Southern Colorado Watercolor Society Aquarius State Exhibition 2020 Acceptance

Pleased to have my painting, “Pond Lily,” included in the Southern Colorado Watercolor Society Aquarius State Exhibition 2020.  The exhibition will hang from January 5 through February 26, 2020, at Pikes Peak Library District, Library 21c, located at 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.

Pond Lily, 10 x 10, Watercolor ©J. Cellucci

PPWS International Watermedia 2019 Acceptance

My sincere thanks to juror, Martha Mans, AWS, for selecting my painting, “Pond Lily,” for inclusion in International Watermedia 2019, which is the biennial open, juried exhibition of the Pikes Peak Watercolor Society.  The exhibition of 100 works will hang from June 4 through July 30, 2019, at Pikes Peak Library District, Library 21c, located at 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.  There will be an Opening Reception and Awards Presentation on Thursday, June 13, starting at 5:00 PM.  Awards will be presented at approximately 6:00 PM.

Pond Lily, 10 x 10, Watercolor ©J. Cellucci

Early Crocus

After not painting for a long while, I decided to do a small watercolor of crocus flowers.  Also wanted to try a sample card of Daniel Smith paints.  Lavender and Lilac were the perfect colors for this and, even though they do contain white, they layered pretty well.  It confirmed that I can still paint, even when put off for such long periods of time!

"Early Crocus" 6"x6" Watercolor ©Johanna Cellucci

PPWS 2018 Members' Show

The Pikes Peak Watercolor Society will be holding a Members’ Show of "miniature" works at the Plaza of the Rockies from March 2 to April 2, 2018.  The venue is a premier downtown office building at 111 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.  They host various exhibitions every month and are very accessible to the public.

I will have two of my 6" x 6" florals in the show.  There will be a First Friday Art Opening, March 2, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

 "Blushing Peony" 6" x 6" Watercolor ©Johanna Cellucci

Easter Lily, 6” x 6” watercolor, ©Johanna Cellucci

Blushing Peony

Took a picture of this flower at a newly discovered nursery early this spring. I believed it to be a peony, so I did some research and discovered that it is an Itoh Peony, a cross between a tree and herbaceous peony. It is describe on the Peony Farm website as "white to pink/lavender petals, almost as if somebody painted it with watercolor." Well, how fitting that I chose to paint it! My photo led me in a different approach to start this small 6x6 inch piece. I first put in the shadows on the petals with "neutral tint," after which I added many light washes of yellow, red and some blue pigment. Here is the result for what I'll call "Blushing Peony."

"Blushing Peony" 6" x 6" Watercolor ©Johanna Cellucci

Peony

Had planted this peony a few years ago and captured a photo of the first bloom last spring.  Wanted to paint it as I like the center on this "Bowl of Beauty" variety. Had started this small 6 x 6 inch painting a few months ago and decided to finish it. Might do another small peony painting just to keep me in the habit of painting.  It took a workshop to get me back, and I don't want to let it drop again. Posting might help toward that end as well.

Peony, 6 x 6 inch, Watercolor ©J. Cellucci

Crystal & Cherries Workshop

Attended Soon Young Warren's "Crystal & Cherries" workshop June 22 - 24, 2017, at Cottonwood Center for the Arts in Colorado Springs, CO. The 24 attendees all worked on the same subject with the drawing and steps provided. I surprised myself in completing this painting in a little more than two weeks and am rather pleased with the results. Learned that this seemingly complex subject can be accomplished by working it overall with glazes of rich color for a stunning effect. I will treasure this piece for the valuable lessons learned and because it contains Soon's masterful strokes as she demonstrated her techniques directly on the painting.

Crystal & Cherries, 15 x 22, Watercolor, J. Cellucci

the result of a workshop with Soon Y. Warren

International Watermedia 2017 Acceptance

My sincere thanks to juror, Soon Y. Warren, AWS, NWS, for selecting my painting, “Green Eggs and Salt,” for inclusion in International Watermedia 2017, which is the biennial open, juried exhibition of the Pikes Peak Watercolor Society.  The exhibition of 100 works will hang from June 2 through June 24, 2017, at Cottonwood Center for the Arts located at 427 E. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.  The exhibition will open on a First Friday, June 2, and there will be an Awards Reception on Wednesday, June 21, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Green Eggs and Salt, 10 x 14, Watercolor ©J. Cellucci

PPWS 2016 Members' Show

This is the eleventh year I am participating in the Pikes Peak Watercolor Society Annual Members’ Show.  The Artists’ Reception was held on November 11 at the beautiful Pikes Peak Center.  I haven’t been painting but did not want to miss being a part of this show, so I pulled out a poured watercolor piece and had it framed.  I had redone it with better color results, but always thought this one had a certain appeal.

