MIDWINTER SOLSTICE

I love Christmas, but it sure does sidetrack my painting schedule! I've been on holiday for the past 5 days, but now I'm back; I painted Midwinter Solstice today. It's 11 x 14 on 300# rough Arches.

"WHISPERS"

The title adds a little mystery...you're drawn into the painting by the 3 small figures in the distance; two are talking and the other has walked away... This is a watercolor, 16 x 20. I completed this painting 2 days before Christmas.

1st Place Award

I'm delighted to announce that my painting, AWESOME AUTUMN won First Place in DeSoto Art League's annual membership show. There were 44 entries and 4 "over-all" awards; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention. Winning is a good "motivator"....back to work I go!

RIVER BEND RANCH

RIVER BEND RANCH - Watercolor - 8"x10"
Today I spent about 3 hours cleaning up my work area; emptying the trash and sweeping up little bits of debris that is always under my drawing board. I only had a couple of hours before dinner so I decided to do a small landscape. This is the 3rd in a series of "River Bend" paintings.

AWESOME AUTUMN

"AWESOME AUTUMN"
WATERCOLOR - 20" X 24"
I think this painting has been "mentally" in process for about 5 years. I started with a quick pencil sketch, working out the composition. Then about a year ago,I worked up several "seasonal" color sketches then put them aside until I discovered the sketches this past week in one of my resource files. This is a panoramic landscape of fall colors, with distant hills (mountains?)and isn't anyplace in particular; it's a combination of many places I have been. Sometimes, with watercolor, a painting just falls together all by itself with little help from the person holding the brush. I love it when that happens; it's been a good week in the studio!

Winter Redbird (Cardinal)

This 9" x 6" watercolor is inspired by the dozen or so Cardinal pairs that live in my back yard among the Pecan trees and shrubs. I love trees, especially in the fall and winter. The obvious focus in this painting is the tree trunk contrasting with the orange background, but a closer look reveals the spot of red up high in the tree top!

"Outta Gas" 16" x 20" Watercolor
I've been painting every day the past couple of weeks, trying to meet several deadlines; 22 illustrations for a children's book and 2 exhibitions. I can't share my book illustrations yet...the author is still working with a publisher. But, I can share one of the paintings I completed last week for a membership exhibition of the Ellis County Art Association in my hometown of Waxahachie, Texas. This painting is of an old abandoned gas station with 50's era trucks parked behind it. The scene is on a corner of a little town in South Central Texas called New Zulch. It has most of the "ingredients" for a Texas landscape...all that's missing is a Longhorn standing in a patch of Bluebonnets! I plan to do several paintings of this location from different angles. The change from Daylight Savings time has resulted in a lot less time for plein air, and more time in the studio. Speaking of studio, I better get back to work.

First Place in Paint Out

Well, it was a good trip to Corsicana the past 2 days and a successful paint out. I won 1st Place with my painting of "Palace Playbill". "Olsen Feed Store" and "Palace" are 11" x 14", watercolor. Both paintings will be on display (and for sale)at the Corsicana, Texas Chamber of Commerce for 2 weeks. Enjoy!

Another Paint Out!

Today, I traveled south about 45 miles to Corsicana, Texas to participate in a 2-day paint out. After checking in, I drove around the historic downtown area and came upon an old feed store. The sunlight was filtered by a haze so I opted to get my drawing in place and return tomorrow, hoping for better light conditions. Check back in a couple of days; I'll have at least 2 new paintings to share!

Reunion

Last week, after returning home from Hawaii, I spent 3 days with two girlfriends from high school.  We've been pals for over 50 years.  Anyway, while the other two were napping, I gathered up my plein air gear (I'm never without it) and walked a few yards away and painted my friend's home.  This is a view of her back porch, looking from across the golf course fairway #17. Outside my family, Ginny is my biggest fan; she has my paintings hanging from floor to ceiling on 2 walls in her home....a "Tina Bohlman Collection" .  

"Doug & Ginny's Hilltop Home"
Good friends are a joy....and when friendships span more than 50 years,it's truly a blessing!

ALOHA from Hawaii.....

