Marcia's Blog

I ordered 10 more calendars when Vistaprint had their 50% off sale in case anyone is still interested. There is a link at this website.  I also participated in the Facebook Art Challenge where an artist posts 3 paintings a day for 5 days. You can see them on my 'Plumeria Paintings by Marcia' Facebook page. There are the florals I have done in the past two years as well as non-florals from before - a cat, and a couple of waves in oil paiint.

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Although the tree was dormant, on Thursday, I saw the first plumeria planted in Hawaii at the Foster Gardens which is in the middle of the city in Honolulu. We know this yellow variety as Celadine .  It was brought to Hawaii in the 1860s by a botanist who was also a physician to Hawaiian royalty. If you are on Oahu late spring or summer, you might want to check this old tree out. I hope to someday see it in bloom.

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The first plumeria was brought to Hawaii around 1860. Today that variety is known as 'Celadine.' I got this info from Bob Walsh's blog. He wrote How to Grow Plumeria-Frangipani Anytime Anywhere!

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Memo to myself - Don't fall in love with your leaves. 
I decided that the leaves on the left were taking attention away from the blossoms.  I am in the process of painting them darker so that they recede into the background and the yellow Celadine blossoms come forward.

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Roughing in the leaves. I have not decided with the buyers if the leaves will be darker than the background or the reverse. It is probably best to get all the leaves in and then darken. The areas behind the flowers will definitely have to go darker to bring them forward.

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I will be in Poipu with 40 other vendors on Saturday, December 13, from 9 to 4. Come and see the art and crafts if you are in the area. If you take Poipu Road to Poipu Beach Park, you won't miss the big white tent.

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I have started in with the first glaze of yellow. The shadows help to give the petals shape but will still need more yellow. Celadines have a very brilliant yellow and I will have to make sure to leave the whites on the petals. This will be more apparent after the darker background goes in.

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The wall calendars have arrived and I like the quality. Thick card stock pages. The photos of the paintings are glossy and the calendar part is matte for easy writing.
Check them out by going to the Calendar link on this website. I have activated the Pay Pal "Buy This" button. Cost is $15 plus shipping.

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Starting to paint the shadows on the petals first. I may have to darken some of them after the yellow goes in.

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I am pleased to report that the Celadine painting I just completed has found a home on Kauai. Buyer is a plumeria enthusiast and gave me some suggestions on care for my second year cuttings in pots. Hope to see them bloom next season.
Also, a store in Honokaa will be offering my note cards soon.

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I am excited to start the large Celadine painting. Here is the sketch I will transfer to the watercolor paper tomorrow. You will not be able to see the lines when that is done so this will be the reference. I may adjust the direction of the leaves on the upper right after the flowers go in and change the angle of that bud on the far right.

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I have added a "Calendar" page to the links on my website. There are photos and more information about the wall calendar there. They are expected to arrive at the end of next week.  If all is in order with the product, I will add a "Buy this" button on that page.

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I have ordered 2015 wall calendars which will have a different plumeria painting for each month.  They will be offered on my website for $15.00 plus shipping.  More details after I receive them.

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I am calling this one "New Beginnings" because of all the buds.

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I have been taping around the painting area to keep a nice clean border and it is easier to frame a painting when the artist does not paint all the way to the edge of the paper. The fridge is in the photo so you can see how large this project is going to be.
The sketch will be on a separate piece of paper and when the purchaser and I are happy with it, it will be transferred to the watercolor paper.

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I ended up trimming the backboard so that I could reach the center of the painting. Wet one side of the paper, flipped it over to the painting side and wet that too. Got rid of as many bubbles as I could by wetting the board under the bubbles. Stapled the wet paper to the board. A couple of bubbles still. Better to have too many than not enough staples. Note- gatorboard is not the same as foamboard which will bend as paper shrinks. Smaller paper can be soaked in a clean bath tub.

                 

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I'm pretty excited!. Received the 51x10 roll of 156# Arches watercolor paper today. I cut off the size I need for the new Celadine Plumerias painting, and am trying to flatten it before I stretch it with water. Thought you might like to follow the process. I taped 6 small pieces of gatorboard together to have a lightweight board to attach the paper to. It will be light enough to turn (vs. plywood) as I paint. The outer edges of the paper are 36x46. The painting will be 30x42 The board is 46x48. I may have to trim the board to reach all sections of the painting.
   

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Besides the craft/art fair, the golf club vendors will demonstrate, and the pro shop will have merchandise 50% off. This is a popular fair in Princeville on Nov. 8 from 9 to 4 just before the holidays. If you are on the island, be sure to drop by.  I will also be at the Cliffs condos on the 9th from 12 to 5. and at Kapaa Beach Park on the 15th.

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I got magenta spots on ALL the petals because I did not cover them before splattering magenta on the lower background. It is a staining color. Will try a Mr.Clean household eraser. It is good that I am using 300# paper which can handle scrubbing. Hope to still retain the smoothness of the petals. You won't be able to see the spots clearly but I assure you, they are there right on the whites and yellow!

 

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Getting back to the Celadines. (Have been busy setting up 24 hour caregivers for a client.) Got rid of the petal on the top right from a hidden blossom.Defining the petals.

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