Accepted in Virginia Watercolor Society show in Winchester, Va.

"Ascension" - watercolor on paper
© Kristen Colebank

Long, long time (a year, actually) since I last posted anything. I've not done much formal work in the last 12 months, but I have been playing and experimenting with several things, including a class last fall in oil painting and taking up plein air in both oil and watercolor. Both have been invigorating in many ways and have fed new ideas that I want to explore.

And now for some really good news! I've learned "Ascension" (see above) has been accepted in the annual Virginia Watercolor Society's juried exhibition. The exhibition will take place at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Va., Oct. 14, 2017, - Jan. 7, 2018. MSV's website is https://www.themsv.org/, and the Virginia Watercolor Society website is http://www.virginiawatercolorsociety.org/index.cfm.

VWS has very strict residency requirements for their shows, but this past year they approved a provisional membership category for border-area artists who volunteered to help with a given VWS exhibition. Since I'm so close to Winchester and know the exhibition chairwomen, I'm helping with the show take-in and pick-up, and any other duties as requested. I am thankful for the opportunity to enter this year, and humbled that juror Mike Bailey selected "Ascension" as one of the accepted pieces. VWS has always put on top-quality shows, so I consider this a feather in my cap.

"Glow"

"Glow" 8in x 8in

I did this painting back in September as part of 30-day painting challenge, and then I let it sit for weeks and weeks because I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

The September challenge also completely burned me out for a long time. I have barely picked up a brush since then.

However, the recent posting challenge from fellow WVWS Signature member Andrea Burke was good for me. It helped motivate me, and I finally finished another painting that I had half-heartedly started before Christmas. Can't show that one at the moment; it needs to sit so I can think about it.

As part of my fresh start, I took a good hard look at this September challenge painting, and made some subtle changes. I now pronounce it finished, and it feels good to move on.

Painting-Posting Challenge 5

"Snowfall"

"Silent Night" (Private Collection)

"Chill" (Private Collection)

Last day for the posting challenge. Thanks again to Andrea Veseth Burke for asking me to do this.

Even though the storm whiffed on us today (thank goodness) it seems appropriate to finish up with some snow scenes. Two are of Wardensville locales and one is based on a barn at Antietam National Battlefield. 

Painting-Posting Challenge 2

"Top of the Morning" - 2014

"See's Motel Sign" -  2004

"Polly's Porch" -  2000

So here's another theme....this one being a particular house on Main Street in Wardensville, W.Va.

I first painted the porch of the house years ago when Polly Peer still lived there. She always had wonderful flowers on the porch and the bright colors and the ornate wood trim were a visual delight.

I next included the house in a painting of Main Street Wardensville with the old See's Motel sign as the focal point, but in truth it's the house that's the star of the show.

Finally, as part of my current Wardensville painting series, I did just the side gable of the house, cropped tightly, so I could focus this part of the structure's wonderful wood trim. Polly passed away in 2007 at age 98, but even now, I still think of this ornate landmark as Polly Peer's house.

Painting-Posting Challenge

"School Days" - 8inx8in

"Old Glory" (Private Collection)

"Warriors Win" (Private Collection)

There's a challenge moving around Facebook where artists are asking one another to post three painting for five days and find other artists to do the same.

I've been nominated by Andrea Veseth Burke (http://www.watercolorsbyandreaburke.com/) to do the challenge. Andrea is a fellow signature member of the West Virginia Watercolor Society who has moved to sunnier climes a bit further south.

I plan to post based on themes....so for the first day, these are three paintings of the old Wardensville school building.

Day 29

Day 29

Well, I let down the side over the weekend in the 30-day challenge. Too many things going on. There was the opening at of the Robert Singleton show at the new Grasshopper Gallery right here in town, then a meeting of the state watercolor society on the opposite side of the state (left at 6:30 a.m. and returned after 8 p.m.) and then a trip to Harrisburg, Pa., to deliver Ivy League for inclusion in the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society's Juried Exhibition, and then another stop to pick up a painting from the West Virginia Watercolor Society Signature Show. What a mouthful, and what a long weekend.

