Deep Dive Discovery

9x12”
Live area 5.75x6.88”
©2026

This watercolor painting is the first in a series of smaller pieces that will explore painting multiple layers around a given subject. This intriguing technique was new to me. I watched an online video demo of this negative painting process; I was excited to give it a try. 

For this piece, I began drawing the top leaves and painted the entire area with a wash of color. Then I drew more leaves and painted another wash over all except for the top layer of leaves. This process was then repeated one more time so that the lightest leaf values were on the top layer, over midtones, and the final darkest values on the other two layers.  

I love working in this new, rather contemplative process, but was even more surprised to realize how the painting could easily be viewed as a metaphor for the inner self. The lightest leaves represented the side of me that the world sees —sometimes known as our "false self". The background and other leaves in midtone and dark values could likewise be viewed as our “true self,” the side that we most likely hide from the world.

This was a very interesting technique that I plan to continue exploring. If you’ve never tried a negative watercolor, it is worth the time and may produce some cool visual and perhaps emotional effects.  

Oh, life is such a daring adventure!  lol

Thanks for viewing,

Nancy

Fall is in the Air

"Fall is in the Air" 6x8" Oil on canvas panel 

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On my second day in New Hampshire, the sun finally muscled its way through high banks of clouds to reveal patches of promising azure. This was my big moment! I packed up all my painting gear and hiked back to White Park to plein air alongside the footpath surrounding the lake. 

By the time I had set up my easel and squeezed the myriad of little puddles onto my palette, the sun had already gotten the ball rolling. Filtering in through deep-shadowy sentinels of limbs and trunks, she masterfully brushed brilliant lime-green in wide sparkling streaks across the cool viridian slopes. The seasonal ticket holders crimson, burnt orange and harvest yellow—all fluttering in the crisp morning breeze—went wild in applause at the stunning performance.

Unaffected by any of the commotion, a flock of hungry Mallards cruised the lake in silent single-file order—weaving their way through dried reeds, cattails and low hanging Willow tresses—perhaps in search of a tasty minnow or a breadcrumb left by a child....Ah, the gift of it all!!!

Thanks for tagging along for the ride!
nancy
 

FREE SHIPPING
I am offering FREE shipping within the U.S. on all paintings in my Daily Paint Works and Etsy stores. These small paintings work great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas.

Take It All Off

"Take It All Off" 8x6" Oil on Canvas Board

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Talk about brazen behavior! Can you believe this outrageous redhead caught in a quiet neighborhood of Concord in decadent flamboyance? That's right! Baring herself in a showy burlesque, she literally flaunted herself at the curb attracting the attention of every passerby. Despite the chilling rain, she exposed one long slender limb after another in an ostentatious display. A shocking performance!

 

Thanks for viewing my work!
nancy
 


FREE SHIPPING
I am offering FREE shipping within the U.S. on all paintings in my Daily Paint Works and Etsy stores. These small paintings look great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas.

"Splendor in the Glass"

"Splendor in the Glass" 6x6" Oil on Canvas Panel
Click to Purchase

What a bully! Momma mango roller is at it again, crushing down the last green tree in the neighborhood to make room for yet another highway headed somewhere. Progress they call it! What a shame, and just as this comfortable citrus couple, lime and orange, were settling down to enjoy a quiet picnic under the cool shade of the canopy. 


My seven-year-old grandson and I had a great time painting from this still life we set up yesterday. While in a panic to prevent an obvious tragedy, I tensed up and painted a bit tighter than I like. To me, less is always more...the fewer brush strokes the better. I guess I just got carried away trying to rescue these near-casualty victims from ultimate destruction. Whew, that was a close call!  

Thanks for viewing my painting!
 nancy

 FREE SHIPPING

I am offering FREE shipping this summer within the U.S. on all paintings in my ebay and  Etsy stores. These small paintings look great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas. 

                                                                           FRAMES

To purchase online frames, check out the "floater" frames like those shown below. The paintings just gets glued onto it...super easy. http://www.kingofframe.com/6x6-Frames_c_22.html

   

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