Last Day of April

Bucket of Flowers - April 30, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO Art Card

ATC Artist Trading Card

A lovely bucket of flowers ready for May Day!

May 1st is May Day. You are supposed to secretly surprise someone with flowers. Traditionally you hang a little bouquet on the doorknob or place it on the doorstep, ring the bell and run away.

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Paintings

Little Boat - April 27, 2010

Purple Violet Droplet - April 28, 2010

Simply Glowing Drops - April 29, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO Artist Cards

Three more additions to my Painting A Day Challenge. The quiet solitude of a small dingy attached to a mooring while the big boat is off cruising the seas. A single elongated water drop to a trio of orange dew drops. I am so amazed and simply love the outcome of Simply Glowing Drops, the colors are amazing. This miniature piece of art is even more brilliant in person. I love painting these miniature works of art everyday and I am so delighted others enjoy them as well.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Wax Resist

A fun technique to incorporate into a painting is the wax resist method. It can be used to create texture in any kind of painting. In this abstract painting I used it to create texture and additional interest.

Use either a piece of a white candle or even a white crayon. On a clean dry piece of watercolor paper, rub the side of the candle to create wide gritty areas to represent the texture of rock or sand on cold pressed or rough watercolor paper. The wax will sit at the top of the texture in the cold pressed and rough paper. Hot pressed paper is smooth, so the wax will cover the paper more smoothly in the rubbed areas. Use the end to create swirly marks, hash marks or any kind of line. Where ever you place the candle marks, those areas will remain white after painting over the top in watercolor. The wax cannot be removed once you have applied it to the paper. After you have made your marks, then paint your painting and you will notice how the water and paint resist the wax covered areas and remain white.

Do a little exploring, have fun using the wax resist method in an abstract watercolor painting.

Sampler by Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Mixed Media Painting

Size: 11 x 15 inches

What are ACEOs and ATCs

One Big Drop - Painted on April 26, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Another addition to my Painting A Day Challenge & Dew Drop Series

What are ACEOs & ATCs?

ACEO: Art Cards, Editions & Originals

ATC: Artist Trading Cards

Artist Trading Cards and Art Cards are one in the same. They are referred to as Artist Trading Cards when traded amongst artists. They are considered ACEOs when bought and sold to artists and collectors. The only requirement is the size. The required size is 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

They are the same size as sports trading cards. Art cards fit perfectly into sleeves and sheets created for trading cards.

Artists from all over the world create these little works of art in a variety of mediums and subject matter. Artists trade them with other artists. There are swaps held all over the world. Artist sell them to those who love small art, to those who love to collect art but cannot really afford to buy or don't have the space for the larger pieces the artist is selling. This also allows people to collect a larger variety of art since they are only buying little pieces. The art cards are meant to be sold at lower prices and to reach a wider audience.

Art cards or artist trading cards can be created in any medium and in any style: watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, pencil, pen & ink, collage, gouache, mixed media ... the list goes on.

Frame them singly in a cute little frame or frame them as a group. Place them in a basket or a bowl. Put them in trading card sleeves and fill a three ring binder. Brighten up a little spot with a miniature work of art. Collecting art cards, artist trading cards can become addicting.

It is a creatively fun way to create an art collection. Start or add to your art collection today!

Three More for My Painting A Day Challenge

Dew Drop on Clay - Painted on April 25, 2010

Itty Gritty Dew Drop - Painted on April 24, 2010

Pale Blue Droplets - Painted on April 23, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Miniature works of art and three more additions to my Painting A Day Challenge and the Dew Drop Series. With the Itty Gritty Dew Drop and the Dew Drop on Clay, I began to play with more unusual backgrounds. Colors I have not mixed together before. I love the venetian red used in the Dew Drops on Clay, it reminds me of the clay soil from down south.

Painting A Day for the Past 3 Days

Navy Blue Droplet - Painted on April 20, 2010

Baby Magnolia - Painted on April 21, 2010

Seawater Droplet - Painted on April 22, 2010

Painted by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO - ATC

Three more little paintings to add to my Painting A Day Challenge. I've done these plus a few paintings for my Wednesday night watercolor class ... hmmm perhaps I will post some of my class paintings as well sometimes soon.

