One's to Watch 2012 promotional release

 I was sent the promotional release for the watercolor Artist Magazine 'One's to Watch' feature yesterday

Announcing Watercolor Artistʼs 2012 “Ones to Watch”

Few stories generate as much excitement around the Watercolor Artist offices as the annual “Ones to Watch” feature, published each year in the December issue. In May, the Watercolor Artist editors send out a call to longtime artist friends, asking for the names of students they think show exceptional promise or talented painters who theyʼve recently encountered by way of an exhibition theyʼve juried. The staff then solicits work from each of the nominated artists. Once all the images are in, the editors begin to highlight the standouts.

Editor Kelly Kane looks forward to spotting new talent. “Our goal is to identify up-andcoming watercolor artists who demonstrate both technical skill and unique qualities of self-expression, but who might not otherwise have come to our attention for a few more years; artists we can catch early and watch as they continue to hone their styles and techniques; artists who can teach us all something about commitment, drive and belief in oneʼs self and oneʼs work,” she says.

Congratulations to the 2012 Watercolor Artist “Ones to Watch:”

Bill Bailey | Oakland, Tennessee
Cheng Fen Yeh | Radford, Virginia
Cindy Evans | Williamston, Michigan
Donna Morrison | Tampa, Florida
Joseph Stoddard | Pasadena, California
Lane Hall | Medford, Oregon
Mary Barnett | Boulder, Colorado
Ona Kingdon | Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Robin Erickson | Fallbrook, California
Suzanne Reed Fine | Columbus, Georgia

Read more about these artists—and why they were nominated by the top watermedia instructors and exhibition jurors—in the December 2012 issue of Watercolor Artist, available on newsstands Oct. 23, 2012, or in digital format at northlightshop.com.

I can't wait to see how they used what I sent them to write the feature... It's going to be a long few weeks :)

Ona

People's Choice award and signature membership!

Awards from Jurors are wonderful to receive but there is something very special about winning the people's Choice award... I guess because it is the vote of the people so thank you everyone who voted for my paintings..

I am very happy to let you all know that  'Primal warmth' based on the Wenden long house at St. Marie among the Hurons has won the people's choice award from the Impressions 2012 Exhibition which took place last week at Boynton house.

 During the week I also received my BWS signature status from the Mayor of Richmond Hill

Thank you Mayor Barrow for taking the time to present the awards.

Ona

Dis orienta-Ted

This was just SO much fun to create :)

I wanted it to be colourful and to have a mischievious childlike fun element to it... something that would catch the eye with its quirkiness and encourage the viewer to stop and think... to not accept anything as given but to question everything just as Ted is doing.

Ona

Dis orienta-Ted WIP 3

I've now finished the background and just have the girl, poor Disorienta-Ted and his hat which, from this way around, is falling away to the right hand side of the painting, left to paint.

Can you find the other confused Ted's hiding in the background? I promise I will post some closeups once the painting is finished to make it easier to see all the fun elements :)

Ona

Disorienta-Ted WIP 2

I've been working away at the background over the last few days morphing one angle of perspective into another. It's mind blowing at times, especially working on lighting direction, but a lot of fun too.

I thought you might enjoy seeing my progress so far. The big question is though... which way is up? or  more importantly for Ted if he were dropped and fell, which way is down! Is it you the viewer? would he fall right into your arms? Or would he fall onto the floor?

or if he is being held up in the air maybe sideways is down?

 

of course he may even fall right into the sky!

It does make me think... Which way am I going to actually hang the finished painting? I'm ahead of myself though... time to get back to painting :)

Ona

Which way is which???

Disorienta-Ted WIP1

Ever had days when you feel like life is just too confusing? like you aren't sure what is going to happen next?

 I think we have all had these days... moments when you feel like even the basic things in life should not be taken for granted. You take a step forward and are just thankful that the floor is still there beneath your feet. These days, although hard, teach us to value the simple little things that too often we take for granted.
 
 But what if the floor isnt where you think it is! I thought this would be such a fun idea to explore in  my next -Ted themed painting. 

Poor Disorientat-Ted is more than a little confused and, believe me,  he wasn't the only one as I tried to wrap my brain around the changes in perspective I needed to create for my outline to work. 

 Maybe you can help Ted out. Look closely at my outline and see you you can work it out...He is being lifted up in the air isn't he???.... but wait a moment.... why is there a hot air balloon going up sideways? and aren't the windows on the wall sideways too?

maybe he is being held this way up instead?

...but then... eeek!he would fall right into the open window in a vertical wall!!! No wonder he is looking more than a little shocked..that just can't be right!

playing with single point perspective doesnt have to be boring :)

I have actually used three different angles of perspective for this painting, each of which morph into the other.

 Sorry about the lack of contrast in these photos. My pencil markings are very light so I have to reduce the contrast in them to get the image to show up for you at all. Hopefully you will discover more of the quirkiness of this painting as I begin to add the colour :) Just remember which way is up and where the floor is in reality.... I don't want YOU falling over while to try to work out which way is up in the painting!

Ona

Feature Artist for NWWS Hot Press Newsletter!

I am thrilled to be chosen as the featured Artist for the new Edition of the North West Watercolor society's Hot Press Newsletter. A special thank you to their editor Charlene Freeman for compiling the 5 page article and for publishing the article on her own website too.  Here is the first page below...

 

...If you would like to read the article in full please click on this link  

or click here to read the whole newsletter

Ona

Restric-Ted!

