The olive oil from Fattoria Bacio (the estate that hosts my workshop in Italy) is the best I’ve ever tasted! During our week at the villa, the students and I sloshed it over just about everything at dinner each night: bread, pasta, salad, meat, and vegetables. And by the end of the week, we all […]
Category: Tutorials
Sketches from Maine – Part 3 (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
During my June workshop in Maine, I waited all week for the perfect day to drive to the top of Mt. Battie and spend some time sketching. My patience was rewarded when we awoke one morning to abundant sunshine and clear blue skies. The view from the top of Mt. Battie is spectacular – deep […]
Sketches from Maine – Step-by-Step Iris Watercolor
Merryspring Nature Center is an idyllic little gem in the heart of mid-coast Maine. The day we visited, we had the place entirely to ourselves. There was so much to draw that I found myself wandering around for awhile just taking it all in, waiting for something to “speak” to me. Should I do a […]
Commission #7: Tin Can Hollow Road
Here’s the final house portrait in this series of 2015 commissions, a renovated farmhouse on the charmingly named Tin Can Hollow Road in Greene County, Pennsylvania. I took my reference photos in August when the yard was filled with flowers and the white hydrangeas were just beginning to develop the rosy blush that comes as […]
Commission #6: Victoria Belle Mansion
Imagine an outdoor wedding in this beautiful location, with violinists serenading the wedding party from the balcony and guests arrayed in white chairs surrounding the fountain. That was the scene when my client’s daughter was married at Victoria Belle Mansion just a few years ago. 12″ x 8″ watercolor on 140 lb. paper Victoria Belle is an […]
Commission #5: A Cute, Cozy Cottage
When you read the title of this post, what image popped into your head? Clapboard siding, picket fences and porch swings? Colorful flowers tumbling over stone walls? Well, this adorable cottage has all that and more. 12″ x 8″, ink & watercolor on 140 lb. paper The house is framed by pretty white picket fences… […]
Commission #4: “The Pecan Grove”
I’ve done a wide variety of custom artwork over the years, everything from pet portraits to illustrated recipes, but this is the first time I’ve been asked to paint a grove of trees. This idyllic scene of a family walking through a Georgia pecan grove was a challenge for many reasons. “The Pecan Grove”, 12″ […]
Commission #2: A Stately Home in Atlanta
House portraits require quite a bit of back and forth communication with my clients. I usually ask for lots of photos of the property from different angles, so I can choose what works best for the composition. The client often requests a change of season for the painting, so there are discussions of what type […]
Commission #1: “Memories of Home”
I promised before Christmas that I would show you all the commissioned paintings I’ve been working on lately. Most of them were intended as gifts, so I couldn’t spoil the surprise and reveal them before the holiday. Well, now that the decorations have been packed away and things are getting back to normal around here, […]
Step-by-Step Watercolor: Fattoria Bacio
In one of my recent posts, I promised I would show you the step-by-step process I used to paint a sketch of Fattoria Bacio, our workshop location in Tuscany. The villa is perched on top of a hill, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. One pretty fall morning, I walked out along the ridge, about […]
