Things Found....By Accident

Today's post is my submission for 'Things Found....By Accident,' which is one of The Sketchbook Project's free projects.  The description of the project is quoted below, followed by my submission.

"The Things Found Series is a new photography series that encourages participants to capture an image of a common space. This week, we’re challenging artists to find something amazing by accident. On your way to work, while sitting at a coffee shop, or maybe on an adventure. Photograph something that strikes you that you may never have noticed."

Church St. - San Francisco

Shoebill Don't Bother Me

I don't remember exactly how I found out about the Shoebill, but I thought it was so interesting looking that I had to make a drawing of one.  The following small piece was completed using a combination of watercolor and color pencil.

2.5" x 3.5" CP Watercolor Artist Trading Card

Watercolor Shallot Study

Happy New Year!

The following painting of a shallot was done with watercolor on hot press watercolor paper.  I love shallots, especially with green beans and butter.  Yum!

Narcissus Geometric Tiling Pattern

I set out to create a geometric tiling pattern based on the Narcissus flower and the following is the result.  This is just a small view of what could be a much larger area.

gouache on hotpress watercolor paper

How-to Draw the 'Ovato Tando"

I recently learned that there is a subtle difference between an 'oval' and an 'ellipse.'  For the purposes of drawing, an oval is easily drawn with a compass while drawing an ellipse is a little more difficult.

The following are step-by-step instructions to draw the 'Ovato Tando', which I was told was the basis for the design of the Colosseum in Rome.

This method was taught to me by Mark A. Reynolds, instructor of 'Sacred Geometry' at the Academy of Art University

Landscape Painting - Tennessee Valley

The following painting was started during a class field-trip to Tennessee Valley.  It was completed in the studio as it was so foggy and cold that day we had to leave earl, however I love the atmosphere of a foggy day!

9" x 12" - oil on canvas board

Geometric Floral Mandala

Now that the San Francisco Giants have secured their 2nd World Series Title in 3 years, it is time to return to the real world and things other than baseball.....after the parade tomorrow.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a mandala that was created for 'Sacred Geometry.'  It is a geometric interpretation of a passion flower, the image of which I have included below along with the mandala.

It was created using a compass, straight-edge and pencil then colored with watercolor washes and watercolor pencils on Fabriano Artistico HP paper.