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!

"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!

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.

"Breakfast with 'Nochio"

©Becky Brocato
"Breakfast with 'Nochio"
18.75" x 12.5"
Watercolor on Arches 300 CP

This is a recent commission. I enjoyed working on this watercolor painting. It is a sweet little moment in time, with the warm morning sun streaming across the porch of the lake house. I hope this will be a treasured memory for Lily and her family for years to come.

Visual Arts Alliance 25th Open Juried Exhibit at Williams Tower in Houston

©Becky Brocato
"Winter Light on Fruit"
13" x 17.5"
Watercolor on Arches 300 CP





















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

Today I delivered my two paintings that were accepted in the Visual Arts Alliance 25th Juried Open Exhibition, juried by Sally Sprout. "Winter Light on Fruit" and "Mykonos in May" were both accepted. I had also entered "Gandering Geese", but it didn't make the cut. I'm excited and honored to be in this show! The Opening Reception is Thursday, May 1, 2008, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Williams Tower Gallery, 2800 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056. The show will be on display May 1 to June 5, 2008. Williams Tower Gallery is on the ground floor and is open for public viewing Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The building is closed on weekends. There is no charge to visit the gallery. It is a beautiful space, and I hope you will make time to come see this well chosen exhibit which includes a wide variety of media. And while you are there, you may as well walk out to the amazing Water Wall, a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the Williams Tower! Hope to see you at the Opening Reception!

"Gandering Geese"

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

This painting was recently on display at the Watercolor Art Society-Houston 31st International Exhibit in Houston, Texas. I hope you were able to get by and see it before it came down last Thursday. I painted these feisty geese from a photo taken at the Duck Pond on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. I think the big guy definitely has some attitude!

"California Dream"

©Becky Brocato
"California Dream"
7.5" x 11"
Watercolor on Arches 140 CP

A fun people painting of my son on a trip to LA. This was from a photo I took while we were at the beach in Santa Monica.