Pen, Ink and Watercolor

Summer harvest: tomato varieties and jalapenos. Rendered in pen, ink and watercolor.

Meet Coco

This is Michael's cat, Coco.  Michael is our son.  He has a wife, two daughters and two cats, and they live happily in Idaho.  Coco stays out of sight when we visit, she is that shy. Another watercolor pet portrait, in keeping with my theme of family pets.

Einsheimer Apple from the garden

Einsheimer apple from an ultra-dwarf tree planted in our garden two seasons ago. Einsheimer is a low-chill apple. This is the first year apples have formed and I'm excited; there are only seven apples on the tree.  I wonder if they will be sweet or sour. Painted by me, using watercolor medium.

Family Pet Portraits, Ruby and Zander

RUBY

ZANDER

More family pet portraits in watercolor.  Here are Ruby and Zander.  Ruby's been in the family since she was a pup; Zander is a rescue dog who has found a good home, a good life. Both belong to our son and his wife, Sean and Anna.  My painting skills are improving but there's so much more I need to learn.  The translucent quality of watercolor paints is addictive.

Jams Jellies and Relishes

June 22, 2016...it's a once a year tradition of mine to put up jams and jellies.  This week I made Mango Pineapple Jam, Mango Jalapeno Jam, Red Onion Marmalade, Sweet and Zesty Zucchini Relish and Candied Jalapeno Slices, all pictured above, all very yummy, most of them more sweet than savory. The red onions which went into the Red Onion Marmalade are homegrown from this year's early harvest.

Favorite Pet Portrait in Watercolor...by me

Here it is, using a photo taken by my photo buff son, Michael, as a painting guide, "Our Henry." 

Hello Henry!

Working on watercolor painting skills.  Here's Henry, my first pet portrait in watercolor.  

Pickle Time

June is almost too early, but when fresh pickling cucumbers like these appear at the local Asian market, it's time for crispy, crunchy homemade refrigerator pickles.   Mine is a small-batch recipe for Easy Refrigerator Pickles, and they are yummy.  Fresh dill and a Bay leaf gathered from my very own garden make home canning a happy event in my kitchen.

Fresh dill from the garden

Potted Bay Leaf plant

Rose and Honeysuckle

A simple posy; rose and honeysuckle from my garden

Watercolor rendition of rose and honeysuckle posy

Realistic Watercolor Rose

First layer 6/5/2016

Finished 6/7/2016

Switching gears from quilting and gardening where I have spent most of my time lately, I am having fun with watercolor painting.  Here is a rose I am working on from a class, Realistic Watercolor, Step by Step, offered by artist Anna Mason, through Craftsy.com.