Spectral Vessels

I just completed the eighth in my series of glass paintings,

"Spectral Vessels"

"Streaming"

Watercolor, 16" x 30"

I found this background fabric at my favorite thrift store.

It's actually a twin bedsheet.

I loved the built in flow and played that up a bit in this composition.

After laying the sheet down in my driveway,

I intentionaly created a soft flowing S curve from top to bottom to mimic the flow of the pattern.

Placing the objects mainly to one side makes for an interesting grouping.

The study of the play of light within each piece of glass still is an 

exciting prospect for me.

So I thought I'd share all eight pieces together in order of completion 

beginning with this most recent painting.

"Encore"

Watercolor, 22" x 30"

Too much color? Maybe to some.

This painting was just rejected by this years juror for The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society International Exhibit.  Not a good debut I guess but I think it's got something so

I'll keep trying.

"Sunset"

Watercolor, 20" x 22"

"Sunset" has been juried into

The National Watercolor Society 2017 International Exhibition

San Pedro, California

Opening Reception October 21, 2017

My first time submitting to a NWS exhibit and I was pretty surprised.

Kept checking the list. It's not that I don't think it's a good piece, it's

that you never know how these things are going to go.

I'm always bracing for rejection :)

"Lemoncello"

Watercolor, 18" x 24"

The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society International Exhibition

2016

 Recipient of the M. GRAHAM AWARD

"Glimmerglass"

Watercolor, 18" x 28"

The Northwest Watercolor Society International Exhibition 2016
Awarded Signature Status in the NWWS

Runner up for Splash 18 The Best of Watercolor 2017

The Philadelphia Watercolor Society

International Exhibition of Works on Paper. 2016

 Recipient of the Marie L. Hollenbeck Award of Excellence

"Ripples"

Watercolor,  22" x 24"

The American Watercolor Society International Exhibition 2016

The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Members Show 2016

Honorable Mention

Selected for Splash 18 The Best of Watercolor 2017

One of the things I love about this subject is that I am occassionaly surprised by the images reflected back at me that I was not expecting.

For instance, if you look at the green bottom center sphere 

you will see me up on a ladder with my arms outstretched, camera in had, trying to get the perspective I had pictured in my head.

"Light Reigns"

Watercolor, 18" x 24"

Northwest Watercolor Society International Exhibition 2015

"Summer Harvest"

Watercolor, 18" x 24"

The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society International Exhibition 2015

Recipient of The Award of Merit
Awarded Signature Status in the PWS

This was my first ever bottle painted in watercolor.

And honestly I did not know what I was doing

until I figured out how to assemble shapes of color 

side by side like a sort of puzzle.

Add some blending and glazing and it all came together.

The really wonderful things about going to these group watercolor society shows are
getting to meet and chat with some of the painters I have admired and studied
when I first began as a watercolorists.
Ian Steward, Antonio Masi, L. S. Eldridge, Judi Betts,
Chris Krupinski, Marsh Chandler, Ona Kingdom and Carol Pickle
to name a few.  (How's that for name dropping hahah.)
And secondly the 

vast array of subject matter and styles.

Why do artists paint the things they do?

I think you have to be challenged by what you choose to paint and 

above all you have to love it.

The competition in these shows is fierce and there's lots of rejection
but I love that competition and am amazed every single time I get through the judging.

To me the lessons learned and the exposure is worth it.