October fun with bright colors...

"Mama Bear" 18x24 painting done in pastel by Gail Watford

Finishing up a big 18x24 pastel painting, I visualize my bear as a momma bear with her cubs, in my mind I see them.... they're just to the left of the painting about to get into trouble, jumping around in the mountain stream. Momma bear is definitely getting annoyed with them! This painting was a fun project, pushing myself into a stronger pallette. Red has never been one of my favorite colors, but I loved working in the reds, oranges and yellows in this painting. It felt very timely with the October weather and the changing leaf colors. Maybe I will paint those cubs I have in mind?

"Western Tanager" 5x7 painting done in pastel by Gail Watford

When I paint I have found, I like to work on more than one painting at a time.  It gives me time to think about the painting I'm not working on and see it with a fresh view. This little 5x7 pastel "Western Tanager" was done while working on the bear painting.  It worked out well using mostly the same palette but working in a different style and manner.

Watercolors to the Wyoming Women's Expo!

"Hummingbird with Yellow sky" 5x5 inch Framed Watercolor by Gail Watford

As you know I love painting hummingbirds and our Wyoming state flower, the Indian Paintbrush!  My paintings this week are fun little studies working in watercolor.  I love how watercolor allows a softness of one color flowing into another.  When I close my eyes and think of a object or certain place, many times I visualize it as a watercolor.  A misty impression with very few defined lines..... colors melting into other colors...... layers of softness, like looking at the clouds in the sky.  As an experiment, stop now, close your eyes and think of a favorite person or place.  How do you visualize your object? I think most of you will be surprised to find that you don't remember objects looking like the photos you've taken, but remembering them less defined more like an impressionistic watercolor painting!  

Would you would like to see my little watercolor paintings? Works of Wyoming in Laramie will be showcasing some of their galleries artists at the upcoming Wyoming Women's Expo in Casper, Wyoming on October 3rd and 4th.  These are two of the small watercolors I am sending to the show.  Both of these pieces are 5x5 inches framed and priced at $48. If you're in Casper at the Women's Expo drop by and see the ladies from the Works of Wyoming booth and check out some Wyoming art.

"Indian Paintbrush Sunset" 5x5 inch Framed Watercolor/ink by Gail Watford