Beach Adirondack Chairs...And the Winner is...

"Beach Adirondack Chairs"

 

Thanks to all of you who entered my Mother's Day Contest! You shared wonderful memories of your moms, based on my paintings that reminded you of her. ...And the Winner is Lou Anne P! Congratulations! The prize is a $52 gift certificate from my shop for a large matted 16x20 fine art print of her choice.

 

"We didn't sit on the beach but in the back yard almost every summer evening chatting, laughing, telling stories, playing. My mom and whomever had time to enjoy the moment would choose a spot from her eclectic, colorful supply of outdoor furniture. These precious evenings continued her whole life and I often ponder the memories today as I sit in my own colorful eclectic supply of furnishings on the patio."  Lou Anne

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Beach Girl & Red Shovel - New Watercolor Painting

"Beach Girl with Red Shovel"

Deep in concentration, this little girl is intent on creating the perfect sand castle, ignoring all around her, even the crashing nearby waves! This fine art print of my original watercolor painting will bring back memories of family beach vacations and brighten up your child's room. It's also perfect for your vaction home decor.

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Praying Mantis - Super Garden "Pet"

I know that many of you don’t consider the Praying Mantis as a pet, but I just love these creatures in my garden! ...and I don't even have to feed or walk them! When I find their hardened tan foamy nests, I am all smiles! I know that there will be less damage to my flowers. These insects are ravenous eaters and do a lot to help get rid of harmful insects.

 



These are my photos of a praying mantis egg case (ootheca) with young just emerging. I was exceptionally lucky to be in the garden at just the right time to capture this moment! There had been a lot more mantises clinging to the case before I found it. Unfortunately, I hadn’t initially seen them when I was pruning this bush and got so excited when I did that I let go of the branch, causing most of the tiny creatures to be flung across the garden!

 

I love to watch these voracious eaters on my plants preying on annoying insects throughout the season. It’s neat to see them getting bigger by molting (splitting open their outside skeleton – exoskeleton – and emerging a size larger).
 

 

They have a different life cycle than most insects in that they have three stages: egg, nymph, adult. After the adults mate, the female lays a foamy egg-filled case that hardens. Eventually, tiny adult-looking insects emerge and molt many times, getting larger and larger throughout their lives until they reach adulthood. You may have read about the mating behavior of the adult female who sometimes eats her mate just after, or even during mating. Perhaps not knowing what is in store for him, the male is not deterred from this often fatal process!

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IBIS BEACH BIRD - Watercolor Painting

Ibis Beach Bird

by Barbara Rosenzweig

 

One of the blessings of being at a Florida beach is getting to see the elegantly stunning American White Ibis. Feathers blowing in the wind, salmon-colored legs and beak reflecting in the shallow surf, and eyes searching for the next meal in the blazing Florida sun make this painting spectacular! Whether decorating your home or given as a gift, it will be beautiful in any setting.

 

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BEACH DAD & DAUGHTER - New Watercolor Painting

I love the beach! Ever since I was a little girl, I've enjoyed walking on the warm sand, discovering wonderful seashells - especially the tiny ones - and creating sand sculptures with my family.

I tried to capture those special, quiet moments between a father and daughter on a sunlit beach in my new watercolor painting, "Beach Father and Daughter."

Beach Father and Daughter

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Can't Stop! New Painting - "Basketball Player 2"

I just can't stop! Many times, I get inspiration and suggestions from my art customers. Here is the latest in my series of unique sports figures, a female basketball player. These action paintings are experimental explorations into color and form. Not created by any other artist, these colorful paintings that make great gifts for that special sports enthusiast in your life!

Basketball Player 2

 

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NEW PAINTING "Garden Tools with Sun Hat"

"Garden Tools with Sun Hat"



I love the creative process of gardening. Both my mother and grandmother were gardeners who inspired me. The tools in this painting are theirs and I love the beauty of the rust. This art print of my original watercolor would make a marvelous addition to your sun room or the perfect gift for the gardener in your life!

I thought that you would like to see how I create my watercolor paintings. After starting with a photograph of the still life on my kitchen table that captures the light at that moment, I begin to paint. The green ribbon on my hat blended too much with the greens in the background, so I changed it to red. Decision time begins when I have to plan what type of surface I want my leather gardening glove, rusty gardening tools, and straw sun hat to rest on. At first, I have to admit that I was timid. I wanted it to be a wooden bench, but was not real adventuresome about the colors of the wood. Finally, as you can see in the finished painting at the top, I threw away all inhibitions!

