Through The Mist

I haven't painted in a while because I was too busy creating how-to courses. Decided today was time to paint again. It was great getting back in the painting groove and doing something really loose and semi-abstract. I am working on being more abstract with my landscapes. I always admire the work of artists who paint interesting abstract landscapes - something I wish I was better at. Well, it makes life interesting when you make your craft a continual learning experience.

Reflections On Water

My latest Youtube video on how to paint reflections on water.  I do a different demonstration every two weeks, so if anyone is interested, please subscribe to my Youtube channel to be notified when new videos are uploaded. I had fun doing this. I used my favorite Saunders Waterford cold pressed paper and just three colors, raw sienna, burnt sienna and Paynes grey.

Painting a Fall Scene Demo

I recently did a Youtube how-to video on painting a simple Fall scene.  It was basically an exercise in choosing colors for a larger painting and how to keep your paintings loose. Hope you enjoy it, and if you do, please subscribe to my channel where you will get regular demonstrations on all things watercolor.

Blue Vision

I like to simplify my paintings and nearly always work wet-in-wet. I like the soft look it creates. I live in the seaside town of Sausalito CA, and the surrounding landscapes are an endless inspiration for my watercolors. We have the bay on one side and the mountains on the other - not to mention the redwood forests and nearby marshes. I am inspired by all of this, but at the same time like to put my own interpretation on what I see, sometimes changing the colors and other times using materials to stretch the boundaries of my watercolors.

Monochrome Landscape

I paint most of my watercolors from imagination but I am influenced by the landscape around me. Every afternoon I take my dogs for a walk on the trail above where I live in Sausalito CA. Everything is already starting to turn brown even though we are not into Fall yet. I guess this is what I had in mind when painting this watercolor. Couldn't think up a better title so I'd love to hear some better suggestions.

I went out of my comfort zone to see if I could pull off painting a sunflower wet-in-wet. I probably chose one of the most difficult flowers to paint in this style. I filmed the process and have posted it on my Youtube channel for anyone who is interested. The colors I used were, winsor yellow, new gamboge, perylene green, perylen violet and a little transparent pyrrole orange - all Daniel Smith colors except for the winsor yellow. I enjoyed the experience and think I will continue practicing florals wet-in-wet.

Storm Over The Marsh

Another wet-in-wet watercolor inspired by World Watercolor Month. I love to paint the marshes in different lights. I used only three colors for this watercolor, raw sienna, burnt sienna and neutral tint. I find the neutral tint mixed with burnt sienna makes a lovely rich dark.

Through The Haze

Working on my wet-in-wet skills and trying to loosen up and create more of an abstract landscape. I quite liked the effect of this one. I actually used neutral tint and raw sienna for the sky and raw sienna, indigo and burnt umber for the land area. It's World Watercolor Month this month so I feel compelled to paint more watercolors to celebrate.

Setting Sun

I'm doing a series on Youtube about color choices for beginners. Last week's video was about the reds I use. I did a demonstration on painting a sunset with a few different reds. It wasn't intended for it to be a finished painting, but I liked how it was going, so I finished it up off camera and posted it on my web site.

Stormy Sky

I am in the process of creating a new video course on how to paint dramatic skies. This is the painting that I am demonstrating. I am quite pleased with how it came out. I was going to add some distant trees on the right but decided against it at the last minute. Still not sure if that was the right decision. Would love some opinions on this.

Evening Glow

Painted this quick demo as part of my latest Youtube video on watercolor choices for beginners. Anyone interested can find the video at at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeoS4QBSfWc

You tube demonstration on creating textures in watercolor

I've been doing a series of videos on Youtube on how to create textures in watercolor. This is #4 in the series. To watch the others go to my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDD3LH45Pom4Ivx4OmugxTQ?view_as=subscriber and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future how-to demonstrations. Enjoy!

Painting Mist in Watercolors - FREE class

I've created this free short video on my Teachable page for anyone who wants to  learn how to paint mist in watercolors - even if you are a beginner. It's very easy to follow using a technique I learned many years ago. Signup and enjoy at http://watercolor-painting.teachable.com/courses/painting-mist-in-watercolors

Here is what one of my students, Michael Mitchel produced using the same colors I did but getting completely different results. I love how each artist has their own interpretation of a subject and how their own style shines through.

Wild Grasses

Experimenting with different textures. For the orange background I used a netting material that I bought at a fabric store and in the foreground I dribbled granulation medium over sepia ink. Colors are Daniel Smith's quinacridone burnt orange and prussian green and Winsor & Newton's raw sienna for the sky area. Size: 10" x 8". http://www.jeanlurssen.com/

Landscape Patterns

More experimenting with color and textures. I am pleased with this one. The colors worked out well together. I used Daniel Smith's perrylene violet, quinacridone gold and permanent brown (which is actually a very nice reddish color). For the trees I used burnt umber acrylic ink. When you experiment sometimes the colors don't quite work well together, or are too bright or dull or end up being muddy. I threw three in the trash before coming up with this one.

Brooding Sky

We have had some pretty stormy weather lately which inspired this watercolor. I used only three colors - burnt sienna, indigo and French ultramarine. Every now and then I am really pleased with a painting and don't nitpick about what I could have done better and this is one that I am rather pleased with. I also recently revamped my web site - after using wordpress for many years I decided to make the change-over to Squarespace with a more modern look. If you are interested in seeing my new site please click on this link.

Desert Sunset

Back to glazing again. I love painting layers and layers of thin watercolors to create a glowing effect. I also love painting sunsets, which lend themselves to this layering effect. I used new gamboge, transparent pyrrol orange and a new color for me, permanent brown, all of these are Daniel Smith colors. Permanent brown is actually a lovely deep red color. I painted this on Saunders Waterford cold pressed 140lb paper. I really love the way this paper takes color.

Solitude

This is a place in Cumbria, England called Grange Over Sands. The photo below is courtesy of a cousin. I liked the peaceful scene but wanted to change the colors to create a more atmospheric feeling to the place. Hope I achieved this. Artistic license is a liberating feeling.

Dreamscape II

First painting of the new year. Feeling inspired. Trying out new colors and textures - having fun. Painting is great therapy. It's my way to relax.  Just wish I was better at coming up with good titles for my paintings. Something I need to work on this year. For the trees in this watercolor I used transparent red oxide and for the grays in the foreground I used cobalt blue + aureolin yellow + rose madder genuine. I am pleased with the results. Trying to keep my watercolors loose.