Artwork of Debra Lee Blog

Nature Series: Hummingbirds

This time of year and I am always inspired to paint the wonders of nature as everything seems so new.  This will be a series of five large paintings all about the beauty of nature; songbirds, flowers and butterflies, everything found in my flower gardens.

It has been a long time since my last post. Lots of problems with my computer and painting and paperwork with applications to the art fairs keeping me busy.

With the weather getting nicer it makes me start to think of the art fair season.
I have been creating a lot of small paintings and have been very happy with the results.  I have also been working on several larger paintings including my newest parrot painting which evolved into a collage of art construction paper. Very time consuming but so worth it.

I just returned from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I did a little watercolor sketch on the beach that was very fun to do. Better than photos and a great place to paint.

After much hard work and deliberation I have finally finished the five paintings of my Yellowstone Series that I began in June of 2009. All of these paintings are on 24″ x 24″ masonite panels that my lovely patron Eric built. They are all begun with a coat of gesso (white art paint) into which I inscribe a meaningful saying either made up by me, from poems and in the case of the bear and bison are from Native American Indian sayings. When dry I added layers of acrylic paints and textures and created the paintings in mostly monotones, in which the animals seem like they are emerging from their surroundings somewhat hidden, as in nature.

I hope to have some if not all of them at the art fair in Green Bay, Feb. 6 & 7. I hope you can come to preview my new art. These paintings will be added to my website in New Paintings and in their category of Yellowstone and I hope to have each painting’s sayings printed by them also.

I had started this new painting 2 years ago with a totally new concept; meaningful words underneath the actual painting.  I knew I wanted it to be a spiritual painting but I didn’t know what direction it would go in.  After applying soft watercolors in pastels I added textures to the wet paint and let them dry.  I then studied the abstract painting off and on for the next 2 years without seeing any direction to go in.

In the meantime I started collecting photos from another artist of concrete angels in cemeteries.  This gave  me  the idea of going in the direction of an ethereal angel with this piece .

I collaged in laces and feathers to give the  illusion of angel wings and used threads to emphasize the angels face and details.

Does it say “Angel” to you?

Cabin in the Mountains

Purple Mountains

River in Zion

Well, I have finally finished the paintings that I started in Zion National Park while I was in Utah for an art workshop.  They are all watercolor and were painted “Plein Air” or on location.  It was a wonderful experience to set up my equipment along the side of a beautiful river and waterfalls against the backdrop of mountains.  I sat on the side of a cliff, and on a footbridge.  I welcome comments.