Macys

San Francisco rooftops...the currrent challenge on Different Strokes from Different Folks.
Watercolor on 300 lb. Arches paper. 7" x 9 1/2".

Rower on Lake Michigan

This is my entry for the June 24, 2009 "Different Strokes From Different Folks" challenge. Please visit the site to see the reference photo and see the way other artists interpreted this image. More than 100 artists participated in this one. 5" x 7" watercolor.

New self-portrait and cafe sketches

I've been struggling with creating a suitable public image of myself to use on blogs, Facebook, discussion boards, etc. This is the latest creation. I held out the digital camera in front of my face, took a photo in bad light, found the edges in Photoshop, and did a Live Trace in Illustrator.

I've also been doing a lot of cafe sketching lately. The sketch below was made at a local McDonald's. You would hardly believe it's a McDonald's. There are a lot of interesting abstract shapes. The first image is the cleaned-up digitized and vectorized version of my pencil sketches. The actual pencil sketches follow that.

"Market Woman" Line Drawing

I did this today for the June challenge on artist James Parker's excellent blog, Windows to the Words. This month's theme was "Old Folks." Micron Pen, Sharpie and Pitt Pen on smooth 140 Arches Watercolor Paper. 4 x 5.5"

New Blog and Work in Progress

I wanted to share with you that I have started a new blog devoted to my digital art. It's called "All Digital All the Time, and you can find it here

Outside of the virtual world, I am working on a painting based on one of my hundreds of photographs taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Reference photo and progress so far are below.

Fresh Tomatoes Digital Art on Canvas

Fresh-picked tomatoes. Digital print on canvas. 7 7/8" x 8.5". Click here to see reference photo from June 19 Weekly Drawing Event (WDE) on WetCanvas.com, and here to see other participants' work.

Buy it Now with Paypal for $25 plus $4.80 U.S. shipping. E-mail gnmarianne@comcast.net for international shipping, other questions.

Old Barn Digital Collage

From WetCanvas.com Paint Out #16. Click here to see reference photo and work by other participants.

Yawning Kittens

Yawning Kittens, Watercolor, 8.5" x 11", Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper, 140 lb. Click here to see reference photo from June 19 Weekly Drawing Event on WetCanvas.com, and here to see other participants' work.

Buy it Now with Paypal for $40 plus $4.80 U.S. shipping. E-mail gnmarianne@comcast.net for international shipping, other questions.

Key West Street Scene

Key West Street Scene, 9.75" x 11.5", digital painting, watercolor sketch style. Click here to see reference photo from June 19 Weekly Drawing Event on WetCanvas.com, and here to see other participants' work.

Buy it now via Paypal. $25 plus $4.80 US shipping. Questions? E-mail gnmarianne@comcast.net.

Georgia Summer Vegetables

Here are some scrumptious Georgia summer vegetables for your enjoyment. Watercolor, pen and ink, 7.25" x 10", Strathmore 140 lb rough watercolor paper.

Buy it now with Paypal for $50 plus $4.80 shipping US. E-mail gnmarianne@comcast.net to inquire about international shipping.

Last Remaining Orchard in Silicon Valley II

This is the second digital painting in my "Last Remaining Orchard in Silicon Valley" series. 10.5" x 14" print on Strathmore 140 lb. rough watercolor paper.

Buy it now for $25 plus $9.80 US shipping.

E-mail gnmarianne@comcast.net for international shipping.

"Jack Big Plume" and "Capricorn"

"Jack Big Plume," and "Capricorn," digital, watercolor sketch style. Photo references by WildGoose of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Used with permission.

Ancient Etruscan Glass

9" x 12" stapled canvas. Shiva Artists' Paintstik Oil Paint. Reference photo used with permission. Lots of reflective surfaces in this photo of a museum exhibit made this painting challenging.

Buy it Now for $50. Shipping is $4.80 in the U.S. E-mail gnmarianne@comcast.net for international shipping.

Cafe Character

This portrait is from the May 3 Paint Out on Wetcanvas.com. Reference photo provided by Texas artist Bob Cook. Bob calls this challenge, "Land of the Pharaohs." Digital art in watercolor style, 8.3" x 7.1".

WDE Images - Delta Queen, Amaryllis

The current Weekly Drawing Event on WetCanvas.com is hosted by Michael Akin of Chattanooga, TN. Here are some of my digital paintings derived from his reference photos. I will update this post to add more images soon.