 

 

 

Not quite done. Check the top finished photo to see the refinements.

 

I'd love to hear your reactions to my latest watercolor painting!

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BEACH GIRL WITH POLKA DOTS - New Painting

I just don't know what it is. Walking the beach, I love seeing children playing. I don’t know if it’s because it brings back wonderful, warm memories of my own childhood or those happy days with my kids.
I hope that you enjoy my newest painting.

Beach Girl with Polka Dots

Fine Art Print of Original Watercolor Painting

by Barbara Rosenzweig

 

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YOU ASKED FOR IT! Women in Sports Watercolor Paintings

After hearing from quite a few of you with your recommendations, I started a new series of women in in sports paintings, using the same technique I did with my "Men at Work and Play" series.

The "Runner Woman" and "Golf Woman" are a continuation of an experimental exploration into color and form. I hope that you enjoy them. I've renamed the entire series "At Work and Play."

Runner Woman

 

Golf Woman

 

You can Mix and Match your choice of "Runner Woman," "Golf Woman," "Tennis Man," "Baseball Man," "Man on a Bench," "Golf Man," and "Man Walking with Briefcase" into a wonderful grouping for your home or office!

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/107388931/golf-woman-barbara-rosenzweig-art-print

https://www.etsy.com/listing/107388931/golf-woman-barbara-rosenzweig-art-print

https://www.etsy.com/listing/106988570/tennis-man-barbara-rosenzweig-art-print
https://www.etsy.com/listing/105327033/baseball-man-barbara-rosenzweig-art
https://www.etsy.com/listing/104975785/man-on-a-park-bench-barbara-rosenzweig
https://www.etsy.com/listing/105172837/golf-man-barbara-rosenzweig-art-print
https://www.etsy.com/listing/105164211/man-walking-barbara-rosenzweig-art-print

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New Watercolor Painting - TENNIS MAN

This Tennis Player watercolor painting is part of my new series of uniquely colorful prints of Men at Work and Play. Each one that I created came with its own challenges.

In the bottom painting, you can see that I was almost finished when I realized that it just didn't have the "punch" of the others. There was too much white, too much outlining. I had to do something that gave more weight to the figure, more force in his swing.

I decided to take some photos of my husband, in the same position as the tennis player in my painting. It was fun (not for him) watching him try to balance without falling backwards! I did this to see where to put the folds in his shirt and shorts. Here's the final painting.

TENNIS MAN

Almost Finished

OK, what do you think? Should I continue the series and maybe do another series with women? I'd love to hear your ideas!

To see the others in the series, check out the links below. The "Baseball Man," "Man on a Bench," "Golf Man," and "Man Walking with Briefcase" can be orgainzed in a wonderful grouping for your home or office!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/105327033/baseball-man-barbara-rosenzweig-art
https://www.etsy.com/listing/104975785/man-on-a-park-bench-barbara-rosenzweig
https://www.etsy.com/listing/105172837/golf-man-barbara-rosenzweig-art-print
https://www.etsy.com/listing/105164211/man-walking-barbara-rosenzweig-art-print

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New Watercolor Painting - OPEN WINDOW

What better way to remember a wonderful vacation than a peaceful view of the fabulous Mediterranean Sea and mountains! With this painting you can continue to enjoy memories of this stunningly peaceful view, even after the vacation is over! I hope that you will enjoy this bit of fantasy!

Window View

by Barbara Rosenzweig

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New Watercolor Painting - EXOTIC ALLAMANDA FLOWER

Here's my new painting, the exotic, tropical Allamanda Jamaican Sunset. This wonderful exotic flower grows in Australia, Florida, and the tropics. Known as Yellow Bell, Golden Trumpet or Buttercup, it belongs to the dogbane family. No matter what name it has, I loved painting it! This makes a great gift or is wonderful for you to enjoy in your own home!

Yellow Flower Allamanda Jamaican Sunset

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NEW "MAN" SERIES OF FLOWING WATERCOLORS

I thought that I'd explore a different path with my watercolors. I love its fluid quality and wanted to do something specifically about men and their daily lives. Here are the results.

What do you think? I'd love your comments!

"Baseball Man"

"Golf Man"

"Man on a Bench"

"Man Walking with Briefcase"

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SEAHORSE WATERCOLOR - New Painting

I just had to create the Seahorse as a companion piece to my Chambered Nautilus. This sea creature is absolutely fabulous! I adore the fact that the male gives birth to the babies, shooting them out with violent contractions from his little pouch. Don't you just love that!

