Swimming, then coloring

On these hot days, my young model beats the heat by swimming in a kiddie pool. After she's all cooled off, coloring "Mermaids" in a coloring book is a fun activity. When I sketch figures like this quickly, foreshortening of limbs is always a challenge to get right without being able to erase. But it's good practice, no doubt. Watercolor pencil (and a little water), 5 1/2" x 7".

Summertime

Even though we have been suffering incredibly high temperatures lately, I really can't complain. Summer overall is great, whether you're a kid or a grown-up, it's just beautiful and fun in general (especially when you have a kiddie pool, a swingset, and some lovely flowers to gaze upon). We'll look back on this heat wistfully when we're in the middle of freezing cold temperatures from Dec.-March, right? Pen and watercolor, 5 1/2" x 8".

Sweet Onion

Another veggie still life (why not?). I couldn't resist trying to capture the elusive pastel colors of this sweet onion in 20 minutes today. The actual green color was the palest chartreuse, it reflected the sunlight and almost glowed. It is most likely a color that just can't be mixed with paint pigments... instead, hinted at slightly here with the complementary purplish-blue background. In fact, with more time, I would make the background even darker to accentuate the light colors of the onion itself. Watercolor, 5 1/2" x 8".

Summer Squash

Farmer's markets in the summer are great places to get all sorts of produce, for eating and painting. These squashes may be on the small side, but they were just right for a little 20 minute still life composition. I tried to get the effect of the bright sunlight and shadows in this short period of time. Watercolor, 5 1/2" x 8".

Lake View

A hot and breezy summer day spent by the shores of one of New York's beautiful Finger Lakes, what could be better? It was a perfect opportunity to make a 20 minute painting of the scenic view. Watercolor, 5 1/2" x 8".