Belfast's past, Post Office Square updated

Here's the update on the Post Office Square watercolor painting. Even though I have been researching the Children's Book Illustration world, I have also been working on this painting. This photo shows work on the right side of the painting. I have been working on the tree limbs that reach up into the sky.
I'm a bit behind in posting the progress on this, as I have just about finished this painting this week. I just need to take another photo of it.
Today was spent cleaning up the studio. Things were piled. I have been waiting for the weather to get better so I can use a fixative on several Graphite paintings, as I have to spray them outside. I also found a fixative for those watercolor paintings that are on the Ampersand boards for watercolors. I'll need to spray those, then I can brush on an acrylic varnish. Then, All I need to do is slip them into a frame..with no glass!
It's nice to be able to go into the studio and actually see the top of my drawing table! It's a beautiful birch top....I almost forgot what it looked like! It's very spacious too...I believe at the time that I purchased it, it was called the Amazon or something like that! It was delivered by an eighteen wheeler! I think it gets covered and piled on so easily, because it is so large...and I still have room to paint my watercolors on it! I sure love that table!
I hope you all have a great weekend!
Debbie

Children's Book Illustrations

I've hit a turning point in my career. It's called Children's Book Illustration. For many years I have enjoyed painting children, especially with animals and doing other various things that kids do. When I was in my booth at an art festival, many people would come into my booth and ask me if I illustrate for children's books. I would politely say no, and the conversation would go on about how my work looks illustrative and how I really should get into that field. So, the seeds had been planted quite awhile ago, but I didn't really listen and I didn't nurture those seeds. So they have laid dormant in the back of my creative brain, just waiting for their time to hit me over the head with a rake or hoe! I can just envision a seed hitting me over the head with a gardening instrument! See? I have these visions that I would love to draw up! My sense of humor is a little silly. So what better place to put me...than smack dab in the middle of what children would love to see and read! Tell me a child who wouldn't like seeing a seed hitting the gardener with a hoe or rake? I mean, really!
To start me on my journey, I have become an associate member of the Society of Children's Book writers and Illustrators, SCBWI. To become a Full Member, I have to have three (3) works published. So, there is goal number 1. I also found a New England Chapter through that Society and have joined that. There, that should be plenty to get me on my way, to learn what I can about this industry.
I'm very excited about this. But to help make this work for me, I have had to drop some other things that are distracting. I'm not renewing my membership to the Canine Art Guild. While that is a wonderful club with many great things happening for them, my path doesn't lie with them. It's something that I had to do some soul searching with, as I have many friends there, but I must move on.
I'm also going to drop my etsy store. It isn't doing anything for me either, but taking up my time and funds.
I'm staying with the Equine Art Guild, as they are still an important part of my art. I still am going to pursue the American Academy of Equine Art, AAEA and some other horse art fields. I still love those horses and hope to continue to paint them. I also love painting children, so if I can paint the two together....well, I think you guessed I would be in art creating heaven!
Just this week, I've been puting together portfolios to send to book publishers. Then finding the publishers who work with artists that have similar styles as mine. Usually a publisher will not hire an artist who does not produce work to what they are always looking for. Makes sense...right? That is quite a job in itself! But I must say,,,, I have a ton of them at my fingertips right in my own living room! I have 2 boys. 8 & 13 years. We have belonged to the Children's book of the month club for 13 years! I LOVE new books! I really LOVE new children's books! The illustrations, the fun stories...I think I am on the right track. I want to be a part of making a child smile, giggle, learn something new, be inspired.....I want my art to have meaning.


~Deb

Belfast, Maine, Post office square, in progress

Here is more progress on the Belfast's past series of the Belfast Post Office square back in the 1900. This is where I left it yesterday. I have worked more on it today, but didn't get an updated photo. It will mostly show the foliage on the trees to the right, when I do get that photo.

This is the little boy that is sitting to the left of the painting. He's in a wooden wagon with wobbly wheels. So cute, waiting for his mom.


This image shows the flag, billowing in the breeze. I'm thinking the way the trees are starting to leave out and the road is washed out, that this was in the Spring.
You can also see the detail that went into the upper deck and window panes and the brick work.


This close up reveals the women going into the post office, the steps and the post office box on the left of the building/painting.


