Saturday, October 31, 2009

"Beth and Billie: A Radio Flyer Day"














©Becky Brocato
"Beth and Billie: A Radio Flyer Day"
9" x 12"
Watercolor on Arches 300 CP

This commission is complete and has been presented to the family. I painted the kids using a photo taken when they were little. And the background was composed from one of my photos that I took of a pretty country road a few years ago. They are very pleased with how it turned out. The mom had this to say about the new painting, which will hang over their fireplace:

"This was one of my favorite photos of the kids when they were young; unfortunately the background was a dirty garage. The painting captures the kids perfectly and now they are surrounded by a scenic background. I smile every time I look at it!"

Thank you, Sherry and Paul, for entrusting me with this wonderful little moment in Beth and Billie's young lives!

By the way, blog readers, if you were going to have a painting done of a family member, would you prefer a formal portrait or a slice-of-life painting? Just curious.

Friday, October 30, 2009

"Gandering Geese" accepted in Visual Arts Alliance Membership Exhibit

My "Gandering Geese" original watercolor (see previous post), is included in the Visual Arts Alliance 27th Juried Membership Exhibit at One Allen Center, 500 Dallas Street in Houston, Texas. The show will be on display in this beautiful space from November 4 to December 4, 2009.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

"Gandering Geese" at Rice University Water Conference Art Exhibit


















©Becky Brocato
"Gandering Geese"
24" x 20"
Watercolor on Arches 140 CP

My watercolor painting, "Gandering Geese," is on display at Farnsworth Pavillion in the Ley Student Center as a part of the "Water-Effects on Life in the Houston Area" Conference at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA. The art will be on exhibit until October 28.

About my painting: this watercolor was painted in 2007 using photos that I took at the Duck Pond on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, USA. I was really pleased with the way the sunlight was just glowing on this white goose. So fun to paint! And of course, the white of this goose is the white of the paper. This is a transparent watercolor painting.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

"Mykonos in May" receives the Jack Richeson Merchandise Award!



















©Becky Brocato
"Mykonos in May"
23.5" x 17.5"
Watercolor on Arches 300 CP

My watercolor painting, "Mykonos in May," has been accepted in the Watercolor Art Society-Houston 40th Annual Members Exhibit. It also received the Jack Richeson Merchandise Award, so I am very pleased that this painting has finally been given a nod of approval from a nationally known juror, Jan Fabian Wallake, author of Watercolor: Pour It On. I hope you will make plans to attend the Opening Reception on Friday, October 9, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the WAS-H Gallery, 1601 West Alabama, Houston TX 77006. Wine and refreshments will be served. Judge Jan Wallake will be giving awards at 6:30 pm. This wonderful show will be on exhibit from Tuesday, October 6 to Friday, November 6, 2009, so if you are unable to attend the opening reception, try to make plans to see the show at some point over the next month. You will not be disappointed, I promise!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Fall is in the Air

















©Becky Brocato
"Fall Mums"
7" x 7"
Watercolor on Arches 140 CP

This is a watercolor of a mingling of mums, in all the colors of a crisp fall morning! This image, titled Fall Mums, also appears in my set of Floral Seasons note cards in my Etsy shop.

I've also recently started on a new commission of a couple of cute kiddos, a sister and a brother in a little red Radio Flyer wagon. Such a timeless image! It is from a photo taken several years ago by my client. I think they are around 1 and 5 in the image. So fun! I will be posting that when it is complete.

I have been in two Art Shows recently, selling my note cards, prints, bookmarks, small pocket note books, etc. Both shows were successful, and I will be in two more this fall. I am looking forward to meeting and visiting with new people in my community, and sharing information about my art.

Monday, June 29, 2009

In the Garden - Caladium Note cards



















I thoroughly enjoyed painting these four varieties of Caladiums: Gingerland, Miss Muffet, White Queen and Red Flash. The fused and blended colors of watercolor fit these lovely garden favorites to a T.

I just listed a set of note cards for purchase on my Etsy shop featuring these four paintings. I'm a bit of a paper snob, so the quality on these are premium: Classic Crest 80 lb Solar White with matching envelopes (not cheap see-through envelopes!). Blank inside for your personal message. They are great as a treat for yourself (everyone needs to send a handwritten note from time to time!) or as a gift for a special someone: teacher, new bride, birthday girl, gardener.

Monday, June 22, 2009

"King Me!"



















©Becky Brocato
"King Me!"
18.75" x 12.5"
Watercolor on Arches 300 CP

As you may recall, I painted a portrait commission of Lily and her doll a few months back, "Breakfast With 'Nochio." Here are her two brothers, Tucker and Duncan, playing a game of checkers out on the back deck at their grandparents' home. Just another little moment in time. I hope the family will cherish these paintings for a lifetime!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Summer is on its way-Caladiums!



















©Becky Brocato
"Caladiums-Miss Muffet"
Image size: 5" x 5" (12.7 x 12.7cm)
Paper size: 8.5" x 11" (21.59 x 27.94cm)
Paper: Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb acid free card stock
Unmatted and Unframed

I just listed some new items in my Etsy shop. They are reproductions of several varieties of caladiums that I painted in watercolor. This one is my favorite - Miss Muffet variety. I loved painting these! The colors were fun to blend and fuse.

I also painted on Duncan and Tucker's portraits today. They are looking nice! Will post when completed, and after delivery to their family.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Fiery Abstract 1, ACEO


















©Becky Brocato
"Fiery Abstract 1" ACEO
2.5" x 3.5"
Watercolor on Arches 140 lb CP

I just posted four little Fiery Abstract Landscapes on my Etsy shop. This one is my favorite, but they were all great fun to do! Lots of wet on wet technique, layering and fusing. These little paintings are ACEOs, which stands for Art Cards, Editions, and Originals. They are miniature works of art the size of a trading card or playing card - 2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 x 8.89cm) - and they're an inexpensive way to buy original art.