The island of Maui in Hawaii is absolutely beautiful.  My travel sketchbook is filling up quickly.  Everywhere I look is a painting waiting to happen! This is my first visit to Hawaii..and I hope it's not my last...it's truly like being in paradise.  I have only 2 more days before I return to "the real world".   Here are some watercolor & ink paintings from my sketchbook...enjoy!

LAHAINA HARBOR, MAUI - 5-1/2"x 7" -  9/16/08

POINT BLACK ROCK - KAANAPALI - 3-1/2" x 5" - 9/14/08

KAANAPALI BEACH- BLACK ROCK POINT & MAUI SHERATON - 5-1/2" x 7" -  9/19/08

KAANAPALI BEACH - 3-1/2" x 5" - 9/14/08

HANAKAOO BEACH PARK- LAHAINA HARBOR IN DISTANCE - 5-1/2" x 7" - 9/19/08

A lovely couple from Ohio stopped to talk for a few moments before leaving for the airport. 

KAANAPALI BEACH (from Black Rock Point) -5-1/2" X 14" - 9/18/08

This scene was so vast, I captured it using 2 pages across in my sketchbook.

HANAKAOO BEACH- 5-1/2" x 7" -  9/19/08 - the wind blowing in from the Pacific was about 20 mph...my paint was drying on the brush before I could put it to paper!  Plein air painting has it's "moments"!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN.....

Within the next few days, I'll be on a plane to Maui for a "working" vacation.  New airline rules for luggage limits a person to 1 checked bag and a carry-on....and each bag cannot weigh more than 50#.  Needless to say, I may be painting "nekkid" cause I'm packing my plein air gear first & if there's any room left, I'll throw in some clothes too.  I'm excited about this trip; it's my first visit to the Hawaiian Islands and I'm sure that I haven't allowed enough time (or money) to "do it right".  

More later.....gotta go gather up my gear.

Painting The Parks - Estes Park Colorado

Last week I spent a glorious 6 days in Rocky Mountain National Park...working. (I repeat....is this a GREAT country, or what?) My "work" was participating in the 7th Annual Estes Park National Paint Out, sponsored by Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park and Earthwood Collections Gallery.

63 artists came together to paint on location from August 9 through August 22, choosing a moment in time and special place to paint...including Rocky Mountain National Park, Big Thompson River canyons, views along the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway, and/or people and places in Estes Park, Colorado. Given a 50 mile radius in which to paint, artists chose to document cityscapes found in the various front range communities of Colorado. The public was invited to watch the artists paint during the two week painting period. All paintings were event stamped and authenticated and only works created and stamped during the painting period were included in the exhibition and sale.

In 2005, I participated in this great Paint Out and left the area with a list of places to paint...."next time". Well, "next time" has come & gone..again, & I still have a long list. So, I guess I'm going to have to go back next year..(yee-haa).

For this year's event, I submitted 6 paintings to my "host gallery", Earthwood Collections in Estes Park . (paintings are available for purchase through Earthwood Collections (970-577-8100) Estes Park, Colorado until September 30th.)

"Longs Peak Vista" (view from MacGregor Ranch)

11" x 14" Watercolor

"Photo Op" - (RMNP Bear Lake & Hallett Peak )
9" x 12" Watercolor

"Sprague Lake" (RMNP)

11" x 14" Watercolor

"The Stanley"

Historic Hotel, Downtown Estes Park

(People's Choice Award)

11" x 14" Watercolor

"View from Riverwalk Park" (Downtown Estes Park)

11" x 14" Watercolor

"Big Thompson" (Moraine Park area, RMNP)

11" x 14" Watercolor

Colorado.... Here I come!

My husband had major surgery on August 4th ; he's home now and doing much better. In fact, I'm packing up my "hubby" along with my paint gear and will be on location in Rocky Mountain National Park come Monday, August 18th. I'm participating in the Estes Park Plein Air 2008 - Painting the Parks". I LOVE MY JOB!!!! "Below Olympus Dam - Big Thompson River"

Three years ago, while on location during the 2005 Estes Park Paint Out, my son drove up from Denver and fished the river downstream while I painted looking back upstream. "Below Olympus Dam" is one of 2 paintings I completed that day; my son has the other painting. We talk of that day often; it's one of our favorite "mother & son" memories.