This close up reveals a horse and buggy behind the old car, which at the time...was probably new! The road is Main Street, heading back up away from the ocean and harbor. There is a man near the horse, maybe the horse is his, or he's heading back up town. The traffic dummy has the words: SLOW KEEP RIGHT written on each side of it, for traffic flow. Your eyes aren't going wonky on you, that dummy is leaning a bit. Being spring a frost heave in the dirt road has lifted it. I'm sure it settled back down as things thawed and summer was back.
There is a lot going on in this painting and it is very fun to paint. I sure don't get bored on this one. But my eyes do catch eye strain and my hands get a bit lame. Well worth it though.
Thank you for following along on this one, I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am.

Debbie

Oil painting "spooked" horses still in Progress

I worked on the Oil of the spooked horses today. Adding more reds and chestnuts and picking out highlights. I also played with a little highlights in the sky and the grass. I'm just really feeling my way around this, at this point. Not really knowing what direction this is going to take me in, but I do hope to keep it a night-moon scene.
I also have been working on my Post office square, watercolor painting. The sun was setting and making the lighting difficult, so I haven't taken a photo of it yet.

Debbie

Book order deadline for "Children & their 4-legged friends, a series of watercolors & poems"

Order your 'First Printing' now up until February 28, 2009 to be delivered by Easter and in time for Mother's Day!!! Orders are taken on Debbie Flood's website at: http://www.debfloodart.com or email Debbie at debflood@debfloodart.com
This book houses 40 of the best children and horse paintings that Debbie created between the years of 2004 and 2007. Many are from the Waldo County Riding and Driving club, Belfast, Maine Horse shows. Others are from the Joy Valley Riders Horse shows in Knox, Maine. And still others are from Debbie's own past with horses, including her father as a child!
If you are a fan of Debbie Flood's children with horses paintings, you won't want to miss this rare book!
This book also houses 14 new poems that Debbie wrote herself! Each poem is written for the painting or paintings that they are grouped with. They range from the fantasies that little horse crazy girls dream about, to the spiritual representation that the horse stands for and how Debbie feels about horses from her past. A true treasure of a book if you love horses, art and children.

Debbie

Belfast's past series continues. Post office Square with the traffic dummy, circa 1900's

I have started working on painting number 5 in the Belfast's past series of watercolor paintings from the 1900's.
This is Post office square in Belfast, Maine, with the traffic dummy that guided traffic to the right throughout many years. I was a young teen, I believe, when the City decided to take it down. We were all lost and traffic was a little scary for awhile, and still is in that area....without the dummy! It seems it has made US the Dummies, since it has been gone!!!
I found this old black and white photo in a large tote of my grandmother's things. She is no longer with us in the physical world, but I believe she is right here with me in the spiritual world, looking over my shoulder as I render these images.
I have a feeling that she took this photo. I would love to know who the little boy is that sits in the wooden wagon. I think this era was to0 early for it to be my dad. And I wonder 'why' she took the photo. Did she find the post office to be pretty that day? Does she know the people going in? Or was it the little boy sitting there on the corner?
I miss my grandmother. I would love to ask her these questions. I so loved talking with her. She had so much wisdom and understanding.
It was the first week in January that she passed away at the age of 94, back in 2004. But I can still hear her laugh. She laughed a lot. I thought I would forget that sound after the years passed, but I haven't. I feel blessed for that.
She was proud of my art and always loved to see what I was working on and where I was going with it. She also was a great fan of poetry. I wrote some and she read it. She told me at the time that she couldn't write it worth beans....well, after her death, I found her writings. My how judgmental we are of our own work! She had written a book, the writing hard to read, and many pages duplicated from editing, so hard to follow. The poetry and short stories had funny twists to them, and were in her things from her teenage years.
I wished she had shared these things with me. But, I do have them now. And I hold on tight to them.
This Belfast's past series is a tribute to my grandmothers, grandfathers, and ancestor settlers. What they endured and how a little city was built on the Shores of Belfast, Maine,over looking the Pennobscot harbor that out reaches into the Atlantic Ocean.

Here are the other 4 paintings in this series:


Steamboat Wharf.


Frozen Monument, out in the bay.


Cutting the ice to open up the shipping lanes.


Jennie Flood Kreger, largest schooner built in Belfast in 1919.



