Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas!

Sassy Jay
10x12"

Merry Christmas!

Hope it is a wonderful day for all of you.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Winter Roses Online Watercolor Course

Winter Roses
11x14"


I've been working like mad the past couple of weeks to get another online course out. It has been a challenge with Christmas next week. I did it though! Yay! 
The course is of winter roses, also called Hellebore.
It is now available in my online school at watercolor-365.teachable.com

You can watch a promo of the course below.



Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Study for Marsh's Edge

Marsh's Edge Study
11x14"

    This was a quick study from a photo I took while exploring the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. I wanted to get the brush wet and spend an just an hour playing with the paint. It felt good and discovered what I need to do and not do if I decide to go larger with the painting. 

Friday, December 13, 2019

From the Archives: Passion for Poinsettias

Passion For Poinsettas

watercolor, 2003


       I have always had an affection for dinosaurs and even considered a career as a scientific illustrator of dinosaur bones. While at university in Utah, I spent some time cleaning and caring for dinosaur bones as I pursued my degree in Zoology. Upon graduation, I continued to work with dinosaur bones and taught biology classes at the Natural History Museum of Utah. It was at the museum that I worked with the Utah State paleontologist and discovered that the illustration of dinosaur bones was not for me. Too much math was involved and a move to Boston diverted me from the pursuit.  
     
       However, I still enjoyed dinosaurs (and still do) and painted a few for fun. In 2003, I was approached by Cogstone Resource Management, a California based company, and asked to create an illustration for their Christmas card. Cogstone is a paleontology company that specializes in the removal of dinosaur bones from construction sites. I, of course, was excited by the idea of painting more dinosaurs. After some sketches, the idea for an illustration of a stegosaurus with poinsettias was conceived. Passion for Poinsettias is the finished illustration.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Maddie and Cameron: A Portrait Commission

Maddie and Cameron
11x14"
Commission piece

   Maddie and Cameron is another portrait commission I completed in the spring of this little girl holding her newborn baby brother in her arms. I hope it is a moment that I can help her remember and cherish forever. 

    I finally got around to creating a time-lapse video of the painting process. You can view the video below. 






Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Portrait of Great Aunt Lois

Lois Brown
16x20"

    This summer, I was commissioned by some family members to paint a portrait of my Great Aunt Lois, who is my mother's aunt and my grandmother's sister. It was her children that commissioned me to paint the portrait. The portrait was to be done from a black and white photograph of her at the age of 18. 

      My great aunt is now 93 years old and is still very active. She spends half the year on cruises, sightseeing the world. I was honored that her children asked me to paint a portrait of their mother and of one of my favorite aunts.  Of course I wanted to change the photograph by adding color to it. I did want the painting the fade out into a gray, as if the painting were a memory coming to life. I also painted it on handmade paper to help give it a vintage look.  I didn't know the color of the dress and was pleased to discover that it was the color I painted it. 

    I was excited to discover that I would be able to present the painting to her at the family reunion where she proceeded to tell the story behind the photograph. 

     Lois explained that the photograph was taken just after she had graduated high school from a small town in Southeastern Idaho. This was when many of her friends had enlisted in the navy and had been shipped off to Europe or Japan to fight in the war (WWII). Lois wanted to cheer them up and to remind them of her so she got all dressed up and wore a special bracelet with an anchor on it (unfortunately I did not know this nor was I told about this) just for the photograph. Lois mentioned that she sent the photograph to these boyfriends hoping they would remember her and write her back. She did get one reply back from a farm boy she liked very much. The reply was that the photo reminded him of home and he could smell the country air and the manure when he saw it.  Lois said that she never wrote that boy again. 

Me presenting the painting to my Great Aunt Lois

Friday, November 29, 2019

Snow Frost

Snow Frost
10x20"

   Recently I have been feeling like I have hit a reset button and am starting all over with my career and my life. It feels a little scary and frustrating at times but also liberating when I realize that I can now experiment all I want. One thing I have been experimenting with is size. I definitely want to go bigger, which is something I did discover a few years ago, but format and composition are something I continue to work with. It can be experimented with much easier on a smaller scale. Since my time in this area is limited, as is my space, I am sticking with the smaller studies. 

    Another thing I am experimenting with is technique and how to paint snow.  Since I lived for many years in an area that didn't get much snow as well as the fact that I use to hate snow, I don't have many photo references to work from. I now live in a cold and sometimes snowy area and need to come to terms with it and make friends with cold and snow. 

