Friday, February 19, 2010

Friday's Paintings


Enter Here - Painted February 19, 2010
Twilight - Painted February 19, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Two miniature works of art, both created with the same colors. I still find it amazing how many different colors you can create from only a few colors of pigment. Painting landscapes in this style is my most favorite thing to paint. I hope you love them as much as I do. Enjoy!

Thursday's Painting

Dancing Trees - Painted on February 18, 2010
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
ACEO Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

I was feeling a little blue and decided to paint something blue. Just taking the time to sit down and paint a painting for my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge certainly cheered me up. The trees came alive and began to do a happy dance!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge


Glorious Blossoms
Painted on February 17, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

On this snowy day in February, I decided spring flowers would be the perfect subject matter to paint today. Sure one could whine it's snowing again. But if it's gonna be cold, why not have snow? It makes everything look clean and pretty. The snow will melt and turn to water which soaks into the ground and will eventually help make the pretty Spring flowers grow.

The paintings from my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge are available for sale in my Etsy Shop: http://squier.etsy.com If you see one you really have to have and it is not yet listed in my Etsy shop, let me know and I would be happy to reserve it for you.

Painting A Day Challenge


Lily's Tutu Dress
Painted on February 16, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
ACEO Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

These two little paintings were inspired by all things girlie, plus I just wanted to paint something different, something I never tried before.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Dry Brush Technique
You can add texture to a watercolor painting by using the dry brush technique. This works with cold pressed and rough watercolor paper. Hot pressed watercolor paper is perfectly flat and ironed out. This can be done with any color of watercolor and it does not matter if it is a transparent or opaque color. The trick to behind the dry brush technique is in the amount of water to paint ratio. No you are not using a totally dry brush, you never want to paint with a totally dry brush, always wet your brush before dipping it into watercolor paint.

You want to use less water and more paint. Dampen your brush and blot some of the water out, pick up some color and lightly drag the side of your brush across the top surface of your paper. The bumps and dips in the paper will help create the textured look. It can be done with either a round or flat brush. Practice a bit and give it a try.

Dry brush is great for creating texture in landscapes.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Painting A Day Continues


February Snow - Painted on February 15, 2010
Waiting for Company - Painted on February 15, 2010
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
ACEO Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

As my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge continues, I have created two miniature winter landscape paintings. February, usually the coldest and snowiest month of the year inspires snowy little paintings.

Day 15 of the challenge and my darling husband says "This challenge is going on for a whole year, right?" My original plan is for 4 weeks, during the entire month of February, including weekends. Will it continue beyond February? We will all have to wait and see, let's get through February first.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Valentine's Day Paintings



Sweetheart Forest - Painted on February 14, 2010
Sweetheart Forest 2 - Painted on February 14, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
ACEO - Art Card
ATC - Artist Trading Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Two lovely little paintings inspired by Valentine's Day and the color pink. I was going for something pink with hints of red and purple.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Saturday's Paintings


Woodland Jewels - Painted on February 13, 2010
Woodland Gems - Painted on February 13, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Lovely little miniature works of art! I love the jewel tones in these pieces. Two more pieces for my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge.

Enjoy!

Friday's Paintings



Woodland Rocks - Painted on February 13, 2010
Whispering Woodlands - Painted on February 13, 2010

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
ACEO - Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Friday's paintings from my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge. Can you tell I'm greatly influenced by nature and forests filled with trees? Inspiration can be found all around you in the things you love.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Painting A Day Challenge

Rosie's Valentine - Painted February 11, 2010
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
ACEO - Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

I loved the style of yesterday's Sally's Snowday so much, I decided to paint another one in the same style. My Painting a Day for the Month of February Challenge is going super well so far.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Wednesday's Paintings


Cardinal Appearance - Painted February 10, 2010
Sally's Snow Day - Painted February 10, 2010
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
ACEO - Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

The day of the big snow storm! It has been snowing here all day, so far we only have 2 inches of snow. It hasn't stopped yet.

I simply love these two little paintings. My inspiration being the falling snow. Plus we have a beautiful red cardinal that eats at the bird feeder everyday and then sits in our magnolia tree. So pretty.

Painting A Day Challenge

Julia's Violet Forest
Painted on February 9, 2010
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
ACEO - Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

February 9th is my mom's birthday. I had just returned home from having travelled to Connecticut to visit my mom for her birthday. We had some delicious chinese takeout and chocolate cake for lunch. The chinese takeout in her area is way better than ours, it was fantastic! As I sat down to paint my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge, I started to think my mom's favorite color is purple, I am going to paint something purple. This is the painting I created. Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Tuesday's Tips & Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Working with Opaque Watercolors
Watercolor is a challenging medium to work with to be successful you really need to learn your palette and several key factors of how the paints work together.

While learning to use watercolors, do you find yourself creating a lot of muddy color? If so, one of the factors could be the use and mixing of opaque watercolors. I am not against using opaque colors, but it is much easier to create mud if you do use opaque colors. The reason is mixing two or more opaque colors together or mixing one opaque color with too many transparent colors. The colors are brilliant on their own but too many opaques can ruin a painting.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Second Week of the Challenge




Blooming Flowers
Spring Blossoms
Wishes for Spring

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
ACEO Art Cards
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Painted today, February 8th for my at least one Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge.

