Sunday, November 27, 2016

Street Scene from the South Side, Bethlehem, PA

watercolor, pencil and ink 12"x12"
purchase

Lately I'm thoroughly enjoying painting urban scenes in watercolor. The fine tip of a watercolor brush, or a sharp pencil or pen nib make for adding details of shape and line that I find much harder to achieve with oils. And I mustn't forget the wonders of masking fluid!

This is a revisit of a favorite scene in Bethlehem, PA. Here is a looser, smaller version from three years ago:

oil on board 6"x6"

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Drive-By View, L.A.

pencil, watercolor and ink 11"x 12.5"
purchase 

I like the randomness of this scene, with criss-crossing wires helping your eye go this way and that. I also like the sense of great distance as well as the greenery- a sort of constant in much of L.A. 

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Overgrown Overlook, Manayunk

watercolor 10.5"x 14.5"

I'm finding it so refreshing to work with the light touch of watercolor instead of oils, and will continue for a while.

This tight patchwork of rooftops in the Philly neighborhood of Manayunk is perhaps my favorite view found there so far. Such a terrifically satisfying composition of interlocking shapes!