Rooster by Homer Rail on Aquabord

"Rooster" by Homer Rail of Placerville California

I recently taught 3 Aquabord Classes where students learned techniques for painting watercolors on Aquabord. Aquabord is a clay surface on hardboard created for water media. Once it is painted you spray it with Acrylic Gloss Varnish (I us Golden) and the painting does not need to be framed under glass.

The students chose their subjects, and designed their compositions so the variety of paintings was great fun for me to see. The class was only 4 hours, enough to get everyone going on the Aquabord, but only a couple of students actually finished their paintings. I asked them all to email a photo of their completed paintings so I could see them when they were done. This is the first photo I have received.


Homer's subject was perfect for Aquabord which has a tendency toward vibrant bold colors. This rooster is really strutting his stuff and Homer did a terrific job of using the clay surface to create the bright feathers, he put the color down boldly and lifted where needed to model the feathers and shape the rooster. I like the subtle shadow and grass too. Great job Homer!

OK, now where are the photos from the rest of you???????

Seven people have requested that I teach another of these Aquabord afternoon classes this summer, so I have scheduled one for Saturday July 18 at University Art Center in Sacramento from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Please contact me (not University Art Center) if you wish to enroll in that class.

Spring has Sprung in the Loomis Basin

Spring has sprung in the Loomis Basin and it is beautiful! The late spring rains brought forth a bounty of flowers as you can see in this photo. (Our home is almost hidden by the spring growth!)

"April showers bring May flowers," and the perfect time for the artists of the Loomis Basin to open their studios and show the public what we have been creating all winter.

The sixth annual Loomis Art Loop Studio Tour will take place on Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10, 2009, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm both days. Sunday is Mother's Day, so treat Mom, (or ask your kids to treat you!) to this wonderful art studio tour.

New at my studio this year: One stop, Two Artists! Julie Hirota will be joining me here at my home studio showing her contemporary textile murals and demonstrating her techniques. I will be showing my newest work, and have some older pieces sale priced. My demonstration this year will be watercolor painting on Aquabord, a clay coated hardboard that does not need to be framed under glass.

Here's a sneak peek




"Bali High"
watercolor on Aquabord

Sandy Delehanty

I will be demonstrating my techniques for painting watercolor on Aquabord.

"Reflections"

by Julie Hirota

Textile Mural


Julie will be demonstrating her textile techniques for our visitors.


To download your free Studio Tour Map and view photos and biographies of all 12 artists on the studio tour visit this website ttp://www.loomisartlooop.com. Hope to see you Saturday May 9 or Mother's Day May 10.

Sandy and Julie

Iris Painting in Progress

April is a beautiful time here in the foothills; so many flowers, shrubs and trees are in bloom. I don't think a single April has gone by in the last 15 years that I did not paint at least one painting of an iris.

I posted this painting in progress because I wanted to remind my students that this week is the "PAINTING WATERCOLORS BACKWARDS" class where our subject is Iris. So what is so backwards about this painting?

Traditionally watercolors are painted by starting with the light values, and working in layers to achieve the dark values. In the technique I am applying here, I start with the dark values. Then I work backwards, towards the mid and light values using various lifting methods. Its really fun, and makes you pay attention to values. This painting is on Aquabord and will be part of my demonstration; but I will also be demonstrating on stretched 140 lb Arches ROUGH watercolor paper.

There is space in Thursdays (April 16) class which meets from 1:00pm - 5:00pm at the Sacramento Fine Art Center, located at 5330-B Gibbons Drive in Carmichael, California. Call me at (916) 652-4624 to sign up and learn what you need to bring to class. Fee $40.00.