I was excited to paint this pump today because I personally like to wear a sling heel and have an open toe.  Turquoise is one of my favorite colors on my palette as well.  I decided to take a look in my old paintings to see if there were any good backgrounds to use the rest of the way in the Challenge.  Yeah, I found quite a few to use.  The problem with this background was I didn't realize that there was still fluid on the paper.  It was this great grayish color and so I had to do a little maneuvering to get it to be similar.  The heel was different from any other shoe I've seen and it certainly would keep me stable -- gosh, another shoe I think I need to own......


I used Quiller's turquoise and also Cobalt Teal Daniel Smith.  I used Moonlight Interference and Silver Interferace by Daniel Smith to give the heel and background a little glow.  Jeaune Brilliant for the sole.


I spent the morning getting the paintings lined up for the rest of the Challenge and worked on seeing if I could pull off a mostly white shoe on Yupo to my satisfaction -- stay tuned.


When I think of Turquoise I think of the SW desert and so it is named:
​SW Desert Platform Pump  6x6 Watercolor on 300 lb rough watercolor paper

It was somewhat of a challenge to get the right shoe to work with this background because parts of the background I wanted to highlight the pump.  I'm not sure where I would wear this pump but what a kick it would be to have a pair.  There were several catchy phrases which popped into my mind but I thought I should reject them when it comes to flames and putting out the fire.....
Anyway, I had to really lay on the jeune brilliant to have it show up on the darker background -- many layers and then finding two colors to blend with it to delineate the shadows and darker colors on the insole.  All in all it was a lot of detail work but I'm happy with the result.  I think I'll resign it -- signature looks a little weak.
Hope you like it too.  

​Blazing Pump  6x6 Watercolor on 300 lb Fabriano

I spent several hours this morning matching the backgrounds I have painted over the Challenge with the shoes I had selected as potential prospects.  It was a fun morning deciding if I could come up with the next 8 days of paintings and which backgrounds need to be painted.


This background had lots of potential to shine with several of the pumps but in the end I chose another shoe that I would love to own in my closet.  I really like the combination of the red and black--no wonder since I am a Black Tornado!  The shimmery cast of a silverish glow made it a little more difficult to paint but I learned a lot in the process.


I painted the entire shoe Brilliant Cad Red and then Carbon Black in the parts of the shoe that were black.  I placed some netting over the shoe while it was still damp and lightly brushed over the areas to be cast in the shimmer with a broader brush.  I weighted the netting down with another matboard and let it dry.  I wanted it to be very subtle so I could build on it or lift depending on what needed to be done.  I did decide that the red should be Quinacridone Coral and lightly brought out the background to match the more brilliant color.

I picked this shoe to paint last year as one I would love to really have in my closet to wear.  I liked the darker reddish hue to the shoe's python leather and of course the trademark of the red inside heel and sole.  It was a tougher color with all the shadows to paint than I thought earlier.  I tried a number of reds, dark reds, red browns and used a number of them mixed to try and get the variety of colors in the shoe but remain homogenious(sp).  I also decided to outline with darker watercolor pencils.  In the end I also used interference red to give the color a little lift.  The background reminded me of trees in a tropical jungle where the pythons might live--safe with this painting.
​Red Python Pump  6x6 Watercolor on 300 lb watercolor paper

I had completed this background in the first week and decided to use it with a shoe rather than what I had originally planned since I'm on this shoe "kick" for this Challenge.  Love the background and this shoe fits is perfectly.  I might have to darken the background in a few places to bring the shoe forward -- but that will be before I put it on the website for sale.  It is a very rainy day outside for day and many days to come so I needed to think about bright colors and spring coming soon.  Hope you like the colors and the shoe too.

Spring in Your Step Pump  Watercolor on 6x6 300 lb Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper.  I used both Dr. Ph. Martin Hydrus Watercolors (Brilliant Cad Red , Hansa Yellow Light,  Hansa Deep Yellow, Indian Red and Red Oxide) as well as Cadmium Yellow Pale for the final layer of yellow and Jeune brilliant for the sole of the shoe.  
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​This is a painting I started about a month ago.  There was light coming from two sources and I had to decide which source I was going to use to finish the painting.  The aquabord surface often takes the paint differently when adding layers of watercolor washes.  I did quite a few before I could get the floor dark enough to make the shoes shine.  I might still have some tweaking to do in the shoes themselves but am happy with the floor and background.  We will see what my critique group has to say tomorrow.  I really do appreciate Lindsey Curry sharing this photo of her daughter's toe shoes for me to paint.  She owns a Footnotes dance studio in Ceres CA.  We have become friends through Visi and she also is a very good photographer..

