Skip navigation

Indiana New Year

Happy New Year Everyone !

What a wonderful year of sharing with all of you, again. I enjoy this thing we call art blogging. I have viewed fantastic art and photos, read wondrous poems and stories by all of you. Thank you for enriching my life and giving me food for thought and helping me to grow.  Thank you for visiting me. Your comments have helped me to see through new eyes and most of all helped boost my confidence to continue sharing. Thank you.

The above painting was painted in much the same way as the previous one. I painted all the large light washes first; the sky and foreground. I, then, splattered frisket and painted frisket on the branches of the foreground tree and the roofs of the tiny buildings in the background. I painted more of the washes of foreground and sky so the frisket would show up. After those washes dried, I went in and used burnt sienna, halloween orange, blue stone, naples yellow and sepia to define the background trees wet in wet. After it dried, I removed the frisket.

81 Comments

  1. Hi Leslie! And Happy (almost) New Year! What an excellent idea for a post. I will have to do the same, particularly because I have neglected my poor blog for 3+ holiday weeks, yikes! I have about a half year of art blogging under my belt and yours is one of the art blogs I really enjoy following (as you may have noticed, by my lengthy notes). 🙂

    Such a pretty painting. I love the Fall colors with the snow, and the great reflection of the sky colors on the ground. It does look chilly there! Trees are just the greatest thing – so much variety in their sizes and poses.

    Oh my! I just clicked your ” liquid frisket” tag (because I forgot what it is) and found that fabulous horse you posted way back on January 18. And that awesome dog Biskit from January 8. Love them both! And in 2012 I won’t miss stuff like that because I’ll (hopefully) be following the whole year. Hooray!

    • Hi Cindy,
      I know what you mean about keeping up. I have been facing a situation that has taken up my time for the better part of five months and still continues. I have set aside time to paint and try to adjust that time frame to getting something completed each week. It has been a learning experience as I have had to adapt to painting more quickly than I would like. However, I have found it is the BEST time spent because it refreshes me… Thank you for this comment. I am having quite a liking for this, my halloween orange and blue stone stage. Ha!
      You mention the frisket. Did you know you can use this liquid frisket to create texture and save whites on your copic marker paintings? Many artists of other medias use it. You can even save colored areas with it. As long as you use it on a small area. Otherwise you would need masking paper to save larger areas. You probably already knew this, though.
      I am still smiling about the fantastic job you did on your cows, most recently. Two portraits! I think that is hard. http://www.theslumberingherd.com/2011/12/fancy-cows-in-copic-markers-for-illustration-friday/
      Happy New Year!

      • I did not know about Copics and frisket but I wondered and now I must try it! Thank you. 😉

      • Just an idea, Cindy, to place in your bag of things to use. 🙂

  2. I love this painting and love that you share your techniques with us. Now I’ve just got to set aside the time to paint.

  3. Your colors are always remarkable and of course warm. It looks to me like the future is bright on the horizon…love the way you make magic.
    Smiles and wished for a wonderful New Year.
    Raven xox

  4. Leslie – you, your paintings, and your teachings have been such a joy and healing for me this difficult year. You are my Internet artist angel. Plus every day I get to look at that wonderful cloud painting on my office wall. I love all your recent work, including this gem!

    • You are the true angel, Kate, bringing the news of Big Sur to all who live and camp there. I love following your blog and viewing your photos. I am hoping, for you and your furry friends the best year ever in 2012. Let us not forget the gorgeous photo you took that inspired me to try to paint the sky. Thank you for this comment. You have truly touched my heart and I thank you!

  5. You’ve really captured the feel of winter here, Leslie, even to the way the layer of snow parallels the gray sky. I’m glad you provided such a big enlargement so we can see the details. I like the color harmony between the trees and the arc of sun-tinted sky over them.

    Happy New Year to you too. Hard to believe 2012 is almost at hand.

    Steve Schwartzman
    http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com

    • Thank you, so much, Steve. It took me some time to learn to use the same colors throughout a painting. Amazing how we have to practice and practice in order to understand those simple things.
      Happy New Year to you!

  6. A very happy and fulfilling 2012 to you, too, Leslie. May you experience all the blessings you can imagine. We only have to ask.

  7. What a sweet post and a beautiful painting. Thanks for sharing so much. I can absolute imagine the serenity of winter by watching. Happy 2012 !

  8. Hello Leslie! Love your post and your beautiful painting! I enjoy reading your blog and looks at your wonderful work. I wish you the best for 2012!

