Author: Lynn Holbein

A new medium!

I took a terrific workshop this weekend with Lisa Daria Kennedy, who (having survived cancer as a young adult) resolved to create one painting every day — and she’s done it for 10 years straight. I have only ever painted in watercolor and she teaches acrylics — also a water-based medium, but quick drying and similar to oil in appearance. Learning something new is exciting and frustrating. Here is one of the paintings I made in the workshop, of peonies.

 

Definition of Success

Isn’t this one of life’s great truths?

Winston Churchill, who was a serious amateur painter, may have been referring to watercolors. Prince Charles is also a watercolorist, and has published two books on the subject. In England, “watercolour” is a very popular pastime.

Remembering Paris II

On our trip to Paris in 2011, we stayed on Ile Saint Louis, an island in the middle of the Seine. I sat in the park at the end of the island and made this sketch using a pencil and watercolors. Sketching creates more long-term memories than snapping a photo, and I can still remember that day and the bench I sat on.

Starbucks Customers

Watercolor pencils, which “melt” when water is applied, were used for this sketch. I love drawing people, and it makes me sad how many artists are afraid to include them, and instead create paintings which are depopulated. But faces are challenging — and you can see that most of these people are drawn from the back, and the cashier facing forward doesn’t have facial features.

Spring to Greens

It’s officially spring now, so it’s time for every painter to start practicing a variety of greens. If you look outside on a summer day, and the lawn, bushes and trees are all green, where do you start? Here are some of my green mixes — some from blue and yellow, some start with green and add yellow, a touch of red —  plus a few fun figures.

Crow

“The Genius of Birds” by Jennifer Ackerman describes recent research showing how much more intelligent birds are than the negative connotation “bird brain” suggests. Crows are particularly smart, and can make and use basic tools.

Last Visit to Brooklyn

Our son Andrew, his wife Eva and baby Maggie are moving in two weeks from New York to New Orleans, so this is my last chance to visit them in this vibrant city. While Eva is in New Orleans interviewing for teaching jobs, I came to help out. Here’s a sketch of a wonderful local coffee shop, and a photo of Maggie at 11 months.

Woodpecker & Hawk

Flickers are one of our biggest species of woodpeckers. They are beautiful with ornate plumage. My painting is inspired by a photo in the Audubon magazine.

I took this photo of the Cooper’s Hawk who showed up at our bird feeder yesterday, looking for lunch! Needless to say, its lunch flew away.

Staying Green All Winter

Houseplants are so wonderful. They add oxygen and remove CO2 and pollution from the air. They are an oasis of green on the grayest indoor days. This one, on a shelf in front of our window, has an interesting thread hanging down which made a fun sketch.

 

Sketching at Meetings

Sketching at meetings is a good way to stay “present.” It’s counter-intuitive, but instead of daydreaming about the past or future, it’s a way to notice what is right in front of you, while also listening. All you need is a scrap of paper and a pencil.

Last weekend I was at a restorative justice training, and I did these sketches of some of my fellow participants.

A Day in the Life …

This month is the three year anniversary of my double knee replacement. It has paid off wonderfully, I am pain-free, and most days I meet my 7,000 step Fitbit goal. At the time, though, it was an act of faith, and I thank God for modern medicine and the wonderful men and women who provide it.

Here’s my “Day in Rehab” I created three years ago, with a set of pens someone had brought me.  If you can pinch it open, you will see the PT stands for “Pain and Torture,” and OT for “Occasional Torture.”

 

Soft and Hard Edges

The secret of watercolor’s special effects is that water attracts water. If you put some paint into a dry area, it will stay put. If you add it to an area you have previously wetted with plain water or another color, it will bleed and spread. You can see examples in this abstract.

Amaryllis

The amaryllis bulb we bought before Christmas is now in full bloom! A delicious thing to paint on a January day.

I plan to offer some originals for sale this year. Today’s painting is 9″ x 12″, and the original is available for $100 by contacting me at lynnholbein@gmail.com.

