Woody’s Watercolor Blog

Next Woody Hansen Watercolor Workshop:
Mt. Shasta, CA., July 26 & 27, 2008. Click here for details.
Note: Mt. Shasta workshop canceled. Sacramento workshop substituted. See below …

On Top of Old Smokey (Mt. Shasta)
(Click image to view 3-second movie)

The Mt. Shasta Workshop scheduled for this weekend, July 26th & 27th, cancelled due to a fire to the north of Mt. Shasta and another fire to the south. Air quality in the area at the mercy of wind currents. Currently unhealthy, smoke filled air is forecast thru Saturday. The final decision was delayed until the last minute, but as of 8:30 this morning I had to cancel a most wonderful workshop. That’s the bad news.

However, someone once said when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. So, here is the GOOD NEWS: In place of the Mt. Shasta workshop I have filled the void with a newly scheduled SACRAMENTO WORKSHOP this coming Saturday and Sunday, July 26th and 27th. Not much time to sign up, but if you’re going to be in the area and have the weekend free I invite you to join me at the river this Saturday and Sunday.

The cost for the weekend workshop is $150 per person. Or, save $50 by signing up with a friend ($100 each). Of course, the tuition for former participants of ANY of my workshops is $100 each.

If you’re interested, please e-mail me or call (916 383-3427) as soon as possible. This is a perfect time of year for a Sacramento workshop.

Category : Forum, Miscellaneous, Workshops

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Next Woody Hansen Watercolor Workshop:
Mt. Shasta, CA., July 26 & 27, 2008. Click here for details

Dunes of the Cape - DETAIL – Watercolor by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)

I appreciate the simplicity, freedom, looseness, and softness of this painting. Originally, I planned on naming this work, Sand Dunes. However, at the last minute something changes my mind.

My iPod often provides randomly selected songs from a list of favorite music (Woody’s Goodies). As I’m finishing up the framing process, on comes the song Escape (probably better known as The Pina Colada Song).

As sung by Rupert Holmes, Escape is a classic popular song of the late 70’s, early 80’s which includes the line, “If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape.” As that lyric plays out, I decide to change the painting title from Sand Dunes to Dunes of the Cape.

For those who are not aware of the the song’s story line, Wikipedia sums it up this way:

“The song speaks, in three verses and three choruses, of a man who, disenchanted with his current relationship, reads the personals and spots an ad that catches his attention: the ad of a woman who is seeking a man that, among other things, must like piña coladas.

His interest grabbed, he writes back and arranges to meet with the woman “at a bar called O’Malley’s”, only to find upon the meeting that his new lover is his current lover.

The song ends on an upbeat note, showing that the two lovers realized they have more in common than they suspected, and that they do not have to look any further than each other for what they seek in a relationship. This rekindles their relationship.”

Ah, yes, all’s well that ends well. On to the next painting!

——-
Absured colors:
Sand Dune Hue, Rusty Gusty Red, and Silent Surfer Blue.

Category : Contradictions, Exhibitions, Forum, Miscellaneous, Rant, Woody's Watercolors

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Next Woody Hansen Watercolor Workshop:
Mt. Shasta, CA., July 26 & 27, 2008. Click here for details


Model Maple Surple is here to help announce the name of the lucky winner in our What’s New watercolor give away!

Recently, What’s New newsletter subscribers were given an opportunity to win a free, unframed watercolor. In case you missed it, one of four items in the July 15th newsletter read as follows:

Please note that this offer is for subscribers of this newsletter ONLY. You must be subscribed to What’s New, and have received this e-mail to be eligible. This offer is my way of saying, “Thanks for subscribing!”

To participate in this drawing, just reply to this e-mail by next Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Place “DRAWING” in the subject line, and click your mail program’s “reply” button. That’s all there is to it! Your name will be added to the drawing hopper.

On July 16th, I’ll select–by blind draw–one name from those who have entered. The winner can select from about 50-plus paintings (see below). I’ll carefully pack and send the painting of your choice by U.S. Priority Mail to arrive within about ten days, postage paid. Yes, I’ll even pay the shipping cost!

