Category Archives: Ars gratia Artis

Chain Pickerel

This fish is found in the New York Adirondacks as well as a lot of other waters throughout the US. The one I painted is represented full size although it’s a small example. Ted caught it, I took its picture and then he returned to the cold water to swim again, hopefully a wiser fishContinue reading “Chain Pickerel”

Water Plants

I painted a masonite board with QOR watercolor ground which allows me to paint on a surface that, untreated, will not absorb the watercolor pigments. After an under painting of watercolor, I filled in shading and detail with casein, a more durable water media.  Usually I use 140 or 300# watercolor paper. Comparing the hardboard groundContinue reading “Water Plants”

North of Pardeeville

Summer’s are rich and earthy in Wisconsin. Corn and potatoes grow everywhere.In their midst, wind turbines spin in unison when the night breezes pick up at sunset. https://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/1213322

Daily Cat 211

Daily Cat 211 – Buck is vacationing in Wisconsin for the summer. He likes it there, sort of. There’s a big, husky white and tabby queen that thinks Buck’s encroaching on her domain and has nicked him in the ear to make certain there’s no misunderstanding about what’s hers and not his. Other than that,Continue reading “Daily Cat 211”

Cad Orange, Ultra Blue

Color theory makes my head hurt. Having said that, I used a limited pallet for this painting, using only cadmium orange and ultramarine blue, black and white and small touches or viridian and cadmium yellow. The canvas was under-painted in a light lavender. As I continue to work in casein, I’m using two complimentary colorsContinue reading “Cad Orange, Ultra Blue”

Rock Bass

A Rock Bass is related to the Sunfish, you’ll notice that little black ear behind its gills that’s characteristic of that species. Ted pulled him out of the water at Lake Adirondack in upstate NY where he was also catching large and small mouth bass the same evening. They all went back into the Lake,Continue reading “Rock Bass”

River

I’ve started a casein journey. I like the flatness of this milk-derived paint. It can be buffed to a gloss and is waterproof once dry. I use blue, yellow and white pigment to paint this, relying on an underpainting of red acrylic to spark up the image.

Muddler Minnow – Traditional

The Muddler Minnow was first tied in 1936 by a guy from Minnisota, Don Gapen by name. It imitates a sculpin and is of the ‘streamer’ body type. It’s a very popular pattern, tied by many with a lot of variations. The one shown here is basic and traditional. My husband says the nose coneContinue reading “Muddler Minnow – Traditional”

Marble Canyon is a dusty, hot and out of the way spot where colors of the earth and sky are vivid. The Colorado River is winding it’s way southwest to the Grand Canyon. The United States’ largest birds, California Condors, nest on the canyon ledges, float on the thermals and fish the waters far below.Continue reading