An Artist’s Palette

Here’s one of my watercolor palettes.  Isn’t it beautiful?  ❤️ I squeeze paint from tubes onto the palette and let it dry.  

The squares in the middle are paints I bought separately, called pans. They’re magnetized, so I just plopped them down. 

 Once everything’s dry, I rehydrate it by spraying all the paints to soften them up. In a minute, they’re ready to go!   You never want to use watercolor directly from a tube. 

The last pic shows my clean palette.  I never go onto the paint itself when I’m cleaning up; that’s too expensive - just around it.  Now it’s all ready for the next time. #watercolorartist

An Artist’s Palette

Palette of the Day.  I think they’re beautiful just the way they are.  More than once I’ve thought I’d like to publish a book of studio images and palettes; really, I think it’s just all so beautiful.  I’ve been spending a lot more time in the studio these days, and one of my (multitudinous) goals is to spend even more time creating.  It’s a constant battle to get it all done, as I am sure you know.  Not sure about those books; I have a lot in me but finding the time to get it all out is a continual challenge.  Anybody else feeling this?

An Artist’s Palette

Palette of the Day.  My most-used tool.  I think palettes are beautiful.  This one represents animal fur and animal noses. :)

In The Studio

Commission work today; therefore all you get to see is my palette. HOWEVER, once I get to these tiny brushes it means I’m almost done with it! :) love!!  One wonderful thing about spring break is that I have more time to paint, and that’s always good! 

An Artist’s Palette

Luscious color testing palette.  The painting I’m currently working on is going to be REALLY colorul!  My color choices are about half the paints laying here.  For this piece I’m going to follow Matisse for he never liked to sully his colors and Maxfield Parrish because he put down layers and layers of glazings for that nice Parrish glow.

These three brands of paint are by FAR my favorites!  Of course Sennelier has been around for years and years, and Matisse,  they’re absolutely luscious.  Some of their beauties are not duplicated in any other brand, nor do others even come close. However, that young upstart, Golden Fluid Acrylics, is going to give everyone a run for their money.  They are absolutely color saturated and I am IN LOVE with three in particular, Quinacridone Azo Gold, Teal and Green Gold, all three of which will make it into my upcoming painting, including Senellier’s Ultramarine Blue Light and Matisse’s Primary Blue, which also is peerless.

I could talk about color all day.

Such yummy stuff.  Thank you, Lord, for making me an artist!

An Artist’s Palette

Palette of the Day. My work for today is with this palette and an entirely new set of colors. What’s your work today?

Honestly, though, although I don’t paint a whole lot of abstracts, I love the abstract qualities of my palette and really love looking and the colors, layers and values.  I think it’s beautiful in its own right.  Sometimes I’m sorry to cover it up and start anew.

The Continuing Saga of... (cue music) AN ARTIST’S DESK

Between each project I clean my desk and clear off all the stuff.  Okay, not ALL the stuff, but a goodly portion! Then I lay out the tools of my trade with a surgeon’s precision, albeit not that sterile, for the next great work. The brushes laid out here indicate I’m working small, which means I’m either painting a small project or working on a BIG project and getting close to being finished. Generally when I work big, I keep to big brushes for as long as possible and switch to the smaller brushes when they start to feel unwieldy. I think this keeps my work looking fresh and more immediate. And yes, I am getting close to the end of a big project.  Can’t show you yet because it’s a commission.  Dream about a painting you’d like to have and ask! I work within everyone’s budget. My email address is colorcatstudios@gmail.com.

Making your Day Palette-able!

Just trying to make your evening’s feed a little more PALETTEable!  Har har har! Ah, hum.  Yeah.  Sorry.  Couldn’t resist. Anyway, kind of pretty, isn’t it? 

Artist Palette

Ya know, every now and then I just really love the look of my palette and think it should be a painting.  Such is the case today. Happy Memorial Day.  Today I will paint a little, we will remember. We will eat, swim and celebrate,and plan to go down to ‘our’ sculpture down on the Waterway to pay tribute to our lost friends.  Thank you to all who have served to keep us free and great, and grant us the freedom to plan our days in such a wonderful way.

Cookie Artist Palette

Seems a fitting way to end a year of art classes, doesn’t it?  NO, I didn’t make these; one of my students did. And they tasted even better than they looked! Yum. 

Paintbrushes in My Studio

I own a lot of brushes.  So why is it that I always seem to prefer these goofy self-shaped brushes to all those others sitting in my studio having mini brush conventions? I can’t answer that question.  I guess what I really should do is go into the custom brush business, huh? 

Come one, come all.  Bring me your brushes! I will customize them for you, tailoring them perfectly to your needs.  riiiight...  

In Studio Today, Working

A tiny bouquet of baby bay leaves to help me stay out of the garden and in my studio today. If you EVER need bay leaves, ask! My tree grows so fast that I’m always trimming branches off. Wonderful flavor, pretty in bouquets. Even looks pretty on a palette!

My Palette

I’m working on a commission right now in blues and golds. The colors are so gloriously beautiful together that even my palette looks good! WhenI get a little further, I’ll be adding the complimentary colors to this,and hopefully soon showing you the painting.