I plan to complete 2 paintings a day. If I have internet access while in Estes Park I'll be posting daily. Otherwise...I'll catch up when I return August 26th.

On another note, I delivered my illustrations for the children's book yesterday. I'm under a confidentiality contract until it's published so I can't post them yet....but the author was pleased with my work and gave me another book to illustrate. It's a Christmas story and I'm on a mid-September deadline. I'll begin work on it as soon as I return from Estes Park.

Hard at work....

Well, it's been several days since my last post, and it's not because I've been 'slackin off'....I'm working on a children's book. This nice little bit of work fell into my lap about 10 days ago and I'm up against an August 12 deadline to finish 18 illustrations. I'm half-way through....9 to go.

I'm also trying to work around a little "glitch" in my schedule..... my husband is scheduled for major surgery, checking into the hospital on Aug 3rd , with surgery on Monday, Aug. 4th.

Anyway, I'm working on a couple of studio pieces and I'll share them with you soon.

This image is the result of a recent plein air adventure at the Dallas Arboretum. What a lovely place to paint!

"Lofty View" - Watercolor - 10" x 7"

This painting was accepted into the Arboreatum's plein air exhibit, "May Flowers" and will be on display through October.

Latest News: August, 17th through August 24th, I'll be in Estes Park Colorado participating in the 7th Annual Paint the Parks. I'll be painting along side more than 50 nationally recognized artists as we capture the grandeur of Rocky Montain National Park and the beautiful town of Estes Park. Life just doesn't get any better than this!!!!

Saturday Paint Out

Last Saturday, 6 other painters and I gathered in the little town of Maypearl, Texas.

Home Town Pizza

9" x 12" (22.9cm x 30.5cm)

Watercolor on Arches mounted on Masonite board

 

The painting above depicts a combination of "new & old"...new business in an old building...typical of a small town. Home Town Pizza is a favorite hang out for pizza lovers. In the background is the town water tower.

Everybody finished their morning paintings about noon so we had a "show & tell" then took a break for lunch. In the afternoon, even though it was almost 100 degrees, we all found shade trees and produced another painting. I found a lovely blue cottage with a ramblin' rose climbing up the front window. Perfect color combination; red, white & blue!

Blue Cottage in Maypearl

9" x 12" (22.9cm x 30.5cm)

Watercolor on Arches mounted on Masonite board

As we all packed up for the day....covered with a layer of dirt, a little more tanned, & tired...it was agreed we'd return to Maypearl soon; there are still a lot of places & people to paint!

Uh-Oh.

Dang! Just when I think I've got the hang of managing my website (uploading, downloading, FTP, zip, flash, click & scroll), my bubble bursts. This evening, I decided that I needed to "spiffy up" the Welcome page on my website, www.tinabohlman.com . I cut, pasted, left-clicked, right-clicked, tagged, keyworded, then uploaded the new page as well as a couple other pages. I have made a royal mess! Please forgive the sad and dis-jointed appearance; with a little patience you can find your way around my site. I'm in the process of working with my system administrator (my daughter the IT professional) and we hope to have everything back in it's proper place in a few days. Meanwhile, keep checking back often. Browse through my sidebar; click on other online affiliations where I exhibit (and sell) my work.

Showtime! A Watercolor Demonstration

Yesterday I traveled to Granbury, Texas...about 60 miles west of my home in Waxahachie. The Lake Granbury Art Association commissioned me to give a watercolor painting demonstration to their membership. I'm always excited to paint before an audience. The interaction during a painting demo .... answering questions and making comments as I paint....is the ultimate in "multi-tasking"!

Through the aid of an overhead mirror, about 30 artists and photographers watched me produce a landacape painting....alla prima (all in one go). The process took me a little over an hour.

In the image below, I'm about 90% through the demonstration at this point.