The show will be open for viewing through January 4, 2017, to ticket holders during regularly scheduled events.  There will also be two special receptions open and free to the public on December 9, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and on December 17, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Water Lily I, 11 x 11, Poured Watercolor ©J. Cellucci

Only Exhibition Entered this Year

Thank you to the juror, Linda Baker, AWS, NWS, who has selected my painting, “Green Eggs and Salt,” for inclusion into the Aquarius National Watermedia Exhibition 2016, which is the biennial open, juried exhibition of the Southern Colorado Watercolor Society.  The exhibition will hang from August 20 through November 6, 2016, at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, located at 210 North Santa Fe Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81003.  There will be an Awards Reception on Friday, October 7, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, which is free and open to the public.

Green Eggs and Salt, 10 x 14, Watercolor ©J. Cellucci

Colorado Watercolor Society 2015 First Annual Online Members Exhibit

 "Water Lily II" ©Johanna Cellucci

"On the Rocks" ©Johanna Cellucci

I am pleased to be participating in the Colorado Watercolor Society 2015 First Annual Online Members Exhibit.  I am a signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society, and this is the first time entering a strictly online show.  Including two of my poured watercolor paintings shown above, there are 101 images on the CWS website for viewers worldwide.  This is not a juried show, but Mark Mehaffey was the juror of awards.

Here is the direct link to the Exhibit Page:  http://www.coloradowatercolorsociety.org/online-art-show-2015

International Watermedia 2015 Acceptance

Thank you to the juror, Ted Nuttall, AWS, NWS, who has selected my painting, “Coneflowers on Parade,” for inclusion in International Watermedia 2015, which is the biennial open, juried exhibition of the Pikes Peak Watercolor Society.  The exhibition will hang from June 1 through June 29, 2015, at Library 21c, located at 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.  There will be an Opening & Awards Reception on Friday, June 5, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, which is free and open to the public.

Coneflowers on Parade, 18 x 10, Watercolor ©J. Cellucci

Not Quite Poured Watercolor

Thought this subject would work well for a poured watercolor, but ended up never doing a true pour finding I could not let go of having control of where the color flowed.  So, the first layer was put in with a large brush onto wet 300 lb. Arches CP, while the second layer was done with a pipette on a wet surface using the warm triad of New Gamboge, Naphthol Red and Cobalt Blue.  The yellow areas of the butterfly were masked out after the first brushed application of paint and frisket was splattered on the rocks.  Wetting the entire surface again, a pipette was used to apply the three colors again, with more frisket spatter after it dried.  The rocks had too much color and were scrubbed off with a synthetic brush and water revealing the texture of the paper.  After masking the other markings on the butterfly, I washed over the butterfly using Sepia and started directly painting the shadows on the rocks with Indanthrene Blue and a mixture of the two for the deepest shadows.  Lastly, the frisket was removed, a bit of mixed orange was applied to the yellow areas of the butterfly and the rocks were spattered with the dark mix.

On the Rocks, 11” x 15” Watercolor, ©Johanna Cellucci

At the start, I was not happy the way it was turning out, envisioned tearing it up and finding something else to work on.  After letting it sit for a week, I figured why not just play with it.  The result isn’t my usual work, but does have some interest and surely a lot of texture.

Another Small Floral

While others were taking a 30-day painting challenge in September, I felt like I needed to have something to paint.  I started this 6” x 6” watercolor from a photo of a potted hydrangea that was taken inside a store.  It was lit well enough to give me the needed light and shadow.  Having put it aside many times, I would go back to it building up many wet layers.  Cobalt Blue and Permanent Rose are the primary colors used along with some New Gamboge Yellow.  I enjoy doing these small florals in between larger pieces to keep me in practice.

