Watercolors

I am always trying new media, usually by choice. One media I had always avoided were watercolors. I could never get them to do anything interesting. It just so happened that while I was pursuing teacher certification in Art at Eastern Michigan University, the only class that was available to me was watercolor painting, so I had little choice in the matter. Mr. Igor Beginin was my instructor, a mature gentleman who was retiring right after that very semester. The techniques he taught me were difficult and frustrating, but once I mastered some of the basics, I was really able to take off from there and learn some things on my own. I was very fortunate to have had a teacher that had been painting for so many years. After taking this class, I must say that watercolor now rates as one of my top five favorite media for expression of my ideas. It has truly changed my artistic direction.

During the school year of 2003-2004, I had the opportunity to teach watercolor painting to ten students in my high school art classes. It was a very enjoyable experience and I was able to help them achieve the results they desired. I led them along a similar path as I traveled when studying under Mr. Beginin, teaching them the important basic techniques before starting a final project.

All watercolors pictured below are approximately 20 X 28" large unless otherwise indicated.

Frank and the Toads of the Short Forest, 1-4-07

Untitled Abstract, 7-18-06

watercolor abstract 7-18-06 top.jpg (173658 bytes)

watercolor abstract 7-18-06 tree closeup.jpg (140666 bytes)

watercolor abstract 7-18-06 eye closeup.jpg (154538 bytes)

Eye on the Horizon, 7-15-06

eye on the horizon watercolor eye closeup.jpg (135428 bytes)

eye on the horizon watercolor landscape closeup.jpg (143222 bytes)

eye on the horizon watercolor spheres closeup.jpg (147514 bytes)

eye on the horizon watercolor top design closeup.jpg (161606 bytes)

The Elusive Sleep, 7-12-06

watercolor elusive sleep lower design closeup.jpg (157845 bytes)

watercolor elusive sleep top ball closeup.jpg (137645 bytes)

watercolor elusive sleep upper design closeup.jpg (143902 bytes)

Mantis Watercolor, 8-23-05

stamens and pistil closeup 2.jpg (115505 bytes)

Personal Mandala, 2004

Having taught geometry for three years, I learned about geometric constructions. This inspired me to design a unit that combined math and art, with the ultimate product being a personal mandala. Click here to view the activities in the unit and pictures of some of the student-created mandalas on the Art Plans Level 2 Page. I was so inspired after teaching this unit and seeing the student's work that I couldn't wait to paint my own personal mandala, shown below. Inside the central circle is the Sri Yantra.

mandalasriyantrasundetail.jpg (78830 bytes)

mandalasriyantratriangledetail.jpg (76728 bytes)

frog and mushroom watercolor.jpg (75775 bytes)

Frog Fantasy Scape I, 2001

frog and mushroom cross-section watercolor.jpg (133632 bytes)

frog and mushroom cross-section watercolor closeup.jpg (105929 bytes)

Frog Fantasy Scape II Cross-section and close-up detail, 2002

frog vegetanimal outer space watercolor flash.jpg (124915 bytes)

frog vegetanimal vegetanimal closeup.jpg (117385 bytes)

frog vegetanimal eye and tentacle closeup.jpg (108972 bytes)

frog vegetanimal eye and tentacle closeup horizontal.jpg (92538 bytes)

frog vegetanimal frog closeup.jpg (94797 bytes)

frog vegetanimal bottom closeup.jpg (121962 bytes)

Frog Fantasy Scape III Featuring Frank and the Vegetanimal from Outer Space, 1-4-2006

Vase with Flowers, 2001	Sun, 2000	Mermaid, 2002
Bioswirl I, 2000	Bioswirl II, 2001	Triangle Eye, 2000
Bird, 2001	Eclipse, 2002 (design later used on roof of art car)	Horizontal Bands, 2000
Untitled, 2001	Calculated Music, 2000 (enlarged view of calculator circuitboard and cd player lens)	Untitled, 2001
Mushroom graded washes, 2000 14 X 20"		Abstract Letters of My Name, 2000 14 X 20"