"Grazed by a draft" Watercolor Progress

I came up with a fun title for this one! "Grazed by a draft". A little play on words there. I'm getting some headway on this. As I started laying in the darker greens in the background, I felt I had an "On no!" moment. The problem is that I started 'thinking' out the painting. How I thought it should go and what I wanted in it. Not sure when I will learn not to do that! As soon as I let go of all preconceived thoughts as to what I thought this should look like, it started falling into place.

During that "on no!" moment, I went out side for a break and dug up a hosta plant that had roots that went to China! I got that transplanted and wore myself out enough to be settled down and went back to the painting. Boy, gardening is great therapy!

 

I hope you all have a safe and happy long weekend (Memorial Day Monday). Enjoy the great weather, family and fun!

My husband is on vacation after today, so who knows how much painting and internet posting I'll be doing. Lots of work around the house will be going on.

Debbie

Progress on the grazing draft horse, watercolor

Here is today's progress on this grazing Draft horse in watercolor. I was going to show you the pie painting, but I somewhat had a request or a "look forward to" the next installment of this painting. So here it is. I'm really enjoying working this size (13 x 17). It's a whole lot easier to find and create details on the horse. The light in this is really starting to show itself now.

 

The temps have finally fallen a lot, in the high 70's with no humidity now. That means I can get back to that flower bed I started creating outside the house here.

Some people are getting ready to start their long weekend tomorrow. I wish you all a safe and happy Memorial, long, weekend! I'll be planting some flowers at my grandmothers headstone. Sort of a birthday present to her also. She loved gardening and her flowers.

 

I also will be heading out to Hallowell, Maine this weekend to pick up my watercolor "If walls could speak, Fort Knox" from the Harlow Gallery Exhibit. I can't believe the Month is over all ready!

I just shipped out "Winter shelter" to be included in the National Association of Women Artists, Annual Member exhibit at the NAWA Gallery in New York, NY. That exhibits starts in June.

 

Have a great creative day,

Debbie

Watercolor of a Belgian Draft Horse in progress

Today I got started on this watercolor of a Belgian Draft Horse grazing. I took the reference photo a year ago and I am just getting to it. This painting is 13 x 17.

 

The painting I posted yesterday "Journey" the POA Horse, has sold. Thank you goes out to "Journey's" owner! We're both excited about her seeing this painting in person! 

I've also been posting new works, and the Windsor Hotel painting has been moving right along, and that is also posted on my blog http://debbieflood.blogspot.com  

I've created a Rhubarb-strawberry pie and that is on the blog too! I'm having a bit of fun with the still-life stuff. They are also updated on my website http://www.debfloodart.com

I'll have to make a 'still-life' page on my site for the food paintings.

 

It's still hot here in Maine, and I'm loving it!

Talk with you again soon,

Debbie

More progress on the Windsor Hotel Watercolor

I worked some today on the Windsor Hotel painting. Started the awnings over the far left windows, worked on the lead horse, and the front door of the Hotel.

Debbie

"The last slice" Rhubarb-Strawberry Pie in watercolor

Who doesn't love Rhubarb-Strawberry pie???!!! Well, lol, I can tell you that my youngest son doesn't, but my older boy would eat a whole one in one sitting! Somehow I had one slice left over! It looked good enough to paint!
This is "The last slice" 9 x 12 watercolor $550.00
Inquiries to purchase may come to my email at debflood@debfloodart.com thank you!

Debbie

"Journey" A POA Horse Watercolor Portrait

                                                              SOLD Thank you!!


Hi Friends! We sure are having some hot weather here in Maine! I'm NOT complaining though! It makes me want to play in the flower garden! Which is what I did all weekend! Yesterday some too.

Today I hunkered down in the studio. With temps out there up to 95 on the North side of the house in the shade, I figured I was better off in the studio.