    Keep up the great work. 😉 xx

  9. Oh Leslie this is beautiful. I find myself lost in one of your paintings again. I’m off exploring that glowing, distant tree line! 🙂 What is funny to me is that I am working on something similar in feel inspired by your post on painting on a gessoed surface. I hope to finish it in time to put on my blog tonight (I will link to your post :)). Your tree is magnificent. You truly “understand” trees. This one has all sorts of interesting branching and “musculature” that I find hard to paint in watercolor. Finally, I am in sympathy with Cindy D and you. It is hard to fit painting and blogging and so many enjoyable activities (I miss knitting!) into our days. Time passes so quickly! But creating something does some how recharge our human batteries. Happy New Year!

    • It needs a deer, Nanina! 🙂 I do love to paint trees. I like their shapes. You knit? I knit a sweater, once. I wore it and wore it until it fell apart. I have to say I enjoy the activity of painting more, though. I am looking forward to your new painting. I just received my Feb 2012 of Watercolor Artist. There is an artist talked about in there, Kathleen Conover, who makes what she calls “gesso juice” and does all sorts of things with it to create texture for her paintings. I want to try that. Happy New Year to you and that Madam Lasagna!

        • Wayside Artist
        • Posted December 30, 2011 at 8:00 pm
        • Permalink

        Yes that article on gesso juice sounded “juicy.” She had me inspired give it a try…added to my list 😉 !!! Madam Lasagna had a good report from the vet today and is now sprawled on the floor snoring. I may join her. Enjoy the holiday weekend!

  10. Happy new year Leslie! I sure did enjoy reading your blog and see your demos and see you experiment with new techniques. All the best for 2012! Keep on painting and sharing with us 🙂

    • You fuel my explorations, Sandrine! Watching and reading what you do with the acrylics has pushed me to be more brave when I apply the watercolor and use the different techniques available to me. Thank you for that. Happy New Year to you!

  11. Happy New Year again, Leslie! This painting is so beautiful and I love the ways your trees dance. You have a magical way with trees!

    • Thank you, Beth! Happy New Year! Did you say one more party? 🙂

  12. Hi Leslie!! It’s been soooo long since we we haven’t been in touch. I love you work. It gives me all the sensation of a very cold weather in spite of the warm colour, its just wonderfully done!!! The snow on the branches.. wow! Hey, I wanted to wish you a very happy new year! Hope all your projects, related to art or not, in 2012 will come true. My best wishes to you! Hugs, Martín

    • Hi Martin!
      I just jumped over to your site to see that you have been blogging and blogginf! I’m going to have to get caught up! Thank you for coming by and for the comment. Happy New Year to you, too!

  13. May you have a wonderful year to come, Leslie. And a continuation of me enjoying your beautiful work… 🙂

    Hugs,
    Gayle xo

  14. Your blog is a gift to me all year long. I enjoy your paintings and your technique explanations even more. Thank you for doing what you love and sharing it with us. Happy New Year.

    • Thank you, so much, Yousei! Happy New Year and thank you to you, also!

      • Did you notice the bunny gravatar showed up here? Hurrah! I think I finally got the settings right. Took me long enough, lol. Come by and look at the surrealist painting I used to inspire my latest poem. Not your style but intriguing.

      • Oh yes, I noticed the bunny! 🙂 I know. WordPress keeps changing things and I have to learn things all over again!

  15. this is so beautiful, you’ve completely captured the colours of a winters day. i’m guessing that frisket is masking fluid?

    i’ve really enjoyed seeing your amazing art this year and will look forward to seeing more in 2012. xx

    • Thank you, Nicola. You are correct that the liquid frisket is masking fluid. Happy New Year!

  16. Hi Leslie, another beautiful painting. Thank you for being an inspiration in 2011. I’m sure you will continue to be an inspiration to me and all your other blog readers in 2012. Let’s hope 2012 is a great year for us all.

    • 2012 just has to be a good year, Carol! I am ready for something NEW! Thank you for this comment about my being inspiring. I have to keep up with you and others. I have grown more through sharing my work and viewing others’ work through this blogging than I ever had prior to these last few years. Hope we are all able to keep this up. Happy New Year to you!

  17. Long time Leslie! Wishing you the very best this new year.

  18. Happy New Year to you too.

    • Hi Alonso! I thought you had stopped blogging. Just took a trip over your way. Glad to have you back! Happy New Year!

  19. Beautiful! You are an inspiration, Leslie. I’m so glad to have discovered your blog. It has been a great pleasure seeing and learning from your art. Thank you! Wishing you all the best… 🙂

    • Oh Emily! I am glad I discovered your photography and the furry kids! I think you started visiting when I posted that painting of my daughter’s Golden Biskit. I’m so glad you did. I have enjoyed your photography immensely! ..and you inspire me to see more! Happy New Year!

