Sycamore Tree

Sycamore Tree
Original Watercolor Painting
18" x 24"

I spotted this tree while on a trip to Urbana, IL. I just loved the way the bark peeled of and left these beautiful images on the trunk. I hope I did it justice.

How to Critique a Painting

I got the following article from About.com's Painting forum and thought I would share it with you:

It can be tough knowing what to say when a friend asks you what you think about their latest painting or to give a critique. But there are some things you should never say if you value your friendship.

1. What is it? (You're supposed to know and if you can't tell, keep it to yourself as it might not be intended to be a representation of an object.)

2. Do you paint like this because you don't know how to paint real things? (The belief that realism is the only valid form of painting was discredited over a century ago.)

3. Why don't you use more paint? Why did you use so much [insert color]? (It's meant to be the way it is, they didn't run out of paint or accidentally use too much of a particular color.)

4. It looks so real, did you trace it? (You're implying they cheated. It reduces what they've done to a colored-in drawing.)

5. Why didn't you just take a photo? (Because then they'd be a photographer, not a painter.)

6. My sister or brother or mother or father or second-cousin-twice-removed also paints and their things are very beautiful. (No-one wants to be compared to a stranger.)

7. the colors will match the curtains in my living room nicely. (The context of your conversation is art, not home decorating.)

8. Can you do me one like this in [insert color]? (They're not an artist in a sweat-shop churning out copies of paintings. Every painting is an original.)

9. Show it to me again when it's finished. What are you still planning to do with it? (Always assume it is finished unless you've been specifically told otherwise.)

10. Nothing at all. (No reactions is worse than a bad reaction. Practice a neutral comment such as "It's not really my kind of thing, but it looks like you had fun painting it" or It's not really my kind of thing, but I can see why you'd be pleased with it.")

Saying something nice about a painting rather than finding fault or giving 'helpful' suggestions doesn't mean you haven't looked properly nor that you're ignorant about art nor unsophisticated. Ill-considered comments can be hurtful in ways you never intended. the person showing you their paintings is showing you something that's important to them, that they've spent time creating. Be happy for them that they're enjoying what they're doing, even if you don't like the result.

Exhibition at Gallery at Ninety Seven

I'll be exhibiting 7 of my paintings at:
Gallery at Ninety Seven
97 N. Paint Street
Chillicothe, OH
6p-9p

One of my paintings that will be on display there is:
Pumpkins
Original Watercolor Painting

What I'm doing today...

Getting ready for my show in Chillicothe in August...just bought the frames. Now to assemble them...

Updated Blog

I just updated my blog so it more closely resembles my website. Let me know what you think!

Black Hollyhocks II

Black Hollyhocks II
Original Watercolor Painting

This is another from the series of hollyhocks I painted in my new home in Little Rock, AR. When I saw these beauties growing in my neighbor's yard. This was the first time I had ever seen them up close. Of course I ran back to the house, grabbed my camera, and began taking reference photos so I wouldn't lose a bloom.
This painting is the result of that experience.

Blue Iris

Blue Iris
Original Watercolor Painting

Assorted Vegetables

Assorted Vegetables
Original Watercolor Painting

I Can't Paint Wallpaper!

I Can't Paint Wallpaper!
Original Watercolor Painting

A customer came into my booth at a local art fair and couldn’t decide on which painting she wanted. After some thought, she asked if I do commissions. Of course, I
responded. She then brought out a swatch of wallpaper from her kitchen and asked me to paint a picture using it as my inspiration. Apparently, I didn't make my painting as dull and washed out looking as her swatch, so the sale obviously fell through. But at least now you know how I got the name for this one!

Black Hollyhocks

Black Hollyhocks
Original Watercolor Painting

I had just moved to my new home in Little Rock, AR and saw these beauties growing in my neighbor's yard. This was the first time I had ever seen them up close. Of course I ran back to the house, grabbed my camera, and began taking reference photos so I wouldn't lose a bloom. This painting... is the result of that experience.

New Watercolor Painting

Apples on a Branch
Original Watercolor Painting

For more information regarding this or any other painting, please visit: www.maryannawelch.com.

Abstraction #2

Abstraction #2
Original Watercolor Painting

I was fooling around and tried to paint a flower with out drawing it out in pencil first. This was the happy result that occurred. Although it doesn't resemble the model, I was pleasantly surprised on how it turned out.

Three Black-Eyed Susans

This is an original watercolor painting: Three Black-Eyed Susans. I found these beauties while on a walk in my neighborhood. If you want further information, please Click here.

Peas in a Pod

Original Watercolor Painting. To find out more about this painting: Click Here.

My daughter Stephanie and I decided to grow peas for the first time. After picking the pods, she kept asking me where the peas were. They didn't look like the kind we get from the grocery store. As I opened up the pod, her face lit up and she told me that they looked like the...y were having a slumber party in there and we needed to wake them up. By the way, they were really tasty!

Going to Art and Soul by Phoebe in Muncie, IN with my best bud Barb to change out my paintings for next month's show: Coco gets Married!

Western Ohio Watercolor Painting Spring Show

Purple Sunflowers in an Alien Field, Original Watercolor Painting

This painting was done while I was experimenting with color. I deliberately chose not to paint it traditionally. Instead I looked for the colors in the shadows and used those hues to paint with. The painting was so far from what I usually do, the name "Purple Flowers in an Alien Field" seemed appropriate.

This painting made it in to the Western Ohio Watercolor show this weekend at the Town and Country Mall in Kettering.

What I'm doing today...

Going to the Cannery to change out my paintings for next month's First Friday show.

Exhibiting at Art and Soul by Phoebe

I'm exhibiting 5 paintings at Art and Soul by Phoebe in Muncie, IN.

Art and Soul by Phoebe Gallery
409 South Walnut Street
Muncie, IN 47305
For more information call: 765-288-0005

Opening night is Thursday May 6th, 5 pm to 9pm.

One of the paintings you'll see is "Waterlilies"

Waterlilies
18" x 24" Original Watercolor Painting

Chicago

Went on a vacation to Chicago and got some new ideas for paintings. Stop by and see what I'm up to!

My website

I tweaked the website and hopefully have improved it. Let me know what you think.

www.maryannawelch.com

New Work

I just posted these two new paintings to my website. Check them out!

Yellow Tulips

Blue Irises

Facebook

I'm am now on Facebook! What an experience...come friend me!

Works on Paper Exhibition

My watercolor painting, "Snowdrops in Purple" has been accepted to be in the Works on Paper Exhibition at Rosewood Art Gallery. The Juror was Laura Kuenzli, owner of Rivet Gallery in Columbus, OH. The gallery is located at: 2655 Olson Drive in Kettering, OH. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2010, from 2 to 4 p.m. All artists and the public are invited to attend. United Art and Education Awards are presented at 3 p.m. For more information, please call: (937) 296-0294. Hope to see you there!

Art Exhibit at Art and Soul by Phoebe

I'll be exhibiting 5 of my watercolor paintings at :

Art and Soul by Phoebe Gallery
409 South Walnut Street
Muncie, IN 47305
For more information call: 765-288-0005

Opening night is Thursday February 5th, 5 pm to 9pm.