Top: "Delta Queen," 9" x 6.8", Watercolor Sketch Style
Bottom: Amaryllis, 14 x 11, oil painting style.

"Ski Mesa, AZ" T-shirt final

Here's the final version of my "Ski Mesa, AZ" T-shirt for my "Fundamentals of Design" class at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh -- Online Division. This version is the result of suggestions from my family, classmates and instructor, plus a steep upgrade in my Adobe Photoshop CS4 skills. The class ended Wednesday, May 13.

My second class, "Concept Development" started the next day.

"Ski Mesa, AZ" T-shirt homework help

This is my design for a theoretical "Ski Mesa, AZ" T-shirt. (Yes, it's a pun.) These are four drafts of my final assignment in Fundamentals of Design, the class I'm currently taking in my Digital Design Diploma program at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh -- Online Division. Does anybody have any opinions about what design (if any) should go forward to the next step, which is adding color? By way of attribution, the vegetation in the middle ground is derived from a vector design I bought on iStockphoto.com. I have to choose a design and do a color version of it Friday, May 8. I welcome any feedback, especially gentle feedback.

Three Limes

Inspired by Wet Canvas.com Weekly Drawing Event April 24, and the Basic Design class that I'm taking at the Art Institute Pittsburgh Online Division. Digital art, 7.2" x 10". This is not a class assignment, but taking the class has forced me to learn more about Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. I also got a great discount on the entire Adobe CS4 Design suite. I used my Wacom graphics tablet and tossed this image back and forth between Photoshop and Illustrator. The pixelated lines you get in Photoshop can be vectorized in Illustrator with the Live Trace feature. It's my favorite trick and I'm practicing it a lot this weeek.

Easter Breakfast

This is my entry for the April 10 Weekly Drawing Event on WetCanvas.com. This is what my Easter breakfast typically looks like. How about yours?

Basket of Peppers and Eggplant

Digital art in impressionist style. From Wet Canvas Paint Out #11. 7" x 9"

Misty Bridge and Dahlia

"Misty Bridge," oil painting style, 10.5" x 14".


















Pink Dahlia in wet-on-wet watercolor painting style, 8.3" x 8.3"

Gull's Eye View

This is my contribution for the March 18 Different Strokes from Different Folks challenge. Go there to see reference photo of a family on the beach. I decided to try it from a different perspective. Watercolor, Bienfang brush pens, and Derwent watercolor pencil. 9" x 12", 140 lb. cold press Sennelier watercolor paper.

"A Passion for Painting" Award

James Parker is a wonderful artist and prolific blogger who I’ve gotten to know through his work in cyber-space. I first noticed him as a fellow participant on Karin Jurick’s Different Strokes from Different Folks blog. He has a great sense of humor, seems to be interested in everything, and in general is a person I would like to go out for coffee with, preferably in Costa Rica where he lives.

James graced me with the "A Passion for Painting" award last week. I was so flabbergasted it took me four days to formulate a response. Now that I've recovered, I am going to follow directions by posting this award, listing seven of my “loves," passing this award on to seven other deserving artists, and notifying them of their award-winning status.

Loves
1. G*d, even when S/he’s hiding and appears not to be doing a very good job at all, and has just swept all the game pieces off the table again.
2. My two Geminis: David and the soft and sweet Marissa.
3. My parents, brothers, family (welcome Mason born Feb. 18), friends, and pets (Snoopy-dog and Carly with the wonderful kitty perfume).
4. Art, photography, looking at flowers, watching people, and making messes.
5. Books! When I don’t have time to read them I read about them.
6. A good laugh – either having one myself or making other people laugh.
7. Friends of Bill

And the Passion for Painting Award goes to seven people who I'd like to be when I grow up:
1. John E. Vander Stelt
2. Jacqueline Gnott
3. Susan Abbott
4. Stephen Magsig
5. Thomas Thorspecken
6. Annelein Beukenkamp
7. Julian Merrow-Smith

Check out their blogs and websites and be sure to visit James Parker's online world as well. Thank you James!

House finches and waiting for spring

This is my entry for the March 20 "Virtual Sketch Date" blog. It's 2.5" x 3.5" digital art, oil paint style. Image contributed by Stacy Rowan.














The cheeky little house finches are also incorporated into the a work in progress for the March 20 Weekly Drawing Event (WDE) on Wetcanvas.com. Work in progress is above. Reference photo is here, fourth image down, contributed by Alain J., of her dog Mulligan. Oil, 9" x 12", stapled-edge canvas.

