Frank Webb states it well

Frank Webb, in his book titled Watercolor Energies, writes: As you draw and paint, guideposts which point to progress are contradictory, and the road is strewn with obstacles and distractions. It is essential to bulldoze these obstacles or to find a way around them. Painting, being a solitary journey, is crucial to sustain morale . . . 


Frank urges the artist forward, to rely upon his/her own power, to make discoveries with the qualities of the watercolor medium.

Me: painters, wet those brushes! (I'll take my own advice and will post a result later in the day.)

Title (above) links to Frank Webb's website. Enjoy!

Cookie, No. 1 of X

Cookie was one of my dearest friends. I've sketched her several times, never quite capturing her élan.

Edgar A. Whitney, my favorite instructor of watercolor and design, wrote: "Think of your drawing as an ideograph. What is in your mind and heart will be recorded; paint with compassion in your heart. Placing a highlight accurately is as important to drawing as the outline. . ."

Any subject worth drawing is worth drawing again. . .

The JMan

Re-drew The JMan using my Wacom tablet.

JMan gone!

I just finalized a layered drawing/painting of Jerry, which I planned to post in layers, illustrating the process. As I saved the finished drawing (last layer), my Painter application shut down, quit; my final drawing was gone.

As I shake my head, I think of what renowned painter Eliot O'Hara said, [If a painting doesn't turn out -- or in my case, evaporated and disappeared -- remember:] "What goes into your head is most important."

I'll re-draw, re-save, and re-post.

Polka Dot Coat

Differing textures intensify each other. Whether it is the texture of a medium itself, of a material, or of a decorative pattern, textures, in opposing and enhancing each other, produce visual contrasts that can play important organizational and expressive roles.
~ Nathan Goldstein

Me: I painted the background using watercolor - transparent, translucent, and opaque pigments. After this dried, I scanned the image, re-sized it, and used it as the background for my digital painting titled Polka Dot Coat.

Check out Richard Diebenkorn's work at the Brooklyn Museum: Click on title POLKA DOT COAT

Roses in her hair

Harley's Law:

1. A painting should have a dominant color that is readily evident.

2. Complementary color may be introduced, occupying much smaller space. . .

3. Discord colors . . . may be added, sparingly. . .

~ Harley Brown (from his book titled Harley Brown's Eternal Truths for Every Artist)


Me: All rules are open to interpretation. I was trying out various features of "Painter" (application).

Mrs. Miniver

The digital drawing of Mrs. Miniver was inspired by an ad in Vogue magazine. I've always been captivated by fashion of the 40s.

Painting features

Often, when drawing and painting people, and craving inspiration, I read a paragraph or two of writings by Robert Henri.


When later you come to the painting of the features of the face, consider well the feature's part in relation to the idea you have to express. It will not be so much a question of painting that nose as it will be painting the expression of that nose. All the feature are concerned in one expression which menifests the state of mind or the condition of the sitter.
~ Robert Henri (The Art Spirit)

Feet, sketch #1

Thinking about feet.

The Art Spirit

There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented. Sign-posts on the way to what may be. Sign-posts toward greater knowledge.

~ Robert Henri, The Art Spirit