I see beauty in a dark winter sky. 
I start by toning the paper with soft pastel. A quick rub with tissue to indicate some shapes. Winter pines with soft blurred contours is created with charcoal. Touches of pink with color pencil is all I need to indicate the horizon.
Revisiting & experimenting with icons & texture. Photoshop allows me to try out a few variations fairly quickly.
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| WIP |
Beauty in the simple... Let's see how far I get 
A little corner house on Main St was the inspiration for this Cottage Garden Collection.
Initial doodling & sketches...
With so many details, I can work up complimentary designs for use on multiple products. |
| circular format for coaster |
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| a pretty card for any occasion |
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| same arbor, with a different background |
I love botanical for its own sake. This little white Ranunculus from last week is the inspiration for a little brainstorming on the computer this Monday.
Different elements are layer onto the little painting to create a new design. These 2 butterflies are on separate layers. As seperate layers, I'm able to freely play with the arrangement & position of them in my composition... till I found a combination that works. |
| working up some hand lettering |
Some mornings, I can work up an entire new collection. Other mornings, I can't make anything happen on the computer.
Each season brings its own beauty & inspirations. Familiar winter view from my studio. A typical snowy scene of the Catskill Mountain.
The cardinal & reindeer are elements of the Holiday Season. With a few basic Photoshop tricks...
I have another new design to add to my Winter Collection.
My training in illustration gives me the skill to paint anything in a realistic way, in the comfort of my studio.
I also enjoy my detours into artistic investigation with landscapes. With each canvas, one sought to capture one glorious inspirational moment. |
| en plein air from my garden |
My horse reference came from my visits to ROSEMARY FARM, a local horse sanctuary that's in my backyard.
The best part of photoshop is that I can combine my fine art onto my illustrations. I can create as many new designs as I want from a few vignettes. Click HERE, to see more equestrian designs from one painted horse.
Pursuing landscape in saturated tones to express the sweeping expanse of sky outside my window! |
| Start of with Blue pastel paper for a blue nocturne |
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| A few strokes of colors to indicate the sunset |
Another morning of trying to capture the light & atmosphere.
Seeing a lot of cadmium orange around the studio this week...
I think I can use the leftover paint for pumpkins too!
Came to Photoshop very late in my career. It took forever to learn. Since then, I dont remember the last time I actually complete an illustration. By not fuzzing over one single painting which could take up to a month to finish, I can dream up many variations working with a few images.
It always starts with a sketch. This seaside cottage sketch came from Noank, CT.
The sky & water is from my archive. I've been painting forever, so there are tons of painting I can use.
I started this with watercolor, but the ethereal watercolor just can not express the colorful garden. An impressionist painting can come together pretty fast.
I then pulled some sailboats from another painting, just need to seperate it from the original.
Layer on a flag...
Viola! A new design for my Summer Collection. For someone who cant seem to stay focus on finishing a painting, the magic of photoshop is a real blessing.