Debbie

Black mane Lion Wildlife graphite

Here is a Black mane Lion in Graphite. Part of my Graphite Wildlife series. This guy was in the same group with the White Tiger at a State Fair I attended.
These Graphite Wildlife paintings are making nice little 8 x 10 prints and the retail for $20.00.
I've got to wait for the temps to go up a lot more, before I can spray the originals with a fixative. I have to do that outside and I don't think the stuff would even spray out of the can in this freezing cold.

That Poll on the Young Buck was an interesting tally! 2 liked the greens, 2 didn't like the greens and one was on the fence, maybe if it had less greens...So I will through that one in with the didn't like the greens. My family members said the greens looked much better in person than on the pc screen.
I may be doing this Young Buck over again, and just leaving it all graphite with no color at all.
I'll probably offer the green one for sale too, as there must be someone who will love the greens!
Thanks for taking my Poll and helping me make a decision on that painting!

Debbie

Moonglow Loon New Watercolor

I finished my latest watercolor today. "Moonglow Loon" . The image is 7 x 12 inches.
This is the Loon that I took so many images of from our canoe back in September 2008. This is my favorite image that I had taken of her.

It was 10 degrees warmer this morning! Up to -20 below 0. 12 above seems to be our high, but the wind is blowing. Not good!
Glad I'm inside with the warmth of the wood stove, family and hot drinks!

Debbie

Fresh and wet on the easel! Spooked horses, oil on canvas

Now this one is fun!!! The paint is very sloppy wet right now, and didn't photograph well. But it is dark and I haven't any paint on their eyes yet...spooky....don't ya think?! This oil on canvas is 14 x 18. I got the entire canvas covered (except the eyes) today. I used very thin dark colors, so they will dry quickly...if oils can ever do such a thing. Once more dry, I will start to pick out more highlights and details and start playing with light in this night scene.

It was -30 below 0 this morning! Wow, I have never felt what that feels like before. Can't say I much appreciated it either. It got up to 11 for our high. That felt sooo much warmer! I've had the wood stove cranking all day and it is so toasty warm here. The studio is placed upstairs, above the wood stove next to an open balcony ...all that heat drifts right up there! And with the southern sun baking in through the studio's large window and sky light....I was getting very warm!
I love my home!!
I think it is time for some tea, and maybe poke around my Facebook. Oh, I didn't tell you, I am on Facebook now! I have a public page and I have the private one to talk to all of my friends! It's really fun. Here's a link to my public page: Debbie Flood Facebook
If you are one of my friends and you are on facebook.....look me up and invite me to be your friend!

Debbie

Circus Friesians, Oil painting finished

I've had this on the easel for a pretty long time. It was almost finished. I set it aside, at times it got buried under other things (yes, it was dry). I seemed to be on the fence about it. I didn't know if I wanted to leave it this spontaneous, with all the brush strokes playing out my excited feelings from that day I saw these magnificent horses. Or work up more detail into it, like some of my other paintings. I decided today, to just add some shadow into the harnesses and add some reins and be done. This is what I wanted to speak to you all. This is how I felt, that hot August day, at the Fair, not knowing I was in for this treat of Black Stallions!
Enjoy!
Inquiries may come to me, Debbie Flood through my website: www.debfloodart.com

Debbie

Heart of the Horse NEEAE Exhibit Call to Artists!

The New England Equine Art Experience, NEEAE First Annual 'Heart of the horse" Exhibit 2009 is calling for entries! Deadline is May 1, 2009.
This event is an online Exhibit as well as a Gallery exhibit. Approximately 25 of the online works will be juried out to be included in a Gallery exhibit at Malachite Farm, Vassalboro, Maine.
For a prospectus go to: NEEAE Website
Or email me, Debbie Flood debflood@debfloodart.com for a prospectus in PDF format and other questions you may have.
The Online exhibit goes live June 1, 2009. The Gallery Exhibit Opens September 12, with a reception, and ends October 17, 2009.
Lets make this one awesome showcase of Equine Art!!!

