"If I only had a brain" New Watercolor in Progress for the Straw Hat Series by Debbie Flood

Here is a new watercolor, in progress and not yet finished, for the Straw Hat Series. "If I only had a brain". If this hat had a brain, it might be a deep subject, sitting on a Well pump! ha ha...thought I would have a little fun with this one!
My father's hat again, sitting on my brother's well pump! Yea, it's all in the family! Hopefully we all have a brain!
I'll keep you posted on the progress of this one!

Debbie

Progress on Paint Mustang Watercolor and New Mexico News, by Debbie Flood

Wow, Things have been really heating up in this January weather!
I have attached a Watercolor of a Mustang Paint Horse I am currently working on. This painting is 22 x 29 inches on 300lb Arches Watercolor Paper. Very big! I'm enjoying him very much!

Some really fantastic news to share with you. This is an unofficial announcement and a little tease as to what will be taking place this Summer! As of Yesterday, I have been invited to exhibit my Western Genre work in a Gallery in Angel Fire, New Mexico! This gallery only represents artists which they find and invite! I'm so so very honored, you have no idea! This exhibit will take place in June of this year, and I will be traveling out, for the reception and exhibit. I'm told the Gallery owner will be doing a lot of promotion and planning a big splash for me. So the last few days, I've been full of so many emotions! Tears, (of joy, of course) and just pinching myself, to make sure this is real! While out there, I'll be able to scope out other Galleries, as Taos is only 30 minutes from Angel Fire and Santa Fe isn't to far either. I've been encouraged by this Gallery owner to take some works into Santa Fe to show some of those Galleries. Talk about a confidence booster! wow!

Then in August I'll be going to Sedona, Arizona for a group exhibit there at the Art Center. This will be a two week exhibit with Artists from Australia and USA. August 15-29, 2011 is the dates for that exhibit. I also have been asked about hosting a watercolor workshop while I am there. So that may happen. We are still in the planning phases of this exhibit.

So, today I have been going through available works, getting ready to send for a large frame order, and assessing what I need new, to paint. I have also entered some juried exhibits out in Texas, so a lot of work will be moving around the Country if I get into those exhibits also.

I was recently accepted as a Professional Member of the Contemporary Fine Art International. I have a page there on their site. You can see it here: http://www.contemporaryfineartinternational.com/Debbie_Flood_Maine_Western_Art_Artist,_International_Equine_Artists,_Horse_Paintings,_Cowboy_Paintings,_Equine_Fine_Art.html
Nice long URL, don't you think? lol
Hopefully I'll be running ads in the Southwest Art Magazine with this group, this Spring.

I am so blessed, to be able to paint, and have so many that appreciates it! I recently sold the large watercolor "Best seat in the house". This is a Watercolor of a cowgirl on her Appaloosa horse looking out over the Western landscape, you can see it on my Equine Art Page on my website at http://www.debfloodart.com. That painting went to Pennsylvania.

Thank you for sticking around and reading my studio updates and viewing my art. I appreciate you very much!

Talk with you again,
Debbie

Mustang Paint Horse Watercolor Progress by Debbie Flood

Here I am, working on another really large watercolor. This one, also, is on a 23 x 30 sheet of 300lb Arches watercolor paper. The horse fills just about the whole paper. I've been enjoying how the paint mixes and mingles in his coat.

Most of my time has been crunching and meeting deadlines. Exhibit deadlines, Magazine ad deadlines, booth entry deadlines and so on. The life of an artist is filled with so much more than just creating the art.
The International Equine Artists Organization (that I founded in September of 2010) has been keeping my quite busy also. I'm really having fun with that group. We are up to 88 members at the moment. I also create a webpage on the IEA site if the member requests that membership level. I'm getting to see so many different styles of art and meeting the artists themselves through the virtual computer! It's a really nice addition to my studio time, to have this other art adventure.

Okay, time for me to move on to the next studio business list of to dos. Talk with you later,
Debbie
http://www.debfloodart.com

Best seat in the house SOLD Watercolor by Debbie Flood

Here I sit in the studio, looking at the wall, where Best seat in the house used to hang. An artist always dreams of selling their work, of it going off into the home of someone who loves it. But sometimes, when the work is gone, like a child that has moved out, we get a little pang of it being gone, of missing it.
This watercolor painting sold last week. I was and am still, very ecstatic that it has a new loving home. It's almost surreal, having a larger work sell. This is the second large painting I have sold within 2 months, in a row.
It makes me wonder where my career and work will go from here. It gives confidence, entering exhibits and getting accepted into Museums and selling. It gives me wonder, as to what lays ahead for my career.
I have high hopes, I have eyes wide with wonder. I'm a child again, and my dreams have become reality.
For I always knew an Artist I would be, an Artist, I am. I embrace the title, I embrace the fear, I embrace the Arts for it is my home I hold so dear. It's who I am. And with every painting that floats out my studio door, a small piece of my love, of my work, goes forth and touches someone to the core.

~Debbie
For info on purchasing Limited Edition Prints of Best seat in the house, contact Debbie at debflood@debfloodart.com and visit http://www.debfloodart.com

'Rumbles in the sky' Cowgirl, Paint Horse Watercolor Finished by Debbie Flood

I finally finished Rumbles in the sky. 22 x 29 inches on 300lb Arches Watercolor paper. $2,500.00 Inquiries may come to my email at debflood@debfloodart.com Thank you.

