Rainy Day Dining Porch . . .

Rainy Day Dining Porch
in the Woods

at my home in Shapleigh, Maine on April 30, 2014, sketched on May 1, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Red Pine Cone

Red Pine Cone

in the woods behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on April 24, 2014, sketched on April 29, 2014
6" x 4", Winsor & Newton watercolors, white crayon wax resist,
on 144 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

From the Woods

From the Woods

walking home on the ponds woods road in Shapleigh, Maine 

on April 24, 2014, sketched on April 29, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, and clear wax resist, 

on 300 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
painted entirely with a large round brush, a #24 Princeton 4050R,
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Note: I get asked about wax resist, a technique that I learned while at the John Singer Sargent watercolor exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He was great with it. It's simply clear wax on the paper to repel a watercolor wash, great for highlights, great for birch trees, great for any whites and highlights. I've used white Crayola crayons, which works fine on white watercolor paper. But the last time I ordered art supplies I got some of these: Susan Scheewe Watercolor Resist Sticks, clear wax crayons. Clear wax is preferred because it can also be used over a wash already laid down to preserve that color. As of this posting, April 2014, Dick Blick had them, a pack of four, for $4.09 and Jerry's Artarama had them for $3.37. The edge of a block of paraffin works fine, too, and even a clear candle.

A Warbler Rocks On

A Warbler Rocks On

a Yellow Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea)
on a pile of rocks in the back fields behind my home
in Shapleigh, Maine on April 21, 2014, sketched on April 27, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.

Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

DPW The Busy Challenge . . .

The Busy Challenge

from The Daily Paintworks by Carol Marine

 

Manhattan Mayhem

from a reference photo, below, by Carol Marine taken in Manhattan during her
April 2014 trip east and sketched by me on April 27, 2014

NOTE: I used warm colors in the scene, yearning for
warm days, and kept the mayhem of the background busy,
the focus on the black Nissan Altima, which is curiously
a continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line;
this bluebird has evolved New York City style.

7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper.
I painted this entirely with a Winsor & Newton #12 round, Sceptre Gold II brush.
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

See the Challenge with all entries posted at Daily Paintworks HERE

Lily White . . . and poem

Lily White Bloom, Lily White Curls

two Lilium Longiflorum flowering set out on my deck in
Shapleigh, Maine on April 21, 2014, sketched on April 27, 2014
10" x 8", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Lily White

by Bruce McMillan

 
Lily 
white is 
seen as
pure, yet,
pure white
is the
mix of
all the
colors, 
it's a 
rainbow 
to keep
in mind.

Poem text and photo copyright 2014, Bruce McMillan
contact Bruce McMillan for use and permissions

Harbinger of Summer

Harbinger of Summer

an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) on
the ponds walk behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on April 24, 2014, sketched on April 26, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Early Spring Fort Ridge

Early Spring Fort Ridge

in Shapleigh, Maine on April 24, 2014, sketched on April 25, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Flicker in a Wood

Flicker in a Wood

a Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus) in the Fort Ridge woods 

along the ponds walk behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine 

on April 20, 2014, sketched on April 24, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

After the Ice

After the Ice

at the first pond on the walk behind my home in
Shapleigh, Maine on April 20, 2014, sketched on April 22, 2014
8" x 6", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Last Snow

Last Snow

on the ponds walk behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on April 20, 2014, sketched on April 21, 2014
10" x 8", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Lily Lilium Um Flowering

Lily Lilium Um Flowering

a Lilium Longiflorum flowering in a pot set out on my deck in the
early morning after an inch of snow on a sunny day Shapleigh, Maine
on April 16, 2014, sketched on April 20, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Lily's Curl

Lily's Curl

a Lilium Longiflorum flowering in a pot set out
on my deck in the early morning after an inch
of snow on a sunny day Shapleigh, Maine
on April 16, 2014, sketched on April 20, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Lily Bud

Lily Bud

a Lilium Longiflorum budding in a pot set out on my deck in the early morning
after an inch of snow on a sunny day Shapleigh, Maine
on April 16, 2014, sketched on April 19, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Trumpet Bloom Lilium Longiflorum

Trumpet Bloom Lilium Longiflorum

in a pot set out on my deck in the early morning
after an inch of snow on a sunny day Shapleigh, Maine
on April 16, 2014, sketched on April 18, 2014
10" x 8", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping
Note: I love painting big white blossoms on a sunny blue sky day with all their colors.

