Pearfectly Paired Watercolor Painting By Laura Leeder

"The pear is the grandfather of the apple, its poor relation, a fallen aristocrat, the man-at-arms of our domains, which once, in our humid land, lived lonely and lordly, preserving the memory of its prestige by its haughty comportment."    ~ Francois Pierre de la Varenne

@ Pearfectly Paired, Watercolor, 10.5" x 11.75"

    Laura Leeder, March 2012

The sun peaked out from the clouds yesterday for a for a few brief minutes and I was able to get a photo of this completed pear painting. 

Here are a few facts about pears:

-they are member of the rose family and related to the apple and the quince.

-pears have been cultivated and enjoyed for thousands of years.

-Homer referred to them as "gifts from the gods". 

This sweet and juicy fruit is not only delicious but high in vitamin c and copper. Pears are often used to create simple and elegant dishes.  The next time you buy pears try one of these recipes:

Combine pears with mustard greens, watercress, leeks and walnuts for a delicious salad.

Serve pears with goat or bleu cheese for a delightful dessert.

Add chopped pears, grated ginger and honey to millet porridge for a pungently sweet breakfast treat.

Core pears, and poach in apple juice or wine.

Have a great weekend,

Laura Leeder,

Watercolor Artist, Creston,BC

A Spring Performance, The Rotary Club Wine Art

"Springtime is the land awakening.  The March winds are the morning yawn."  

  ~Lewis Grizzard

© A SPRING PERFORMANCE, Size: 17.5" x 22.25", $350.00   

    Watercolor by Laura Leeder

This is just one of the paintings that I will have at the Creston Valley Rotary Club, WINE ART event this Friday, March 30th.  This promises to be a fun event!  Several of the Creston Valley's many  talented artists will have their work showcased here. (Who are they?  Well, you will just have to show up to find out!)   You can purchase the artwork and a portion of  the proceeds will help the Rotary Club fund their community projects. 

Oh and did I mention the wine?  A great opportunity to sample some of BC's finest wines, also available for purchase.  Hope to see you there!      

 

Happy Thursday Everyone! 

Yours In Art,

Laura Leeder,

Watercolor Artist,

Creston, BC

TREASURY TUESDAY - Treasured Items Featured From Etsy

Who doesn't like flowers? These bright beauties are sure to add a jolt of energy to you home. This grouping is a selection by members of the art team. Enjoy!

If you had to choose just one...what would you choose?

Laura Leeder
www.etsy.com/shop/lauraleedersart 

"Since I am the creator of the painting and the first real 'viewer' – when I feel satisfied, I put the brushes down and hope that someone else will feel satisfied too."  ~David Lussier 

©Peach With A Twist, Limited Edition Giclee' Print

   Laura Leeder, March 2012

I just received my first run of Giclee Prints of "Peach With A Twist".  They turned out really well and I'm excited to share them. Each print includes a 3" matt as seen here and is packaged with foamcore backing.

The print size is 6"x7" and below each print is the edition #, title and my signature.

The overall size is approximately 9 1/4" by 10 1/4".  

"Peach With A Twist"

Available for purchase in my Etsy Shop.

Retail: $65.00 US plus shipping and handling

Click here to BUY NOW

Happy Friday Everyone!

Laura Leeder, 

Watercolor Artist, Creston, BC

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lauraleedersart

No Finished Painting Of Pears Just Yet.....

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."  ~John Burroughs  

©Pears, Watercolor In Progress, March 21, 2012

   Laura Leeder

And I would add to the above quote:  "and all the paintings that I want to create!"  It seems of late, that I am spending more and more time sitting at the computer trying to catch up on paperwork, or on-line marketing and far less time in my studio!  Right about now....I would love to be sitting on a beach somewhere tropical, looking out at the ocean and sipping a Mai Tai!   

Now back to reality......

I squeezed in some time in my studio yesterday and manged to get more color on this piece.  I've removed the miskit from the leaves, so I can now finish them up by softening in some areas, adding deeper values in others, and reclaim some of the white that I've lost on the edges. Still to do.....a lot more work on the pears and table top.  (right about now I wish I had a magic wand!.....tried wrinkling my nose, nothing!)    

Hope your day is a good one!

Laura Leeder

Watercolor Artist, Creston, BC      

 

TREASURY TUESDAY - Treasured Items Featured From Etsy

Yellows and Grays, The Hottest Colors For Spring 2012 

Punch up your home decor this spring with the hottest color trends. Use the citrus colors of lemon and lime, add warmth and glitter with metal tones of silver, pewter and cool gold. Balance it out with black and soft whites. 

If you had to choose just one...what would you choose?

Laura Leeder
www.etsy.com/shop/lauraleedersart 

Pears, Watercolor Painting In Progress

"Whistle while you work. Smile as you paint. It will remind you (and others) how fortunate you are."    ~Brenda Behr 

©Pears, Watercolor In Progress, March 18, 2012

   Laura Leeder

I managed to get a little bit of color on these pears. (not the best photo, as it was overcast and raining).  What I thought was going to be a fruitful day in the studio, (hey, I like that!), turned out to be a day of spring cleaning.  My husband and I tackled our basement suite, washing down both the bathroom and kitchen.  This was followed by a brisk walk in the drizzle with a friend, a cup of tea and a long nap.  

Today, we'll tackle the guest bedroom, and maybe I can get into the studio for a while. The sky looks clear, perhaps I can get a walk in as well. 

Enjoy your day,

Laura Leeder

Watercolor Artist, Creston, BC

Painting Pears In Watercolor, A New Work In Progress

"Color is the fruit of life."  ~Guillaume Apollinaire 

©Pears, Watercolor In Progress, March 16, 2012

   Laura Leeder 

What a week!  Snow, sleet, rain and more rain!  Today's forecast is more of the same.  A good day to spend in the studio.

