Flowering Cactus

Flowering Cactus 

Water Color 10" X 7"

Here is the first piece complete on my missing to complete one piece or art each week this year.  The actual flower was mainly white with just a stripe of pink on the petals, so this piece enhanced the color without making a brilliantly colored flower.
To view this piece without the watermark you can go to Fine art America and check it out there.  I'm sure that I will repaint this piece at another time, just to see what else I can pull from it.   I will be working more in water color to see how much I can improve this year in this medium, I tend to paint very light in color. 


Available for sale @ http://fineartamerica.com/featured/flowering-cactus-dawn-marie-black.html?newartwork=true

Silhouette Cactus

Silhouette Cactus (9" x 12")

Acrylic Airbrush on Canvas Panel

I planned to create this as a Christmas present, but it took more time than first anticipated.  I used multiple acrylic paints on this piece, including Galleria and Lascaux.  My preference are the Lascaux paints, but a deeper red was needed than what was available in my selection of Lascaux paints.I only have a small starter set, in order to determine if I like them, which I found that I do.

The back ground texture was added into this piece to reflect the needles on the cactus.  The bright highlights were the last detail that were not originally planned on, but were needed to make it complete.

Soft Pastels

 

"Cactus Bloom" in Soft Pastel (13x20)

This Cactus Bloom was inspired in part by my cousin's art.  He does fantastic pastels, and I thought I would give them a try.  I have another that I am in the process on, but I'm a bit stuck for the moment.
I changed the back ground on this one multiple times trying to get it the cactus to stand out the way I wanted.
My next is a compilation of three white flowers, which I am very excited about.  I'm just looking to add in the depth and interest that will express what I'm seeing.

"Huntington Beach" in Soft Pastel (12.5 x 17)

This is the first soft pastel I completed.  I wanted a very loose and arity feeling to come through for this beach scene.  I think for my first piece it turned out well, I have been planning to do another of this scene to show some more of the depth.

Here is a link to Brian & Jennifer Thornton's web page, she has also posted some lovely pieces.
He inspires me to do better everytime I see his work. 
http://homepage.mac.com/uwblt/Menu7.html