Contact me anytime at info@persephonesplayhouse.net

Give...Me...That...Cookie!!

This digital sketch of a coatimundi from the Reno Zoo is my submission for Paint Out #10 on the Wet Canvas! Open Critique Forum. The reference photo comes from Paint Out host Texas artist Bob Cook.

Contact me anytime at info@persephonesplayhouse.net

Hollyhocks from Wet Canvas! Weekly Drawing Event

I recently discovered the Wet Canvas! artists' cyber-community. This is some catch-up work from the Feb. 13 Weekly Drawing Event (WDE) on the All Media Art Events board. A different artist posts a dozen or so reference photos every week and those who wish to interpret an image have a week to finish one or more selections. Reference photos from that week came from Bonnie (AKA "artastic") in Saskatchewan, Canada. Thanks for the fabulous inspiration Bonnie! This is 11" x 11" a digital painting.

Sushi Gumball Machine

This is my entry for the latest "Different Strokes from Different Folks" challenge. My fellow bloggers came up with a lot of different creative takes on this two-week project. Be sure to visit the DSFDF to see them. Acrylic, 140 lb. Arches watercolor CP paper, 13" x 20".

Buy it now on for $149.99 plus $9.80 USPS shipping. E-mail gnmarianne@comcast.net for international shipping.

Northern Cardinal Digital Art 8" x 10"

This medium-sized song bird is found from southern Canada through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico to northern Guatemala and Belize

About the artwork:

• printed on 140 lb. cold press Academie watercolor paper
• measures 8" x 10"
• printed on a Canon 9000 wide-format digital printer

Available now on eBay.

Contact me anytime at info@persephonesplayhouse.net

Chinatown Traffic

I just discovered the Paint Out in the Open Critique Forum on Wet Canvas. This is a watercolor painting I did based on the reference photo given Feb. 8.

• Painted on 140 lb. cold press Arches watercolor paper
• measures 6.2" x 11"

Now Available now on eBay.

Contact me anytime at info@persephonesplayhouse.net

Last Remaining Orchard in Silicon Valley

The apricot orchard across the street from my house, which I have dubbed "The Last Remaining Orchard in Silicon Valley," is in that popcorn stage of bloom. Its official name is "Orchard Heritage Park". This historic orchard has been preserved as a city park in a unique arrangement between Charlie Olson -- a longtime Sunnyvale orchardist -- and the City of Sunnyvale, California. The rooftop visible in the center background is the Orchard Heritage Park Interactive Exhibit. Other structures in the park include new Orchard Heritage Museum -- exploring the city's agricultural history-- and the Bianchi Bros. barn moved here from an orchard in nearby San Jose. Digital art, watercolor style, 11" x 15". Open edition print available now on eBay.

Hope Valley, California

This is the first in a series of paintings I’m doing on Hope Valley, CA. There will be about 20 in the series. It’s based on photographs I took there in 2002. Watercolor, 13” x 7.5”. Sold on eBay to a collector in Southern California.

Fruit Tart Digital Art

My philosophy is usually "eat dessert first." However this time my dessert was so pretty I photographed, then ate it. then I started making digital art.

Top: Digital impressionist oil painting with ink outline. Image size 8" x 10" printed on 8 1/2" x 11" canvas paper. Also available as ACEO (3 1/2 " x 2 1/2"). Make an offer on eBay.

Bottom: Digital chalk drawing on rough paper, image size 8" x 10" printed on 8 1/2" x 11" canvas paper. Also available as ACEO (3 1/2 " x 2 1/2")

"Wigs" Original Oil Painting 9" x 12"

"Wigs". Oil, 9" x 12" on stapled canvas. This is my contribution to the Feb. 18, 2009 Different Strokes challenge. SOLD
to a collector in New York City.

San Francicsco Victorian

This is what I did for the Feb. 4, 2009 Different Strokes from Different Folks challenge. I didn't post it in time for the deadline, so you won't see it on the DSFDF site. Oil, 9" x 12".

My cousin Jenny

This is my beautiful cousin Jenny. When I first posted this painting she was about to give birth. Congratulations to Jenny and her husband Patrick on the birth of Mason Feb. 18 at 6:45 p.m. With love to Mason from his Auntie M. Oil, 9" x 12". NFS.

