WOODCUT SANTA watercolor painting

Happy Holidays to All!

LOTUS floral watercolor painting

Lotus

watercolor and gouache  5.5 x 8"

$85

Looking for gifts for artists to give or recieve ?

Here are some of my favorite "art things"......

Books-

"Complete Guide to Drawing" by Giovanni Civardi

Any of the "Splash" watercolor books

"Paint Watercolors That Dance With Light" by Elizabeth Kincaid

"The Illuminated Landscape" by Peter poskas

"The Artists Way" by Julia Cameron

A subscription to magazines- Art Collector, The Artist, American Artist, Southwest Art

Supplies-

A set of drawing pencils AND erasers (one can never have too many erasers)

A set of felt-tip drawing pens

Photoshop or Illustrator software

Computer drawing pad

A beautiful sketchbook

Miscellaneous-

A sign for the studio that says something inspiring, or simply  "So and so's studio"

An electric mug warmer

A really good studio chair (saves on chiropractor bills)

Gift certificate for a massage (see above)

Art notecards (check out gift stores at museums)

And of course-

someone else's art: paintings, prints, ceramics, glass, jewelry, weavings, sculpture, photography....

DREAMY IRIS watercolor painting

Dreamy Iris

watercolor  6.5x9.5"

$100

Yesterday I had a telephone interview with a writer from Watercolor Artist magazine. I am going to be the subject of a magazine article coming out in June or July. She asked me a lot of questions about my technique, which of course is a lot easier to show than to talk about. It's funny, though, that when you actually speak the words you may have been thinking or feeling, it really does give them more power. I had to think not only about how I paint, but why I proceed in the way I do. I know I paint the way I do because it works for me, but I should be able to tell others why it does; if I want to be an instructor, anyway.

WINDFLOWER floral watercolor painting

Windflower

watercolor  5 x 6"
$65
Holiday parties, people visiting, cleaning and decorating, working at the Library, and design work are filling up my schedule for the next several days. My plan to PAINT all of December has fizzled. But, that's life. I try to divide my time between what I WANT to do and what I HAVE to do. Except, the have-to-do list seems to get bigger and bigger......Oh well, I am grateful for my home, health, family, friends, work, and abilities. And YOU, all my blog-buddies!!!

And, TODAY is a painting day. My little heater is warming up my studio as I type, and with my cup of tea on my little cup warmer (the best gift I have ever recieved!), a tub of fresh water, and my pile of unfinished paintings, I'm raring to get started!
Hasta la vista!

BLITHE SPIRIT floral watercolor painting

Blithe Spirit

watercolor  7 x 7"

$100

I've been playing around with the moniter resolution, so I hope this painting looks OK on your monitor.

Another bright, pink peony. I brought out the heavy guns on this one - Holbein's Opera. Watercolor painters will know what I'm talking about; it is an almost flourescent pink. Great in small doses, or when one is painting a pink pink flower. It is a bit opaque, so it can liven up previous layers, too. Thank you to Rob Goldberg for telling me about it. He is an artist living in Alaska, and tried every pink on the market to paint Fireweed. Opera won.

See Rob's and Donna's paintings 

www.artstudioalaska.com

LADIES ROSES floral watercolor painting

Ladies Roses

watercolor 20 x 23"

These roses are as luscious looking as candy!

A demonstration of how I painted this is on my website

www.BarbaraFoxWatercolors.com

and also

www.MightyArtDemos.com

please email if you are interested in purchasing this painting

bfoxart@yahoo.com

PINK PALACE (SOLD)

Pink Palace (SOLD)

watercolor 7 x 9.5"

I lost my camera my last day in Spain. I'd left it in a chocolate shop in Segovia Sunday evening, and we were heading out at 5 am Monday morning. Worse than losing the camera, were the 80 plus photos on the card. BUT, it looks like it's found! Thanks to the sluething of a Madrid cousin of a New York friend. I'm so grateful, but how will I ever repay him???

I'm off to work, wrapping presents for Santa's Workshop. There is a "store" set up, and underpriviliged families come in to pick out Christmas gifts for each other. It was started by two sisters, who actually bought all the gifts, and has grown. Now there are lots of donations, and the Rotary Club does most of the organizing. I'm not a joiner of clubs, but I help out when I can, and I am good at wrapping presents.

PINK FUCHSIAS floral watercolor painting

Pink Fuchsia

watercolor 7 x 8"

$85

A bit of sun-struck colors does my heart good today. we are having a "significant " snowfall. Meaning- get out your shovels.