Seahorse

Chambered Nautilus

What do you think? Please share your ideas for another creature to add to this collection!

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NEW TECHNOLOGY - Video for the Blog

Sorry to be away for so long! I'm continuing to paint, but also trying to learn how to create videos for this blog and my website. I'd love to feature watercolor tutorials and paintings in progress. Isn't it about time that I came into the modern age!

Here's my first attempt at an introduction to my paintings. Crude beginning, but I have to start somewhere! Just click on the arrow at the bottom left of the video.

Yes, you are right. I do have to replace this soon, filming when the sun is not in my eyes and my hair is styled better!

Suggestions? Please let me know if it "works" on your computer.

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New Painting WHITE CALLA LILY WATERCOLOR

This stunning white calla lily "called to me" at my local produce center. Its fabulous creamy color, great shape, and unusual texture was hard to resist. I had a great time painting it with its subtle gradations of white, cream, and yellow. Adding the tropical leaf helps set off this gorgeous blossom! Enjoy!

White Canna Lily

by Barbara Rosenzweig

Posted by Barbara Rosenzweig

 

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NEW - LEAF STUDY WATERCOLOR PAINTING

I love the tree leaves in the spring with their wonderful fresh colors, textures, and shapes! I tried to capture them in this small Leaf Study, featuring Japanese Maple, Dogwood and Birch leaves. I hope that you will enjoy this little gem!

Leaf Study

Watercolor by Barbara Rosenzweig

Posted by Barbara Rosenzweig

 

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TREE PEONIES & GET TO KNOW YOUR SEEDLINGS

 GARDENING TIP: Get to know your seedlings – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Once you can identify them, you’ll know when to pull ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run. Well, maybe not “run,” just know when to move them if you want those plants to grow in other parts of your garden.

TREE PEONIES: Each spring, I look forward to the gorgeous flowers of this woody-stemmed plant. Although the blossoms last a brief time, especially if there's a hard down-pour, the fabulous crepe papery petals are worth the wait. Once the petals fall off, the plant still retains interest because of the beauty of the leaves and dark, peeling bark.

                           

I've loved this plant for many years and never tire of painting it.

Red Tree Peony

HAPPY GARDENING!



Posted by Barbara Rosenzweig

 

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New Painting - COVERED BRIDGE WATERCOLOR

Bucks County, PA, is know for its scenic beauty and historic covered bridges. I just couldn't resist painting this bridge! Do you have covered bridges where you live?

Covered Bridge

Watercolor by Barbara Rosenzweig

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Posted by Barbara Rosenzweig

 

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GARDEN STRATEGY: NO MULCH, JUST GROUNDCOVER!

I absolutely love this season! With the perfect spring weather, it’s almost a pleasure to do the limited weeding that’s ahead. I say, “limited,” because with the strategy of NO MULCH, JUST GROUNDCOVER, I have very little weeding to do. By planting periwinkle (Vinca minor) in all of my garden beds, I’ve eliminated the mulching that I had been doing for over 30 years. All of my bulbs and perennials come up through it and the groundcover keeps in the moisture, preventing roots from drying out, even in the heat of summer. If you aren’t already doing this, you may want to give it a try – maybe only in a small portion of your garden, as a test patch. 

Red with Yellow Tulips

Grape hyacinths, tulips, heuchera, roses and narcissus growing through the periwinkle.

Bleeding Hearts, violets, and other perennials among the periwinkle.

When the first daffodils appeared, I painted this little girl trying to decide which flower she would choose. She's reaching for one, but looking at another! I hope that you enjoy her, along with my "Yellow Daffodil" painting!

"Girl with Daffodils" by Barbara Rosenzweig

"Yellow Daffodils"


Garden Tips for this Month:

• Some of the plants that may be divided now are primrose, bleeding hearts, asters, primrose, iris, daylilies, and chrysogonum. This is best done before they get too large, avoiding excessive wilting or death.
• To make plants bushier, cut back beautyberry, roses, St. John’s Wort, buddleia, and caryopteris in late March, early April.
• Remove “weeds” (any plants that you do not want growing where they appear) as soon as you see them. One man’s weeds are another’s valued garden addition!

 Primrose

Narcissus

What are your favorite spring gardening tips?

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Posted by Barbara Rosenzweig