This image today is "Journey". Journey is a POA (Pony of the Americas) horse. A POA is really an Appaloosa horse, but smaller in height than the Appaloosa. This painting is 8.5 x 10. I'm still waiting on the first refusal from his owner, who submitted the image to me to paint, on facebook (SOLD!).  I'm accepting images of horses to be painted in watercolors. These paintings have no background, just the horse head on the white support. Because of this "no background" I'm able to offer these small paintings at a very reasonable price. If you are interested in purchasing 'Journey' or in having a painting like this done for you, please email me at debflood@debfloodart.com thank you.

I love seeing people's horses! And it doesn't matter the breed, I love them all!

Enjoy your Tuesday! & stay cool! Or warm, depending on where you are in this world.

Debbie

Progress on the Windsor Hotel Watercolor painting

Thursday's Progress on the Windsor Hotel Watercolor painting.

Debbie

"Basking in the sun" Harbor seals Watercolor

"Basking in the sun, Harbor seals" 9 x 9 Watercolor $550.00 Inquiries may come to my email at debflood@debfloodart.com thank you.

I photographed these seals last year, about this same time, from a boat tour I took off the coast of Maine. That was a glorious trip I will never forget!

Debbie

"Passage of time" deer antlers Watercolor

"passage of time" 11 x 8 watercolor $550.00 is finally finished. Inquiries may come to my email at debflood@debfloodart.com thank you.

These two deer antlers have been bouncing around my studio for quite some time now. I thought I would create a painting of them. The large one was found by my husband. The smaller one I found on my grandmothers land.

Debbie

Daddy's girl Watercolor is finished.

I finally have called this one finished. "Daddy's girl" 12 x 15 Watercolor $1,200.00
Inquiries to purchase may come to my email at debflood@debfloodart.com thank you.

Debbie

More progress on the Windsor Hotel Watercolor, Belfast's Maine's past series of watercolors

 

I've been slowly working on this painting of the , now gone, Windsor Hotel. This painting will be a part of the ongoing series that I am painting of Belfast Maine from the 1800's - 1900's.

I work in sections when I do these watercolors. Because they are representative to the era and how they actually looked, I have a lot of small details to paint. So, to save areas of white and get things right, I have to work a section at a time. I've found that some artists that are following along find this method to be a surprise and are intrigued by this process. I guess I never have ever done anything like anyone else..lol. It makes me wonder how other artists might approach this kind of painting. I can't fathom useing loads of water and splashing on a large wash across this. Though when I get to the dirt road in the foreground my brushes will loosen up a bit and create some washes.
Not sure if you notice or not, that I fixed the awning shadow from the awning to the far right top. It had stretched too far down the side of the building.

You can see in this bottom image that the awning shadow is too low on the far right top window. I adjusted that and it can be seen in the last photo above.

The weather has been great here in Maine, in the high 70's. So I have to be very strict with myself to get in the studio and do my work! I did take an hour after lunch yesterday to get my bike out and do some peddling across the country side! It was really fun and I really need the exercise. I came back refreshed and full of energy to get more things done.
I hope your week has been going good so far! Talk again soon,
Debbie

Progress on the Windsor Hotel, Belfast, Maine in watercolor

Today I got a lot done! The watercolor board got cut down to size and the Windsor Hotel scene transferred to it. That was all done in the morning. After lunch I started applying the paint. This is how far I have gotten, before stopping for the day.
I'm thinking I should have my head examined! I love painting these kind of intricate scenes! Especially the buildings. Maybe I should have studied architecture and became an architect! Only kidding!

I hope you all have a great weekend! I've got some pizza dough churning in the bread machine, I love the smell of fresh dough!
Talk with you again soon,
Debbie

The Windsor Hotel Belfast Maine, Belfast's past series progress

I'm working on a new Belfast's past painting. The Windsor Hotel. This Hotel is no longer in existence and I am working from an image supplied by the Belfast Historical Museum. There is an 8 horse coach in front of the hotel in this image too! Dates late 1880's to early 1900's.

