Summer Posts 2014

Summer is almost gone. But here in Southern California we have heat. Below is another painting from the south of France. Le Midi. It is of Arles. 

I will begin showing my summer work beginning with this painting of Paris. I hope to move on from Paris this summer, but sometimes I may still come back. If you are interested in buying an original watercolor, print, or note cards of any of my art email me at: ken@kenharris.com.

This is my latest painting I did on the last day of August of this year. It is of Laguna Beach.

The Next painting is from my sketchbook. It is from a photo I took in Switzerland.

Below is a quick sketch of the Huntington Beach pier. 

The painting below is of the wine country of the Temecula Valley, located in southern California. I did this painting on Arches 140# cold press watercolor paper. Arches in my opinion is the best. It is made in France. 

 Paris Street Scene Again

San Diego's Balboa Park

This is in Spain. It was a commission that I did from a photo the client gave me.

Woman Watering Garden

Flowers. The woman above is watering Flowers.

Spring Paintings

These are my latest paintings for Spring 2014. The painting below is of Putney, London. It is from a photo taken by a relative recently. The lighting and the color caught my eye so I quickly painted it. I like the light of the sky's influence reflected on the rest of the elements in the scene. I get a feeling of peace and anticipation in the fading light of dusk.

Below is a painting I did from my trip to Paris to gather subject matter for future paintings. If you are interested in buying one of these paintings or have a question please contact me through the blog.

Next is a painting I did of the Balboa Island Pavillion. It is located in Newport Bay California. 

I wanted to paint more of the bay so I painted it again with reflections on the water. This painting is now available as a print for $US80. It is printed on watercolor paper. It looks just like the original. The image size is 11" x 15". Contact me at ken@kenharris.com.

This painting was quickly painted on sketch book paper. I intend to paint again on Arches watercolor paper 140lb., cold press.

From My Sketchbook Again

Below are some of the watercolor sketches I have done these past few weeks. "If you want to be an artist do a drawing everyday" –Benny Bufano. The more you practice art, like a language, the more proficient you become. The street scene below is my latest sketch. I am planning doing it again on 140 lb. Arches Watercolor paper. If you want to learn a language open your mouth. If you want to paint watercolors, "get your brush wet." If you are interested in buying an original watercolor, print, or note cards of any of my art email me at: ken@kenharris.com.

Below is a quick sketch I did of students in one of my classes.

Watercolor Sketches

Lately I have been doing watercolor sketches for enjoyment or exploring the possibility of a new painting. Below are some of my latest sketches. I like them because they are more immediate. They are fresh and I don't worry so much how they will turn out. I feel they are more expressive. It frees me up to paint more. It is important for an artist to keep a sketchbook. Sketching in a sketchbook is like a pianist practicing. It makes you a better artist. The first is my latest sketch I did from a photo I saw on-line of another artist's model. The other artist is a fantastic oil painter from Australia. He was demonstrating how to do paint the model. I stopped the video and took a screen capture and did a watercolor version from that small image. If you have any questions or are interested in purchasing any of my work email me at: ken@kenharris.com

Below is a quick sketch I did in my sketchbook based on a photo I took at Regents Park in London last summer.

Next is a painting I did outside my office in Irvine just after it had rained. Click on any image to see a better view.

This sketch I did this morning. It is from a photo I took in Paris last summer. It is of a crosswalk on bridge over the Seine.

Below is another abstract sketch of another bridge just before you cross the Seine.

This I did the house below in Redondo Beach, CA.

Below is a watercolor sketch I did from a photo I took up in central California. It is an old farm house.

 Another sketch from a photo I took in Versaille last summer

The watercolor sketch below I did from a photo I took in St. Helena, California. I just basically translated the photo to watercolor.

The next sketch I did is from a photo but I rearranged the composition and added a few new elements. I made the road "S" curve more to draw your eye into the watercolor. I painted dry brush directional lines to further encourage the eye up the road. I plan to do more of these. I am learning that the job of the artist is to direct the viewers eye into the painting and to the center of interest.

These loose sketches kind of free me up inside. I just do them. I don't worry. I explore and I learn more. For an artist these sketches get you out of a rut. Sketching like this is like keeping a diary. Instead of letters on paper that are symbolic we have "spots of color" that represent thoughts and emotions.

New Paintings for a New Year

This is a painting I started last semester. I never finished it. I finally resolved a few things in the painting and finished it during the New Year holiday. It was from a photo I saw of Toledo, Spain a from a friends Facebook page. I downloaded the photo and made this watercolor. Click on image for a larger view. If you are interested in buying an original watercolor, print, or note cards of any of my art email me at: ken@kenharris.com.

I have been practicing drawing and painting the portrait in watercolor and on my computer. Here is a study I did from one of Andrew Loomis' pencil studies. I did a pencil drawing of his drawing and then used my choice of color to approximate his values. I learned on this one not to blindly follow a master but use common sense. If Loomis were around he would probably agree.

Click on image for a larger view.

This painting I did above is from a photo I took in the Napa Valley in California last fall. I grew up in this area nearby in Sonoma county so I like to visit this area. It reminds me of "home". The hiker in the painting is a friend of mine from Switzerland that is actually from another photo I took. Just a reminder most of the paintings on this blog are for sale. Please contact me at ken@kenharris.com if you are interested in purchasing a painting.

This is a still life for a demonstration I did for my students.

This is a painting I did a few years ago. I actually like this painting. It is good to learn concepts in painting, but the best way to learn also is just to paint as much as you can. You will fail but you will also learn.

I did this on Aquabee sketchbook paper as a demo for my students. I started it on location and finished it three days later at home. 

Fall 2013 Watercolors

Below is a painting I finished in November. It is of a watercolor artist in Melbourne, Australia. It looks like he is looking for a spot to paint. I saw this scene at the end of a watercolor video. The location looks just like a hill just outside Kangaroo Ground where we used to live years ago. In the background, off in the distance, are the Dandenongs (a mountain range east of Melbourne).

This my latest painting in October. My wife wanted me to paint it and I didn't. Well one day I painted it and starting getting into it. I have gotten a lot of response from this painting on Facebook. It will be in my 2014 calendar which I sell very year.

The painting below I actually started in 2010. I finally finished it two weeks ago. It will be on the cover of my 2014 calendar which will be available on Etsy this year. My vendor name on easy.com is kenharris1.

Paintings From Summer 2013

Below are paintings I have done during the last couple of weeks of this summer 2013. The immediate painting below is the last painting I did this summer. It is of Boulevard Diderot in Paris. The next painting I did on location in Switzerland. We were up in the mountains and you could see the Alps off in the distant. Although I live in California and have seen high mountains in the Eastern Sierras, I also appreciate the Alps because of their own unique beauty. Click on any image to see a larger view.

The painting below is Boulevard Diderot in Paris at sunset. 

This is a view based on a photo I took from the window of my hotel room.

The painting below is a study for a larger painting I plan to do. It is in Crystal Cove state park in Orange County, CA. Part of the movie "Beaches" was filmed in this cottage.

This painting I did one morning in Newport Beach, CA before I went to work.

This painting is from a photo I took in Paris this summer while walking across a bridge over the Seine. 

Below is a sketch I did of a person walking in Regents Park in London

This is also a sketch of a woman leaving the Metro in Paris on a rainy day. I shot the photo from my hotel room like the street scene above. 

Below is Notre Dame in the rain.

This is a street in the town where Versaille is located. Click on image to see a larger view.