Lady's Slippers and the Bumble Bee

I am in between projects right now.  

After completing the hydrangeas I am in the beginning stages of my next big still life.  

I have set my propts in place and am now working out a composition that really catches my eye.  I have another intense drawing to do for this one and thought I needed a little side piece to work on as a break.

Enter Lady's Slippers and the Bumble Bee

Something a little different from me.

I have been really interested in the botanical illustration look of a detailed painting on a clean white background.  That idea became, "What if I added a border design?", and then "What if that design became a stylized little illustration at the top?"and "What if I gave it a title space?"

It's more a sytlized illustration that may or may not become, dare I say, a series.

The bumble bees have been added because in my research I learned that the bumble bee is the only insect that can pollinate this lovely orchid.

WIP.  I got to take out some toys and gagets for this one.

Just in case you're interested here is some interesting info on the Lady's Slipper orchid.

Christmas Card

Happy Christmas week!

This card is part of an annual tradition I started way back with our first married Christmas.

Back then it was just the two of us and I think I drew our fish tank in there somewhere.

Look how we have grown!

We have a new member of the family with the adoption of the puppy Indiana by my son and his wife.

We have a baby on the way in 2015. Our first grandchild!

And an exciting wedding to plan with the engagement of our daughter.

This is the only cartoon/illustration type of work I do these days.

And it's a really nice way to end a year full of making art.

This is how it begins with a rough sketch.

I then place a sheet of heavy vellum over the sketch and with fine line markers begin

the big doodle project.  

I doodle on it in front of the tv, on the kitchen table while making dinner, 

pretty much anywhere I can grab a few minutes.

The nice thing about working on this vellum is that if I make a mistake instead of white out 

I can just scratch the surface off with an exacto knife.

I also use this as a technique as in scratching away some area to make the smoke from the fire.

If you have not seen my illustrated family cards from years past,
please visit this page and take a look.

I have a very busy week ahead as I'm sure you do also.

A very happy Christmas and holiday to you all and thank you so much for the time you 

take throughout the year to visit my work.

See you in 2015!

Knight Star, The Amaryllis

"Knight Star"

Watercolor, 9" x 12"

©Carmella Tuliszewski

Many festive varieties of amaryllis pop up this time of year, some with stories that can be associated with Christmas themes. 

A hybrid amaryllis, 'St. Joseph's Staff,' was introduced in the 16th century, according to an online resource, The African Garden. 

St. Joseph's Staff is a reference to the legend that St. Joseph was chosen to become husband to the Virgin Mary after his staff sprouted amaryllis flowers during the selection process conducted by a high priest. 

The name, amaryllis, is derived from the Greek word that means "to sparkle," and its botanical name, Hippeastrum, is Greek for "knight star."

Flowers are my go to subject for truly relaxing painting.

And the vibrant coloring is always an added bonus.

In this case the delicate fine lines were completed by first wetting a single pedal, giving it a few seconds to try a bit and then dragging a very thin, loaded brush across the surface.

This creates a beautiful modeled first glaze.

I rarely leave a white background but thought I would try to se how I like it.

I do love the botanical paintings I see at the flower show every year.

And it is a simple, clean look.

The verdict is out however because I'm finding it difficult not to brush in a luscious rich background!

I would love to paint another one but I have to start 

my family Christmas card this week.

Here's a look at last years card.

This year I have the happy task of adding a mother to be daughter-in-law

(Our first grandchild!), a future son-in-law and a new

little adopted puppy.

Yikes, I better get started :)

Spectrum Lights

I had the image of this painting in my head for quite a while before I ever put pencil to paper.

I collected tinted bottles all summer and just squirreled them away.

On a bright, sunny day I brought my carefully hoarded collection to my patio table.

To capture more elongated shadows,  I set up on a large board and inclined it as far as I dared with some close, everything fall to the ground and crash, calls.

The brillant light was my main interest in this painting.

Everything from the tinted shadows it cast onto the fabric, the areas of fabric disappearing

under the glare and the reflections from one surface to another.

This is a large piece so all that was a bit daunting
but it helped to keep a "one thing at a time" attitude.

"Light Reigns"

Watercolor, 15" x 25"

©Carmella Tuliszewski

The title comes from, the power of the light cast throughout the scene
but also, the feeling of the bottles cascading down through the picture plane.
The vertical stripes, I hope, add to the pouring, raining effect of color and light.

 I generally work from light to dark.

But when painting glass I first cover a few select spots with resist to preserve the whites.
Next I lay in the lightest wash of color visible on the glass.
Then I go straight to the darkest color value.

 Once that is in place, I begin to work in all the
middle values with interlocking shapes of color.

Some of these bottles will appear again in future still lives.
And I have some crazy shaped clear bottles and vases I'd like to try.

But for now I have a yen for flowers, maybe some Christmas flowers!

Thank you so much for stopping by :)

One more bottle!

Still here.  I have been slow as molasses with this one!

I don't know what it is.  I love working with all the reflections and I'm feeling more confident with the subject matter.  I am even pretty happy with the way it is turning out.

But I find myself taking lots of breaks and letting myself be easily distracted.

One. More. Bottle! 

Glass, glass and more glass!

I have been collecting vintage and new tinted glass bottles all summer.

This painting started out as a study of light through glass with only one bottle, and then another and another until it grew into this monster project on a full sheet of paper.

When I was in college one of my favorite teachers was Professor Louise Stahl.

I was lucky enough to get into her Color Theory class Sphomore year.

One assignment was to set up an abstract painting using only the tinted lights crossing 

and overlapping within a light booth.

Since I pretty much just drew my way through college, 

this was very different and challenging for me.

But probably the class I learned the most from that year.

This painting is in homage to a fabulous teacher and a great learning process.

My interests here are reflection, refraction and most of all the light.

I'm a bit obsessed with this idea right now and most mornings can't wait to get back to my table!

I don't know if this will be a keeper but I'll keep plowing through to find out.

I'll be back with more progress.  Stay tuned!

Signature Membership!

On Sunday I was honored to receive Signature Membership into

The Philadelphia Watercolor Society.

It is my first Signature Membership and all the more special because it is with my 

hometown organization.

This years show recieved hundreds of entries but selected only 75 pieces.

The gallery was large, open and well lit.

The two last photos are from PWCS


The reception was very well attended and with my family and friends there made for a perfect day.
All the hardworking and dedicated board members of PWCS put together
a lovely event from unpacking and hanging paintings to preparing the appitizer table.
I am so grateful to do this work and honored to be included with this room full of
outstanding artists.