Have brush, will travel

Just published

2011-10-03T19:06:00.001-07:00

I did the painting for this novella which has just been published. It is a mystery which opens in New Mexico and ends in Washington, DC. The proceeds from the sale of the book will go to help find a cure for Alzheimers.

Here is the link on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Enchantment-J-Patrick-Berry/dp/0983824509/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317691288&sr=1-1

DC Skyline, late summer 2011

2011-08-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

I began this full sheet watercolor on location but added gouache when I got back to the studio. Gouache gives you a much more even color which was needed in the monuments because when working in the heat outside the watercolor dried so fast it was streaky. So, the flowers and foreground trees and sky are watercolor but the middle ground, river and monuments are gouache. It is amazing how different the light and shadows are compared to spring when I paint the tulips here. I did this standing beneath the Netherlands Carrillion east of the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington.

2011-08-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

These are two of my new acrylic paintings done "en plein air" (that's French for outdoors). I'm having a great time with this new to me medium. It does dry out awfully fast in the heat of our DC summers but it makes me paint faster which really is a good thing as then I don't get too fiddly with the details. It is also quite a bit easier than watercolors since you can cover up mistakes. These two were done on a toned surface. The Bluebells are on canvas, the Pond is on clayboard. Clayboard, by Ampersand, is a masonite board covered with an ultra smooth clay. The fun is that I was able to scratch through the surface to create the fine weeds. They're both 8" x 10" and $495.

Learning about acrylics

2011-04-23T08:12:00.001-07:00

I've taken a two month hiatus from the studio to take time to paint plein air and travel. The first day of my freedom I took a workshop on painting acrylics. I had won a set of acrylic paints but needed to see how to cope with them outdoors. I learned a lot and am enjoying the quickness. It is so much easier than watercolor since you can paint over mistakes! I did this painting standing on the corner of Duke and Union Streets in Alexandria, VA on a beautiful spring day. What fun.

It is 14" x 11", $395.

View of the Gulf

2011-03-09T16:49:00.001-08:00

I did this watercolor while eating lunch on Anna Maria Island just north of Longboat Key. Fortunately I had some cobalt turquoise or I'd never have gotten the color correctly. It was a glorious day as you can see.

The View from Selby Gardens

2011-03-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

This was the first painting I did while in Sarasota. It was such a beautiful day with crystal clear water. I loved painting the sand with the tidal pools. I left this painting as my hostess gift. She was thrilled.

Painting in Sarasota, Florida

2011-03-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

I spent a beautiful day in the Ringling Gardens painting in the Secret Garden. What a joy it was to fly away from winter for a week and experience 75 degree days and flowers in bloom. I painted this on Fabriano Uno paper that keeps the brilliance of colors of the flowers. Image size 14 x 21", $695.

New sycamore painting is finished

2011-02-28T18:57:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the painting that I've been showing in stages, "Sycamore, Early Evening.

Finally some progress on the tree

2011-02-04T07:15:00.001-08:00

Many things have kept me from finished my newest Sycamore painting. Finally I got back to it yesterday. I've slowly worked my way across the bottom of the painting putting in the dark trees in the distance. I don't always add them but they do help to express the grandeur of the tree. The detail on the right shows how I start at the tops of the distant trees and work my way down adding more and more sillouettes of distant trees.

A little more progress on the tree

2010-12-23T08:05:00.001-08:00

I've had to take some time from the tree to work on other things but finally this week I was able to work more on the tree. I work on each little area but not the one next to it while it is wet so I move all around the tree when I'm painting. It's a very slow process. I'm still using just four colors, quinacradone rose, ultramarine blue, magenta and gamboge.

Making progress on the tree

2010-12-07T18:13:00.000-08:00

I'm slowly adding the branches. It takes a long time to do; working in the just a space between other limbs so that I can keep it wet and drop in the colors. I like to let the colors mingle on the paper. I'm using just four colors: quinacradone rose, gamboge, ultrmarine blue and magenta. I keep a different brush for each color which save me having to wash it out in between colors. It takes me about a 1/2 hour at the beginning to get into the swing of it. It helps if I use different brands of brushes so I remember which is which or use a white sable that takes on the color I'm using that brush for.

Clouds in the sky

2010-11-23T18:21:00.000-08:00

I have added some clouds in the sky, painting them in the spaces between the limbs of the tree. Now I've begun to paint the tree. I'm still using just quinacradone rose, gamboge, ultramarine blue. The painting is 29" x 41" on Arches 555 lb paper. I find working in a limited palette is really helpful when working on a large scale.

The rose glaze is finished

2010-11-22T19:08:00.000-08:00

Today I finished glazing the quinacradone rose over the yellow at the bottom of the sky. Next I will work clouds into the sky so stop back tomorrow to see them.

Glazing the tree

2010-11-21T13:20:00.000-08:00

I've now begun to glaze M. Graham quinacradone rose over the da Vinci gamboge yellow in the sky to create a sunset glow, grading the color lighter as I go up. I've also finished the blue on the top. I may add another blue, I'm not sure yet. I enjoy the challenge of making a painting work so I haven't done a color sketch as a plan.

Working on a new Sycamore painting

2010-11-18T18:45:00.001-08:00

Since everyone is now posting a painting a day and my masterpieces take months I've decided to give you a blow by blow account of how I paint my Sycamore trees.

I draw every limb with a 3H pencil. Then I begin by painting the sky in the spaces between the limbs. This will take several layers of glazes before it is finished. This helps me to "find the tree" so I don't get lost in the many lines. I work from photographs that I take and print. I've also several sky photos that I took on the same day.

I spent the first day grading the yellow up from the bottom. Then grading a layer of cerulean blue down from the top working from the center of the tree outwards matching one area to the one next to it. The blue took a second day but I haven't finished it as you can see.

The Fisherman

2010-11-14T18:31:00.001-08:00

Here's a new gouache painting that I did from a photograph I took of a friend fishing in Utah. I did this on twinrocker tinted watercolor paper in a grey green. It's hard for me to remember that I can apply the whites! It is 6" x 9" $195.

Late Fall at The Maples

2010-11-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

I had probably my last warm painting day of 2010 on Wednesday. I was invited back to The Maples, a beautiful estate in Upperville, VA where I painted The Red Tree that I talked about in a previous post. Once again I used gouache but this time on 140 lb. arches cold press. That was the only paper I had with me. I really would have preferred 300 lb. It has a lot more texture. These maples had turned a glorious yellow. I think the gouache keeps the brilliant color better than watercolor. At any rate it is fun to do something different. It is 14" x 21", $695.

Hillsborough Winery

2010-11-09T18:43:00.000-08:00

I painted at this wonderful vineyard last Tuesday. It was so glorious. I went back on Sunday for the opening of the Loudoun Sketch Club annual exhibit and the leaves were gone. Why does fall have to fly by? It's very maddening after a long, hot, green summer. Once again I used gouache. It's a half sheet, 14" x 21" on Arches 300 lb cold pressed paper. $695.

Greengarten Farm, Early Fall

2010-11-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

I painted this gouache painting on an beautiful day at Greengarten Farm about 6 miles west of Middleburg. There hadn't been any frost yet so the flowers were gorgeous. I paint gouache on 300 lb Arches cold press paper. I like working on a white surface since I'm a watercolorist at heart. I still like to save the white of the paper. The white paint never seems as white as the paper. This is a 1/2 sheet, 14" x 22" (image size). $695.

Potomac Reflections

2010-11-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful, warm day on the Potomac River near Old Angler's Inn when I did this gouache painting. It is so much fun to do nothing but stand and paint the scene unfolding before you. Some people go fishing, I go painting! It can't compare with sitting comfortably in the studio looking at a photograph. The nuances of color and light have to be observed. I've been doing this for over 50 years. I recommend it to all landscape painters. The painting is 14" x 21" and is $695.

Golden Light at Riverbend

2010-09-23T19:33:00.001-07:00

This is a gouache painting I began en plein air on Tuesday, a gorgeous day. I've painted the same rocks before, I'm always drawn to them. This time I decided to use gouache. I was very happy with the chiaroscuro effect of the dark trees in the background. It is 14" x 21" and $695.

A new acrylic painting "Wild Surf"

2010-09-02T19:32:00.001-07:00

I won some acrylics as an award and decided to play around with them. This is out of my head but could be the precurser to the hurricane on the east coast. It was fun to play with and be able to make changes. It is 11" x 14" on a textured Ampersand board.

Potomac Cliffs

2010-08-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

I painted this along the Potomac River near the Old Angler's Inn on Mac Arthur Blvd. I used gouache for this painting. I have been experimenting with gouache lately. The colors stay so bright but it dries darker so you have to adjust your thinking for that as most watercolorists are used to the paint drying lighter. It is 14" x 21" and $695.

Glenview Mansion Art Gallery Exhibit

2010-08-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

Here are the photos from my show that opened today at Glenview Mansion Art Gallery in Rockville, Md. It is a plein air retrospective, "A Half Century of Plein Air Painting". All the paintings were done on location. They range from 1959 through 2010. It is great to see them hanging in progression . The show is up until Sept. 7 but is only open on weekdays unfortunately.

Sky Meadow State Park, Summer

2010-08-04T19:30:00.001-07:00

I painted this last Tuesday at Sky Meadow State Park. It was a cooler day with so much wind I couldn't let go of the easel but at least I wasn't sweating. Whenever I go there I'm drawn to the same view, I have to paint the distant hills. Maybe that's because I live in McLean and can't see any hills. They remind me of Pennsylvania and my childhood. Which is exactly what my great-nephew said when he chose a painting from the same spot for his wedding present. I used gouache which makes painting the dried grasses fun. It makes a great texture. This time I chose a long format. The painting is 10" x 29".

Heat! Humidity!

2010-06-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

I tried to paint on location last week when the temperature reach 96 degrees with 100% humidity. I worked under a big umbrella and thought I could do it. I did last 1 1/2 hours at which time so much sweat was pouring into my palette I really wondered about the archival quality of the paint so I cried "Uncle" and quit. I'm hoping to go back to the scene this week when it's supposed to get cooler and drier. Sigh! The joys of painting in the Washington, DC region!

Goodstone Inn

2010-06-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

This was actually the first painting I did at Goodstone Inn. It was so much fun to have color to work with. I especially loved painting the dried grasses which were baled into Haystacks when I returned the next week. I decided the long format worked well. This is watercolor on 3oo lb. Arches cold pressed paper. It's $350.

Painting in Loudoun county

2010-06-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

I've joined the Loudoun Sketch Club which paints en plein air around Loudoun county. The last two weeks we painted at Goodstone Inn in Middleburg. It was a great place to paint, lots of color, barns, flowers and SHADE trees. It rained the day I did this but I was sheltered under a huge tree (no lightning) and had my umbrella up. I was cool, comfortable and inspired. It is gouache on 300 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper, 14" x 21" and is $750. framed.

Rose River, Graves Mountain Lodge

2010-06-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

I painted this in early June at Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria, VA. It was terribly hot when we were there but standing and painting by the water made me think I was cooler at least. I used watercolor on Arches 140 lb. hot pressed paper. Colors stay very vibrant on that surface because they don't get absorbed into the paper. It is 14" x 21" and is $695.

Azaleas 2010

2010-05-31T18:55:00.001-07:00

I am so far behind on my blog. But....I have been out painting "en plein air". After waiting so long for spring it was such a joy to get outside and.... the flowers were incredible this year. It was hard to believe after the record snows we had last winter. I painted this in the deGroot's garden which in April is pure heaven. I wait all year for the chance to slather on so much color. And to think someone wrote in the Washington Post garden column that the azaleas are too showy and suggested people plant other things instead. Obviously the writer didn't know the joy we landscape painters feel after the dull greys of winter and the sameness of the greens all summer in the DC area. The painting is 21" x 14" and has been sold to the owners of the garden.

The Moss House

2010-04-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished a commission of a home in Great Falls which was in glorious bloom with pear and cherry trees. The dog was my first but the owners think he's perfect.

Painting in Tokyo Exhibition

2010-04-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

One of my paintings went to Tokyo as part of an exchange exhibition between the Watercolor Honor Society and the Japanese Watercolor Federation. The show was at the National Museum of Japan March 31-April 12, 2010. The Watercolor Honor Society membership is composed of artists who have won awards in Watercolor USA exhibitions at the Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO.

Weeping cherry tree

2010-04-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

After such a beautiful Easter weekend I made one more trip to DC to find a cherry tree that was still in bloom. I found one lovely weeping cherry along the Potomac framing the Arlington House, Custis Lee Mansion, across the river in Virginia. This painting is 14" x 21" and is $695.

Spring, at last

2010-04-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

We're having the most beautiful spring although it is all going too quickly. I painted the lovely Cherry blossoms and the Jefferson Memorial from the south side of the Tidal Basin. I love this view because Jefferson can be seen centered in the memorial and there are some lovely old trees still around. As usual there were many, many people but they don't bother me much. The tide came up over the path, fortunately I knew when high tide was expected and set myself up on a rise. It feels great to be out painting en plein air again. The painting is 14 x 22" and is $750. framed.

Madeira

2010-02-17T18:49:00.000-08:00

After spending the morning ashore in Madeira we had to get back to the ship before it backed out to anchor offshore for the New Year's Eve fireworks. (Which were fantastic!) I did these two paintings from the ship. They are both 4" x 6" and are in my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/mhuddy.

Another view of the island of La Palma

2010-02-15T18:35:00.000-08:00

I did this from the ship in the afternoon. The multi-colored buildings surrounded by greens were fun to paint. It is 4" x 6" and is on my etsy shop at: www.etsy.com/shop/mhuddy

La Palma, Canary Islands

2010-02-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

I was tired on this day and stayed aboard ship, painting from the decks and the Lido. My students were disappointed that of all the days I didn't go ashore. They said it was full of charming towns. However I loved the view from a distance of the volcanic hills. I continued working in a small

(4" x 6" ) format. The painting is in my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/mhuddy

Jardin, Santa Rosa de Tenerife

2010-02-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

We finally had clearing skies and a chance to walk around the beautiful Santa Cruz de Tenerife. There is a beautiful botanic garden where I did these paintings. They are 4" x 6" done in my Cheap Joe's watercolor sketchbook with my Winsor Newton watercolors.

My paintings are in my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/mhuddy

More clouds at Sea

2010-02-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

This painting was done in the morning class. The sky was really interesting. Watercolor suits the expression of the sea so well. It is 4" x 6"

My paintings are in my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/mhuddy.

Class at sea

2010-02-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

This was a demonstration I did while I was teaching during a dayat sea. The sky was very inspiring and gave the students something to look at. It is hard being a landscape teacher when you're at sea and see nothing but water. I worked always in a 4" x 6" format since I was teaching travel sketching.

Arrecife, Lanzarote

2010-02-09T07:55:00.001-08:00

After several days at sea in gale force winds we finally got to the Canary Islands. Our first stop was Arrecife. I was surprised to find the volcanic hills so brown. They don't get enough rainfall to make it lush like Hawaii. The British go there for the warmth, not the landscape. Many of them just stayed on the ship and basked in the sun at the pool. The town was not much. I did these three 4" x 6" paintings sitting there. They are on my etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/huddy

Cruise on the Queen Victoria, Lisbon

2010-02-07T10:40:00.001-08:00

We left Southhampton on Dec. 19. The ship was really beautiful. I taught all day on the 20th while we were at sea. Dec. 21 found us in La Coruna, Spain on a rainy day. Took a bus trip to Mijas which is a lovely town in the hills with blue trimmed white buildings but alas, it was pouring rain. The next day we were in Lisbon, Portugal. I did this painting from a boat on the Tagus River. It was so wonderful to see the sun and the beautiful colors of Portugal. I was teaching travel sketching and worked only in 4" x 6" format which is great for quick paintings. I much prefer this to trying to work just from a photograph. This method really captures the true color and feel of a place. I have a Winsor Newton travel kit and travel brushes and Cheap Joe's American Journey Watercolor sketchbook. The hard cover of the sketchbook protects the paintings while I travel.

Embarking on a new experience

2009-12-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I fly to London if all goes well where I will transfer to the Cunard ship, Queen Victoria for a voyage to Spain, Portugal, Gibralter, the Canary Islands and Madeira. I will be teaching watercolor sketching as one of the enrichment speakers on the ship, a new experience. In my usual fashion I've had my bags packed for a week which is fortunate because I just this evening popped off the crown of one of my molars. Hopefully the dentist will squeeze me in early tomorrow. Believe it or not this is not the first time I've done this on the day before a trip. Sigh. Check back later to see what happens and hopefully see paintings I did.

Autumn at Riverbend Park

2009-11-17T18:11:00.000-08:00

We've had such gorgeous fall weather. Every week I think," okay, now it will be cold and I won't be able to paint outside again". Then we have another stretch of 70 degree days. I spent two days working on this painting at Riverbend Park which is west of Great Falls National Park on the Potomac. It is 22 x 30", watercolor and done on 300 lb Arches cold press paper.

Scotts Run

2009-11-15T18:44:00.000-08:00

I spent two beautiful days painting in late October at Scotts Run in Northern Virginia. I decided to use gouache (opaque watercolor) for this painting. When I paint with gouache I work on white paper and still save the white of the paper for the purest whites. Gouache dries darker while watercolor dries lighter so I was able to capture the brilliance of the fall colors. This is a full sheet painting 22" x 30" done on Arches 300 lb cold press paper. I spent another couple of days fine tuning it in the studio.

Plein Air Painting again at last!

2009-10-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

I finally got out painting again last week. I went down along the Potomac on a gorgeous warm early fall day. I had injured my rotator cuff on Labor Day and have been in physical therapy all month. I'm still going to therapy but it is much better so this was a celebration. I used gouache paint which keeps its brilliance when it dries. Watercolors dry lighter but gouache dries darker. I loved the intensity of the colors. I worked outside for about three hours until the tide went out and there were no reflections left. I then spent several days working on it in the studio.

"Rivers Edge" image size is 14" x 21" , $695. matted

Washington, Later Summer 2009

2009-09-09T07:42:00.001-07:00

Finally we had a cool, dry week and I got out to paint. I did this painting from the Netherlands Carillion near the Iwo Jima Memorial. It has such a great view of all the monuments in DC. In the summer they replace the tulip bulbs with annuals. It's such fun to paint lots of color!

The dog days of summer

2009-08-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

The real Washington summer has caught up with us at last. This is the time when I'm happy to be in the studio working and not plein air painting. I've had heat exhaustion too many times in recent years to risk it again. The sad thing I've discovered is that once you have gotten heat exhaustion you get it again more easily. My first real episode was in Indonesia where I climbed all over Borobudur photographing the 540 Buddhas on it. After that I got it when I was on the edge of the Sahara in 117 degree heat. I'm a slow learner so I experienced it a few more times before I got smart. One of my painting buddies said I looked sturdier than that. Well, I used to be but not any more. When we lived in Guantanamo (before no one had heard of it, it was just my prison but no one else's) I painted plein air all summer in 95 degree heat. Sigh!

So here's a new embossing I just finished. This one, "La Fenetre de Toulouse" is from my May trip to Toulouse and the Pyrnees. I carve a plate of linoleum, put it through the press with damp printmaking paper and tons of pressure. I then paint the curtains and flowers. The windows in Toulouse are distinctive because the walls are built with Roman style bricks which are very long and thin compare with our modern 4" x 8" bricks and there is a Roman style arch over them.

Great Falls, VA on a summer day

2009-08-08T21:40:00.001-07:00

On Friday we had what may be the last of the beautiful, cool summer days so I joined some friends painting at Great Falls, Virginia. It was such a lovely, rare day with low humidity and about 85 degrees. I decided to use gouache (opaque watercolor) because I've painted there so often I was looking for a new approach. The painting is 10" x 14" and is $450.

Iris

2009-07-28T18:44:00.001-07:00

I finally finished the Iris painting that I began in the field in May. I had painted all the flowers on site and some of the leaves but had to continue in the studio. If you look back in my blog to May you can see the half finished painting. Because I went away just after my work in the field it took me a long time to get back to it and then a long time to paint all those leaves. It is a full sheet, 22" x 30" $1095.

Canal Boat

2009-07-21T18:43:00.001-07:00

I did this painting standing in the shade on a beautiful and unusually cool summer day at Great Falls, Md. I managed to paint the canal boat before it left to take tourists for a ride on the C&O Canal. I like the square format and the way the trees frame the boat. It is 14" square and is $550.

Russian Sage and Roses

2009-07-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

We had such unusually cool weather here in DC last week that I got out to paint en plein air twice. I did this painting at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland standing by a waterfall and in the shade. It doesn't get any better than that! The image size is 14 x 21", framed size is 24" x 31". It is $695 matted.

Carcassone Portal

2009-06-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

Here is another painting from France. This is the entrance to the medieval village of Carcassone.

Also here is a link to another film I put on YouTube working on an Iris painting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkizGRTX9wk

Pont d'espagne

2009-06-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

I did this 8" x 10" painting after riding a ski lift up the mountain and then hiking about a mile to a gorgeous glacial lake. Don't forget to check out my video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_VQc0pqkyo
Please give it a rating if you like it.
Margaret

Painting at Gavarnie, France

2009-06-17T19:06:00.001-07:00

I painted these small watercolor paintings 4.5" x 6" after hiking 5 kilometers into the foothills of the Pyrnees at Gavarnie. You can watch a video of me working on them on my YouTube site http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_VQc0pqkyo. I hope you'll enjoy seeing me work.

Painting in the Iris Garden

2009-05-24T14:15:00.001-07:00

I began this painting last Monday at Margaret Thomas's Iris Garden. It was a glorious, cool day. I returned on Thursday and spent another day adding Iris then worked on the painting again on Friday in my own garden. I still have lots of leaves and a few more flowers plus the trees at the top to finish. I just couldn't resist doing a full sheet (22" c 30") Every year I swear before I go that I'll just do one flower and every year I try to paint all of them. I'm like a kid in a candy shop! I doubt I'll get any more done until later in June as I depart tomorrow for the Pyrnees region of France for three weeks. I will do lots of small painting while I'm there but won't be adding to my blog as I don't carry a laptop when I travel. Check back in July and see lots more.

Painting the Iris

2009-05-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

On Monday I began a full sheet watercolor of Iris at Mrs. Thomas' garden. The weather this week has been gorgeous so I'll continue working on it on Thursday. As always I am lured by all the colors and try to paint all the Iris.

Finished azaleas painting

2009-05-11T18:39:00.001-07:00

Here is the painting I did while standing under an umbrella in the pouring rain last Thursday. Actually I'm quite pleased with it. I worked on 300 lb. arches cold pressed paper. Both it and the paint stayed nice and damp and allowed me time to manipulate the paint. This was done in a private garden on Ohio St. in Arlington where there are over 2500 azaleas that were planted in the 1950's. It is really a fairyland of color. The painting is 14" x 22" and is $695 matted.

Painting in the rain

2009-05-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

I wish you could have seen me today. After a week of rain and with azaleas fading fast I bit the bullet and went out to paint them "en plein air". Fortunately I had with me a very large umbrella that stands in the ground. It managed to cover me and the easel and I must say my watercolor turned out rather well despite the frequent downpours. I finally had to give up when it was about 3/4 finished. When it is done I will add it to a new post.

State Flower Collection Book

2009-05-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

My book of State Flowers published by Credit Union House is now is print and is gorgeous. It has two pages for each flower plus the DC American Beauty Rose so has over 104 pages in full color on premium paper with a dust jacket. If you look back in my posts to the end of September I wrote about the creation of the book. It can be ordered for $65 plus $8 shipping. Order form can be found on my website at: http://www.huddy.com/pages/orderinginfoframeset.htm

Arboretum Azaleas

2009-04-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

Well, my lovely weather on Friday did not continue on the weekend. I did this painting on Sunday Morning at the National Arboretum and really nearly died of the heat. Sigh! Spring in DC is so fickle.

This is also 15 x 22" and $695.

Dogwood and Washington Monument

2009-04-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I had the most glorious day of plein air painting. I went to Lyndon Baines Johnson park along the George Washinton Parkway. There are some magnificent old dogwood trees there. I found the perfect view with the dogwood framing the Washington Monument. It was so cool and I found a spot in the shade of a pine tree with the delicious smell of pine needles.
The painting image size is 22" x 15" and is $695.
More of my Washington, DC scenes can be seen on my website:
www.huddy.com

Daffodils in DC

2009-04-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

With great thanks to Lady Bird Johnson we have glorious fields of daffodils along the George Washington Parkway. I did this gouache painting on a gorgeous, sunny, but cool day from Columbia Island looking over to DC with the Old Post Office tower and the Washington Monument setting the scene. It is $750 framed. The framed size is 24 x 31"

Pont du Gard

2009-04-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

I painted this acrylic painting of the Pont du Gard from photographs I took in the south of France. It is 5 x 7" framed and is $250.

Finished Sycamore Painting

2009-04-09T17:42:00.001-07:00

I have finally finished my newest Sycamore painting, Sycamore, 8:30 am, April. If you look back in my blog you can find some posts on how I painted it. It is watercolor on 555 lb Arches Cold Press paper which is 20.5" x 41" and is $4900.

Another Acrylic painting

2009-04-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

This painting is of a doorway in a Roman ruin Les Baux in Provence. I love the warm light and cool shadows cast by the Provincial sun. It is 7 x 5" and is only $250. framed.

New, I did an acrylic painting!

2009-04-07T18:59:00.001-07:00

I recently won $100 worth of Golden Acrylic paints. At first I thought I'd give them away but then decided to give acrylics a try. I had tried using them as a watercolor in 1964 (yes, a long time ago) I discovered it ruined my good watercolor brushes and gave it up. However, I now have a lot of old w/c brushes so I decided to give it a try. I found some 5 x 7" clayboards in my drawer and went at it, using the paint like oil not like watercolor. it was so much fun I'm going to do another. This scen is of Fort Saint Andre in Villeneuve Les Avignon, France. It's only $250. framed.

Jefferson Memorial 2009 painting

2009-04-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here is my finished painting of this year's Cherry Blossoms at the tidal basin. I love this view because you can see Jefferson framed by his memorial and the Capitol is in the background. I also love to paint the worn old tree trunks. I used gouache on this painting. Gouache is an opaque watercolor that I've been working with occasionally. It's fun to use a different method of painting on a familiar subject that I've painted so many time. This painting has been sold.

Painting the Cherry Cherry Blossoms

2009-03-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

I spent the morning freezing while I painted the Cherry Blossoms today. I was wearing a turtleneck, heavy sweater, flannel lined coat and gloves with the fingers cut down. Of course, it warmed up just as I finished and went to my car. I finished most of the painting on location but will add the final details tomorrow in the studio so check back tomorrow night to see the painting. While I was painting I was interviewed by CBS news, The Chicago Sun-Times and a Quebec TV station. Somehow I managed to get the painting done.

I finished the Sycamore Tree

2009-03-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

I finished the tree today but won't have an image for a week. I took the painting to Old Town Editions this morning to be photographed with a high resolution digital camera. Please come back in about a week to see the finished painting.

Softening the white branched

2009-03-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day painting some shadow edges on the white branches where I had removed the maskoid. This softens the edges. I then began painting the twigs. I will spend one more day painting the final twigs over the whole painting and then it will be finished.

Removing the maskoid

2009-03-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

The pure white branches have been saved by painting a maskoid (like a thin rubber cement) before I painted the background trees. I use a white mask by either Winsor Newton or Incredible white mask. This seals the paper while I paint all the background trees. Now that I've finished the background trees I removed the maskoid with a rubber cement pick up.

Adding more background trees

2009-03-22T18:50:00.001-07:00

As you can see I am still adding trees to the background, working wet into wet in each area between the limbs. Then when that is dry I begin to add tree details with a #2 rigger. This much took me all day today. It's not for impatient painters.

Painting the background trees

2009-03-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

I've now begun to paint the distant trees that make the Sycamore look so monumental. I have used maskoid on the edges of the main branches and on small twigs so that I can be free with my strokes.

Painting of the tree limbs is finished

2009-03-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

This shows how the limbs are all finished but for the very smallest twigs. The next step is to paint the distant trees which make this monumental old tree look so huge. Check back tomorrow to see the progression.

Painting a Sycamore Tree

2009-03-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

I want to show you how I go about painting my wonderful old Sycamore tree. The detail in the top image shows the drawing with the shadows drawn in. I first paint the sky in graded washes around the tree. That helps me not to get lost among all the lines. I then paint the tree itself working from top to bottom as yo can see on the bottom. I do finish each limb before I move to another. The reason I start at the top is that I work veritically and as you can see on the top image I have a couple of drips. It's easy enough to conceal them when I get to the area but if I've finished it already and drip I'm in trouble. I will add to this every day so please check back.

Baranov Island

2009-03-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

I painted while we were on a small boat cruise with Cruise West in Alaska. Painting from a boat is so much fun, it moves slowly and you have lots of time to capture the essence of the landscape. It is only about 5" x 8". I used a credit card to push the paint around and create the rocks. One of many watercolor tricks!

Hacienda del Sol, Tucson, AZ

2009-03-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

Hacienda del Sol is a gorgeous hotel that began life as a private girls school. They were most gracious when I called to ask if three of us could come and paint on the grounds. They were so accomodating, bringing us ice water and warning of heat exhaustion(it was an unseasonable 85 degrees in February!) The only difficulty was trying to decide what to paint as flowers and cactus were everywhere. The blue trim on windows and doors contrasted beautifully with the pale adobe walls. The painting is 14" x 21" unmatted and sells for $695.

Colors in old Tucson

2009-03-02T11:58:00.001-08:00

I just returned from a glorious warm week of painting in Tucson, Arizona. I did this painting on my first day on a street in old Tucson so full of color I felt like I was back in Mexico. It was 89 degrees but I managed to survive by drinking lots of water. It was just too good to miss. It is 14" x 29" and costs $695.

Winter Trees

2009-02-17T18:50:00.001-08:00

I painted this last week at Fletcher's Boat House when we had an unusually warm February day but verrrry windy. I had to hold my easel down with my left hand the whole time I painted. The Potomac was a blue green that was almost unbelievable. I used gouache because I wanted to capture the very white sycamore trees. It is a 1/2 sheet, image size is 14' X 21". The painting is $750 framed.

Belle Haven View

2009-02-17T18:49:00.003-08:00

This is a quiet spot at Belle Haven Marina. It wasn't terribly cold when I found a little corner out of the wind. I loved the bare trees and the silent boat. It is 8" x 10" and is $195.

2009-02-17T18:49:00.001-08:00

Watercolor on Canvas

2009-02-15T18:33:00.001-08:00

Fall Trees is a new painting in a new technique for me. It is watercolor on a canvas especially for watercolors. It works differently than paper, is not absorbent so the color can be removed easily. It gives an effect much like yupo or hot press paper. Colors stay very vibrant. When I finished I sprayed it with a special varnish for watercolors and then a uv protective spray. There is no need to frame it under glass so I mounted it on a wood panel, a very modern look. It is 8" x 10.5" and only $295.

Black Sand Beach, Big Island, Hawaii

2009-01-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

This was my first experience painting a black sand beach. It is on the big island of Hawaii. The contrast of the black lava rocks and sand with the bright green plants was great. This small painting is only 3" x 7" and yet has the aura of the place. It is only $195. More of my Hawaii paintings can be seen on my website: www.huddy.com.