On July 17, 2008, I’ll post the winner’s name on my blog and my web site. The winner may select any available painting exhibited here. At artist-direct, wholesale prices this is a $150 value ($300 non artist-direct).

I’ll notify the winner by e-mail on July 17, 2008. Enter now, reply now, so you don’t forget! Again, this drawing is for What’s New mailing list subscribers ONLY! Thanks for subscribing, and GOOD LUCK!

The response was beyond our expectations! Will we do something like this again in the near future? Hmm, who knows? But, you must be a subscriber to participate (grin)! A special thanks to all of you who took the time to enter.

And now … (drum roll) …
THE WINNER IS …. Jacquelen Bialozynski! Congratulations Jacquelen. You’ll receive notification by e-mail in the next few hours. You may select any available painting exhibited here. Once you make your painting selection please e-mail me the title, and your postage paid, free watercolor will be in the mail to you!

For those of you who would like to receive my FREE What’s New Newsletter, please follow this link for more information.

Category : Contradictions, Forum

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Original painting by Selma Gebhardt
(Click image for more information)

Don’t miss the Sacramento Valley School’s Annual Art Show coming up the first part of August. The following is from their press release:

Art Show, August 9th 2008, Second Saturday, 2:30pm-7:30pm. Sacramento Valley School, a Sudbury School, presents an Annual Art Show featuring the art of the students, faculty, family and friends of the school.

Touch Drawing artist and facilitator, Cynthia Wynn, will demonstrate this unique process. Students of all ages will exhibit their finished Touch Drawings.
Prize Winning watercolor painter David Peterson will present an informal demonstration of his painting.

I’ll have some work on display along with David Peterson, Bondi Abraham, and others. The show promises dozens of works on display for the public’s enjoyment and purchase. Proceeds from art sales gp to help support the school.

Refreshments will be provided. The Sacramento Valley School is conveniently located in the Arden Arcade Carmichael area at 2737 Eastern Avenue, Sacramento CA 95826. www.sacval.org/artshow or call 916-483-4733.

Category : Exhibitions, Forum, Miscellaneous

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Next Woody Hansen Watercolor Workshop:
Mt. Shasta, CA., July 26 & 27, 2008. Click here for details

Mountain Cabin - DETAIL – Watercolor by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)

An image of a mountain cabin I imagine, but don’t own. Or, maybe an image of a mountain cabin—or home—owned by the many who have lost a dream to our current, unprecedented, ugly fires whose smoke is choking the entire state with unhealthy air.

Kudos to the many firefighters who are working 24/7 to contain what can only be described as an unfortunate mess! One might wonder what help California will provide when these folks suffer future health problems.

On a more positive note I want to thank Rich Osborn, one of the few Free Friday participants who make up a very small, but select band of poor souls who gut it out in the hope of finding answers to this thing we call watercolor. It was Rich who provided the original sketch for what eventually became the basis for Mountain Cabin.

This is the smaller version of three paintings based on the same subject. This piece, of course features green as the Mother Color (read dominate color); one of the two larger paintings has brown as the dominate color, while blue is the emphasized color of the third painting.

Absolutely absurd colors featured in the above painting: Yummy Tummy Yellow, Blasphemous Boogie Blue, and Roaring Roach Red (available soon at a Daniel Smith outlet near you).

Category : ACEO, Forum, Miscellaneous, Woody's Watercolors, Workshops

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Next Woody Hansen Watercolor Workshop:
Mt. Shasta, CA., July 26 & 27, 2008. Click here for details

Fire Residue - DETAIL – Watercolor by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)

I commented on the previous post (Parkway Afternoon) that the painting had “… a nice, easy, upbeat, happy feeling about it.” However, Fire Residue stands as a statement in stark contrast/conflict.

Fire Residue seems to evoke a darker, unpleasant feeling in that it reminds me of the unhealthy, stagnant air quality that currently hangs over much of the state of California; a smoky aftermath, a choking residue marking the unpleasantness of nature and man. And, Fourth of July fireworks celebrations are around the corner. Safe and Sane are appropriate words for celebrating Independence Day 2008!