    For this painting I did a lot of experimentation to get the look of frost and snow. I didn't want to use masking fluid because it can leave behind hard lines. I wanted a softer look to the painting and had to be creative with what I used to keep that look.  I also worked in wet-in-wet almost the whole time, starting with wetting the whole paper and keeping it moist as I painted. I use salt quite often and continued to use it here.  A medicine dropper was used to add big water drops, a spray bottle to add little drops, and bleach. Yes, bleach. I had heard it can be used so I tried it. I was hoping it would create a big water drop look and also lighten some areas that got too dark for me. It didn't create quite the effect I had hoped it would but at least I gave it a shot. 

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

November Sunset


November Sunset
10x22"

    I am currently writing this from Moses Lake, Washington.  I have this wonderful opportunity to be able to explore and paint the Columbia Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas, which is just outside of Moses Lake. The sunsets here are stunning and adds color to an otherwise bleak landscape. By the looks of it, you would never know that there is so much wildlife in the area. It is mostly miles and miles of sagebrush. However, there are also thousands of birds and apparently there is a Sandhill Crane festival in the spring. Something to look forward to. 

    I use to paint on a daily basis and got out of the habit recently with all the changes that have been happening and with my focus being on my online course. To warm up my painting muscles, I decided to do a quick study of one of the area's stunning sunsets. While watching and photographing the sky, I noticed a few mule deer sneaking past me and got some in the shot. Couldn't resist adding her to the painting. 

Friday, November 22, 2019

Morning Illumination

Morning Illumination
11x15"

   If you sign up for my newsletter or saw my promo video for the free course, then you know that I moved to Northeast Washington this past June, just north of Spokane near the Canadian border. My fiancé and I are building a home and studio on a lake. It is a beautiful area with so many painting possibilities. 

   Sunrise over the lake is different each and every day and I love watching it every morning. I did this painting a few months ago but failed to post it until now. Morning Illumination is the view from the front room of the house, which is also where my temporary studio is located while we build the actual studio. My studio will still be located with a view of the lake, just beside the house. 

Monday, November 18, 2019

New Online Course! Painting Pumpkins in Watercolor

Trio of Pumpkins

I've created another online watercolor course. In this course, I show how to combine loose and tight watercolor techniques to create the above painting. This course was created with step-by-step videos and instruction where you can do it in the comfort of your own home and even in your pajamas. You can log into it any time you want and you can stop, pause, and rewind the video as much as is necessary. There is over 3 hours of instruction and for only $39 USD. 

This course can be accessed by either going to my website at leslieredheadart.com or to my course website at watercolor-365.teachable.com.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Loose Realism: Painting Apples in Watercolor Course Promo







I've created another online course showing how to paint the following image in watercolor using basic techniques such as wet-in-wet, glazing, and negative painting.



Please watch my promo to learn more about the course.



To register, please go follow the link at my website leslieredheadart.com or go to watercolor-365.teachable.com

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

FREE Negative Painting, Positive Thinking in Watercolor Course




It's finally here! I've finally done it! I have published my first online course and it's a free one!

It is a watercolor painting of willow leaves using negative painting techniques. In the course I teach the basics of negative painting in a step-by-step tutorial. This course has been months in the making as I navigated how to film and how to set up the website and material to make it easier for you. It was a learning curve for sure. And just like with painting, persistence is key.

To access this free course, please go to watercolor-365.teachable.com. You can also access it through my website at leslieredheadart.com.

Please be sure to share your finished painting with me by emailing it to me at leslieredheadart.com.
Thank you and have fun painting!

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Watercolour Pouring with Opus Art Supplies and Winsor & Newton Watercolours



A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to create a how to video with Opus Art Supplies in British Columbia, Canada showing how I pour my watercolours using Winsor & Newton's new jewel colors.

There are 5 new jewel colors but I chose to use only 3 of them for the pour. The colors used are Transparent Orange, Quinacridone Violet, and Aqua Green.

The piece I poured is a view of downtown Vancouver, BC from a friend's balcony. I call it City of Glass and here is the completed piece.


Sunday, March 3, 2019

Watercolor Portrait: 365 Seconds of Painting McKinley


The videos this week have been a portrait of my cousin, McKinley.

It is the same portrait that I demonstrated for my portrait class a couple of weeks ago in Victoria, BC. If you attended that class, perhaps watching the videos this week will jog your memory about what I taught.
Here is the completed portrait:

Sunday, February 24, 2019

365 Seconds of Painting: Watercolor of Ocean Puddles



Ocean Puddles is the watercolor I demonstrated at Opus Art Supplies in Victoria, BC on February 10. I filmed myself painting it before the demonstration. Now it is available for others to see.

Here is the completed painting:

Ocean Puddles
15x22"

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Watercolor of Girl With A Fan, 365 Seconds of Painting



This video is a few days late. I am currently out of town and have been experiencing blizzard conditions almost non-stop since I arrived in Victoria. But better late than never.

