Fred And Ginger-Beijing Ballroom Dancers

Close up

Acrylic on Canson coldpress watercolor pad. Approx. 10x12 in

Here's Astaire and Rogers doing their thing in Beijing.

The acrylic is applied thinly in layers, like watercolor.

This is going to Vern Schwarz, a very accomplished artist with whom I have had many email conversations. He is an all around great fellow and I'm proud to call him a friend.
Yes, sadly, this is the last one and finishes TFM project. All in all it has been a wonderful experience conspiring and transpiring with a great bunch of fellow artists! I love ya all!

Get ready, Vern...This is heading home to you!

I don't need an umbrella...I love the rain

This is my contribution to Vern's sketchbook. He said we could paint anything and around the time I was thinking of what to paint- It happened to be a time I was getting mesmerized by rain reflections on London streets.

So I decided to do this piece of an old man I saw around Holborn in London enjoying the rain without an umbrella. Hope you like it Vern-It got me back to using watercolour and gouache.

Are these the last books coming to me or do I still have more to do?

HENRY...for Vern Schwarz

8x10 oil on watercolor paper

Actually this painting is incorrectly titled, it should read: Henry, My Nemesis! I met Henry while painting plein air a while ago. He walked up to me wearing a blue on blue polka dot choker collar, he had a sleek short hair cut, and the wildest pompadour, complete with a topknot. His owners graciously allowed me to photograph him; Henry was obviously comfortable in front of the camera as every shot of him was perfect, all ready for a painting.

Now, for the nemesis part. Henry has been the most difficult dog I have ever painted, I should know, this is my 4th painting of him. My other 3 Henry paintings...ready for a bonfire come winter...include his full body. Something about that wild hair-do with the sleek body did not make a lovely painting, too much of a textural weird contrast or at least that's how I've justified those 3 bonfire failures. My husband (thanks, honey) has assured me "not all dogs are supposed to be painted and this one is just ugly".

I still don't know why I selected Henry for Vern's book, I just felt compelled to paint this dog and succeed for once. Cropping that wild pompadour with the topknot and focusing on Henry's face was a huge help, I am pleased with my 4th and I guess final painting of Henry.

Afternoon Siesta - Michelle Burnett

Afternoon Siesta

approx. 10"x8.5", oil on watercolor paper

Here is my contribution to Vern's sketchbook. Everyone had been painting European scenes so I was going to dig out some of my old photos to paint (pre-digital!) but then I came across this photo I took last summer at Universal Studios. Through the magic of Hollywood...here is my faux European scene of a young man taking a break and texting on the phone.

The Wise Quacks-Dean H.

Left page

Right page

An oil painting for James Parker's book which is a part of The Flying Moleskin Project. The painting on each page is approx. 8"x5". A fellow wildlife fan, James chose wildlife as the theme for his book. Hope you enjoy it, buddy!

Looks as though Mom is taking the class on a field trip. They just left a sidewalk where the little ones played "don't step on any quacks". They are very smart, high achievers...thus my title: "The Wise Quacks".

I added liquin to some of the slower drying colors. As soon as it drys, it'll be off to you Vern!

NFS
^{matthew 5:8} Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Next voyage - April 9

Everyones work is so varied and beautiful it's exciting to be able to see each person's  artwork before you.
Thank you all for making this project so special.

BTW -  Liz you win the most creative dare devil post this time.

Vern Schwarz's book... a bit of Glamor from Sheila

A Bit of Glamor

for Vern Schwarz's Moleskin

10x8 oil on gessoed paper

Vern Schwarz was nice enough to leave the subject to us for his book. This sometimes is more of a challenge to me than to have a theme. I thought I would go way off the charts and try to paint an homage to the 40's/50's era Hollywood glamor. I love movies from that era. The cinematography was beautiful and the women were always dressed to the nines. This image is based very loosely on a photo of Gene Tierney.

Edward Burton

Lisbon, Portugal

Acrylic 7.5"x10"

This is my contribution to Vern Schwarz's book. When I first came across Vern's blog and became aware of his wonderful work, he was in the process of painting a large scene of Lisbon - actually just the other side of the large archway looking out through it, and since we love Lisbon, I thought I'd do a painting of it as well.

VERN SCHWARZ

    TO THE ART SHOW

Whew, I am relieved to get this piece done and hopefully it will dry in time to send it down the road, like our intrepid cyclist pictured above. Several artists have formed a small group filling paint books (moleskins) with a piece from each artist. This was the brainchild of Dominique Eichi who has spent a lot of time organizing this thing . Thanks Dominique and thanks for asking me to join in. I feel honored. I'm not going to set a theme for my book, as everyone has their strengths and passions, and that is what I'd love to see.
oil on gessoed watercolour paper