2017 Still Life #15

SOLD!
6"x 4"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Still Life #15
$100.00 to the 1st person to email and ask for it!
Available till 9/2 then the price goes to $225.

This still life is from the Brinton 1704 House in West Chester,
PA.REMINDER: This weekend:

Heart of Lancaster Art and Craft Show

Sept 2nd and 3rd from 10 till 4
at Root's Market in Manheim, PA
Booth 136

free admission!  Rain or shine!

Hope to see you there.

2017 Sunflower #6

SOLD!
4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Sunflower #6
$100.00 to the 1st person to email and ask for it!
Available till 8/31 then the price goes to $225.

I think this is my last sunflower for a while!


UPDATE:
Natures Gifts only 13 prints left in the edition of 200!
Print: 13x9    $45.00
Framed print: 18x14  $85.00
If you want one, email me!


Sunny Side only 4 prints left in the edition of 450!
Print: 9x12   $45.00
Framed Print: 14x18  $85.00
If you want one, email me!

2017 Sunflower #5

SOLD!
4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Sunflower #5
$100.00 to the 1st person to email and ask for it!
Available till 8/30 then the price goes to $225.

This little gem was from our Saturday road trip,
sunflowers at Four Dogs Tavern.

Road Trip...

Saturday was our Road Trip with our friends the Hildebrands. We wanted a local day trip so we explored the Malvern and West Chester area. Linda had it well planned.  We started with breakfast at The Classic Diner in Malvern, PA.  Their breakfast was excellent.  With full bellies we headed to Wharton Esherick Museum for a tour.  Very interesting, the house was tucked back in the middle of the woods and was a work of art by itself.  Mr Esherick was a wood sculptor during the Arts And Crafts period.  While in the studio we saw a photo of a huge fireplace he built and realized we had seen it earlier this year at the Philadelphia Museum of Art not knowing it was his. 
Its interesting how life goes in circles.  I highly recommend a trip to this small museum, there are little hidden gems all over the studio.  You will need reservations.  Who knew it was even there! Then it was time for ice cream at Handles in Berwyn. We all had the 4 scoop sampler! Excellent ice cream and worth the drive, Linda could hardly wait for her favorite flavor key lime pie.  Now off to Historic Sugartown in Malvern.  So it looks very interesting on-line... if you have done a lot of sightseeing this will not be a stop to make. Nice to just drive past. Nothing was really furnished but the grounds and outside buildings were nice.  I managed a few interesting photos to paint from their general store.  They did have a nice collection of wagons and sleighs.  We played tourist and climbed in for a photo!

Now on to Brinton 1704 House  in West Chester.  I found this a wonderful restored and furnished home and I took lots of photos.  Here the house was interesting but not much on the grounds. We all liked it and was a fast one hour tour and we were the only ones there.  So it is now after 5PM and we are ready for dinner at Four Dogs Tavern.  We have had lunch here before and the meals are very good.  That was it for our road trip day and I must say we packed a lot into the day.  Home by 8:30PM!

Sunday I spent the day working on my bikes while Linda read. This is our last free weekend for eight weeks so we took full advantage of our free time.  Make sure you check my show schedule so you can catch me at a show!
This weekend:

Heart of Lancaster Art and Craft Show

Sept 2nd and 3rd from 10 till 4
at Root's Market in Manheim, PA
Booth 136

free admission!  Rain or shine.  

Hope to see you there.

2017 Sunflower #4

SOLD!
4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Sunflower #4  
$100.00 to the 1st person to email and ask for it!
Available till 8/26 then the price goes to $225.

I was informed that the sunflowers I brought home this week were a different variety.  They are a totally different shade than last weeks.  Just an observation!  Check out the glass on the vase...

Paper Review:
This review may be a bit technical for my clients however other artists will understand.  I promised to publish a review on my blog so here goes!  I was asked by the Hahnemuhle Company (a German Paper Company) to try their watercolor paper and write a review.   They sent me a free block of 280 lb mould-made watercolor paper.  Acid free, age resistant, surface sized, natural white, matt, 100% cotton rag paper.  This painting is the 3rd one I painted on their Leonardo Paper.  On 6/28 I painted France #14 and on 7/5 I painted France #15, so two landscapes and this still life.