  20. Happy New Year – I just don’t have time to keep up with blogs – but I’d have to say you’ve done LOADS since I last looked here- I really love these last 2 -beautiful & very accomplished.

    • Hi Sonya. Thank you for the visit. I know how hard it is to find time to paint, and post and blog and keep up, especially when you teach, daily. Thank you for the visit and this comment! Happy New Year!

  21. Leslie, this is absolutely FABULOUS ! I love the tree, the snow, and the forest behind ! How can you do that ?? This is so beautiful ! I wish you a new year full of vivid colors and multiple joys !

    • A New Year full of vivid colors. I love that! Thank you Isabelle. Happy New Year!

  22. Happy new year to you, Leslie! Thanks for sharing your varied and beautiful works of art. The word ‘wow’ often comes to mind when I look at your work. 🙂

    • What a wonderful comment, Earthianne! Thank you so much! Happy New Year!

  23. Happy New Year, Leslie! Here’s to another year of friendship and art! Love the painting – colors and light in it are fantastic.

    • Hi Alex,
      How long have we been doing this? …the days seems to tumble together and pass so quicklyanymore. Thank you for this comment! Must jump over your way and see if you have another feast for my eyes. Happy New year, Alex!

  24. Happy New Year – that is a gorgeous painting! Makes me wish I had more time for painting again

    • Your photography has become your art form and your writing, Nick. Thank you for this visit and comment!

  25. Happy New Year, Leslie! Love the painting!

  26. Happy New Year to you Leslie. It’s a great painting to start the new year. Wonderful sunset orange and amazing tree. You captured the essence of life, cold yet with a touch of warm. May this year brings lots of happiness and health to you and your family.

    • I like that description of this being cold with a touch of warm. Thank you, Francis. Happy New Year!

  27. Happy new year Leslie!
    I love the warmth of this winter painting, it looks fabulous!

  28. dear leslie,

    happy new year to you!! i am specially drawn to your watercolour painting here, for me you are the lady version of claude monet, silent, solitude in isolation, impressionist, calm, these were all my eyes are trying to rest on… such a splendid show of earthy and snowy colours, coming alive with the burst of hope 🙂 i love it!

  29. HAPPY NEW YEAR. wish I could give you a big hug! Thanks for all the great posts and keeping my on my blogging and art toes! I can’t wait for the months and years to come full of art and posts and friendship

    • Hugs right back to you, Roni. You are the most energetic, upbeat artists I visit. Your jumping in and creating is something I highly admire and your posts always interesting. Thank you for continuing to visit and for your comments. Happy New Year! 🙂

  30. Beautiful Leslie, the trees are a joy. I’m still working on my wet-on-wet technique. Happy New Year.

    • I want to work more and more on my wet-in-wet painting, also. I purchased a book titled “wet-on-wet atercolour painting” by Ewa Karpinska. I need to practice some of what she preaches. Perhaps soon. Thank you and Happy New Year to you too!

  31. Happy New Year, Leslie. This is one of my favorites. I love the warm tones in the otherwise frosty ‘scape. Beautiful.

    • Thank you for this comment, Brandon. You saw what I tried to do; add warmth to a winter landscape. Happy New Year!

  32. I love how you paint winter light on trees. Excellent paintings.

    • Thank you, Edgeworth. Thank you, also for visiting and commenting. Happy New Year!

  33. Another beautiful painting Leslie, and the best to you for the New year!

    • Hi Ryan,
      Happy New Year to you! Hey! I need a New Ryan creation over your way. Thank you for this visit and comment.

  34. I love the light in your painting here, Leslie. 🙂

    I don’t know if you got my email but I’ve deleted Absurd Old Bird and am now blogging in my art blog (the one attached to my name and gravatar).

    I hope you have a good 2012.

    • Thank you for letting me know this, Val. I did get your email and will be visiting you on the art site. Happy 2012!

  35. I thoroughly enjoyed this painting. Made me long for Indiana.

    • It does look like anywhere in the country in Indiana, north or south, east or west. You are right! Now you travel and get to see it all. Thank you for taking the time to come here and comment. Means a lot, “old friend”.

  36. Another painting with the power of simplicity. Wonderful.

  37. I really like this one too Leslie 🙂

    Androgoth XXx

  38. This is absolutely magical!! Sorry I have been away so long and missed so many of your beautiful pieces.

    • Thank you, Amber! Don’t give it another thought about this being away from blogging. I have had my hardships keeping up this winter and am still in a big “slow-down”. Life sometimes deals us some other things that need addressing and we will be back! Thanks again! Glad to have you back!


Leave a comment