How to paint REALLY loose...

Ok...I found a way to paint really loose...heh, heh...I just paint a tiny (say, 5 x7") watercolor. Then... I crop a tiny portion of it, just like this. Duh!

Ok, at least I am trying. The full painting is here.

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

Point Higuero Lighthouse

Several years ago I was lucky enough to visit the Island of Puerto Rico. This small watercolor shows the Point Higuero Light in the Northwest corner of the island.

Watercolor, 5x7", Fabriano paper cold press

Rolling on the River

Years ago my wife and I finally went on our first cruise. Down the Mississippi River, that is. It took about an hour and a half in a beautiful paddle boat and it offered great views of the Memphis skyline.                           

Watercolor, 5x7" on Fabriano hot-pressed paper

Red Light, Michigan

Exact proportions notwithstanding, this small watercolor is loosely based on the Holland Harbor Lighthouse, in Michigan.

Watercolor, 5 x 7", Fabriano paper

Central Station, Memphis

This is my second watercolor of this place, this time in a little larger size. It is located in South Main Street.

Watercolor, 12 x 9", Fabriano Paper

Red Barn - Duh!

Whenever I feel like painting but can't decide what - a barn (duh!) usually materializes.

This one came out of my many photographs of farms taken on our long drives to New Jersey.


Watercolor, 5 x 7", Fabriano Hot press Paper

Dauphin Island

Although the original blue color of the boat does not offer the best contrast with the water, I still decided to use it for this sketch. This is from a visit to the Gulf Shores area in Southern Alabama.

Watercolor 5"x 10", Fabriano paper

Winter

Time has been very scarce to paint lately...hopefully that will change soon. So, let's go to the old archives for a change.
This watercolor was painted many…many…years ago (circa 1985) when my interest in painting in this medium started to bloom.

Watercolor, 11 x 15 ", Strathmore paper

A Church in San Antonio

I forgot to write down the name of this church when I walked by and took a few pictures. I am trying to find it. Google has not worked so far...

Watercolor, 5 x 7 ", Fabriano Paper

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Elizabeth, NJ is my American hometown. Although I was born and raised in Portugal, when I came to the US, this is where I first arrived - after JFK International - in 1974 and where I lived for several years. So it feels like home. This landmark Cathedral is on 2nd St. in the Elizabethport area.

Watercolor, 5 x 7" Fabriano Paper

Romer Shoal

This lonely lighthouse was erected in the early 19th Century just south of Staten Island in New York Bay.

Watercolor, 7 x 9", Canson Montval Paper

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

This Lighthouse can be found in the beautiful State of New Jersey near North Wildwood. It hints at the abundance of victorian architecture in the southern part of the state.

Watercolor, 5 x 7", on Canson Montval paper

North Shore, Hawaii

Today, I was rummaging through some photos from some years ago, and I found a scene that made me grab the brush. This is a quick sketch that I clocked at 34 minutes, a little record for me. Some times…rarely for me…speed lends a little freshness and spontaneity, which I think worked in this case.

Watercolor, 6x9 in, Canson Montval Paper

Joint Venture

This small drawing was a joint-venture between me and my wife who refuses to acknowledge her obvious talent for drawing and painting. Actually my role was very limited to some shadows in the foreground leaves. She did everything else. I happen to like this a lot.

Colored Pencil, 5 x 7 in

Mission San Francisco Solano

Going back to Sonoma, this is a tiny sketchbook entry from a trip to California many years ago.

Watercolor, 3x5 inches

Marshall's General Store

Along Route 46 in Northwestern New Jersey.

Watercolor, 5 x 7" Canson Montval Paper

Sunrise, Honululu

I had an urge today to paint something and I had thirty minutes. So here it is.

Watercolor 7 x 10",

Fabriano Paper, Hot Pressed.

Backyard

I found this quiet backyard near Montour Falls, N.Y. in the beautiful Finger Lakes area.

Watercolor, 10 x14", Arches Paper