When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

illustration

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Hydrangea

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013


 

Blue Hydrangea, 18 x 24 inches graphite on 80 lb premium

Blue Hydrangea, 18H x 24W inches graphite on 80 lb premium, white mat

Blue Flag Iris

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013


 

Blue Flag Iris, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper

Blue Flag Iris, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper, white mat

Gladiolas

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013


 

Gladiolas, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper, white mat

Gladiolas, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper, white mat

Zinnias

Thursday, December 20th, 2012


 

Zinnias, 18H x 24W inches graphite on paper
Zinnias, 18H x 24W inches graphite on paper.

Using an eraser just as much as the graphite, the composition is roughed in to fill the page. Smudging creates dark tones – some are removed with different sized erasers, and some areas are detailed. Initial plans were to create a drawing with about 4 inches of grey tones bleeding into a colorful central square to be drawn and painted with watercolor pencils, similar to Chrysanthemums, with borders more defined, but I like this one without colors. Plans always need to change according to what the results are dictating.

Mary Ann Pel’s Bench

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010


 

Mary Anns Bench, dedication to Mary Ann Pels, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Mary Ann’s Bench, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Illustration of a bench dedicated to a client’s sister by the staff at the University Arboretum, Madison, Wisconsin

On exhibit

Friday, July 9th, 2010


 

Milkweed Melody, 27H x 33W inches Oil Pastels on 140 lb cold pressed premium watercolor paper, brassy-gold frame
Lilacs, 36H x 24W x 2D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted, narrow frame. Can be displayed vertically or horizontally.Bonsai Garden, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Singapore 12H x 15W inches graphite on paperOn exhibit at Oxide Gallery, Denton, TX are: Milkweed Melody, 27H x 33W inches framed Oil Pastels on WC paper, has brassy-gold frame painted with an extension of the drawing. Bonsai Garden, 12 x 15 inches graphite on paper, and Lilacs, 36 x 24 x 2 inches acrylics on canvas, gallery wrapped sides painted, narrow frame, which can be displayed horizontally or vertically.

Turmeric Blossoms

Thursday, June 10th, 2010


 

Turmeric Blossoms, 9H x 12W inches graphite on paper

Turmeric Blossoms, 9H x 12W” graphite on paper with 11H x 14W inch white mat.

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family. The local bees, flies and ants can’t get enough of the nectar. The rhizomes are a rich golden yellow, used as a food coloring and flavoring agent, in dyes and traditional eastern cosmetics, and is an important ingredient in curry powder. Native to India, it is grown widely in the tropical areas of Asia. The blossoms are about 14 inches across, these ones seen at the Botanic Gardens in Singapore. Exotic and unusual!

Treasures 03: Time

Saturday, June 5th, 2010


 

  Treasures 03: Time, 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper

Treasures 03: Time, 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper

I returned to that store a few times, mesmerized and taking stock of all the interesting objects in the window display and beyond. Just for fun, find the clocks and watches set to these times 10:40, 8:05, 7:10, 8:20, 9:00, 2:25, 1:25, and 7:50.

Treasures 02

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010


 

  Treasures 02, 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper

Treasures 02, 9H x 12W inches graphite on paper

…and where does one begin such a drawing? With Aladdin’s lamp of course. Listed in no particular order, here are the treasures in the above illustration: 1. Spiral-Horned Antelope statue, 2. monkey statue, 3. Woman golfing trophy, 4. Water Buffalo statue, 5. outdated video camera or equipment – three of, 6. horse head statues – heads only – there are two, 7. what I fondly refer to as “Aladdin’s lamp”, 8. log-stemmed pipe, 9. duck head statue, 10. Coca Cola alarm clock , 11. statue of three elephants, 12. case of watches, 13. Fish statue, 14. Chinese lantern, 15. ship in a bottle, 16. three vases displayed together, 17. large horse statue, 18. smaller (glass) horse on a glass ball statue, 19. hour glass, 20. outdated camera

Dragon Fruit

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010


 

Dragon Fruit, 9H x 12W inches watercolor pencils, graphite on paper, white mat and 15H x 18W inches white frame with crackle finish. 

Dragon Fruit, 9H x 12W inches watercolor pencils, graphite on paper, white mat and 15H x 18W inches white frame with crackle finish.
I’ve discovered a strange-looking and wonderful new fruit here in Singapore: Pitaya, commonly called Dragon fruit, is cultivated in Vietnam, but apparently is native to Mexico and South America. Possibly then, it’s imported to the U.S. and hopefully is sold in Texas – yay. I’ve seen it in the markets here but thought it was some sort of artichoke. Rarely do you find a fruit that is so large and fleshy where you don’t have to deal with removal of seeds or pits or cores to get to the yummy part. This one’s all yum, about 6″ long, very refreshing and tastes much like a kiwi, but more sweet than tangy.

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