Katy Market Days, August 16, 2014

"Texas Gothic"

Original Watercolor by Becky Brocato

I painted this from a photo that I took

of the little church on the grounds of

the Antique Rose Emporium, just north

of Brenham, Texas.

I will have a booth at the Katy Market Days, in Katy, Texas, on Saturday, August 16, from 10 am to 5 pm. I hope you will stop by if you are in the area. I have note cards of my original watercolor paintings, which make great teacher gifts for Back to School Night! Also, my open edition prints are matted in standard frame sizes, making it a snap to pick out a frame at Hobby Lobby (they will frame it for you while you wait, if it is not a real busy framing day). But wait, there's more! I also have a few framed prints and originals that are ready to hang on your wall or brighten a corner of a bookshelf. Hope to see you there!

"Sweet Cherries", my demo for the Intro to Watercolor Workshop on Thursday, July 31

"Sweet Cherries"
Original Watercolor by Becky Brocato
Arches 140 lb Cold Press
5x7"

Just a quick update on the Summer Boredom Buster: Introduction to Watercolor One Day Workshop last Thursday, July 31. I had a great class of five eager and enthusiastic learners. We started out with the basics:

•how to tear the full sheets of watercolor paper down to quarter sheets for a lovely deckled edge
•how to tape the sheets of paper to the base board (Gatorboard)
•how to mix water and paint on the palette to fully load the brush
•several basic techniques to get the paint onto the paper
•basic wash techniques
•how to use a "thirsty brush" to control the excess water in a painted shape
•glazing

Then I took them step by step through the painting of "Sweet Cherries," while the class painted along. This 5x7 painting utilized the basics that were covered, with emphasis on the "thirsty brush," and how to keep an eye on the bead of paint at the bottom of a painted shape, etc.

Mark your calendar now for Thursday, September 18, 2014. I will be teaching another Introduction to Watercolor One Day Workshop at Katy Contemporary Arts Museum in Katy, Texas. It will build on the same techniques, helping to reinforce those basics to complete another small painting to take home and hang proudly in your home. Stay tuned!

Summer Boredom Buster!

I am excited to announce that I will be teaching a one-day "Introduction to Watercolor" workshop at the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum School of Art on July 31, 2014. You know the summer starts dragging and getting way too hot to be outside, so come enjoy a fun day of playing with the paint and keeping cool in this awesome art space!

Here is a link with all the details:

http://kcamschool.com/calendar.asp?pageid=114&calid=285

If you are in the Katy, Texas area, you should really visit/join this beautiful new art museum and take advantage of all it has to offer the community!

See you at Kcam on July 31?? I hope so!

Becky Brocato
Watercolorist

"Santa Fe Sky, Early Evening"

I have recently started painting again after a bit of a hiatus. Life got in the way, as they say. So here is my most recent effort. I took a workshop from Iain Stewart at the Watercolor Art Society-Houston a couple of weeks ago, and I really enjoyed learning from him! I love his teaching style (very laid back and FUN!) and his work is just phenomenal. I am feeling revitalized in my art.

"Santa Fe Sky, Early Evening"

Original Watercolor by Becky Brocato

10 x 8

©Becky Brocato

"Mo," a recent pet portrait

©Becky Brocato
"Mo"
11" x 14"
Watercolor on 300 lb Arches CP


This pet portrait commission that I recently completed is of an amazing Chocolate Lab named Mo. He was such a special pet for his family for many years, so after he passed, his owners wanted a really special remembrance of him. The lady of the house was especially close to Mo because he was her constant and faithful companion when the kids were at school and her husband was at work, which included a lot of business travel. I was so happy when she received the portrait last night and she teared up. She said I had captured his image, his personality and the light in his eyes. Mission accomplished.

I used several photos as reference material for this painting. The out-of-doors background was not in the original photo, as it was taken inside their home. Also, the lighting was from a flash, which flattened out his features and changed the color of his eyes. So I really had a challenge making the shadows, highlights and his eye color look more natural. I really enjoyed painting this portrait, and I am very happy with the results!

Original Watercolor by Becky Brocato "Sticking Close"

©Becky Brocato
"Sticking Close" 18" x 18"
Watercolor on 140 lb Arches CP

We had a great time at the Opening Reception of the Texas Watercolor Society 62nd Annual Exhibit in San Antonio, Texas, this past Saturday evening. It was held at the San Antonio Art League and Museum, which is located at 130 King William Street in the beautiful King William Historic District. I am so pleased and honored that my watercolor painting, "Sticking Close," is included in this Exhibit. A big "thank you" to all who came to the Opening Reception. I truly appreciate your interest in and support of my work! This Exhibit has around 50 beautiful water media paintings by artists from all across the United States, and it will be on display throughout the month of June, so I hope you will make time to go by and see it if you are traveling to San Antonio this month.

On Sunday, before heading back to Houston, we browsed the shops in La Villita Historic Arts Village in Downtown San Antonio. I totally enjoyed meeting and visiting with Ugur Kilic (photographer, graphic designer and web site designer) and Susan Carlin (artist and owner) of Nueva Street Gallery. This is one of my favorite galleries in downtown San Antonio, and they always have a wonderful variety of high quality art pieces from 19 amazing artists. The next time you are in San Antonio, you should definitely stop in.

A watercolor portrait of three sisters

©Becky Brocato
"The 3Cs: Carli, Celbi and Cirby" 11" x 14"
Watercolor on 300lb Arches CP

I really loved painting this portrait of three sisters when they were young. They are in their late teens and early 20s now, so it's a poignant look back at their childhood, as they enjoyed a beautiful fall day in the Texas Hill Country. It was so fun watching them come to life with paint and brush!