I have the approved drawing ready for Duncan and Tucker's portraits, so I'll be starting the painting tomorrow.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Runnymede Country Inn














©Becky Brocato
"A Fall Morning at Runnymede"
11" x 14"
Watercolor on Arches 140 lb CP

I completed the Runnymede Country Inn commission. Anne, co-owner of this elegant English-style country inn in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, says they will be hanging it on the wall above the guest book table. Very nice placement! And she has also ordered little fold-over note cards with the image of the painting on the front.

For reference, I used photos that I took last fall when my girlfriends and I spent a shopping weekend in Fredericksburg. The photos were taken in early morning on a crisp Novemeber day. You can see a slight pink glow behind this lovely home, fading up to a soft blue Hill Country sky. I really enjoyed painting this wonderful Bed & Breakfast!

Monday, March 23, 2009

It's Springtime in Texas!














©Becky Brocato
"Texas Morning"
7" x 5"
Watercolor on AquaBord

I don't know about you, but I love Texas wildflowers! I posted a few new items to my Etsy shop today. One of my favorites is this little barn, which is so recognizable in the Texas Hill Country, or anywhere in Texas, for that matter. The original is available at Hanson's Art and Frame on Memorial Drive in Houston, and I am offering matted reproductions in my Etsy shop. I hope you will click over and take a look at my shop. The wildflowers only last a short time, but you can purchase a memory to be displayed in your home or office and enjoyed for many years!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Great first day of the Judy Morris Watercolor Workshop

Today, we learned a new technique for a smooth wash, very different and definitely faster than my old way! Can't wait to use it in a painting. Also, the use of different kinds of salts to make wonderful textures on subjects such as adobe buildings, rocks, etc. I already feel I've gotten my money's worth, and it's only the first day! Can't wait to see what is in store tomorrow....

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Judy Morris Workshop, Spring Azaleas and other things

















©Becky Brocato
"Spring Azaleas"
7" x 7"
Watercolor on Arches 140 CP

I am excited about attending the Judy Morris Watercolor Workshop next week at Watercolor Art Society-Houston. She is an amazing watercolorist, writer and workshop teacher, so I look forward to learning new things from her.

Today, I've been photographing my new note card series for my Etsy shop. I just listed them today. They are a series called Floral Seasons, and they are reproduced from four of my paintings depicting flowers of the four seasons: Winter Pansies, Spring Azaleas (shown above), Summer Zinnias and Fall Mums. I hope you will go visit my shop and look around at my latest items. Mother's Day is coming up. I know any mom would love these lovely little note cards. Go see for yourself!

And speaking of Azaleas! Mine are just beginning to bloom. I would say within a couple of days they will be putting on quite a show. I did have to replace one of my big azalea shrubs last week. It had slowly lost its leaves and passed on to the big garden in the sky, so Covington's Nursery got a little of my business this week.

I'll be finishing up my Runnymede Country Inn commission soon. It's coming along, but not quite there yet. I'll post it when complete, probably after the workshop at WAS-H is over.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Abstracts, a little different style for me


















©Becky Brocato
"Abstract Landscape 1"
3.5" x 2.5"
Watercolor on Arches 140 lb CP

Today I had a great time painting some small ACEOs for my Etsy shop. ACEO stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals, and they are 3.5" x 2.5". Collecting ACEOs is a great way to start a little original art collection on a budget. I had some Arches 140 lb watercolor paper left from a larger painting, so I decided to do a series of small wet-in-wet abstract landscapes. I used indigo, cadmium red deep, quinacridone gold and burnt siena. So fun! A bit different from my usual tight realism. I love the way the pigment blended and feathered. I tore the edges for a contemporary look. They would look great either float mounted or matted in a simple black frame. If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these little delights (four in all), visit my Etsy shop. Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

"Mykonos in May" has a new home


















©Becky Brocato
"Mykonos in May"
23.5" x 17.5"
Watercolor on Arches 300 CP

"Mykonos in May," which was accepted in the Visual Arts Alliance 25th Open Juried Exhibit in 2008, is now at it's new home. I painted this watercolor from a source photo taken by my friend and neighbor. It is now gracing the wall of their home, and hopefully it will be a wonderful reminder of their Mediterranean Cruise for many years to come!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

I'm on Etsy!



















I've recently opened a shop on the online selling venue, Etsy. I have a few items for sale right now, and I will continue adding things gradually: prints, note cards, limited edition Giclee prints, originals, etc. I love the fact that I can now offer items for sale to anyone in the world, with payment through PayPal. It is so easy and quick, and you don't even need a PayPal account to make a purchase. So convenient!

I hope you will go visit my Etsy shop. My favorite item right now is my most recently posted: a set of 8 note cards from a series of 4 Texas Wildflowers paintings. I use them myself as thank you notes or keep-in-touch notes to friends and family. In this wired world, it is something special to get a nice note card in the mail, and I try to do that as often as possible.

NEWSFLASH: I just got approval on a preliminary drawing for a commissioned double portrait of Lily's two older brothers. (See Lily's portrait below.) It is of the two of them sitting on the deck outside playing a game of checkers. A very fun little image. I'm looking forward to painting it. I'll post it when I'm done.

I'm also working on a preliminary drawing of Runnymede Country Inn, a B&B in Fredericksburg, Texas. I went on a girlfriends trip there in November, and I showed the owner some prints and note cards of some of my paintings and asked if they would like some note cards from a watercolor of their B&B. She agreed, so I'm getting a drawing ready for approval.

Please leave a comment below regarding my Etsy shop. Is it well designed? Are the Profile and Shop Policies easy to understand? I would love to hear your thoughts/suggestions.