On a bright but chilly day, I'm dreaming of flowers, the flowers of Spring!

ACEO = Art Cards, Editions & Originals
ATC = Artist Trading Cards

ACEOs are sold to artists and collectors. ATCs are traded amongst artists. They are relatively the same, yet one is sold and the other is traded. The requirement of an ACEO/ATC is the size which is 2.5 x 3.5 inches. The same size as any trading card.

They fit perfectly into sleeves and binders sleeves created for trading cards. They look lovely framed alone or in groups.

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 card swaps all over the world. Artists will 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 room for larger pieces an artist may be selling. It allows people to collect and store a larger variety of art because of their small size. The art cards are meant to be sold at reasonable prices to reach a wider audience.

Collecting Art Cards or Artist Trading Cards is a fabulous way to create your own art collection. Start today if you haven't already!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Super Bowl Sunday





Painted on February 7, 2010
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
ACEO - Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inch

My Painting a Day for the Month of February Challenge has been going on for one week now. So far it is a success! Plus I am enjoying it which is a big plus.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. I've already done my paintings, taken a short walk and boy is it windy and cold. I plan on catching a few of the commercials and hopefully the half time show. The game itself is not for me. Enjoy and have fun!

Inspired by Sunset


Painted on February 6, 2010
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
ACEO - Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Yesterday, we saw an amazingly beautiful rosy sunset before heading home. We arrived home around 6 PM and it was already dark. Actually, as we were about to pull into our driveway a deer came running out of the driveway. We pull in and park the truck and six feet from the side of the truck were 3 deer just standing there staring at us. Chloe, the dog is in the back of the truck barking. My husband rolls down the window and the deer just stand there. It wasn't until I yelled "go home!" and my husband waved his hands the deer finally ran away.

So it's shortly after 6 PM, I begin my painting for my Painting A Day Challenge for the month of February. I just automatically start painting, not thinking about the end result. I painted two rosy sunset landscape paintings. I titled them Blushing Sunset and Blushing Sunset 2. After I was done, I realized I was inspired by the sunset I had seen earlier in the evening.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Painting Challenge

by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
ACEO - Art Card

February 5th, I painted several small ACEO art card sized original watercolors. It was hard to choose which one to post for my Painting A Day for the Month of February Challenge. I chose to post Forest Gems.

A Painting A Day




Painting Challenge
On February, 1st I decided to challenge myself to do at least one painting everyday for the month of February. So far I have succeeded. Each day I have done a few small watercolors.

The February 1st painting has already been posted to my blog on February 1, 2010.

Here are the next few days of paintings:
February 2nd - Bouquet of Petals
February 3rd - Cranberry Forest
February 4th - Floral Spray

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

My Ad Design


Squier Design Racing Graphics

I have been a professional graphic designer for years & years. I studied it in college way back when ... never mind. It's been a long time. I started out in advertising. Quickly moved on to opening up my own design firm. I designed pretty much anything printed on paper: business cards, letterheads, ads, brochures, flyers, catalogs. It was great. Then I started working with my husband. We design and produce the graphics for race cars. Yes, it's pretty cool. Here's a sample of the ad I was working on this afternoon. It will be going into a vintage racing magazine. A tiny little 1 column inch ad.

Sometimes simplicity is key.

Have the need for racing graphics? vintage graphics?
Check out Squier Design Racing Graphics website:

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

A Spray Bottle Technique
Here's a fun way to create new and unusual textures in your watercolor paintings. You can go for abstract and random shapes and then try to create something from it or you can try to plan something.

1. You will need a spray bottle filled with clean water, watercolor paper, watercolor paint and a round brush.
2. I gave the paper a spritz with the spray bottle, then dropped in some color by barely touching a loaded brush to the wet areas. Allow to dry.
3. On a second piece of watercolor paper, I spritzed the paper with clear water. This time I had a landscape in mind. I dropped in green paint to the wet areas in the shape of an evergreen tree.
4. I added touches of brown to strengthen the base and create the illusion of land.
5. My initial spritz of water focused on the center area of the page. So I spritzed one squirt of water off to the side of the paper so just a small amount of mist hit the lower right corner of my paper. Then I dropped in touches of blue to give the illusion of water.
6. The paint has dried. The blue splotches are waiting to be turned into something creative, perhaps flowers? My landscape has dried and all it needed were a couple of little birds flying over head.

Spritzing your paper with water first and adding in touches of strong color here and there can create interesting textures and patterns. For the evergreen tree and water it added a bit of sparkle to the landscape by leaving some of the paper white and dry.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Painting Day

Adirondack Simplicity
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
ACEO - Art Card
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Today was a glorious painting day! I created 4 small watercolor paintings. This being the first of the four landscapes inspired by the Adirondack Mountains. Plus I created yet another acrylic painting to add to my abstract seascape series.

February 1st has turned out to be a fabulous day. I would love to type more but I have a little kitty who is craving attention, my hot cocoa and making a mess of my desk.

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