 

You'll find my email Google postings to be sporadic more now. I don't want to clog up your email inbox with too much chatter. I'm finding that as schools get closer to finishing, my kids have more things going on that needs my attention. Relatives will be coming for the summer also. I would like to slow down a bit this summer and take some time to enjoy being with them. I'll also be doing art festivals and well, summers in general seem to get busy. 

I'm also taking some time to reflect on my art. Where I am headed, where I want to be headed and what my next actions may be. I've been in a bit of a funk the last few weeks. So I think some time stop and think about it all is in order. A semi vacation if you will. But I will still be painting and I have plenty of exhibits I'm framing, packing and sending to.

Maybe a once or twice a week update in your email would be a nicer pace.(I'm talking about the Google email group only).

 

Thank you for following along and you can also always find more updates on my blog http://debbieflood.blogspot.com and on my facebook fan page and on twitter.

 

Talk with you again soon,

Debbie

The Lost Trotting Parks of Maine at the Belfast Maine Historical Society Presentation

Press Release for the Belfast Historical Society Program May 24, 2010

1904 'Bobby Wilken' 6 Year old Trotting Horse, Belfast, Maine. 

I am a Business Member of the Belfast Maine Historical Museum Society, Belfast, Maine. For a few years now, I have been painting a series of watercolors titled: "Belfast's past". I've been working with Megan Pinette, the Society President, finding just the right images that I would like to paint. The above photo is just one of the many photos I have borrowed to work from. I'm not sure why I haven't gotten to painting this one yet, but I'm sure I will get there.

More important at the moment is the reason for this blog post. I just received this email press release from Megan to let me know that the next public presentation is going to be about the Lost Trotting Parks of Maine! Oh yippee! I squealed !! Yes, I'll be going to this one! & I'm sending this announcement out for all you horse fans to come to the presentation and learn about the past trotting parks, horses, and owners & drivers! I may just find a whole new series to branch off into!

Stephen Thompson will be the guest speaker at the Belfast Historical Society program meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 24, at the Belfast Free Library, Abbott Room.

The topic for the presentation will be “The Lost Trotting Parks of Maine.”

After the American Civil War, the trotting horse industry flourished. Trotting parks were built throughout the State of Maine and at one time, there were more than 92 trotting parks in Maine. Few of these parks remain today and the rich history of Maine's trotting parks and the horses that established the industry has nearly vanished.

The Belfast park was built by the Waldo Agricultural Society in 1860 on a parcel of land on Belmont Avenue for holding the annual exhibitions. It featured a trotting park with a half-mile track and a grandstand. In later years the site was used for car-racing and as a drive-in movie theater.

Thompson maintains the Lost Trotting Park Heritage Center, www.losttrottingparks.blogspot.com, a website devoted to research findings related to lost trotting parks, noted horses, and the people involved with agricultural fairs and harness racing.

Program meetings are free and open to the public. For information about programs and membership, visit www.belfastmuseum.org

Mustangs "Racing for their freedom" Watercolor

There has been so much in the media about saving the wild horses of our west. It seems that everywhere I go, Twitter, my email, facebook, and horse websites are all a buzz about this topic. I love horses. I love painting horses. So when I am barraged with so much of this negative information, it comes out into a painting. Today I created this watercolor "Racing for their freedom" 6 x 18. Inquiries to purchase may come to my email debflood@debfloodart.com

 

It was nice to let loose and create this painting from free hand. No photos, No anything, other than my creative mind and letting the pencil, paint and brushes take over. I worked out the drawing in a quick lay down of strokes on transfer paper and then transferred it to the painting support.

 

I hope all the moms out there had a wonderful Mothers Day yesterday. I sure did. It's wonderful to have a family.

 

Talk with you tomorrow,

Debbie

Progress on the Angel in the Belfast Maine cemetery

I've been working on this angel painting today. It's almost complete. Just a few more additions here and there. This image is being painted for the "Belfast's past series". She resides in the Belfast, Maine cemetery and has since the 1800's.

