Cherry Cherry - Acrylic Painting on Canvas

"Cherry Cherry" 4X4 Acrylic on Canvas

I have been spending many hours over the last few days getting started on Daily Paintworks -and there is so much to learn.  I have posted countless items on Etsy and, while it is time consuming, at least I have it figured out!  There is always so much to learn on a new site and each one seems to have different listing procedures. 

One thing that is completely new to me is using the auction feature.  I know I will learn as I go along and it will become easier.  In the meantime, I have a lot of computer work to do so I can get some paintings listed. No time for painting for a few days!

New Watercolor : Childhood Skyline Memories

Childhood Skyline Memories

9X12 Watercolor

We moved to Long Island in 1993, when both of our boys were  very young.  The first thing we did, was go to New York City- and take the trip out to the Statue of Liberty.  No matter how many times you see it, the Statue is an awesome sight!  

This watercolor is painted from a photo I took that day of the boys looking back at the New York skyline from Liberty Island.  Looking across New York Harbor, you see Ellis Island and the fantastic skyline of New York City. No matter how many photos I have taken since (and there are thousands) this is one of my very favorites.  One reason is that it reminds me of three things-

1. our big move from California to New York

2.  how much fun raising 2 little boys can be

3. how glad I am that we got to see the skyline as it was-

including the Twin Towers

California Dreamin' - Vintage Travel Trailer on Beach Watercolor

California Dreamin" 9X12 Watercolor

When we love to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, between Santa Barbara and Santa Monica.  It is a beautiful stretch of California coastline and the view is amazing!  One of the main things we notice is that, no matter the time of year, the road is always lined with campers and trailers.

They are often parked only a few feet apart, side-by-side and end-to-end.  There is a wonderful variety of styles in these groupings- from new and shiny to the old and vintage style.  My favorites are the vintage trailers- unfortunately, that shows my age!  They remind me of when I was growing up and bring back nice childhood memories.  Some of these vintage trailers are really restored and creatively styled.  This watercolor is not a painting of a specific trailer I have seen- more a painting of a trailer I put into a fun beach setting.  It was a blast to paint and those are my favorite paintings, the ones that are all fun and no problems!

Jar of Marbles- watercolor 9X12

Childhood Memories -Jar of Marbles

Watercolor 9X12

This watercolor is a painting of one of my mom's antique canning jars filled with her childhood marble collection.  I took some photos of it recently because I loved how the sunlight was making all the marbles sparkle.  Like my mom, I have more than a few (some would say too many) of these antique canning/mason jars.  She got me interested in them years ago, and although I rarely buy them anymore- I love to include them in my paintings.

17- Mile Drive, Pebble Beach Oil on Canvas

17- Mile Drive    Oil on Canvas 15X30

I finished this painting a while ago and I'm just getting it posted.  The view along 17- Mile Drive is absolutely beautiful, and we have been there many times.  Last time we were there, I took lots of photos to use as reference photos.  The photo I used for this painting was actually four separate photos that I merged together to get this panoramic view.

WIP - Play Shoes

I am working on a watercolor using an old photo- one of my favorites from when my son was a little boy.  He was the ring bearer in my brother's wedding, and wore a cute little tuxedo most of the day.  After the wedding and the many photos, he got to change into his "play clothes".  

Someone at the reception snapped a series of photos of him standing on the dance floor.  He was standing near the bride and groom, and the rest of the wedding party- everyone was dancing, except for Eric.  He just looked so cute concentrating on the bunch of grapes in his hand, oblivious to his surroundings.

After about 20 years, I decided to use this photo for a watercolor.  I didn't see the problem with the proportions (his legs were somehow just not right) in my drawing.  As often seems to happen, things become more clear when the painting process begins.  I kept changing the shape and width of the legs to no avail. As I drew more and more pencil lines over my paint, I realized the legs were too short.  I don't know why I hate to quit on a painting- and instead waste so much time trying to fix them!  I could have painted this 3 times by now!  Oh well, back to work.

Ben's Dogs- Watercolor

Hurricane & Berserker

watercolor 9X12

I have had some family things going on lately and was away from home much of the time- so not much painting being done.  I have managed to fit in a few new paintings, and this is one of them.  My daughter in law posted a photo of their sweet puppies on Facebook and I knew I had to paint them.  They were in the car waiting to be let out to play- I just loved the faces and the way the sun was shining on them.  They aren't actually puppies anymore, but that is how I think of them.  They are both "scary" breeds, but couldn't be sweeter!  Now I find myself in the mood to paint more dogs- maybe another watercolor of my own sweet standard poodle.