At any rate, I pronounce this painting to be finished. I put together a little animation to show some of the stages you've been watching over the last couple of weeks:

Day 25

Day 25

Sorry, missed another day (my third) in the 30-day challenge. My job is kicking my butt at the moment.

Got a little bit done this evening, mostly trying to feel my way around some of tree issues. I suspect you are tired of seeing this image. I'm getting there myself!

Day 23

Day 23

Now we've reached the stage where it seems that nothing is happening...but believe me, I've been at this for more than 30 minutes this evening (remember, my goal is at least 15 minutes for the 30-day challenge)...Now it's a matter of trying to enhance all the little things as I carefully nudge values in tiny, tiny little areas. Time to visit the eye doctor....or get bifocals.

Day 22

Day 22

So I messed around with the foreground and added more contrast. In doing so, I also lost some of the impetuous shapes and blooms that I liked in that area. Sigh. I wish I could manage to get color temperature and values right in the first application, but I always end up painting areas in multiple glazes to get things set, and I overwork a lot of delicious elements in the process.

Day 21

Day 21

Had to take a break from the 30-day challenge yesterday...family picnics and such. So back to the landscape today....now I think I need more blue to balance out the heavy yellows.

Day 19

Day 19

This is more of a paper experiment than anything else....This is a scrap of Fabriano Artistico cold press paper and I thought I would try it. I have friends who swear by it, while I've always used Arches.

So this is a small section of one of my recent Wardensville paintings used as a little test (as you can see, little is correct!). I'm not sure that I like it, but I know that's mostly because it's different than what I'm used to. I have some other little scraps...I'll just keep playing with them.

Day 17

Day 17

Didn't manage to make much progress today, and I'm a bit late in posting this for the 30-day challenge!

Day 16

Day 16

Still don't know where I'm going, but at least I put one foot in front of the other as part of the 30-day challenge.

Day 11

Day 11

So now it's on to something completely different...I'm starting a new landscape project and will post progress shots as part of the 30-day challenge. Remember, my little goal is simply to get my brush on paper for 15 minutes a day. And sometimes that has been a real challenge. But I'm still chugging along.

Day 8

Day 8

I've managed the bare minimum of time painting today for the 30-day challenge so I'm sure progress seems minor.

I may have to set this aside for a while to ponder it more deliberately. I see a floral sketch in my future....

Day 7

Day 7

Better....but now I think the tree has taken over the composition, which was not the intent of the design So I have to think about this new development and ponder how to balance it.

I suppose this is the appeal of this exercise for those who are watching.  I go through a lot of back and forth discussions as each of my paintings progress. With this 30-day challenge, you get to "see" my internal debate as it plays out.

Day 6

Day 6

Hmmmm...I think the jury is still out on whether this is going to work, If it weren't for the 30-day challenge, I would not be showing this to anyone. But a promise is a promise....I'm supposed to paint and post.

That said, my challenge is small compared to the many artists who are actually completing a painting a day as part of the challenge (instead of my paltry minimum 15-minute per day commitment). So hats off to them! And I'll keep working on this tomorrow.....

Day 5

Day 5

Day 5 of the 30-day challenge......Ummmmm........I'm not sure if I'm still on the right track or if I've ruined it. Until I punch the dark areas into the window and door, I won't know. But the suspense is going to have to wait until tomorrow.

Day 4

Day 4

Day 4 in the 30-day challenge!

So I'm back to the 8"x8" painting today. Heeding Bill Vrscak's sage advice, I am still applying washes with large flats, and trying to vary the colors in the areas so they don't come off as boring and flat. And a little wet-in-wet around the base of the tree helps to connect the tree to the ground. Gotta work on that chunk of wood in front....

Day 2

Day 2

So I'm now working on one of my Extraordinary/Everyday series pieces (see my website to view the series), and I'll post where I'm at each day on this 8"x8" painting as part of Leslie Saeta's 30-day challenge.

I have to say, I really don't like posting images at this point....paintings always look so rough and unplanned at this stage. I hope this one will improve speedily!