This painting was a joy to paint!

I also have another, same size and same paper type started. This one is a Mustang. Just a wash laid down on this. I have it in the photo above, on the easel to the right, next to the finished Rumbles in the sky.
These are watercolors, but because of the size of them, I have to put them up on the easels. It's the only way I can get back and see them! I finished Rumbles on the easel. I needed to put in some finishing touches, and I could only do it by getting back and seeing what and where it needed attention. I'm glad I have a Taboret on wheels! It sure has been getting wheeled around a lot...from table to easel. 

Debbie
http://www.debfloodart.com

Vegetation gets attention in the Rumbles in the sky watercolor progress by Debbie Flood

Today I threw down the smaller brushes I had been trying to use on the vegetation in this watercolor painting Rumbles in the sky. I picked up a lager brush that has a bit of a curve to the tip of it and fired in some darks, mostly mixtures of Indian red and sepia, then some orange and some Yellow Ochre. That was actually some fun moments, of standing back and letting it happen. I like it a lot.
This painting is now coming onto the backside of completion. Won't be long now and it will be finished.

Thank you for following along. If you click on the image above, it will open up larger in a new window.
If you are reading this from a Blog Roll, or other RSS Feed, you can visit the original Blog post here: http://debbieflood.blogspot.com and visit my website at http://www.debfloodart.com
Have a great weekend!
Debbie

Rumbles in the sky Progress and Sedona Exhibit Update, by Debbie Flood

Hi,
My work continues on "Rumbles in the sky". Lordy this is a large watercolor. 23 x 29 inches of paper to cover! It's slow going, but I am addicted to it. I have spells where I just can't stop looking at. Soaking in her surroundings, wishing I was there. The warmth of the sun upon her and her horse and the clouds moving in, with an impending Summer storm.
I've been working up the sky more. Defining the clouds and layering darker colors. I also have been lifting areas of clouds too. Today I worked on the saddle blanket, the mane, the saddle, the boot, the foreground grass and the front hooves.

I've also been filling out art exhibit entry forms. Since I was accepted into two different Museum exhibits in Texas of 2010, it has encouraged me to keep submitting to these kinds of exhibits. So paperwork is flying around here!

I entered an online exhibit, my watercolor Time has yet to come, (From the straw hat series) is entered in Canvoo, Boldbrush competition sponsored by Fine Art Views & FASO. If you like my painting you can vote for People's choice, by following this link:  http://canvoo.com/boldbrush/painting/15860 and clicking on the 'Like' button on that page. I would love to have your support in this competition. There is many wonderful works there, and you can vote for more than one! When you have some time, check it out and support your favorite artists and paintings.

If you remember, I will be exhibiting work in Sedona, Arizona at the Sedona Arts Center Gallery in August of 2011 (This year...so excited!!) I'll be going and I have an opportunity to teach a workshop at the Center while I am there. I'm considering this, if I have enough interest. It will be a Basic Watercolor Workshop for adults. If you are interested in taking the workshop, please let me know. The dates I will be there is the 15th to the 29th. Those are the Exhibit dates and some where in there I will hold the workshop. I'll also be sitting the Gallery for two days of the exhibit. This really is a "PINCH ME" moment!! So far there is four Australian Artists and four USA Artists in this exhibit. I cannot wait to meet the other artists there. One Australian Artist I have met in person, a few years ago, and it will be so nice to meet up with her again this year. As everything gets more involved and more concrete things are set (so much planning) I will release the names of all the artists in this exhibit.

This painting I am showing you today, Rumbles in the sky, is also posted on my blog http://debbieflood.blogspot.com if you would like to go visit it. (This is posted for other feeds and email recipients.)
Have a great weekend and I'll talk with you again soon.

Debbie

'Rumbles in the sky" update on the large watercolor by Debbie Flood

Hi,
Well, I'm still plugging away at this watercolor painting. But loving every minute of it. Now with the Holidays and hoopla down to a dull roar, I'm able to get my head together and focus on what is important in the studio.
Many exhibits to get into order, deadlines to meet and the big exhibit in Sedona, Arizona. Lots of work to do, to make sure I have the right amount of paintings, make sure I'll have the right amount shipping boxes and getting other things with the show in order. I'm somewhat of a little helper, or on standby to help with the Arizona exhibit. The exhibit is in August, and really not that far away, for everything that needs to be put into order.

This watercolor painting Rumbles in the sky is coming along nicely. I've started working down the cowgirl's leg and onto her boot. I also have darkened her shirt/back in the shadow areas. This is a very large painting, on a 24 x 30 sheet of Arches 300lb paper. The image is about 23 x 29 inches.
What takes so long, is the glazes upon glazes of color that I am layering over one another on this painting. Thin washes, when one is dry, another is layered over the other. A nice glow and depth is achieved with this method. One has to think about how the colors effect one another also. So until an artist is sure about their colors, one should do tests on scraps of paper to see the results first. But, that's not to say that I have learned it all either! There are times where I have to test, or remember back what a certain color did to another color. Studio notes come in handy at times like this too.

I hope that your New Year has been going smoothly, mine has so far!
Thank you for reading and following my art,
Debbie