The Ice Out Pond Flag . . .

The Ice Out Pond Flag
Ice, Shadow, Underwater

at the edge of the hemlock needled ice on the second pond
on the woods walk behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on April 12, 2014, sketched on April 17, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, and clear wax resist 

on 300 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Oh, Deer

Oh, Deer

an Eastern While Tail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus borealis)
on my lawn as seen out my bedroom window in Shapleigh,
Maine on April 15, 2014, sketched on April 16, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Bliss . . .

Bliss . . .

. . . is being at the beach
painted from memory
using only a huge
number thirty round while
imagining what lies
beyond, friends, family,
adventures, wondering
if I might ever see
a Rothko at the Tate.

Sketched on April 16, 2014 for the Daily Paintworks Challenge,
Bliss by my friend Brenda Ferguson on Saturday April 12, 2014:
"Whether through color, subject matter or treatment, your challenge this week
is to create a painting that exemplifies JOY for you."
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 144 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press extra white watercolor paper
Also online at the Daily Paintworks Challenge HERE where you may also leave a comment

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Brenda, Kathy and Carol . . .

Brenda, Kathy and Carol
After Lunch, Artists in
Freeport Maine

Brenda Ferguson (blog), Kathy Mallat (site), and Carol Marine (blog)
browsing in Freeport, Maine on April 13, 2014, sketched on April 14, 2014
8" x 6", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico 500 soft press extra white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

 

Artists Bruce, Carol Marine, and Brenda Ferguson
with the iconic L.L. Bean Boot, size 410
according to the Bean information
Note: Bruce and Brenda have
taken Carol's Workshop

Deicing for Liftoff

Deicing for Liftoff

at the second pond on the ponds walk behind my home in
Shapleigh, Maine on April 12, 2014, sketched on April 13, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico 500 hot press extra white watercolor paper 

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping 

Still Pond Ice Receding

Still Pond Ice Receding

the first pond on the walk behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on April 9, 2014, sketched on April 12, 2014
9" x 7", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 400 lb.
Arches cold press natural white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Edge of the Pond Ice Out

Edge of the Pond Ice Out

at the first pond on the walk behind me home
in Shapleigh, Maine on April 9, 2014, sketched on April 11, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 400 lb.
Arches cold press natural white watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

The Last Petal Curl

The Last Petal Curl

of a tulip flower in a pot set out in my yard in Shapleigh, Maine
on April 2, 2014, sketched on April 10, 2014
7" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 140 lb.
Strathmore Series 500 cold press archival watercolor paper 

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Tulip Petal's Parting Curl

Tulip Petal's Parting Curl

in a pot set out in my yard in Shapleigh, Maine
on April 2, 2014, sketched on April 9, 2014
9.75" x 8", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico 500 soft press extra white watercolor paper 

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping
Note: The grays are a mix of  ivory black and Chinese white. 
I just got some neutral tint to try as a variation of ivory black.

Tulip Departing in Snow

Tulip Departing in Snow

in a pot set out in my yard in Shapleigh, Maine on April 2, 2014, sketched on April 8, 2014
10" x 8", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 300 lb.
Fabriano Artistico soft press traditional white watercolor paper

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Self Portrait Contest Voting

Jerry's Artarama
2nd annual Self Portrait Contest

Voting in two phases 1) Online 2) Judged

See and vote for my self portrait.
Voting closes April 13, 2014.
(It's a simple click.)

