Ink and Watercolor

This summer, as usual, I'm going to be doing some backcountry camping. We will spend a week primitive camping at a canoe-in lake, and then a 10 day backpacking trip in August. I want to bring supplies for art, but it has to be small, so I got a tiny little watercolor kit to bring along on these (and other) adventures. The following paintings are my way of loosening up a little and practicing with line and watercolor. Fun!


Last fall we took a hike through Silver Creek Falls Park, and the colors were amazing. The DailyPaintworks.com challenge for the week is to paint a path, and a photo I took on that autumn hike was perfect to serve as reference for this painting.

 

Autumn Trail © Dorothy Jenson 2014

5x7" India Ink and watercolor on paper

A little home town art is up next. Here is our downtown municipal elevator in spring. The structure you see is the top of the elevator and is built on a bluff. Below is the main downtown area and the river in the distance. This elevator is 130 feet tall and is one of only four municipal elevators in the world! Pedestrians use this free elevator to navigate between upper and lower parts of town. (Or they could use the stairs.) Here's my whimsical view of the area with wildflowers blooming in early spring.

 

Elevator Spring © Dorothy Jenson 2014

5x7" India Ink and watercolor on paper

 

 

 

 

Standing on the bluff near the elevator, this is a view of the river and bridge below that allows motorists to cross over to a neighboring town.

 

River Crossing © Dorothy Jenson 2014

5x7" India Ink and Watercolor on paper

Who, Me?

I've never painted a monkey before, but when I found this photo to share on Paint my Photo, I couldn't resist giving it a try. This fellow seems to have so much personality. Every time I stopped painting to survey the progress, he would look at me and say, "Who, Me?" Ha Ha, so what else was I going to title this painting?

Who Me? © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Hopeful Robin

Another little bird again, since yesterday's flew away so quickly to join some of it's siblings! Yep, it is the 5th bird in the collection for my buyer! I'm happy they can all be together in a cheerful little flock. :)

Today's bird has the look of someone who is looking ahead, or looking to the future without fear, and because of that I called her "Hopeful". When I first started working on the branch and needles, it seemed to be somewhat tedious. Then, surprisingly, it was fun! Watching the branch come to life while I painted blue skies around the needles was so interesting! Negative spaces are cool. :)

Hopeful Robin, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6"x6" acrylic on wrapped canvas  $40

If you are interested in making a purchase, click on my gallery link at the right side of this page. Not a PayPal person? No problem, email me for other ways to purchase.  Thanks for looking!

Pleasant Robin

 

I have a collector who needed another robin, and this one was just what she needed. She is now the owner of five little robin portraits! This sweet robin just looked so pleasant, that I couldn't call her anything else but Pleasant.

 

If you have a favorite in my gallery, which has already sold, I am happy to do a commission just for you! Email me your request and I will paint another one like it. Naturally, it can't be identical, because I don't know how to do that, but you would not be under any obligation to purchase it unless you like it. How's that for a deal?

 

Pleasant Robin, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas
SOLD

Leaf Rider and Koi Face

Painting took a little break this week with some sweet houseguests. My son and his family were here for the weekend so I had plenty to do with the grand babies, Sen (18 months) and Ashton (5 months)! They have now moved into a new home in Vancouver, so I still get to see them often. Now that my house is quiet again (bittersweet), here are two more paintings to share.

I really enjoyed painting the frog from last week, so I looked around for another reference and chose this one. So much fun painting all the colors in the body!

 

Leaf Rider, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

The DailyPaintworks challenge this week is to paint a fish. That's a new one for me! The Paint my Photo website had this wonderful reference photo that I couldn't resist. Look at all those lovely colors! I almost called this little swimmer "Joseph" for his "coat of many colors", but then changed my mind.

 

Koi Face, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Opinionated and Frog in the Buds

Here's a colorful fellow! This tiny little frog is climbing through some flower buds and I love all the shapes involved. Halfway through the painting I was really unsatisfied, so I began mixing up some brighter colors, and then it fially felt right. :)

 

Frog in the Buds, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6 acrylic on wrapped canvas

I had no other choice but to title this one "Opinionated". Many times while painting animals they seem to converse with me, silently. I was suggesting many different titles and each time was shot down. What else could I do but call her "opinionated"? Can't win an argument with this one!

 

Opinionated, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Vineyard Challenge, Look Up, and Starship Enterprise

Spent a lovely couple of days away at our property in Central Oregon, and now it's back to the easel again! Every once in a while I like doing something different. The Daily Paintworks Challenge this week is to paint a vineyard, and a photo is given for reference if we choose to use it. For this landscape I chose to use the tiny backpacking watercolor kit my husband gave me for Christmas. I started with some scribbly ink lines, then washed in color afterwards. Lots of fun!

Vineyard Challenge © Dorothy Jenson 2014

5 x 7 ink and watercolor on paper

Next up is a proud eagle! "Look Up" could mean many things to different people. To me it's a reminder to look for what's good and praiseworthy in our world, and to seek out solutions to problems before they overwhelm us. I love the look of assurance in the eye of this eagle.

 

Look Up © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6 "acrylic on 3/4" wrapped canvas

 

 

The paint is still drying on the Starship Enterprise! Well, not the one you probably think of that flies through space, but I'm talking about a beautiful iris that is named after the original spaceship. This iris blooms happily in the garden of a dear friend. My dots almost looks like stars floating around the flower!

 

 

Starship Enterprise © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on 3/4" wrapped canvas

 

 

If you are interested in purchasing any of these original works you can see availability and prices by looking through my Daily Paintworks Gallery. The link is on the right side of this page!