ink and Watercolor . . . in Italy

Over the past couple of decades, we've had the pleasure to traveling in several parts of Europe.  Photos from these trips are great painting inspiration.  We stopped for lunch in Florence and here was our view.  I did this in ink first, then added watercolor.  My high-school friend, Lewis Murray, tells me this is on Via Tornabuoni, just off the Ponte Vecchio on the town side (not the Palazzo Pitti side).  As the American Consul, Lewis lived in Florence for three years.

Night Scene on Water

Two things I like to paint are night scenes and vistas on water with reflections and ripples.  Here I've combined the two in Deck Party.  It's on my yacht . . . or your yacht, anchored in your cove . . . or mine.  Join us, and party up . . . on deck.

East Texas cabin

Thirteen years ago we built a get-away cabin in East Texas (at Holly Lake Ranch).  We've spent many wonderful days there relaxing and enjoying the quiet rural life of the area.  But it's time to move on, and we've put it up for sale.  In the past decade our cabin has been the subject of a number of my watercolors.  Here are a few.

Pop Art Exhibit in Richardson

I'm pleased to be part of Richardson's (Texas) first PopUp Art Exhibition that we just hung today.  It opens tomorrow evening (Saturday, July 13) and features 12 local artists . . . the opening, from 5:30 to 8 PM, is replete with food, drink and live music.  If you are in the North Dallas/Richardson area, drop by Saturday evening.  Here are details . . .

If the image is hard to read, the opening reception is at the Spring Hill Marriott Suites, located on Shiloh, one block south of Renner in Richardson (due south of the new hospital extension).  I hope to see you there.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, USA!

In honor of our country's 237th birthday, I'm posting two paintings.  I finished the first a short while ago and the second several years ago . . . they both work for this great holiday.  Thanks to all of the warriors who have our backs all over the world!

Armful of Flowers

I just finished this half-sheet watercolor, titled "Armful of Flowers."  It's all about an old house in the sun with shadows and bounce light, surrounded by a garden of flowers.  The owner is entering her home with an armful of flowers.

On Line . . . at last

I'm pleased to say that I've finally got my website (mostly) rebuilt and on-line.  It's a bigger job than I thought. Visit the new one at www.herbreedwatercolors.com and give me some feedback.  I still have to link the thumbnails to large images.  I'll give some updates on what and how I did this.

Recently I was on a paintout in north Texas (at Nocona and St. Jo, just south of Oklahoma) with the Southwestern Watercolor Society.  Here are a couple of paintings I did that Saturday.