The paper responded well to my pencil drawing, I needed it to erase well and not leave ghost marks.  Next is my  first washes of color, underpainting.  The wash flowed freely and evenly.   I was able to blend back into the existing wash of color with very little value break.  The texture of this paper is somewhere between cold press and hot press.  The deckle not as deep as I am used to in my 300lb paper.  Originally I thought the paper best suited wet-on-wet painters better however by my third painting I understood how the paper accepted my washes.  There was a little learning curve, none that showed in the finished paintings but in the way I handled the paint to paper.   I must admit by my 3rd painting I liked the way my round brush flowed across the surface.  Color registration and saturation was nearly perfect and I was able to build color and dry washes without lifting or pulling the surface. I was able to create my textures without worrying about losing them in the paper and most of my dry brush work resonated the realism that I demand of my work.   I have found that even when a watercolor painting is finished I need to wait about 8 hours for it to completely dry, this is when it becomes a real painting.  With good paper, the paint homogenizes or knits as the paper dries and the color settles into the furrows of the paper.

Leonardo paper passed my test!  I would continue to use it.  Thank you Hahnemuhle for the opportunity to try your paper.

2017 Sunflower #3

SOLD!
4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Sunflower #3   
$100.00 to the 1st person to email and ask
for it!  Available till 8/25 then the price goes to $225.

I go to our local market every Tuesday and I have
been getting Linda beautiful sunflowers.  In return
she asks that I paint them!

Finished painting...

Yosemite Moon ~ 17x21"  Original Watercolor
A huge THANK YOU to a good friend Dr. John McCormack for the use of his wonderful photograph.  I love the moon and this just moved me.

 Today Linda and I set up a small display at RLPS Architects on the Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA

This is the second time I have been asked to hang in their beautiful building.

In the news...

I have two nice updates to share...
This past weekend at the Mount Gretna Art Show I was  1 of 30  Judges Choice Awards out of several hundred fantastic artists.  Linda did a little research and I have been exhibiting at Mount Gretna since 1981 and missed only two years and this is my first award!  This is an excellent show and I am very honored.

The next bit of news: Last year I painted a house in Mount Gretna for a client as a Christmas gift. This year that painting was featured on the cover of the Annual Tour of Homes.

Watercolor Classes

2017 Watercolor classes with Andy Smith
email to sign up!
September Classes:
9/5, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26
Tuesday Mornings Advance class ~ 9:30-11:30am
Tuesday Evenings all levels class ~ 7-9pm

9/6, 9/13, 9/20, 9/27
Wednesday Morning all levels class ~ 9:30-11:30am
Wednesday Evenings all levels class ~ 7-9pm

October Classes:
10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24
Tuesday Morning Advance Class: 9:30-11:30am
Tuesday Evening all levels Class: 7-9pm

10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25
Wednesday Morning all levels Class: 9:30-11:30am
Wednesday Evening all levels Class: 7-9pm


A limit of 8 students per class, bring your own supplies.
$65 per month
OR $60 if you take 2 months in a row.
NO Prorated class - take all 4   
OR
$20 "drop in" fee per class.

Everyone works on their own subject at their own
pace with my guidance!  New to watercolor
students will start with fruit the first class to
understand shape, texture and light.
Classes are laid-back, offering  demonstrations,
gentle critique, chit-chat, coffee/tea and
some music.

Two new original paintings...

I finished two 14x18 paintings in time to take to the Mount Gretna Show this coming weekend.

2017 Pink Roses ~ $875.
This painting screams France.  The steps just take you right up to the blue door.  I like that the cold stone is softened by the roses.

2017 Five Geraniums ~ $875.
Another French scene, a window from the chateau we stayed in.

This weekend I will be exhibiting at the
Mount Gretna Art Show.
This is a great quality show with variety!
Rt. 117, Mt Gretna, PA

Sat. 8/19 from 9 to 6 and Sun. 8/20 from 9 to 5
rain or shine!   My booth is #227

2017 Sunflower #2

sold
4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Sunflower #2    $250 

My second sunflower...

2017 Sunflower #1

4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Sunflower #1  $250 

We have been driving past fields of sunflowers so
Linda requested I paint a few.

This Saturday is the BIG Lititz Craft Show.
My booth is on the square, in front of the Sutter
Courtyard.  Rain or Shine!!

2017 Still Life #14

SOLD!
4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Still Life #14

$125. unframed  (Value: $250) 

Available to the 1st person to email before 8/3

To honor my upcoming show at the Shaker Village
here is a window from Pleasant Hill.


The Show:
Aug. 5-6 from 9:30 to 5 ~ rain or shine(a bridge is out on rt 68 so check your directions)