Zodiac Reflections

A.K.A. "Full Moon in Cancer over the Jefferson Memorial". This is my entry for the latest challenge on the Different Strokes from Different Folks blog, the Jefferson Memorial at night. It's oil on acrylic, on 12" x 12" gallery-wrapped canvas. See earlier version two posts down.

Fruit Still Life

A painting I've been meaning to do for a long time based on a photograph I took in 2006.

Jefferson Memorial

This is the first draft of my entry for the latest challenge on the Different Strokes blog. Of course I don't think it's good enough, in fact this version doesn't exist any more and has been painted over, and I have 15 other versions in mind. However, my friend Vero encouraged me to post all my finished work no matter what I think of it, so here it is. Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper.

Somebody's Licking My Toes!

I was looking at photos of birthday parties from days past and found this photo of my friend's son getting his toes licked by a dog. Digital art, oil painting style.

Black-necked stilt, wetlands bird of the Americas

Digital art print of black-necked stilt, standing on one leg.

The black-necked stilt is one of the characteristic birds of fresh or salty shallow sloughs and grassy marshes. It is known for its uncommonly long red legs. This bird prefers to run about and feed in shallow water, although it can swim and dive iif necessary.

This bird's population has been affected by the decrease in wetlands on the Pacfic flyway. To learn about conservation efforts regarding the black-necked stilt, see the Monterey Bay Aquarium website. You can also view a live aviary webcam at the site and see the black-necked stilt in action.

About the artwork:

• printed on 140 lb. rough Arches watercolor paper
• measures 11" x 14"
• printed on a Canon 9000 wide-format digital printer
• Arches watermark in the lower right-hand corner.

Based on an original photograph taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sandy Shore/Aviary Exhibit. This is an open-edition print. Available now on eBay.

Indoor Pool

More Monterey Bay Aquarium Aviary photos. Digital art, watercolor painting style.

Adirondak Chairs

These chairs sitting in the shade of a tree during a fall sunset caught my eye. Digital art, watercolor painting style

Pumpkin Harvest

I visit Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville, CA, every fall to get a Halloween pumpkin, buy some fresh cider and a homemade apple pie, and, if I get there early enough in the season, to pick apples. Sometimes it's a school field trip and I have an excuse to go there twice in one year! Digital art, watercolor style.

Aquarium Inspiration

More photographs from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Carly in the Bedroom

This is my 14-year-old cat, Carly, in front of the sliding glass door in my bedroom. I'll see how it looks tomorrow and work on it some more if necessary. Old Holland watercolor paint and Holbein gouache on 11" x 15" Arches 140 lb. cold press.

Girl with an Artificial Pearl Earring

Copying Vermeer: I found another art "challenge" blog on the Web: Project: Old Master Copy. The challenge was to choose either "Portrait of Durer’s Mother" or "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and copy them. Since I just found the site Dec. 31, I did not meet the Jan. 1 deadline for the project. The painting on the top is the second stage of my painting. The one on the bottom was the first stage. I'm adding in a lot more warmth than Vermeer's version. More to come. Check out the site. Many people have submitted masterful paintings inspired by this challenge. Oil on 9" x 12" stapled canvas.

The Mark 3000

Now that I've finished the painting for the portrait project on the Different Strokes blog, I can reveal who it is. The subject is fellow artist Mark Bridges. I call it "The Mark 3000" because it seems like the 3000th version that I've painted. This is oil on an 8" x 10" gallery-wrapped canvas. I hope he has a sense of humor. Click here to see his portrait of me.

Work Boots

This is my second entry for Karin Jurick's excellent blog, "Different Strokes from Different Folks." Jurick challenges artists to draw or paint their interpretation of a photo she posts weekly or biweekly. This is from the Dec. 4, 2008 challenge, "Work Boots."

This was painted with acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas.

Buddha Morning

This is my first entry on Karin Jurick's excellent blog, "Different Strokes from Different Folks." Jurick challenges artists to draw or paint their interpretation of a photo she posts weekly. This is from the Nov. 19, 2008 challenge, "Buddha and Hydrangeas."

I initially planned to do a representational version of the image, but then I found others had done it much better than I ever could, so I started playing around with the large shapes in the composition in search of another approach.

This was painted primarily with Winsor & Newton Artist's Watercolor. I created many layers of grey for the solid figures in the image. For the foreground figures I used Winsor Violet and Cadmium Yellow to create a warm grey. In the images near the top of the painting, I used Alizarin Crimson and Viridian to create a cool grey. The hydrangea flowers are painted with Winsor Yellow, New Gamboge, Quinacridone Gold, Alizarin crimson, and Burnt Sienna. The brilliant colors were created with Posh Rainbow acid-free non-toxic ink.

Art nouveau tile design, watercolor

Triptych

Family photo edited to create pencil sketch effect.

Tiger Lily Photoshopped with colored pencil filter. Taken at Sequoia Kings Canyon national parks, California.

Sequoia Kings Canyon, California wildflowers Photoshopped with colored pencil filter.

Family photo with Photoshopped colored pencil filter.

"Cascading Flowers." 8" x 10". Watercolor, watercolor pencils and Bienfang watercolor brush pens.

"Impatiens II". 8" x 10". My rendering of a photograph from a Goldsmith seeds calendar.

"Brilliant-colored floral" 8" x 10". Original watercolor. (So named because of the intense colors, not the brilliance of the humble artist.)

"Dark Floral" 8" x 10". Original watercolor

"Montecito-Sequoia Wildflowers IV." 8" x 10" Watercolor based on my original photograph.

My rendering of images from the "Harry and David" catalog. Apricots, plums, picnic basket, Bosc pears.

Mini flower portraits I, II, III and IV. 2" x 3.5"

Abstracts I, II and III. 3 1/2" x 5"

"Pansy." 5" x 7". Original watercolor.

"Montecito-Sequoia Wildflowers" Original watercolors painted en plein air.

"Crayola" series based on my original photograph. Top one is " 7" x 11 1/4". Watercolor.Bottom one is 5 3/8" x 10 1/2". Marker and watercolor.

"Abstract (yellow and green)." 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" Original watercolor.

"Abstract (orange and green)." 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". Original work.

"Crayola ATC." 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" Watercolor on paper. Original work.

"Flamingos." 9 1/2" x 7 1/4". Watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper. Based on my original photograph taken at the San Francisco Zoo summer 2007.

Pastel, 9" x 12" My rendering of an "American Artist" magazine cover.

Pastel 12 1/2" x 7 1/2"

"Cappuccino after Gary Bukovnic" 5" x 7 1/4" Bienfang watercolor pen on 140 lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper. Bukovnic is the artist whose paintings are featured in the calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area charity Project Open Hand. Project Open Hand's mission is to meet nutrition needs for people living with HIV/AIDS, the home bound critically ill and the elderly. I look forward to receiving the Project Open Hand calendar every year to see Bukovnic's new take on the subject of food. For more information about Project Open Hand visit http://www.openhand.org

"Pomegranates" pastel

Bird of paradise, 8" x 10", watercolor on paper.

Magnolia 8 1/2" x 11" watercolor on paper

Rhododendron 8 1/2" x 11" watercolor on paper

Art nouveau stained glass floral design from Dover book. Watercolor on paper. 8 1/2" x 11"

"Montecito-Sequoia Wildflowers I" Watercolor based on my original photograph.

"Crab dinner," acrylic on watercolor paper, 8" x 10". Exercise from "Acrylic Painting Layer by Layer" book.

Parrot tulip.

I think these are impatiens.

"Book Cover." These two paintings are my rendering of the front and back covers of one of my favorite books. Watercolor.

After doing a lot of really tight floral paintings I decided to see what would happen without a plan and without a careful drawing. This is what happened.

Apples 15.8" x 10.9"

Triple amaryllis 4.2" x 5.7"

Rhododendron ACEO 3.5" x 2.5"

Tulips with tea-stained background

"Peach Pansies"

"Apple." 6" x 6". Watercolor and watercolor pencil.

"Iris". 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". Watercolor pencil.

This is a parrot tulip with a tea-stained background. I painted the tea with a 2-inch wash brush, and added some sepia to the wash. It measures 8" x 10".

Pot of pansies, size 8" x 10". Marker and Bienfang watercolor brush pens.

This is a watercolor painting of a delphinium that I copied from one of my favorite books, "Watercolor Flower Portraits" by Billy Showell. Because it's an exercise from the book, I'm not going to sell it. I learned a lot from doing the painting, though, and look forward to creating my own floral still life.

Is it grapefruit? Tangelos? Oranges? Who knows? This was done with Bienfang watercolor brush pens, Prismacolor watercolor pencils and Winsor & Newton and Holbein Artists' Watercolors. It's 9" by 6 1/2".