Fall 2017

Above is a watercolor I did in response to the October, 2017 Santa Rosa, California fire where 2800 homes burned to the ground. One of the casualty of the fire was the Fountain Grove Ranch barn; an old round barn almost 150 years old. This is my version of the iconic landmark that was on a hill at the north of town. If you live in the US you can buy a print of this watercolor on my Etsyshop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/556889084/santa-rosa-fountain-grove-barn-print?ref=shop_home_active_5


Below is a quick sketch about fall. It is a painting about cotton wood trees by the Rio Grande.

This I did on location in Davis, California. It was on one of that cities many bike trails.

This is a watercolor PENCIL sketch. I like the idea of drawing and then darkening the values with a wet brush. It is fun to try to strategically place the darks and mid-tones.

End of Summer 2017

Another Watercolor sketch of Aix-en-Provence. This is a subject I like to paint. It is a fun city to visit. This painting represents a bright, summer morning in the south of France. Click on image to see a larger view. 

This painting is based on another painting and photo I took when I was in the Santa Barbara wine growing region of California. It is of the Sunstone winery in Santa Ynez, California.

This is a painting I did from a photo and a sketch I did at the San Miguel Mission in San Miguel, California. A happy and peaceful place to go. They have the original murals there on the walls of the sanctuary as well. The area is rich in history! Click on image to see a larger view.

I started this painting on location on the rocks overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Cambria, California. I finished it when I got home to Southern California. I like working that way. You learn a lot. When you return to the studio you have freedom to "romanticize" your painting.

I also painted this watercolor sketch on location in the town of San Miguel. Notice the two paintings of the mission. They seem different in style.

Below is a watercolor pencil sketch of 17th street in Costa Mesa, California.

The following is a watercolor sketch from a photo a friend took when he was in the wilds of North western Tuscany in Italy.

Once again another watercolor sketch of Aix-en Provence. The time is mid-morning. The season is summer.

Beautiful Spring 2017

The below painting is another version of a painting I have painted before; only a different perspective. It is another painting of Paris during a hot and humid summer rain.

Spring is beautiful this year after a lot of needed rain in southern California. Below are paintings I painted this spring. In southern California the first days of spring are richly experienced sometimes at the beach. The "Ride the Wave" watercolor is a demonstration I did in one of my classes.

Below is a watercolor from a class I teach where we paint one of the local chapels in Costa Mesa, California.

This next watercolor is a compilation of three photos I took while I was up in the Napa Valley of California. I grew up in the are just right over the blue hills in the background.

The barn is an old redwood barn in Woodland, California. I discovered it on a farm road in that area. If you are interested in purchasing this painting go to my Etsy shop at: https://www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/KenHarrisWatercolors?ref=hdr_shop_menu&show_panel=true

This watercolor is a concept painting. It is a city scape. It was something that came from my mind.

This is a view and my watercolor interpretation of the seine at night (La Seine à la Nuit).

This watercolor is of an old redwood barn behind a winery on Price Road in San Luis Obispo.

This watercolor is of Pismo Beach, California which I painted on location from the cliff in front of  the Cottage by the Sea Motel.

The boat watercolor started out as a demonstration to my class at Vanguard University, on how to paint clouds. Because it was a quick demo it didn't turn out like I thought it would. (Does it ever?) I thought about the painting and realized it needed brighter color and more contrast. I favor the primaries sometimes. Below is the result.

Portraits

Portraits have always been an interest for me but I have devoted my art time to my favorite subject of landscapes. I have enjoyed studying the portrait lately. Below are a few studies I have done from copying other artist or photographs. Click on any image to see a larger view.

The above portrait rendered in watercolor is from a photograph. The pencil drawing below is also from a photograph. I changed the color to from grey graphite to sepia in Photoshop. It is a lot warmer.

The below portrait is a study of an oil painting by Andrew Loomis. I rendered it in Watercolor.

Below is a pencil portrait I did from a reference I found. I colorized it in PS.

Pencil portrait study with an Google Android sepia photo filter. Study of the human skull and anatomy is important to draw portraits I am learning.

Below is a profile portrait study. I like the challenge of drawing a subject "correctly". Drawn on mixed media paper with a vellum surface.

The following watercolor portrait I did on 140 lb. cold press Arches paper. It is from a photograph.

Below is a pencil drawing I did from a photo I found. There is a lot of pencil graphite on this drawing.

This pencil portrait, below, is a pencil study I did of one of John Singer Sargent's portraits. I always learn from these studies.

Below is another pencil portrait study from a black and white photo I found on the the web. Portrait drawing is very challenging  because you have to LEARN about construction of the head. But it is fun and relaxing for me.

I penciled the portrait below in 2018 from a photo my wife cut out of a magazine. 

Winter 2017

Below is work I have been wanting to do, mixing pen and ink with watercolor. This is nothing new. I did similar drawings when I was in school. Artist have been combining the mediums for hundreds of years. The first one below is from my sketchbook. The second is the same drawing scanned in and "tweaked" in photoshop. The drawing is of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris.

Another "Paris Painting" using watercolor and pen and ink. This is a late summer afternoon painting of the 12th arrondissement of Paris.

Below is a more traditional watercolor. It is of a Boat Yard in Newport Beach, California. I am trying to focus on painting figures at this time