New Year’s Resolutions

Like many people, I take stock of my life as the years changes. These are the touchstones of my life, and if I prioritize them I feel in balance. Health (exercise, healthy food, sleep)  has moved up over the decades as I’ve learned not to take health for granted. How are your priorities similar and different?

Wishing you a happy, healthy life in 2019!

 

Puppy

I just finished Luna, a pet portrait I was commissioned to paint as  a Christmas present. I couldn’t stop smiling as I painted because she is so adorable. (pet portrait info here.)

Apologies to anyone who has tried to email me by clicking “reply” to my posts in the last month. I just found out there was a glitch in my website email (which usually forwards automatically to lynnholbein@gmail.com) starting on Nov. 19th,  and many of the emails since bounced. It’s fixed now, but if there was anything important, please write again, and so sorry.

Unexpected Blessings

One of the biggest blessings of Bruce’s and my lives are teaching in prison. He teaches a weekly book group, and I teach a weekly art class, both in men’s prisons; we have led our classes for 14 and 17 years respectively. What began as a short-term good deed became something we really enjoy and look forward to. It’s amazing how people are the same, outside and inside the walls, all of us a combination of good and bad. Here is a drawing of my art class which one of my co-teachers, Jacki Rohan, drew.

Staying Healthy

Exercise has always been a challenge for me. There always seem to be more pressing things to do. So this quote, on a sign at the YMCA, was a reality check. With the help of a new FitBit and some warmer layers, I’m becoming more consistent about daily walks and yoga stretches.

 

 

Your Home or Cottage

Looking for a very special gift for yourself or someone else? A house portrait will hang on the wall for decades, even after you have moved elsewhere. Here are two examples:

House portraits are $495 for a 16″ x 20″ matted original, $450 for a 11″ x 14″ matted original, ready to slip into a standard sized frame. I work from your photo. Please let me know soon if you are interested for the holidays.

I enjoy sharing my art in this blog for free, but painting is also a part-time job for me, so I appreciate you passing this on to anyone who might be interested.

My Mom

Sunday will be the 10th anniversary of my mother’s death. A few years before she died, when she was suffering from dementia, I took the photo on which this drawing is based. If you look closely you can see that the expression in her eyes is both “with it” and a bit “out of it.”

I owe artist Susan Avishai a debt of gratitude for teaching me this technique. Take a photo, enlarge it, put it on a light box, cover it with drawing paper. Then trace the photo using pencil, pen, markers, and paint.

Your Dog or Cat

For years I have painted portraits of different animals, and I can paint yours! These pet portraits make great holiday gifts. Here are two of my portraits, of Arlo the dog and Mr. T.

An original 11″ 14″ watercolor, matted, is $295, and a 16″ x 20″ matted is $350. Each fit a standard sized frame. I paint from your photo. Each painting takes about a week to paint, so let me know soon if you are thinking of the holidays. They make great birthday presents too.

Brussel Sprouts

In modern society where few of us grow our own food, how many of us can visualize an artichoke plant or an almond tree?  This stalk from Trader Joe’s was fun to paint. (Roasted Brussel Sprouts: toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast 30-45 minutes in a 400 degree oven. Yum!)

Fall Colors

Last weekend I spent four days in Maine volunteering to “get out the vote.” During the days I was there, the weather took a colder turn and the leaves changed quickly. The oak trees changed from gold to orange to rust to brown during those four days:

Maine’s hills and lakes are beautiful in the fall.

 

Fall Foliage

At last the foliage is at peak here in New England. Our neighborhood is blessed with some sugar maples, and yesterday I parked my car in front of them at the beginning of our street and spent half an hour making a sketch. This is one reason we love living in New England!

Learning to Read

Our older granddaughter Lila will be 13 on Thursday. Years ago, when she was learning to read, I bought Lila the early reader Bob books. Seeing her curled up in her striped pajamas was too delicious not to photograph and paint. She is still a redhead and an avid reader.