This was a lot of fun to do but I admire my friends that do miniatures almost exclusively because it's extremely hard work on the eyes.

 It's tough when you are only given a small size to paint in but it's even tougher, when you are a rather chubby Ted and you're asked to squeeze into such a tiny space!

The actual painting is 2.7 inches by 5 inches. Its photographed here with a double mat.

I think I might frame this one up ready for the studio Tour in October

EDIT: Well, it won't be going to the studio tour because it sold today and will be journeying to its new home in France next week :)

Ona

Fitting a whole load of emotion into a teeny tiny space

Now.... I just LOVE a challenge :) 

A few of my friends (Mary Jansen, Deb Keirce, and Ellie Sethman) who all do exquisite miniatures have been trying to persuade me to do a miniature too.... 

I know... this is a major difference to my usual full sheet paintings which are about 22 by 30 inches on average... 

So my challenge is.... can I fit a whole load of emotion into a teeny tiny space???.... I'm thinking about 5 by 2.8 inches  because you should all know me by now... I love to depict the emotions of life through my paintings....

I've been working on my idea today.... I hope I don't end up feeling Restric-Ted like my bear did when I squeezed him into a box this morning so I could sketch out my outline (grin)  :)

well... my Ted's just had to help me celebrate attempting my first ever miniature didnt they... I think  Ted thinks Miniatures are a little on the small size  to fit his chubby self in though :)

Ona

Craf-Ted with Love

This scene takes you back to the days when toys were meant to last, when they endured generations of love and play. They were made out of love and with such skill. 

The child's grandfather is patiently making a Teddy for his grandson. The child looks on with awe and wonder. He can almost imagine his Ted is alive. The small wooden toy watches Grandfather finish his arm.... He is a toy crafted with love

 'I was made to love you
 I was made to find you
I was made just for you
Made to adore you
I was made to love
And be loved by you.
You were here before me
You were waiting on me
And you said you'd keep me
Never would you leave me I was made to love
and be loved by you.'  

Lyrics from 'Made to Love' by Toby Mac

Its painted on a full sheet of Arches 140lb cold press paper.

Ona

Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 33rd International Juried Exhibition acceptance

I am very happy to let you all know that 'Spinning a Tale' has been selected for the 2012 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 33^rd International Juried Exhibition. This makes three years in a row that I have been accepted into this prestigous exhibition. WOW! Thank you to Paul Jackson who was the juror for selection.

 The exhibition will be held at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA and will run from November 4, 2012 - February 3, 2013. I hope that those of you that are in the area will be able to go and see this exhibition.

Woodcarver WIP 3

Painting people is such a pleasure. I am really enjoying bringing this woodcarver to life and capturing his thoughtful creativity and focus.

I still have a little work left to do on his sleeve darkening some of the pattern a touch but other than this the top section is complete.  Then I can focus on his arms and hands.

A couple of people have asked if they could see a close up of his face so here is one.

Ona

Woodcarver WIP 2

I've finished the background and am now ready to begin working on the woodcarver and the child.

 I kept to a pretty limited palette for the background because although I felt it was important to include it as it helped create atmosphere, I didnt want all the detail in it to detract from my subjects and what they were doing.

My board has a tiny bit of a curve in it which doesn't bother me at all while painting and isn't usually noticable when I take a photo, but because this background is full of straight lines its a little noticable on the window sill. I promise you its straight really, although I suppose with an old building it could be slightly warped :)

I've removed the masking now so its a little easier to see my outline drawing. A couple of people have asked me about whether I find the masking fluid removes pencil outlines. It does a little, but I do two things to try to reduce the chance that my outline will disappear when using MF.

1. Draw in the areas that you know you are going to mask just a touch darker than the rest.
2. Apply the MF thickly (I often apply 2 layers to get an even covering, and  a thick enough covering to allow me to peel off the masking fluid in one piece once I have finished. This both preserves the fibres of the paper a little more and avoids you having to rub on the pencil marks causing them to get fainter or disappear altogether.

Hope this tip is useful :)

Ona

Carrie's Friday Feature Artist!

It is an honor to be the featured artist on Carrie Waller's blog this week. Thank you Carrie :)

 I had a series of questions to answer including  How did my artistic journey start? Where was I born? What’s my favorite thing to paint and why? Do I have go-to paints/colors, what are my favorites? and many more great questions including a fun speed round the beginning of which is below :) 

 Please visit Carrie's blog  'Carrie's Creations' to read my interview  in full. Do take the opportunity to see some of her beautiful artwork too.  

Thank you again Carrie for featuring me.

Ona

Woodcarver WIP 1

It's a dull damp day today but when you paint you can transport yourself to any world so it doesn't really matter. I am using another photo that I took at the pioneer village as my main reference for this next painting. I've made a couple of alterations and additions though to help me convey 'my story'.

I have masked my two main subjects while a paint the background. Yes, I do get through a lot of masking fluid doing this but it applying it allows me to focus on the background without having to worry about preserving any key whites on my subjects because sure as anything if i don't a splatter of paint will fall on just the wrong spot :)

As you can see I have finished about half of the background. I decided to keep it fairly true to the reference in content as the old style workshop will help create the atmosphere I am aiming for but I have altered the colour palette and am using the quin golds, burnt orange and transparent brown oxide glazed with layers of indanthrene blue to create the darks.

Can you guess what the woodcarver is making?

Ona