Lavender in October

That's right, lavender! I did pick a whole bunch of it from my yard today. Thanks to the efforts of horticulturalists, now days we can enjoy flowers with a really long and sometimes unusual blooming periods. For example, there is a white iris in my garden, which is about to flower. Yes, now, at the end of October... if the frost doesn't dampen its enthusiasm. ( For those who don't get it, all respectable irises flower only in the spring.) Well, I knew it was a re-blooming type and that's why I planted it, but it still amazed me when I saw its flower buds a week ago. So, here's the prospect - I'll either be painting a white iris in November, or - white snow. Whichever comes first ;-)

Let's play!

I like her playful and questioning expression, but it took quite a number of attempts to reproduce it. I decided to paint this in one color inspired by the magnificent mono-color portraits on David Lobenberg's blog. Of course, I have a long way to go, to get even close to his results. I am too scared to leave hard edges, and while trying to soften them, I manage to create too much mud. As he says, one needs to gain lots of experience...

Selfportrait

...and two interim steps below

 

A mountain view

Living in a "flat land" I envy people who have mountains at their doorstep. This view is based on a photo from a friend's hiking trip in the mountains near Vancouver. At least I could imagine I was there while painting it. I liked the fir tree edges outlined by back-light, and that's what I tried to focus on. Used a limited palette of indian yellow, cobalt blue and burnt sienna.

Autumn is here...

... and the colors outside are changing by the hour. In just days the fall colors will be in their peak. Too bad this won't last long.

A nubian man

Another watercolor version of a previous pencil sketch. This is based on a photo of a felucca sailor in Aswan. The boat trip took place at sunset and the light was spectacular.  I have been saving this picture in my pile of reference photos, in case I ever learn to do portraits. I never thought I would have so much fun painting it. I am happy that I managed to reproduce the dreamy expression on the man's face. I think I need to do some more work with my colors for a dark complexion, though. So, back to Charles Reid's books!

Two portraits

I did pencil drawings for these a couple of weeks ago. They are both based on black-and-white photographs, so I had to use imagination for the colors. On the top one I regret making the ribbon on the hat so dark, as it shifts the attention away from the face. Yet, I was proud when my mom said, that the lady does resemble her mother. Now, if she finds similarities of the bottom picture and her daughter, I'll be triumphant...

Trout River Pond

Trout River Pond, Gros Morne, NL

Trail to Tablelands

Tablelands are a mountainous formation in Gros Morne park in Newfoundland, made up of an entirely barren orange rock. It was formed several hundred million years ago during a plate collision, which forced up parts of the earth's mantle. These rocks have a very high metal content and lack the nutrients that plants need. It was interesting to see, where this barren orange mountain ends and suddenly the green hills begin.

Sweet and juicy