Are we there yet?

Sun, Sea and Sand, watercolor 40 x 30 cm

It "warmed up" today and the rain may melt some of the snow on the ground... I simply painted a place where I want to be right now. It's so easy!

Portrait sketches

Portrait study in graphite and crayon

I am trying to stick to my decision to paint or draw something every week. While dedicating a few hours to that this weekend seemed like a tall order, I opted for  doing these sketches over coffee. I am starting to really like drawing on tinted paper and using white crayon for highlights. It brings instant dimension.

Lest we forget

Today is Remembrance Day. In memory of those who fought

A watercolor from a few years back

And few sketches with graphite, charcoal and crayon:

Another low tide

Low Tide 2, acrylic 35 x 28 cm

Tried in acrylics this minimalist scene, which I recently did in watercolor. Here is the watercolor from a few posts back:

Low Tide, watercolor, 26 x 20 cm

I quite enjoy painting in acrylic. It gives me more control as I can always go back and re-do or correct something. Although, control is what I want to try and loose, need to learn to let go, both in painting and in life...

Happy Halloween

Pumpkin, acrylic 15 x 22 cm 

Tidal beach

Tidal Beach, watercolor, 40 x 30 cm

Despite the obvious flaws of the depiction, I so enjoyed the process of painting it...

Low Tide

 

I am trying to snap out of the self  feeding inertia of not painting because I'm not in the mood and then feeling bad for not painting. These are a few watercolors I have done lately, of the tidal beaches at the west coast. 

The west coast

Two quick sketches done on location at the rugged beaches of the west coast of Vancouver island, near Tofino. Here I found very inspiring views. Endless beaches, which at low tide turn into smooth reflective surfaces. Wind-swept trees. Picturesque coves, Multitude of islands and rocks of all sizes sprinkled close to the shore. Every few steps you make, reveal a new scene.  

Blue and yellow

Irises and muscari, watercolor 30 x 22 cm

No, no spring flowers here yet, still dealing with nearly winter weather. So, painting from last spring's garden photos is a good way to deal with the discontent.
I am proud of combining these two flowers in my garden, both blooming at the same time and going so well together.

Let there be flowers

 Честит Имен Ден, мили дами с имена на цветя!

Happy Easter!

Tulips, watercolor 25 x 22 cm

Panoramic landscapes

Potato field, watercolor 30 x 22 cm

 A few loosely painted landscapes inspired by views of the valley between the Rila and Vitosha mountains in Bulgaria.

Panorama, watercolor 30 x 22 cm

The valley, watercolor 30 x 22 cm

Bird-watching

Morning Dove, watercolor 22 x 30 cm

The lazy way to do bird watching - fill up a couple of bird feeders, hang them on a tree outside a window. Then sit inside and sketch...

So far I counted seven different species of birds, a few of them are quite rare and I only caught a glimpse of them, like the red cardinal and his wife (no, not the Borgia one) and the house finch. whereas the gold finch in its more subdued winter coat as well as the ordinary sparrow are the most common visitors. Of all, I keep being surprised by the multitude of soft pastel colors present in the plumage of the morning dove. The colors on the ones I painted are naturally exaggerated.

Dark-eyed juncos, 30 x 22 cm

Morning Doves, watercolor 22 x 30 cm

Tunnel of Shade

Tunnel of Shade, watercolor 28 x 25 cm

This view attracted me with its light and contrasts, but all attempts to paint it ended up too overworked, or lacking the proper range of values. Today the irony occurred to me: I've been trying so hard to depict a dark tunnel leading to the light :) Maybe this isn't the right way to find inspiration and it's time to change the subject.

Two of the previous attempts: