This group was at Yellowstone National Park, getting ready for a long day of trail riding.  I tried to minimize the background to put more attention on my subject – different for me.  I’m really tempted to put a tree or a distant mountain in the right corner, but adding things often changes the composition for the worse instead of better.  I used a new color from Cheap Joe’s for the horses – transparent oxide brown.  Image size 12 x 16.  Does it look complete?

This morning I finished Shades of Winter – a half sheet painting that began as a class demonstration.  The scene is an old railway stop on Rt 30 East (of Lancaster.)  I was out early, and the warm sunrise hitting the snow made fog or glare, I’m not sure which, but it sure was dramatic.  Price:  $600 framed, in an 18 x 24 black frame.

I got a letter yesterday - “Congratulations!  Your art has been accepted in Art of the State:  Pennsylvania 2010 at The State Museum June 27 – September 12.  There were only 150 works chosen from 2,076 entries.”

This watercolor painting is a scene from Columbia, PA, coming down from Chickies Rock.

I painted this because of a remark made by a teacher at a workshop I took.  John Salminen, a very well known artist, had looked at one of my other paintings (a schoolbus) and remarked that I’d made a mistake, I should have made the road equal on both sides of the white line.   He explained that the uneven road in my photo was probably caused by camera distortion.  I snorted.

 “John,” I asked, “have you every been to Pennsylvania?”  It wouldn’t matter where it was, he explained, roads were the same all over the country.  I don’t think he’s been to Pennsylvania - our roads are a bit different.    I’m just going to paint what I see.  If my roads seem uneven, it’s not camera distortion, it’s life as usual, in Pennsylvania.

It’s spring!  Currently, I have watercolor paintings going in all directions.  If you want more information on any of these shows, just send me an email to debiwatson@comcast.net

•  ’Just Passing By’ will be at the Philips Museum of Art at the Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, opening April 30th
• ‘The Race’ is at the Newman Gallery at 1625 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, PA until April 24th.
• ‘Car Show’ is going to Illinois fine arts center The Next Picture Show  May 7 – June 1
• ‘Early Flight’ and ‘Parking in the Back’ are in Middletown NY until March 26
• ‘Art At Rest’ is going to Louisianna, ‘Fry Guy’ went to Missouri, & ‘Bubbles’ is in an online exhibit

While my artwork is traveling, I’ve been home doing yard work and remodeling an upstairs bathroom.  I replaced a tub & surround and laid new flooring in the bath and the hall.   I haven’t gotten much painting done, but will get back to it in April, as soon as I get the tub to stop leaking…

The watercolor painting of the bunny and hydrangeas was sold last year, but I have another bunny painting on the drawing board, this one with old fashioned roses.  I have lots of neighborhood bunnies willing to model for carrots.

Fry Guy was accepted into the 10th Annual Missouri Watercolor National Juried Exhibition to be held at the Winston Churchill Gallery at the Westminster College, to be held April 1 – May 16, 2010.  I was also awarded signature membership with this acceptance.  

Sold - ‘February and Still Snowing’ is sold, as well as ‘Cherub and Flowers’. 

"February and Still Snowing" Original Watercolor 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" $350

This original watercolor painting was my view one morning last week while on my way to Turkey Hill to get milk for breakfast.  It’s a street scene without a bit of pavement.

When I have a painting in progress, I try to keep it in my line of sight.  I paint in the studio, then bring it with me while I work around the house.  I bond with the painting.  Yet I still ‘miss’ things that could be better.

‘Passing By’  is from a photo taken the same morning as the Garden Gate, pictured below.   Same snow, different location, and totally different feelings.

So, does this painting look finished?  I am still thinking of making the sign on the upper right of the building lighter or darker, but any comments are welcome. 

(Passing By is for sale, framed for $800, but I’m going to enter it in the Art of the State competition, so it won’t be available until a later date.)

This is a new original painting, image size 20 x 24″.  The scene was from the first snow of the season in Lancaster, PA.  The snow was so pretty that I took hundreds of photos, afraid it might be our only snow of the year. 

 Boy was I wrong.

This painting is entered in the Baltimore Watercolor Society’s annual juried exhibition, so it won’t be available until a later date, but it is for sale at $1,200.  Prints will be available later.

I started this happy snowman as a demonstration in my watercolor painting class, then I brought him home to finish in the studio this morning.   It’s all blue skies and smiles when you have friends, in this new, original watercolor painting. 

Now, available on eBay!  click here to see my listing. 

 Snowman and Chickadee is 10″ x 7″ and my first posting on the new blog I joined:  Daily Painters of Pennsylvania.  In 2010, I’m going to be offering more fun and beautiful paintings for collectors of every taste and budget. 

Remember your New Year’s Resolutions?   Are they hanging on your wall somewhere, or just buried completely? 

It’s tough to stay focused in the modern world, because there’s so much to do and learn.  While  there are tons of good information at your fingertips on the internet, there’s also tons of bad information.  How do you sort it all out? 

Art Marketing NOW 

If you want to learn about all the ins and outs of art marketing I’ve discovered - Kelly and I are giving a one day workshop at the York Art Association on June 5, covering art marketing in person and on-line, with space for 45 students.  We’re still putting the details together, but you can put your name on the list to reserve a spot – just call or email YAA at (717) 755-0028 or yaa1@comcast.net .  I’ll be giving you more information on it as it gets finalized, and sharing a lot in this blog.

Juried Show Opportunities – One for now and one for later 

Deadline fast approaching - the Baltimore Watercolor Society’s 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibit  (last year $8,000 in awards and over $15,000 in sales.)   My award winning original watercolor painting above, Wannabe Lap Dog, was accepted and shown in their 2009 exhibit.  Also, the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s juried show prospectus is available on-line, for anyone who wants to get an early start.