Debbie~NEEAE Program Director/Secretary
http://sitekreator.com/neeae

Elephant Graphite Wildlife series

Here's an Elephant I painted today in Graphite. The reference image for this painting was sent to me by my mom. She's in Florida and frequents the Bush Gardens Theme park.
Elephants are an interesting animal to draw, that's for sure! So many cracks and wrinkles in their skin. This was fun to render, because I could make a lot of haphazard scribble marks...like a child playing with paper and pencil. Yup....I'll never grow up!
This painting is available for $95.00.
Reproductions for $20.00!

Send an email to me, Debbie Flood, www.debfloodart.com

Debbie

Fixed the white tiger

Here is the White Tiger-finished! I just had to fix his right eye. Your left. It was too light and he looked as though he was looking off to his right with that eye.
So now, he will be available for sale: $95.00
Reproductions for $20.00
contact Debbie Flood at debflood@debfloodart.com

Deb

Drawn to the Wildlife, Zebra nap Graphite

I seem to be 'drawn' to the wildlife at the moment, big game animals. This is Zebra nap. Graphite on 11 x 13 white paper. $95.00
This Zebra was at a State Fair I attended, a different fair from where the white tiger was at. This little guy or gal was really tired. It was late in the evening when I found her/him and many a child had gone through this tent-barn. I put little Zebra out in some tall grass and clean air, where they were meant to be.

I still have my Poll going, on the sidebar for a vote on the 'Young buck' painting. I really appreciate the votes that have collected so far, thank you! You, the viewer, is so important and your thoughts really matter to me.

Thanks for looking and voting.
Debbie

White Tiger Graphite Pencil

I'm not really a cat person, but I love the Big Cats. I photograph them whenever I get a chance, even though they are in captivity. This pretty white Tiger was at a State fair last summer. I took lots of photos of her, but they are not the best reference shots. I couldn't get very close, which is a good thing!, so the images are a bit blurry when I enlarge them. But computers are wonderful, when they work right, and I was able to lighten the image and make out enough details. I've always wanted to do a painting of a Big Cat...and now I have!
This is Graphite on white 11 x 13 paper.
Thanks for looking, and don't forget to take my POLL on the sidebar, concerning that Young buck painting! Thanks.
Debbie

Young buck Graphite, Colored pencil, Take a Poll

'Young buck'. I got going with the colored pencils on this one, and just kept going! I mixed the graphite pencils and the colored pencils together and used a blending stump to mingle the two together. I had first put in a very light, faraway background. But it seemed ho-hum to me. This piece needed some drama. So I brought the background closer to the deer and darker which gave this painting a more intimate feeling and more focus on the deer. I'm not totally sure if I care for all the greens. I would appreciate any comments on those greens. Do you like the greens or do you not like the greens? There is a poll on for this painting on the side bar to the right of this blog. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about this painting.

Debbie

How to paint the horse in watercolor - CD ROM

I have been updating my website. You can now purchase this CD ROM, How to paint in watercolors, the horse standing, through a Paypal cart on my site. Click on the 'Books & gifts' page on the site to order your CD ROM. This is an instructional CD and it is in a book format. It opens in a PDF file.
I also now have a Paypal cart button for my new book, Children & their 4-legged friends, a series of watercolor paintings & poems. That is listed on the same page as this CD ROM.
Happy shopping!

Debbie

Young Buck - Deer Graphite-Colored Pencil

I've been needing to grow my wildlife collection, so here is a young buck. This buck came to my inbox from Montana! Thank you Wendy! You can view Wendy's Paint horse and Quarter horse website here: Spotted Fawn Paints Ranch. Wendy has been very generous over the years, with images of her horses and wildlife and the ranch life. You will find her and her horses in a few of my paintings on my website: http://www.debfloodart.com
She tells me she took this photo through her window, while the young buck was eating her flowers! Naughty little deer!
We wonder what must have happened to his ear. With a notch taken out. Maybe a quarrel with another buck? Maybe a run in with a Coyote, or Wolf....or maybe he is simply a clumsy buck and got it caught on barbed wire while trying to steal a meal. He seems to be good at the latter.
I started working this up with graphite, but it needed something more. So I hauled out the colored pencils. Just highlighting over the graphite with the color was just what it needed. This is a work in progress, but should be finished soon.
The paper is white, but we are having a snow & ice storm today, so lighting is a bit to be desired in the studio today. I had to shoot this with indoor artificial lighting. This makes the paper look blue. I worked with my white balance and the lighting settings, but this is as good as it got.