 

I also created a Zazzle store online today. That's a fun site. I can now offer mugs, mouse pads and t-shirts with my paintings on them. At the moment I have two mugs available. One has the 'Grumpy draft" and the other has "Winter shelter" on them. Both images are horses. You can use this link to go check them out http://www.zazzle.com/winter_shelter_mug-168075147079489456

I also have a linked box to my Zazzel store on my blog here. It's at the top of this page.

I'll be getting one of those boxes on my website too.

 

I've been collecting names of people who want to order my latest book when it is ready. "The Equine Art of Debbie Flood, A brush with emotions, spirits & bonds of horses and man". The hard cover with dust jacket will retail for $45.95. So far I have 20 paintings in this book and will be adding more. There is also poetry and details of paintings as well as some graphite works. The book measures 10 x 8. If you would like a book reserved for you from the first printing, send me an email debflood@debfloodart.com thank you.

 

Tonight is the Opening Reception at the Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, Maine. As long as my youngest boy isn't too ill tonight, I'll be going. He's had a terrible head cold with fever most of the week. He went to school yesterday and today, but has been coughing a lot. I'll see how he is tonight.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's day Sunday! And a great weekend overall.

I'll talk with you on Monday,

Debbie

"One horse town" Child a day watercolor

"One horse town" 5 x 7 Watercolor $100.00 free shipping in the USA. Inquiries may come to debflood@debfloodart.com thank you.

 

Here's another child a day painting. I like this one a lot.

 

I have a nice press release in my local paper about my painting "If walls could speak, Fort Knox" at the Harlow Gallery. You can see the release online here: http://waldo.villagesoup.com/ae/story/midcoast-work-at-the-harlow-gallery/322769

 

I hope you are enjoying you Thursday.

Debbie

 

"Schools out" watercolor for the Child a day project

"Schools out" 5 x 7 Watercolor $100.00 (Free shipping in the USA) Inquiries may come to my email debflood@debfloodart.com thank you.

 

YIPPEEEE!!! Surprise, surprise! I did a "Child a day" painting today!!! Boy how I have missed doing them! I had so much fun with this one, this morning. It's just pure heaven to me...to be painting these little paintings of kids and animals!

School isn't out yet, but this image reminded me of this time of year when I was in grade school. The sun was warm, the smell of first cuttings of grass on the lawns floating through the air...all I could dream about was getting out of those four walls that held me, and throw the saddle on my pony and be gone! Summer is my most favorite time of year!

 

I got this one done in a good amount of time. I have plenty of time to work on the larger paintings today too. Joy Joy!!

Have a wonderful creative day today!

Debbie

Angel Number Two Watercolor Progress for the Belfast's past series

Today I started the second angel from the Belfast, Maine cemetery. This image is 9 x 16 inches. I'm using the same Paynes gray with Alizarin Crimson in the sky, so it is photographing darker.

 

I've got a little boy home sick today, so progress was a little slow on this. He seems to be doing better, Yay.

This morning I updated my website. Added some new exhibit dates, and a few new paintings. http://www.debfloodart.com

 

I hope your day is going well.

Debbie

 

"Reaching from the Heavens" A New addition to the Belfast's Past Series, Belfast, Maine

"Reaching from the Heavens" 8 x 10 Watercolor $800.00. This painting is the newest addition to the Belfast's Past Series. 10% of Sales from this series is donated to the Belfast Historical Society Museum, Belfast, Maine.

This Angel statue resides in the Belfast Cemetery, since the 1800's. If you drive down or up Main street, you will see this one, along with another, just off from the street at the entrance on top of the hill. 8 x 10 Limited Editions of 50 Giclee will be professionally made of this painting. Each 8 x 10 Giclee will be printed on watercolor paper with 100% archival inks. Each Giclee is $50.00. If you would like one reserved, please contact me and I'll put your name on them. Each one will be hand numbered and signed by me.

This image is from my own camera and for some reason, it doesn't want to reproduce that soft purple color I have going on in the sky. The yellows on the angel and cross and lower sky is soft, but brighter than what is showing here.

 

I hope your Monday is going well and I'll talk with you again soon,

Debbie