In any event, I felt it appropriate to post this piece at this time. Life, nature, and the Elements and Principles of Design seem to have a lot in common.

Category : Forum, Woody's Watercolors

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Next Woody Hansen Watercolor Workshop:
Mt. Shasta, CA., July 26 & 27, 2008. Click here for details

Parkway Afternoon - DETAIL – Watercolor by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)

Well, this is another painting based on the nearby American River Parkway. It reinforces a current interest in using the outdoors and nature as the basis for the design of my rectangle. In all my workshops I do my best to encourage people to first, avoid waiting until they (fill in the blank), and second, to leave the comfort of their studios/inside painting areas and get outdoors (see What’s Your Excuse)!

At the risk of the viewer being distracted, the former disk jockey in me would have you click on this link to Colby Caillat’s song, Bubbly. The tune certainly makes for complimentary music as one views Parkway Afternoon.

To my eye this painting has a nice, easy, upbeat, happy feeling about it. Considering today’s economy there’s probably room for another painting of this nature.

Interestingly—at the time of this posting—the price of gasoline is about $4.50 per gallon in Sacramento, CA. Believe it or not, the current average price of watercolor paint figures out at about $2,451.06 per gallon! That would add up to $75,982.98 per barrel!

Maybe I’m not too far out of line by noting, “Buy now, before the cost of doing business goes up.”

Contributing to the Confusion and Destruction of the Universal Language of Color:
The colors used in this painting are Happy Yellow Hue, Cheery Berry Crimson, Crystaline Cool Blue, Finley Flora Green, Pete’s Peatmoss Brown, and Late Evening Gray.

Category : Forum, Miscellaneous, Rant, Woody's Watercolors

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Next Woody Hansen Watercolor Workshop:
Mt. Shasta, CA., July 26 & 27, 2008. Click here for details

Ocean Swell - DETAIL – Watercolor by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)

This is just a small portion of the overall painting, but I like to think that’s the fun of the DETAIL image. Yes? No? Maybe? Hopefully, you will care enough to click on the detail to unveil the overall image, etc.

The subject matter here is obviously the ocean. It could be almost any ocean, anywhere in the world. I’ll leave the exactness to your imagination. I will note that the painting and the usual, small value sketch were done outdoors, on location.

Contributing to the Confusion and Destruction of the Universal Language of Color:
The colors used in this painting are Windsor Oceanic Blue-Green Hue, Jean’s Coastline Red, Daniel’s Delectably Delicious Mauve, and Cheap Al’s Grubby Grey. All available at your nearby drugstore or art supply wharehouse. Void where prohibited by law.

Category : Forum, Woody's Watercolors

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SCENE 1 (The Hansen’s backyard patio):
June 8, 2008 - Looking north, a view of a hanging Dallas fern. What’s this got to do with watercolor painting? Well, nothing and … everything; read on!

You see, a neighborhood bird has decided to build a nest in the center of this fern. Why she selected this hanging fern for the home of her future brood is an unknown. Maybe she thinks it’s a nice neighborhood in which to raise her offspring, maybe it’s the option of no mortgage requirements, who knows?

I’ll be adding comments and images as this story unfolds from birth to the time the birds (hopefully) leave the nest. See and read more HERE.

Category : Contradictions, Forum, Miscellaneous

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Moon Dance - DETAIL – Watercolor by Woody Hansen
(Click image to view entire painting)

With a tip of the hat and apologies to Van Morrison’s, Moondance, I’ve split the title into two words, Moon and Dance.Then again, maybe I should have stuck with the single word, Moondance?

Ah, the trials and tribulations of naming art work. I could have just as easily named it #123456789, and been done witn it. What’s in a title anyway? No, wait, that was a rhetorical question! Really!

I’ve posted this Gracho Marx quote elsewhere on my site, but it bears repeating, “Well, Art is Art, isn’t it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now you tell me what you know.”

Well, I know that quote has little to do with painting titles. It also has little to do with titles of paintings. I also know Daniel Smith is killing the universal language of color. But, that’s about all I know right now. However, tomorrow is a different story. As a matter of fact, it is also a different day!

Category : Forum, Miscellaneous, Woody's Watercolors

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