Tuesday's Tips & Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Mixing Neutral Colors

Grays, browns and blacks can be created by mixing complimentary colors which are opposite colors on the color wheel. You can create more interesting neutrals by mixing them yourself.

Here I've mixed ultramarine blue with burnt sienna. Burnt sienna leans a bit towards the orange side which is opposite blue on the color wheel. This combination mixes to create a fantastic range of pale gray to a deep black.

Purple mixed with it's opposite on the color wheel yellow blends to create a neutral tone perfect for painting sand. In this sample I used permanent violet bluish mixed with indian yellow.

Various greens mixed with various shades of red can create brilliant browns and blacks. The third column has a sap green mixed with primary red magenta to create a great shade of brown perfect for a tree. In the last column I combined crimson lake with cupric green creating a deep dark grey.

The colors shown in the top and bottom rows are the pure unmixed colors. The center row combines the color above and below to create the neutrals shown here. I mixed the center squares directly on the paper. These colors can be mixed on your palette. Need a darker shade use more pigment, need the tone to be lighter add more water.

Sure it's easy to purchase specific colors of watercolor paint, but it's more creative and fun to mix your own colors. Do a test swatch of mixing the colors from your own palette that are opposite each other on the color wheel. You will be able to create more colorful and pleasant neutrals, browns, blacks and grays.

Three Days and A Painting A Day

Dripity Drops - Painted on April 19, 2010

Concord Dew Drops - Painted on April 18, 2010

Orangina Dew Drops - Painted on April 17, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

ACEO Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Three additions to my Dew Drop Series and my Painting A Day Challenge. I love painting the Dew Drop series in this size, but I often do think of painting them larger as well. More and more I keep hearing, how does she do that? Simple answer, I paint them in watercolor! They have been mistaken for photographs more than a few times.

Dogwood of Another Color

Greenie Dogwood - Painted on April 16, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO

Another miniature work of art that would make a perfect pairing to yesterday's Painting A Day Challenge painting Pinkie Dogwood.

Blossoming Dogwoods

Pinkie Dogwood - Painted on April 15, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Here's a little miniature work of art inspired by a lesson plan I taught in my watercolor class last night. This lovely little floral is a wonderful addition to my Painting A Day Challenge. Enjoy!

Two More Drops

Cool Blue Droplet - Painted on April 13, 2010

Royal Dew Drop - Painted on April 14, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Two more drops for the Dew Drop Series and my Painting A Day Challenge. I was able to complete the Royal Dew Drop and plan my watercolor painting class for tonight. Perhaps I will plan next weeks lesson today as well. Then I will be updating my website a little bit more.

If you would like to see my website, click here:

http://rasquier.com

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Ox Gall Liquid

There is a watercolor medium called Ox Gall Liquid. Made from ... well never mind that part. Ox Gall improves the flow and acceptance of watercolor on the paper by decreasing the surface tension. When working wet into wet with two or more colors adding a few drops of Ox Gall to your water will allow the colors to blend and bleed smoothly into one another. It's great for doing really large washes, less chance for back runs.

Monday Challenge Painting

Ultra Violet Dew Drops - Painted on April 12, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

ACEO Art Card

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

My Painting A Day Challenge entry for Monday!

Sunday's Painting

Blue Green Dew Drops - Painted on April 11, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO Art Card

My Painting A Day Challenge continues with this fantastic little Dew Drop Series painting. I love the colors in this piece, the computer image almost doesn't do it justice.

Disney Pin Trading

My favorite birthday gift this year was this fabulous shadow box my husband made for me. It showcases some of my Disney trading pins. We spent two weeks in Disney World for our honeymoon, went back in 2000, 2005, 2007. We went to Disneyland once in 2003 which is where we caught the pin trading bug. We've always gone to Disney World in May which is when we got married and it is always during the Flower & Garden Festival. I was hoping to go back again this year for our anniversary, but we have to put that off, perhaps we'll go in the Fall for the Food & Wine Festival this year?

Since catching the pin trading bug. I don't have that many. Plus when we do our pin trading, we do it for the fun of trading. I have no idea of the value of one pin to the next other than I really like it! I think it's a fun extra thing to do while on vacation at Disney World. Like there isn't enough to do there?

My bonus for doing all the tax prep this year is a batch of new Disney pins. I have yet to add a few of the new ones to my display shown here.

I love Disney trading pins!