Blue Hydrangea, 6” x 6” Watercolor, ©Johanna Cellucci

Santa Fe Shadows and Colors

Not knowing what to paint next, I decided to work on this subject which I had originally prepared for a workshop but never used.  It is from a photo taken in Santa Fe quite a few years ago.  The colorful door and the shadows are what appealed to me.  For the most part, Holbein colors were used with some being opaque.  Relying heavily on masking made for much edge cleanup.  The reds in the image appear more saturated than they are on the painting.  The detail at the top of the door was a challenge to do, as well as the reflections in the windows.  I’m not sure of the merits of this painting, but at least it kept me painting on and off as I usually do.

Shadow Play, 14 x 10, Watercolor, ©J. Cellucci

Acceptance for Poured Watercolor

Today, I was happy to receive notice that my poured watercolor floral, “Water Lily II,” was accepted by juror, Birgit O’Connor, into the Aquarius National Watermedia Exhibition 2014.  This national exhibition, sponsored by the Southern Colorado Watercolor Society, is held biennially at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center in Pueblo, Colorado.  Exhibition opens September 27, 2014, and runs until January 3, 2015.

Water Lily II, 11 x 11, Poured Watercolor, ©J. Cellucci

It was my intention not to enter any competitions this year, but try to concentrate on painting.  This is the only exhibition entered, mainly to show support for the SCWS.  With two entries, this poured watercolor was chosen over another more tightly rendered floral.  It does validate this work with its first acceptance into a national juried exhibition and that I haven’t completely lost touch with entering competitions.

Keeping Me Going

Saw this white dahlia outside of a store under a canopy of soft light unfurling into a perfect bloom.  Not having a sunny spot in the garden to plant it, I settled for a picture.  Felt it was perfect for a small painting.  I enjoy painting white flowers, which was done first.  After putting in the dark background, the shadows certainly needed to be deepened.  I’m finding that doing these small 6” x 6” pieces keeps me going in between finding inspiration for larger paintings.

White Dahlia, 6” x 6” Watercolor, ©Johanna Cellucci

A New Inspiration

Recently, I was given farm-fresh eggs by a fellow watercolor society member.  In the dozen, were a few green eggs.  That amazed me as I had never seen green eggs, and it gave me the inspiration to use them for a painting.  Even though eggs are a common subject, I had never attempted them before.  So, this simple still life became a challenge, not only in the composition to which a salt shaker was added, but also in painting the smooth transitions of light and shadow on the eggs.  I also found the shadows to be interesting.  This image tends to separate the colors on the eggs and in the shadows more than appears on the painting itself.  It is painted on my usual 200 lb. CP Saunders Waterford paper, but now feel a smoother paper could have been used.  Colors consist of cool and warm yellows, thalo turquoise, ultramarine blue, with quinacridone gold and sienna, some permanent rose, quinacridone violet and Winsor violet.  I always try to get that elusive perfection but, am for the most part, satisfied with the results.

Green Eggs with Salt, 10” x 14” Watercolor, ©Johanna Cellucci

Whiter Than the Paper

This past Easter I bought a lily for the first time and took some pictures of it.  White is a challenge to paint.  After laying in the dark background, the flower appeared pure white even though the Saunders Waterford 200 lb. CP paper used is more of a natural white.  This is done in a small 6” x 6” square format, which I’ve come to like as it can be completed quicker than a larger painting.  I’m never sure if a painting will work out, but feel this small piece captures the essence of a white lily.

Easter Lily, 6” x 6” watercolor, ©Johanna Cellucci

Something Different

I had taken a picture of goldfish in a pond a few years ago and liked the colors and movement in it.  This is different subject matter for me, having never painted water and fish before.  As detailed as I am, it is impossible to get every nuance of the water and its reflections.  And, as is often said, working from a photo also has its limitations.

I used the sedimentary color of cerulean blue for the water at the bottom to give the effect of sediment at the bottom of the pond.  It is a heavy paint and sinks into the valleys of the paper.  To paint the reflections on the left side, I masked the water "holes,” wet that side and dropped in dark color from the top fish lightening it toward the bottom.

However, there was a problem removing the frisket, which had never happened before.  For some unknown reason, in some small areas and one larger area, it would not come off.  I tried scrubbers and a “magic eraser” to no avail.  The only way to remove it was to scrape it off with an X-Acto knife, which of course damages the paper’s surface.  That spot took the paint and somehow seems to blend in, but it bothers me because I know it is there.  I do not have the patience to do it over, but perhaps will try a similar composition.

Overall, the resulting painting is decent, but not good enough as an exhibition entry.  At least, I am painting and learning.

Golden Pond, Watercolor, 14” x 10”, ©Johanna Cellucci