This is a new painting I started this week, and the only one that I was able to get a photograph of. By using miskit on the outside edge of the pears and leaves, I was able to work quickly on the background moving around the sawed edges of these leaves.  I think I will leave the background as it is for now and work on the pears and table.  The colors used are Indanthrone Blue, Verditor Blue, Permanent Green Lt mixed with a touch of Ind. Blue and  Bordeaux, all Daniel Smith Watercolors.

Happy Friday!

Laura Leeder,

Watercolor Artist, Creston, BC  

Phalaenopsis, Blue Orchid - A Rare Beauty

"I do not bring beauty to people's lives; I, perhaps, draw their attention to beauty which is already there."   ~George Buytendorp 

©Blue Phalaenopsis (Moth) Orchid, Watercolor Painting

     By Laura Leeder, March 12, 2012

Finally!  This painting is finished....whew!  I've never really paid much attention to orchids, my flowers of preference being roses, peonies, and hydrangeas.   I bought this orchid back in February and I gave it a place of honour on my studio desk.    Through my research and through the  daily connection with it while I painted, I must say, I have developed a new respect and awe for these (dare I say...) beauties?! 

"The most highly coveted of ornamental plants, the delicate, exotic and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength. In ancient Greece, orchids were associated with virility. 

During the Victorian era, orchid symbolism shifted to luxury, and today this sense of magnificence and artful splendor continues, with orchids representing rare and delicate beauty."  

Phalaenopsis (or Moth/Butterfly) orchids are the choice for modern arrangements because of their simplicity, elegance and of course their availability. 

This painting will be available for purchase this November at the Images Art Show and Sale, here in Creston.   I'm having it scanned for giclee prints, if it scans well, they should be available next month.   With this one out of the way, it's time to start working on the commissioned piece....

Enjoy your day, 

Laura Leeder,

Watercolor Artist, Creston, BC

TREASURY TUESDAY - Treasured Items Featured From Etsy

GIFTS THAT BECKON IN SPRING

A unique collection of gift items in beautiful shades of peach, coral, dusty rose and pink. 

Item's selected with Mother's Day in mind.

If you had to choose just one...what would you choose?
Laura Leeder
www.etsy.com/shop/lauraleedersart 

Blue Orchid Painting Taking Shape

"Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for the big one to come along."  ~ Hugh Allen

©Blue Orchids, Watercolor in Progress, March 8, 2012

   By Laura Leeder


My progress on this painting has been slow.  It's been a busy week filled with out of town appointments, and very little time spent in the studio!  Still, I managed to find a few minutes each day to add some color to these orchids.  I now have a better idea of the colors I will use on the commissioned piece.  (a little less violet as the underpainting)


I spent the afternoon yesterday at Art Works Gallery in Sandpoint, Idaho.  The weather co-operated and it turned out to be a beautiful day for a drive across the border. The artist's have been busy re-organizing, and cleaning the gallery, getting ready for the spring season.  You can check out the gallery through it's website or better still, stop in and visit the next time your in the area.


Website:  http://www.sandpointartworks.com


As I'm feeling burnt out today,  I will spend my day catching up on emails, house hold chores that can be done on auto-pilot followed by a walk in the country this afternoon.  Then with all the appointments and necessary household tasks out of the way, I can get back into the studio tomorrow and finish this piece!
(I must get started on the actual commission with these orchids)


Happy Friday Everyone,


Laura Leeder,
Watercolor Artist, Creston, BC

TREASURY TUESDAY - Treasured Items Featured From Etsy

GIFTS THAT BECKON IN SPRING

A beautiful selection of gifts in colors that celebrate spring.  Item's selected with Mother's Day in mind.

If you had to choose just one...what would you choose?
Laura Leeder
www.etsy.com/shop/lauraleedersart

"In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed." 

     ~ Charles Darwin

©Orchids, Watercolor in progress, March 3, 2012

   By Laura Leeder

I am definitely improvising with this one!  My commission is for a blue orchid, my model is a violet orchid.  Blue orchids are rare and if you can locate and get one ordered in, it's very expensive (in my area of the country, that is).  My other option was to buy a white orchid and (gasp) add blue coloring to its soil.  I considered this, but in the end, I chose the violet orchid as it's shape was similar to the envisioned blue orchid of the client.  

No snow this morning, a much warmer day with clear sky's.  Although the forecast calls for a cloudy day, I am hoping the sun will peek out for a short while, and I can photograph the progress of this piece.  I'm headed out into the country for a walk this afternoon and looking forward to it!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Laura Leeder,

Watercolor Artist,Creston, BC

"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success."  

    ~Alexander Graham Bell

©Orchids, Watercolor in progress, March 1, 2012

    By Laura Leeder

I woke up this morning to 5-6" of fresh snow.  As I type this, the snow is coming down in big beautiful flakes and doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon.  It makes me think back a few years ago to working and living in Edmonton, AB.  

I am grateful that I don't have to get outside and shovel the driveway before getting into my car  and heading off to work.  Trudging along in bumper to bumper traffic, worrying about the icy roads, poor visibility, the driver ahead and the driver behind me.     

Today, I can enjoy it's beauty, fill my cup with fresh coffee and head down to the studio, select some music and sit down to paint.

As I don't have a new photograph of the tulips in progress, I thought I'd share this orchid piece that I am working on.  This is in preparation for a commission that I have accepted.  This is my first attempt at painting orchids, so I am treating this piece as a warm up exercise.  

Have a great day,

Laura Leeder,

Watercolor Artist, 

Creston, BC