Senate East Pediment

2009-01-18T18:22:00.000-08:00

Wow, I just noticed my last post was on Dec. 10. I guess Christmas and New Years just got in the way. Now that winter is upon me I hope to get back to regular posts. I have been busy painting, if not posting. This is my newest painting of the pediment on the Senate portico on the east side of the Capitol. I've been working on it since mid-November. It's quite large, 29 x 41". I couldn't work on it more than 4 hours a day. My eyes would cease to focus after that time. It is about the triumph of civilization. It is $5100.

Avalanche Lake at Glacier National Park

2008-12-10T18:35:00.000-08:00

I painted this while I was artist in residence at Glacier National Park. I had to hike a mile uphill so I just took my small kit. This painting is 8" x 10" and is $295. It was well worth the climb. A truly beautiful spot with many waterfalls cascading into the crater.

Autumn Glory

2008-12-03T18:45:00.000-08:00

This was my last hurrah of plein air painting for 2008. I was thrilled to find the colors were in full glory when I returned from Japan. I painted this on a sparkling, warm day in early November in a Civil War park in Arlington, VA, a few miles from my home. It was such fun to dip into all those colors one last time before the winter colors arrive. The next day we had wind and rain and it was over!

the image size is 14 x 29" and is $750.

Hida-No-Sato

2008-11-21T18:47:00.000-08:00

This is a restored village called Hida-No-Sato. The buildings were brought from an area that was going to be flooded when a dam was built. They were reconstructed on the outskirts of Takayama in the Japanese Alps. The interesting thing is their resemblance to the old Norwegian houses with the steep, thatched roofs. The fall colors had arrived and I managed to paint under a shelter despite the rain. It is 6" x 8" and Sold

Mountain village

2008-11-20T17:46:00.000-08:00

I painted this as our train climbed up into the Japanese Alps with clouds hanging low over the hills and a small village hugging the shore of a fast moving river with bright green fields of vegetables. This 4" x 8" watercolor is $150.

Mountain River

2008-11-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

I painted this from the train on our way into the Japanese Alps. The trees were beginning to turn in this region. This small watercolor is 5" x 8" and is $150.

Stone Lanterns

2008-11-19T18:28:00.000-08:00

In Nara Park there are many stone lanterns lining the way to the shrine. I painted this little 8" x 5" watercolor while having tea near one of the shrines. It is $150.

Nara, Japan

2008-11-17T18:32:00.000-08:00

I painted this in the park in Nara, which was the ancient capitol before Kyoto. The shrines are all located in the park which is a lovely place to stroll. This 11" x 8" painting is $250.

Footbriddge in the garden

2008-11-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

This footbridge is in the Imperial Garden in Tokyo, an area of lovely, pleasant calm in the midst of the city. This small watercolor sells for $200.

Mt. Fuji

2008-11-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to see Mt. Fuji in all its glory. I painted this while hiking nearby. The weather was glorious and cool.

Painting in Japan

2008-11-09T04:04:00.001-08:00

I've been away from my blog for four weeks while traveling in Japan. I did small, quick watercolor paintings in my 9" x 12" watercolor sketchbook from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff. I was so excited to have gorgeous weather while spending the weekend in Hakone, 2 1/2 hours from Tokyo by train and bus. Mt. Fuji was revealed in a gorgeous blue sky. There is a shrine there but I prefered to sit and paint. I would have loved more time to walk there. I gave this painting to my daughter and her family who traveled with us to Hakone.

Late Summer Garden

2008-10-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

We've been having beautiful weather of late. After finishing the book I've managed to get out to paint "en plein air" I did this in the garden at Oatlands Plantation in Viginia. It was a wonderful day.

$695. on my website

I won't be blogging for a few weeks as I'm leaving for a vacation in Japan. Check back to my blog in mid-November when I'll have some small paintings I did there.

I finished the text!

2008-09-29T18:14:00.001-07:00

I completed my writing for the state flowers book today. Still have to write the introduction. It's really fascinating how they went about choosing the flowers, often pitting women's clubs against schoolchildren. The book should be out in time for the holidays. You can reserve one in advance by leaving a comment here on my blog.

Almost finished

2008-09-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

I have only four state flowers left to write about! Here are Hawaii's yellow hibiscus and South Carolina's jessamine.

Virginia and North Carolina State Flowers

2008-09-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

Both Virginia and North Carolina have the dogwood as their state flowers. I chose to paint one of the pink variety and one, white. I've now finished the text for 42 of the flowers for my book.

Apple Blossoms

2008-09-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'm going full steam ahead on my book. I've finished 35 of the state flowers! I'm really enjoying doing something totally different. The stories behind many of the flowers are facinating. These are the Apple blossoms which are shared by Arkansas and Michigan.