Before the Rain

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Dana Burrell

I came to watercolors 3 years ago when I took an online class with the fabulous Jane LaFazio. Her work is fresh and fun and she’s a marvelous teacher, generous with her time, knowledge and especially her gentle encouragement. I’m still a frequent visitor to her website and blog.

As I looked through her class offerings I saw her sketch of a Matilija Poppy blossom. Jane had captured this beauty with a minimalist line and a few splashes of watercolor… I was inspired! My garden has been calling to me… “paint me, paint me.” But where to start? I snipped and floated one of my favorite peony blooms to be my first model!

You can see I copied… yes, copied! … Jane’s sketch of her poppy. I knew that as I drew the lines she drew I would absorb the loose feeling she captured before trying to replicate that feeling in my peony. (Don’t fret, I gave her credit on my page.)

I’ve been experimenting with various pens but for this I returned to my tried and true favorites… my TWSBI fountain pen filled with Platinum Carbon Black ink. To get the cool, icy pink of the petals I used multiple dilute glazes of Quinacridone Rose and deepened the shadows with Indanthrone Blue.

Since the forecasted wind and rain would doom the last of my poppies, this was my only chance. They’re so ephemeral. I stood in the driveway painting as the rain started to fall. Whew! Finished just in time!

They’re gone now, petals scattered on the ground, just a bunch of seedpods ripening for next year.

Spring Ahead Tonight!

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Dana Burrell

Earlier this week the film arts community celebrated 2013 with the Academy Awards… the Oscars. To say I’m not much of a movie person is an understatement. This year I haven’t even seen ONE of the winners. So why did I feel the need to make an Oscar page? I have no idea… the only thing I was interested in was best song. (I have 3 of them on my iTunes playlist).

it was good practice for human proportions… and he stood still for me!

So began March.

March is a month of transitions. The days are getting lighter… more hours of sun and I can feel its strength as I sit here typing. Yes it’s still cold and snowy but those days are waning. March is the first month of “meteorological” spring; the coldest days are behind us. True spring will arrive with the vernal equinox on the 20th.

In my mind this is the start of the year!

So remember to set your clocks ahead tonight as you go to bed and savor the extra hour of light we’ll have tomorrow evening.

A touch of Spring

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Dana Burrell

ISP! … or in our family’s language:

It’s So Pretty!

Yes, It’s snowing again. Now, don’t get me wrong… it IS pretty, but it’s been so white here for quite a while that I’m longing for some color… and Spring is still a month away. I’d love a house filled with greenery and flowers but we live with an adorable but destructive cat. Nothing is safe. Up ’till now this has forced me to give all gifts of plants and bouquets to my friends and neighbors.

But I’ve had an ah-ha moment! It seems she disdains anything in the narcissus family. I was able to grow paperwhites this winter and I’ve had a vase of daffodils in the window to which she’s only reacted with mild curiosity. She’s a tricolor with an erratic temperament so I take nothing for granted… into my sketchbook they go!

I’m grateful for a touch of Spring as the snow keeps falling.