Planting Leeks

Planting Leeks, plein air, 8 x 10 inch oil on stretched linen.

A few days ago I helped plant hundreds of tiny leeks into a long row in one of my mom's gardens. Today, with many more to add to the row, I was a slacker, and painted instead. ;) It was a beautiful sunny morning and early afternoon, but I could see the clouds moving in from the west. I had to hurry to block in the shadows before they disappeared, and also sketch in the figures before they moved elsewhere!

This was my funny little quick sketch of my mom, with her signature red garden boots.

I was just cleaning up my brushes and palette when the first rain drops started to fall.

A not-so-successfull painting session

Today I finally got out into the woods to paint. It's been way too long.

It was so pretty in every direction, I couldn't decide what to paint!
The brown, wind-blown fields against the sky with its scattered clouds? The birches, or poplars, or oaks? The view looking up the ravine full of large moss-covered stones? The view downhill where some snow still lingers? And so on.
Finally "an acquaintance of mine that I met in the woods" (which is how she wants to be identified, and no, I didn't just happen to meet her in the woods) encouraged me to do a painting of her.
This was a great challenge: a plein air portrait!

...she gave many heartfelt apologies afterwards. :-|

Here's a peak at it, with the colors looking a little different as this was taken indoors after dark.
heehee, sorry Acquaintance, but it sure was fun! She says it looks enough like her to be weird, but not enough like her to be proud of. ;) Oh well.

Have I mentioned I love this time of year?
I do.
I'm loving the sunshine, and the moody skies too.
Here's a little watercolour I finished yesterday:

Reflections, copyright 2011 Hannah C. Heyer
2.5 x 3.5 inches,watercolour on paper
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Self Portrait

Ink and watercolour on Arches hot press watercolour paper

Yep, I really am that organized.

Tiny Beach Painting

Yeah. It gets to be mid-January and I start thinking about warm places and sunshine and....
Clouds over the Beach, 4x4inches, oil on linen canvas
Copyright 2011 Hannah C. Heyer
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This painting was done last month using photos from my stay in Australia as reference. The tiny canvas made it both fun and challenging. I may need to invest in some smaller brushes! I love the smoother texture of linen for doing detail.

Grand Plans in Spring

We shall build a fort
of sticks and twine and nails.

We'll live on gooseberries
and applesauce sandwiches,
and drink from a brook
(once we've discovered one!)

Our bare feet will grow tough as leather
and we will scoff at wearing shoes!
One of us may spend a summer with a thorn in her foot as a result...

Copyright 2011 Hannah C. Heyer
Girl with a Hammer, 9x12" Ink and Watercolour

Little Dinosaur

Finished up a little ink and watercolour illustration I started during my visit with my sister's family earlier this year.
My niece loves dinosaurs.
She also likes to blow bubbles in milk when her mum's not looking.

More Illustrating Progress

Bep's turn to get some color...
And some glasses too!


:-)

Monday Watercolour

Worked on watercolour painting today. I started a landscape. It's a bit larger than I usually do so it will take me awhile to get it to look closer to what I have in mind.
Beginning of watercolour landscape on 140lb watercolour paper

While waiting for my paper to dry out a bit between washes I worked on people. I love doing faces, but unfortunately when I don't have someone modeling for me, or at least photos to go from, my people often turn out looking like distant, albeit fictional, relatives. :-p I decided to work on hair, trying to show better color and texture. However, it didn't work out too well. I gave up trying to make it look realistic, and just had fun.
3.5 x 2.5" Watercolour on 140lb watercolour paper