Snowshoeing Photo Break 
Click HERE 
About the contest HERE

Viewing Art

Viewing Art

Anonymous woman at the Banks Gallery (HERE)
during Art Walk Friday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
on April 4, 2014, sketched on April 7, 2014
9" x 6", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 140 lb.
Fabriano Artistico hot press traditional white watercolor paper

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Shelby, Bobbi and Don

Shelby, Bobbi and Don

in the Piscataqua Fine Arts Gallery of Don Gorvett HERE
during First Friday Artwalk in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
on April 4, 2014, sketched on April 5, 2014
6.5" x 5", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite,
on 300 lb. Fabriano Artistico Series hot press traditional white
watercolor paper painted using a Princeton #12 round
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

A Fallen Petal's Reveal

A Fallen Petal's Reveal

of a white tulip set out in the sun after one petal fell
in Shapleigh, Maine on March 27, 2014, sketched on April 1, 2014
10" x 8", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 140 lb.
Strathmore Series 500 cold press archival watercolor paper

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

To First Base

To First Base

at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts ready for opening day, April 4, 2014,
sketched on April 4, 2014, 8.5" x 6", Winsor & Newton watercolors, 

#3 graphite, on 400 lb. Arches Natural White cold press watercolor paper
unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping
and to get To First Base you may purchase it.

Note: I have fond memories of going to the Red Sox games with my grandfather, Frank Harold McMillan. We'd start the day taking the bus trolley from 6 Winter Street in Dorchester, the second walk-up where they lived, and to the Isabella Stewart Garner Museum, when it was free as stipulated in her will, and he'd regal me with stories of the eccentric Mrs. Jack.

     Then we'd walk by the victory gardens in the Fens on the way to Fenway Park and he'd chat with the gardeners. Finally we'd arrive at empty Fenway Park early to watch batting practice and have hot dogs for lunch. We could sit anywhere, an empty stadium for the game, usually on the third base line looking down the first base line, and we'd watch the Red Sox lose.

     But we'd watch Ted Williams hit a home run. My grandfather would point out all the little things about Fenway, like the Yawkey's initials, the long-time owners, painted in Morse code on the scoreboard. When a foul ball flew over us I asked him if he'd ever gotten a foul ball, never. In all the years he'd gone to Red Sox games he never got a baseball but he caught the memories and could talk about all of the old time players going back to the 1920s. 
     But as a kid visiting Boston from Bangor, Maine, it never dawned on me that all the Red Sox Players were white until years later. The Red Sox have the dubious distinction of being the last major league baseball team to add a black player to the roster, infielder Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green, in 1959, twelve years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier and the year before Ted Williams retired. In 2012 Pumpsie threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Jackie Robinson day at Fenway Park and later in April attended Fenway Park's 100th anniversary celebration. How things change. I wonder what my grandfather would think of Big Papi's swing and smile? We got to first base, on to second.

Below the Bloom

Below the Bloom

of a white tulip set out in the sun in Shapleigh, Maine
on March 27, 2014, sketched on April 1, 2014
10" x 8", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 140 lb.
Strathmore Series 500 cold press archival watercolor paper 

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

What White Tulip

What White Tulip

set out in the sun in Shapleigh, Maine
on March 27, 2014, sketched on April 1, 2014
10" x 8", Winsor & Newton watercolors, #3 graphite, on 140 lb.
Strathmore Series 500 cold press archival watercolor paper

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping
Note: This was painted entirely using a large Princeton size 24 Round 4050R 

Beach Towel

Beach Towel

A beach scene seen in my imagination using appropriate paper

10" x 5.25" (7" x 5" in 10" x 8" framed),
Winsor & Newton watercolors on Berkley & Jensen 2 ply white quilted paper towel

unframed, sold framed, $100 plus $5.50 sales tax plus $10 shipping

Note: This was painted entirely using a large Princeton size 24 Round 4050R

Also Note: By the way, it's April first, wink, wink.