Woman in Scarf

"Woman in Scarf"  (Watercolor), C. Eastwood © 2014

I don't usually post a picture before I'm sure it's completed -- but I was so pleased with the results so far (and I haven't decided if I want to mess with it or not) that I wanted to put this one up.  (The poor lady doesn't even have a name yet.)  I just finished taking a three-day workshop with Fealing Lin @ Catalyst and this is from the class.  It's such a major departure in style for me.  I really like the effect and will try to incorporate more of what I learned as I go forward.  I hope you enjoy.

UPDATE:  So I decided she was done and she is simply, "Woman in Scarf."   And I still hope you enjoy!  Mar. 8, 2015

It Takes Two

"It Takes Two"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, © 2014

For whatever reason -- maybe it's all the dancing shows on television -- I had a desire to try painting a couple dancing.  And if I'm going to paint two people, well, it almost has to be the tango, n'est-ce pas?  I'm trying some new techniques with this painting, allowing the shadows to have sharp edges (something I don't generally do).  It was definitely an interesting exercise since there were two people and I not only had to get each one sketched in a fashion that made sense and was recognizable, but they also had to relate to one another in size.  (It's good to challenge yourself!!)  I hope you enjoy it.

(detail)

October Morning

"October Morning"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, © 2014

For those of you who follow this blog, you know that I don't generally do a lot of landscapes.  But I was going through some of my photos and ran across this one that I took last year at this time when we were in Calistoga for a family wedding. The mornings were crisp and a ground fog shrouded the fields as the morning sun came up.  It was so tranquil and almost other-worldly.  I was trying to capture that feeling in this landscape -- to share the golden hazy light that blanketed the field across from us, revealing only glimpses into the distance.

Twilight Waves

"Twilight Waves"  (Watercolor, 8"x10")  C. Eastwood,  © 2014

This is based on a photo that I took at dusk while standing out on the pier in Newport Beach, CA, and looking down the coast to the next one.  I'm trying to capture that moment when there is still enough light to see, but with darkness being imminent.  It's amazing how quickly everything changes moment to moment.

Winter Waves

"Winter Waves"  (Watercolor, 8"x10")  C. Eastwood, © 2014

This is from a photo I took in January 2013 at Newport Beach, CA, near the pier.  It was a bright, sunny day with lots of wind, and the surf was up.  We were actually killing some time and getting in a last little bit of sight-seeing with our friends before driving them to the airport for their return flight home to Kiel, Germany.  They were delighted and snapped lots of pics to show friends back home and help perpetuate the myth of the weather here in Southern California!

Fried Egg Poppy

"Fried Egg Poppy"  (Watercolor, 8"x10")    C. Eastwood, © 2014

The first time I saw one of these, it stopped me in my tracks.  There's something delightfully fun about this huge, frilly poppy that looks like a giant fried egg.  So when it came time to make a painting for the 7th Annual Daisy Miracle Benefit (http://www.daisymiracle.com) which supports the UCSD Neonatal Intensive Care Unit -- this was it.  For the last couple of years, I've painted pictures of little girls, and I just felt like it was time to change it up a bit.  Et voila!  This is my fourth year donating art and I am so pleased to be able to contribute to this very worthwhile cause.  I hope you'll visit the website and read about Miss Daisy and the legacy she leaves behind.

Simple Succulents

"Simple Succulents"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, © 2014

I read a decorating article just the other day that declared "grout is out!"  Who knew!?  But that makes this even more fun because this painting was actually done for the purpose of floating it in a clear acrylic frame and placing it as the back-splash over a kitchen sink.  (And that was before I read the article.  I feel so smart!)  The goal was to create a pop of color for a kitchen that has white cabinets and a subdued palette of neutrals on the counters and walls.   When my daughter-in-law and I began discussing what to do with that area, the discussion eventually morphed to putting a painting up.  She loved the idea and so I set to work painting one of her favorite plant types -- succulents -- for the kitchen wall.  It's about to go to its new home and I hope to add a photo when it's in place.