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!

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!

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....

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.

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.