I can either put it behind glass if it is going to an exhibition or will seal it so it can be framed without glass.
Little Ballerina Toe Shoes  20x16 Watercolor on AquaBord panel.

I didn't want anyone to think I haven't been in my studio today painting for Day 15.  I've been preparing and modifying the pieces to be in this painting so not only the design will be good but the color pattern in the purses and clutches will be right.  This shoe is a knockout and you don't get any clues from the sketch.  You'll have to wait......  I'll be painting tonight but don't want to rush it.  I'll post here tomorrow the finished result.
​This painting isn't titled yet and is a 12 x 12 piece of Fabriano watercolor paper 300 lb.

I started working on two paintings late on the 14th.  My sister-in-law took this underwater photo as part of the rescue project studying the destruction of the Coral Reef on the Big Island in Hawaii due to the change in the ocean's temperature.  The coral is so beautiful and I wanted to pay tribute to the coral and hope that others will contribute in any they can to help reduce the number of coral which will not recover from this change in the ocean temperatures.


I started by masking the lightest part of the coral using a nib and Incredible White Mask.  I then sprayed the yellow in the middle, the turquoise blue on the top and sides and then the blue aqua on the bottom.  I used sepia and a little of the phalo blue to begin the darker structure underneath the coral.  Tomorrow I will begin the process of both lifting and adding color to make the coral's structure come out.  It could take me longer than one day tomorrow.  I want to do this one justice.  I needed a break from my shoe series as well.
​The Big Island's rescue of the coral reef project   12x12 Watercolor on 300 lb.

I decided to have a little fun and go from a simple design to something more geometric in the design.  This was fun and a lot more work for a small painting.  Wouldn't it just be great to have a closet full of awesome purses to choose from when we are going out in our Classic Snakeskin Pump for the evening?  Well it is kind of a fantasy since I only wear pumps on special occasions but I'm ready for one.

A lot of times I mix my blacks but not in this painting.  I used Lunar Black (Daniel Smith).  I used a blend of different reds already on my palette (not sure which was which).  Then I mixed in the Interference and Iridescent colors from Daniel Smith to give the painting some "BLING".  My idea is to paint this again larger before the end of the Challenge.  It was really fun.  Any favorite purses you think would be appropriate -- send me the photos please.

Classic Snakeskin Pump  6x6 Watercolor on 300 lb. Fabriano watercolor paper

Well I love this background - several of my favorite colors--magenta, gray blue, and black. It was late and I forgot to get a photo of just the background.   I would buy this shoe in an instant because it makes me feel "classy" and "sassy" just looking at it.  It was late last night when I finished painting but I'm very happy with the result.  Can you ever have enough shoes?  or shoe paintings?  Stay tuned.   Comments??


This painting is done on 300 lb Fabriano which takes the Dr. Ph. Martin Hydrus watercolors very well although the shoe itself was painted with tube paints.  I used Opera, Payne's Gray and Smalt Genuine.

Classy Sassy Pump   6x6 Watercolor on 300 lb Fabriano watercolor paper

​Wow - can't believe we are all well on our way into this Challenge.  I am having so much more fun this time with this subject.  Wait until you see them all hung above my closet doors!  Great decorating idea and talk about saving money......  just kidding.  

I didn't get a photo of the background before starting on this yesterday.  Finally got all my Xmas decorations down and put away so that took most of my day.  

Anyway  I am in such a great place in my life that dreaming of being somewhere tropical on a vacation was high on my "dream" list today.  I am going to be wearing a shoe like this in June when I go to Cabo!  If you are interested in how an artist can afford to do that you'll have to message me to find out.  I did use my artistic license to change a few things on the shoe I was referencing but overall I love it......  I will need to be painting some more backgrounds today.  

Please comment......

Fun in the Sun Pump
6x6 Watercolor on AquaBord 2" Cradle

I really liked the flowers on this shoe and had an idea which had to be changed because my blues got too dark.  That's life when you paint.  Now could I make this a "happy" mistake.  As I've said before Dr. Ph. Martin Hydrus watercolors are staining -- especially the darker pigments.  Even though these are diluted when sprayed they take to the clay surface and penetrate it so even though it can be lifted with scrubbing without damaging the surface, I didn't want to go there.  So I let the colors be the colors of the flowers on the shoe.  I did lift out the whites as much as possible and brought out more brilliant pinks for the toe.  The webbing suggests crystals like frost so that gave me the idea for which the name reflects -- this shoe is stepping out of winter into spring.  I'm happy with the result and the flowers will have to emerge on another shoe some day -- maybe even during the Challenge.
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​Stepping Into Spring Pump  6x6 Watercolor on AquaBord 2" cradle