Here is the completed painting:


Sunday, February 3, 2019

365 Seconds of Watercolor: Prickly Pear Blossoms



Here is my final video of Prickly Pear Blossoms. Instead of doing a compilation of the previous days, I show how I got the dark background and completed the painting. If you have been watching all along, then you will have seen how I created the blossoms in the previous days.

I must admit that I really enjoyed painting this one. Okay, I really enjoy painting almost everything I do. But I enjoyed the challenge of creating that dark background and those needles. I wanted to make the needles prickly but soft at the same time. The other challenge was getting those yellow blossoms to stand out and still look yellow. I like to think I did it.

Here is the completed painting:

Prickly Pear Blossoms
watercolor 
11x14"

The original painting can be viewed at the Full Moon Gallery in Twin Falls, Idaho


Monday, January 28, 2019

Watercolor of Prickly Pear Blossoms, Day One



It's another week and another painting. I don't really call myself a floral painter but enjoyed painting this one. I liked the drama of it and the challenge of creating those prickly needles.
Keep watching each day to see how this painting evolves and the finally piece!

Sunday, January 27, 2019

365 Seconds of Painting in Watercolor: Mountain Grange



This is a compilation of the previous 6 days plus more. Unfortunately I didn't realize the camera was not recording when I started to paint the barn and other buildings. Yikes! Some of it I did get though.

I did paint at a tilt while doing this and worked mostly wet-in-wet. You can see how I add water to the paper as I go so that it continues to be wet. It is hard to see that I toss in some salt while painting the grassy meadow because it looks like a I'm a super fast painter.

The colors I used in this painting are cobalt blue, burnt sienna, raw sienna, cadmium scarlet, winsor yellow, winsor blue (green shade), French ultramarine blue, and permanent alizarin crimson. It was painted on Indigo watercolor paper.

Here is the complete painting:
Mountain Grange
watercolor
11x15"

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Watercolor of Sunset Over Loon Lake: 365 Seconds of Painting



This past week I have been showing how I painted a sunset. Sunset Over Loon Lake was a commission for a very special couple that were high school sweethearts and have been married for nearly 45 years. It is the view from their home.

Here is the final painting. It is 11x15"



Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Watercolor of Sunset Over Loon Lake, Day 2





Day 2 of Sunset Over Loon Lake. I had been watching so much video footage of painting upside down that I didn't realize that I published yesterday's video of me painting upside down. Got it right this time and it is much easier to see what is going on when it is right side up.

Monday, January 14, 2019

Watercolor of Sunset Over Loon Lake, Day 1





My painting this week is a sunset. Pouring is fun and you can get fantastic results but most days I just love putting brush to paper.

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Boot Scootin' Boogie: 365 Seconds of Pouring Watercolor



Another 365 second video for the week. This is a combination of the previous days plus a little extra more. Here is what the finished painting looks like after I removed the mask and softened some lines.

Boot Scootin' Boogie
Poured Watercolor
22x30"


Below are images of what the painting looked like after each pour.

First Pour

Second Pour

Third Pour

Fourth Pour

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Poured Watercolor of Boot Scootin' Boogie, Day 6





Today's minute long video shows how I lift all that masking fluid to reveal the painting underneath.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Poured Watercolor of Boot Scootin' Boogie, Day 1





 A couple of years ago I moved from Victoria, BC to a small town in Idaho where my son attended high school. The first week of school, I happened to walk past the gym to see cowboy boots all over the floor. I thought yep, I'm in Idaho! So I took a photo which later became my inspiration for this painting. Please keep watching everyday to see how this painting is created.



I will be teaching a watercolor pouring class in North Vancouver, BC on February 16-17. For more information, please contact Janice at http://artescapesyvr.com/leslie-redhead/




Sunday, January 6, 2019

365 Seconds of Pouring Watercolor to Create the Painting Hotel Don Curro



In the spirit of my book, Watercolor 365, I have decided to upload a 365 second version of how I poured the painting Hotel Don Curro. This version shows some of the previous 5 days plus some additional footage. If you watch to the end, you can see photos of what the painting looked like after each pour dried.

Here is what the final painting looks like:

(This is when the mask has been taken off after the fourth and final pour)
Hotel Don Curro
poured watercolor
20x30"


And here are photos of what each pour looked like after the painting dried:

Drawn and masked ready for pour 1

After the first pour

After the second pour

After the 3rd pour

Friday, January 4, 2019

Poured Watercolor of Hotel Don Curro, Day 4





This is Day 4 of showing how I created my painting, Hotel Don Curro. As mentioned previously, I had filmed this a couple of years ago. This video is actually my third pour. In the process of creating my videos, I discovered that the footage of my second pour was corrupt and I couldn't access it. However, the second pour was just like the first. I will be posting photos of what the piece looked like after each pour with the last video. So stay tuned!