I'd better get the wood stove fired up, One child home with the flu and the other out of school for 1/2 a day (storm day). We always have to be ready for losing our power on days like this.
Batteries, oil lamps, flashlights and lots of water drawn off....and the cozy wood stove.

Deb

Criers Lynx update Graphite

I worked on Crier today. It was brought to my attention that his blaze wasn't correct and with examining my photos.....Gee whiz....It wasn't right! Sometimes photos can play tricks on our eyes. I thought the area above his left eye was sunlight drenched in the photo. But found out that it was actually white hairs from his blaze! I'm so glad my client spoke up! Having input from the people who live with these animals everyday and love them, is most important in rendering a good quality likeness in a portrait.
I'm not sure if I am done with this or not. I have sent a larger file to Criers' mom, of this painting. And I think I will live with it for a day or so to see if I notice anything unusual.
You know, an artist could pick at a painting forever. Not really feeling it is complete. We are such perfectionists, that we sometimes kill our own paintings and creations with too much work! It's a delicate balance of knowing when to stop and when to keep going.
Thanks for checking in and reading.

Debbie

Pony Club, Line up. Graphite

'Pony club line up'. Graphite on white 11 x 13 Strathmore acid free paper, $95.00. Send inquiries to debflood@debfloodart.com
I took this photo at a local horse show I attend in the Summers. This was actually October and the sun was low. I loved how it was so bright on the face of the ponies and horses and across their chests. I was able to say what I wanted to say with this within a couple of days of work.

~Debbie

Friesian run Graphite painting

Well, now that Christmas is over and the surprises have been unveiled, I can show you this Graphite painting commission I did of a galloping Friesian Colt. This is Zefiros Van Der WilsonBrook. You can view his home here: http://www.wilsonbrookfarm.com and the lady who commissioned me to paint this is a certified riding instructor here in Maine. You can view her Blog here: http://trainerwendy.blogspot.com And thank you Wendy for commissioning me to paint him! It was a true joy!!

For those of you who like to follow your favorite blogs, I have updated this blog a bit and I now have a 'Follow this Blog' link on the sidebar to the right. Easy to sign up and follow along on my studio journey.

I am currently accepting commissions for Graphite paintings done on an 11 x 13 white Strathmore paper of your horse, pets or children. Prices start at $95.00 . You can send me an email with your favorite photo to debflood@debfloodart.com.

Thanks for looking and reading and sharing with your friends and family.

Debbie

Criers Lynx Graphite in Progress

I worked on Crier today. I focused on his hind legs, buttocks and his tail. I also worked on the shadows in the grass and the flowers a bit. After taking this photo, I did go in and darken the tail more and the legs.
I had a bugger, trying to photograph this today. So my paper looks a little darker than it should in this photo. For some reason, when I went to manually adjust my white balance, all I got was a totally white sheet of paper with no drawing on there at all ! I have never had that happen before. Something must have been stuck. I noticed that my battery was running low too. That could be the big culprit.

So the battery is charging and I've got supper in the oven and I cut my oldest boy's hair today too! I feel as though I have accomplished something.
The boys are back in school tomorrow, after their Holiday vacation. I'm sure it will seem so quiet here, with no Xbox games clicking, clacking and growling!

~Deb

Graphite Commission in Progress

This is Criers Lynx. He is such a pretty red bay Quarter Horse. I took a ton of photos of him at a local horse show, while under Western tack and really looking gorgeous. But his owner sees the beauty of him, at liberty in his pasture. I agree with her, that he looks so peaceful and happy there. With the breeze blowing his mane and tail and the tall grasses. I still had a little difficulty with this photo, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with a bit of tweaking.
The first big problem is the distortion of the head and front legs. Because it is that ever so challenging head on shot. His left front leg was too far under him (towards the back of him) that it made him look as though he was going to tip over. So I have pulled that leg forward and beefed it up so it doesn't look so tiny. I left the head the size it is, because I still wanted him to have that outreached greeting to the viewer. I had to change the lighting a bit. In the reference photo the sun was on the backside of him and casting dark shadows against the side we are viewing.
So all in all, I'm pretty happy with this painting so far.
It is Graphite on 11 x 13 White Strathmore Paper.
Thanks for looking and following my blog!
Debbie