This photo was taken in the mirror...it looks like I'm right handed; I'm actually a "lefty". Scroll up and look in the photo before this one. Adding texture and shadows across the road....almost through.....

Finishing up with some detail and more contrast in the foreground trees.....

The painting is on 140# cold press Arches watercolor paper that has been permanently mounted to a 11" x 14" masonite panel. Here I am with the finished painting. As is my custom, I surprise the audience with an announcement to place their names in a basket for a drawing....and a lucky person will take the painting home. Giving the painting away always creates a lot of excitement. Next to en plein air, my favorite activity is giving demonstrations and sharing my love for watercolor. I had a lot of fun with the Lake Granbury group and look forward to returning sometime soon!

"Sage-y Lady" - 8" x 10" Watercolor - Plein Air

Although it was 90 degrees by 10am, I couldn't resist painting at our local Farmer's Market today. This old International truck was parked next to the street & loaded down with flowers. The vendor kept coming over & checking my progress and finally, she said: "Ok, how much? I gotta have it". I absolutely LOVE our Saturday Farmer's Market!

Back to work!

Title: Farmer's Market Vendor

Watercolor on 300# Arches paper

The summer has arrived in North Texas; every day is close to 100 by early afternoon. The red truck made a colorful background last weekend at our Farmer's Market in Waxahachie. I painted early before the heat forced me to seek the shelter of my studio. The past couple of days I've been working on a new studio painting. I'll post my progress soon.

My Birthday!

I'm a "firecracker baby".....that's what my folks always called me. I was born on the 4th of July and I was almost 10 years old before I realized that the parades, fireworks, & Bar-b-Ques were celebrating something other than my birthday :)

Anyway, I haven't posted or painted for a few days....family summer-time activities have creeped into my painting schedule..so here's a recent plein aire painting...titled: "Browsing the Sale Table". A festive painting for a festive holiday.

"only" 85 today...just right for plein aire!

I was attracted to the filtered light on the side of this house and the orange-colored bush. The bare branches of a couple of dead trees were in sharp contrast to other trees completely leafed out. "Moving shadows" aren't easy on location; the light was moving really fast..clouds crossing in front of the sun created another challenge. I "shaped" in the shadows & darkest areas first, then concentrated on the highlights & color. Painting completed in about 2-1/2 hours - 300# Arches cold press - 11"x15"

Doin' time at the computer.....

Sunday afternoon is the time I set aside to take care of my "art bizness"; Photograph & upload new paintings, create & print an "inventory sheet" with the digital image, title, size, date created, and an inventory number. Since I paint on a daily basis, I'll have anywhere from 3 to 10 paintings to add to my inventory file. Today, in addition to bringing my inventory file up to date, I've added some visual stuff to this blog such as the slide show, and some website links you may find interesting if you're an artist. Other websites will point you to my home town of Waxahachie. Anyway, as I've mentioned in a previous post, I'm "long on visual & short on verbal"....gotta get back to my "books".

Farmer's Market

TEXAS FARMER - 9" x 13"











Today, I spent a delightful morning in our historic downtown. Every Saturday, we have a Farmers Market on our courthouse square and I make it a point to complete at least one en plein aire painting. There are usually about 15 to 20 vendors that set up to sell locally grown produce. This vendor's tent with the red, white & blue caught my fancy. I noticed while I was painting that I wasn't the only one drawn to the colorful tent....he had a lot of "browsers". So, did I, actually; it's fun when people sort of "creep" up to peek at my work! I always stop painting and engage them in a little conversation....

Another day, another painting

Title: Shed, Wood's Farm - 8" x 10" Plein Aire

This painting is a simple exercise in control; using only 3 primary colors, plus Burnt Sienna and limiting each color/wash application to no more than 3 strokes. The objective was to produce an image with spontaneous, transparent passages. I think I cheated on the strokes at least a dozen times, but I still ended up with a very nice miniature.

Here I go....

I've given in (or given up) and entered the blogging world. My posts will be short on verbal and long on visual. My motivation is to share my progress on a daily basis whether it be a plein aire or studio session. This painting, a 5"x7" watercolor on aquaboard, is my first post...enjoy!