I start with the pinks and reds on damp paper (then quick took a photo)

then I add the yellows and greens

I didn't like how 'stiff' it looked with the colors in the lines, so I spritzed the edges of the flower with water.

The colors flowed into the background, I let the painting dry, then I lifted off the highlights.

After the painting dried, I started adding a dark background for contrast.

The background is still wet.

Day Lily  (7"x 10")
 I deepened some of the colors while trying to keep as much as the 'glow' as I could.

Stage 1: The first layer of watercolor has dried and I lifted off the color where the white background showed through. I first put a layer of Chinese white on those areas before starting to paint to keep the colors from soaking into the paper.

Stage 2: I start painting the dark feathers

Sparrow (4 1/2" x 6")
I added some blue-grays to the background to make the bird stand out more. This works because the whites in the bird are now the brightest on the painting.

Stage 1: I challenged myself with a more complicated scene. Even on a small scale of 5 x 7 it was a lot of leaves to draw. I especially liked the circular ripples throughout the scene. This is how it looks after the first layer of watercolor is dry.

Stage 2: I start adding the darkest blacks where I see them.

Floating Leaves (5"x 7")

Stage 1: After the first layer of watercolors dried, I lifted off some whites in the clouds

Sunset over Lake (7 1/2" x 10")

Ford Hubcap (5 1/2" x 7 1/2")
I thought it"s unusual to capture the subject in a reflection. Plus, I like the dot of red in the car.  I like to think that it's a pair of fuzzy dice.

Gold Fish  (5 1/2" x 7 1/2")
I was practicing painting water reflections

This stage is exciting because of the potential of great things.

This is the stage where I wonder if I've ruined it. (After many years of painting, you get used to ignoring the feelings during this part.)

I've scrubbed off the highlights and started to add darks (on the right side)

A painting is full of decisions: how deep to make the darks, how much dark to include (the photo's background is a lot of black) , how to define some areas with detail and leave some without, etc. This may be finished, or I may find more to tweek. (Purple Poppies 7" x 10")

Phase 1: watercolor on damp paper.

Phase 2: lifting paint off the highlights. (where I applied chinese white before painting)

Finished "Peonies on Chair" (7" x 10")

Beach Time Together (5 x 7)
I took this photo years ago at Ocean City, NJ.  I like the colorful umbrellas and their gold hats.

I hung my paintings at Willow Valley Lakes Retirement Home today for the month of April.