Spring Fever

Fantasy Flower - Painted on April 10, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO

In between enjoying the bright sunshine, cleaning house and catching up on a few things, I snuck off to create today's Painting A Day Challenge. I wanted to create something with a bright colorful background so I quickly pulled this little flower together working the background first.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Spring Flowers are Here

Pretty Bouquet - Painted on April 9, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO

The lovely warm weather has definitely inspired my gardens and flowering trees to begin budding and blooming. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, forsythia, magnolia, azaleas and more. The scent outside my door is unbelievable!

I love Spring!

Today's Painting A Day Challenge just had to be a floral painting.

A Few More Drops

Persimmony Drops - Painted on April 8, 2010

Leafy Green Dew Drops - Painted on April 7, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO Art Card

Two more miniature works of art to add to my Painting A Day Challenge and the Dew Drop Series.

I have a few people wanting to reserve and purchase the paintings created on their birthdays ... how cool is that? Have a special day or date perhaps you too will fall in love with one of my Painting A Day Challenge paintings created on your special day?

Yesterday's Painting

Dew Drops in Olive Green - Painted on April 6, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO

Another addition to my Dew Drop Series & my Painting A Day Challenge.

I love this color combo! I'm just so happy right now, I have all of my tax prep work done. Everything is all set for the appointment with the accountant tomorrow.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Granulation Medium

There are several different mediums available for watercolor painting. One of the mediums made by Winsor & Newton is called Granulation Medium. It gives a granulated or mottled appearance to colors that tend to dry in a smooth even wash.

For my sample, I used MaimeriBlu's Cupric Green. First I wet my brush with plain water, dabbed it into my color and created a square swash of the cupric green. Then I cleaned my brush in clear water and blotted it dry on a towel.

I poured a small amount of the Granulation Medium into a tiny little cup. I wet my brush with the medium, then picked up some of the cupric green from my palette and created the larger swash of color.

As the colors dried, the larger swash with the medium did not dry as a flat smooth color. It has slight changes in tone and a slight granulated textured appearance. It does have a splotchy, mottled, grainy look.

This can be useful in creating interesting backgrounds, stormy skies. Be creative and give watercolor mediums a try.

Drip, Drip ... Drip

Little Water Droplets - Painted on April 5, 2010

Purple Droplets - Painted on April 4, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO - Art Card

I just love my dew drop series! They are so much fun to paint. The smaller they are, the harder they are to paint. Two more for my Painting A Day Challenge. I even found time to paint on Easter Sunday.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!

"Hi, my name is Scooter and I'm all decorated like an Easter Egg for Easter! Meow!"

No, I did not dye my kitty multi colors for Easter. He loves to hang upside down over the edge of his ledge in the window which happens to have a faux stained glass window in the top part. The sun is finally shining brilliantly through the stained glass making his face and neck appear to have shades of pink, blue and yellow colors. He also loves to pose and be silly when I have a camera.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

Enjoy your chocolates. :)

Amazing and Brilliant

Brilliant Blue Dew Drop - Painted on April 3, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO Art Card

Another addition to my Painting A Day Challenge and the Dew Drop Series.

I can't wait to dye the Easter eggs! I've already baked a delicious lemon pound cake in the shape of 6 softball sized roses, there was enough batter left over to make a dozen cupcakes. I've never had a pound cake cupcake before, but I'm guessing it's going to be delicious. The simplicity in this pound cake topped with drizzles of white glaze will be a perfect compliment to Easter dinner. I may have to sample a cupcake tonight!

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Gorgeous Day

Forgotten Fence - Painted on April 2, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ACEO

Today has turned out to be such a gorgeous day. With the windows wide open I painted this fence line on the edge of an old farmer's field. I love it! The fresh air made me feel like I was right there in the painting.

Another addition to my Painting A Day Challenge.

Happy April Fool's Day

Easter Egg Drop - Painted April 1, 2010

Two Drops - Painted April 1, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings

Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches (6.35 x 8.89 cm)

ACEO - Art Cards

I tried to come up with a really good April Fool's Day trick to play on my husband. I just couldn't think of one, so I ended up with the old stand by "There's a spider on the ceiling!!!" If you have a better one, let me know, the day's not over yet.

Since it is a new month, I decided I have to keep my Painting A Day Challenge going. I began it on February 1st and haven't missed a day yet.

Enjoy!