This painting is a repeat. I'm very nearly finished with a few new ones, so please bear with me.

Drawing class was fun last night. we couldn't get a model, so we set up a still life instead. It was nice to be able to draw something that stayed still for 2 hours! And for free!

Drawing from life has really helped my skills, but the camaraderie of hanging out with other artistic people is the best part. We artists need our own little community! I envy those who live in a real "art forward" kind of place. I don't, but I found that with a bit of outreach, I could develop one. We all need the feeling of "belonging".

Even this blog is part of an art community. I appreciate your looking at my artwork and savor your remarks.

DAHLIA QUEEN floral watercolor painting

Dahlia Queen

watercolor 7 x 9.5

$100

This painting didn't get too much attention the first time I posted it, but I think it's a winner! Maybe the light background mekes it look a little washed out compared to the little paintings with dark, dramatic backgrounds.

Wow. I feel like I've been in an alternate universe for the last month! Well, I was in Spain for 10 days, but my work schedule before I left, and after coming home, and my computer crashing, and , oh yes, it's 2 weeks before Christmas and I haven't done a thing.........eeeek!!!

Spain was wonderful. I'll touch on that more later.

This is what I have to say about computer shopping-

Time spent trying to fix my own computer: 3 hours.

Cost to have tech guy try to fix computer: $50.

Computer search for new computer: 3 hours.

Gas and time spent driving to 3 different stores carrying computers: $15 and 3.5 hours.

Time spent listening to mind numbing statistics about computers: 1.5 hours.

New computer: $803.

Bottle of wine to sooth our ravaged brains: $8.

All this with my husband and NO arguments: PRICELESS!!!!!

I guess that second honeymoon was a good idea.

My images (which were downloaded from my old hard drive) seem very pale on my new moniter. How do they look out there in blog-land?

Tropical Blooms

Tropical Blooms

watercolor 8 x 10"

Hola!

Just back from Spain, although my brain still seems to be on siesta. I am determined to be better about blogging, including writing about things that are interesting to artists, watercolorists, art-lovers, and all creative types. So, give me a day or 2 to de-fuzz my brain and do my laundry. And, I guess I have to start cooking again, darnit.

If any of you followers want me to write about anything in particular, please let me know.

please email for the price of this painting "Tropical Blooms"

bfoxart@yahoo.com

Red Parrot Tulip

Red Parrot Tulip

watercolor 5.5 x 7"

$100

artist Barbara Fox Little Valley, NY watercolor painting

Sunday's Peony (SOLD)

Sunday's Peony (SOLD)

watercolor 6 x 7.5"

We leave for Spain Friday afternoon, and I have a deadline looming, so I'm a bit discombobulated at the moment. Hoping to clean house before I go, but that may not happen. The dust bunnies will be free to multiply un-impeded for 10 days. My illustration project is my top priority right now, and my poor little drawing hand is getting a furious workout. Hoping to clean house AND go to the chiropractor before we leave.

I hung my show of Daily Paintings at the Ellicottville Library last night. There are 14 of them . They look so pretty hanging together. I mat and frame everything with off-white mats and white-washed wood frames, which really foucus the eye on the paintings.

Light-Hearted Rose

Light-hearted Rose

watercolor 6 x 7.5"

$85
I wish I was more light-hearted these days. Scrambling to try to get everything done before we leave for Spain.

I need: some free painting time, dinner with a girlfriend, a massage, and 30 minutes with some hair dye. THAT would put me in the right frame of mind for a grand vacation!

artist Barbara Fox, Little Valley, New York, rose flower watercolor painting

Log Cabin Still life

Log Cabin Still life

watercolor 9 x 11"

$145

I took the photo at a historical village in upstate New York. Wish I owned those old earthenware jugs; they would make great subjects for more still life paintings. I gotta start borrowing neat old items from collectors......I have lots of great ideas for paintings, but no stuff.

Still life watercolor painting by Barbara Fox

Little Valley, New York

Horseshoe Fence (SOLD)

Horseshoe Fence (SOLD)

watercolor 13 x 20"

$450

I have a lot of fond feelings for this painting. It began as workshop demonstration in the yard of my friend Louise Greenlaw. It was a lovely day of painting, laughter, and beautiful surroundings. Later on, in my studio, I discovered how effective drybrush can be for painting wood and rust. A wonderful discovery!