This painting went through another stage in creating the painting I had envisioned from the beginning.  It has a totally different feel which I hope the viewer sees.  It was a little more work than I really had anticipated but I'm finished.  I didn't like the shape of the first shoe and had to add to the toe.  I wanted the background to represent a winter scene so added some white and then ended up spraying with toothbrush pearl white and the same blue in the shoe which is an Iridescent Electric Blue.  It is difficult with the shine coming off the shoe to photograph it.  It will be interesting to see when it is varnished (sealed) how that affects the color.  I learned a thing or two on this one.  See previous posts
​"Icy Winter Pump"  Watercolor 6x6 AquaBord 2" Cradle

I decided to improve upon my first painting which was posted on Jan 4th.  I will show the progression below of the three photos.  I am finally pleased with the outcome.  Will post on Day 7
I decided that the background needed some "heart" sentiments to push the shoe forward and I didn't particularly like the pink in the background around the shoe.  I added more of gamboge and yellow to the background around the lower part of the painting since the supper left corner had some so achieve some unity of color.  It will need to be sealed with Archival Varnish.  When you paint on AquaBord the colors will be even more brillant after spraying and adding layers using brushed layers of the same medium.  Comments anyone?  Don't we all love Valendtine's Day -- what a nice gift for a special lady......  The two previous positings can be seen on my www.diananadal.blogspot.com site.
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This is really my Day 2 in the Challenge.  Hopefully I will catch up before the end of the Challenge.  I did do this more quickly today because I had a lot going on.  I love the background but the "blue" in the pump could have been a bit lighter.  I can still change it at some ponit if I want before sealing it.  6x6x2 AquaBord cradle entitled:  Icy Winter Pump

This is my Day 1 and I'll get caught up before the end of the month hopefully.  It was quick and lots of fun lifting in the middle of the night on the sole of the pump.  I liked the variety in the hearts on the toe of the pump but really want to do more with the background so you may see a change here before long (tomorrow).  6x6 AquaBord 2" cradle using watercolor and it will be sealed eventually.  "Be My Valentine Pump."  

Unfortunately I couldn't start on January 1st but decided I should still join the Challenge today.  I do really like how it makes you inspired and since I already paint every day it doesn't put that much more pressure on my schedule.
I hope you will enjoy my posts here and on my blog on my website.  Take a peek at Leslie's website where almost a thousand artists are posting as part of this Challenge.  I would love to see your comments and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
It is easier for me to do 4 at a time when using the 6x6 AquaBord cradles.  Here I've selected four"pumps" which goes along with my series from last year. I next decided on the webbing pattern and which colors I wanted to use.  Tomorrow I will add the details of the shoe to the background.  It is so much fun......  and let me be the first to get your thinking about Valentine's day.  I'll post the progress.

This is the underpainting and I really love the colors and how they blended in the spraying process.  Several family members don't want me to change a thing and just hang it.  I am trying to be brave and look at the shapes to develop an abstract painting coming out through the colorful backdrop.  I feel some movement coming from the left but don't want it to overtake the beautiful colors on the right.  I see several interesting shapes to develop so wish me luck.  If you have comments I hope you know they are always welcomed.

Yesterday the wind stopped long enough for me to be outside and be able to spray over the webbing.  I had a photo of many brightly colored nets and floats just heaped on the shore and loved the colors.  There was a lot more red than you see right now.  I'll have to develop the net structure throughout and decide where the floats are going to be.  I love this part of the process and the colors turned out especially nice this time.  I use the Dr. Ph. Martin concentrated pigments and spray them on the dampened surface of the AquaBord (12 x 36) in this case.  This time I used yellow ochre, and permanent red, cad red, aqua, payne's gray and phalo blue.  I never know how the colors are going to combine.  I attempted to add some texture with other items placed on the sprayed surface but they don't really show up.

Sometimes I'm tempted to just leave the painting as is and I certainly will be enjoying it in this state for a few days while I decide on the next step.  STAY TUNED!  I love comments and feedback either here, Facebook or my email.

Paintings 3 and 4 of my contribution for the Village Gallery Art Challenge which opens on Mary 5th at 10:00 am.  The one on the right is entitled "Blue Vipor."  I wanted to find a snake with yellow and blue and found the Blue Vipor which can be found in India.  Real snakeskin shoes have always been a luxury and now you can own one without any harm to the reptile and at a bargain price.

Painting 4 is based on a pump which was created from a watercolor.  I entitled it "Watercolor Bliss."  Obviously the background is very typical of a painting with watercolor so I wanted the shoe to be different in texture and color.  

Both paintings are 6x6 on ClayBord mounted on a 6x6 canvas cradle and sealed.  I like the backgrounds just the way I originally sprayed them.