WHAT is THAT??

Okay, if you've seen my art, you know I'm a bit obsessed with detail.  Too much, sometimes, so I've been trying to loosen-up.  Get more vibrancy in my artwork.  I recently took a couple of workshops with different artists who have a looser style (Ron Stocke: http://www.stockeartstudios.com/ron.html and Carole Hillsbery: http://azwatercolor.org/ch/) that I like.  I think something is finally sinking in -- in  Carole's workshop, I created several pieces that were so much fun!  Colorful, vibrant.  When I showed my Mom this one ("Oregon Coast" watercolor 22.5" x 30") she said, WHAT is THAT?  and, You aren't going to paint like this all the time, are you???   I have to laugh...wellllll, maybe a little! 

This one on the right is "Horse and Carriage" (watercolor 15" x 22.5") -- I do love the colors.  It took more than I'll admit to resist getting out my teeny-tiny brush to start noodling with the details...I'm learning (albeit slowly...) when to PUT THE BRUSH DOWN! 

These paintings and more are for sale, and will be posted on my website sometime in the near(?) future.  But, if you are interested, please contact me via my website @ http://www.michelleamicucci.com/.

Happy painting!

Trial and error...

This piece was done with permission from a photograph by Lincoln Rogers (http://www.lincolnrogers.com/).  It doesn't do his beautiful photograph justice...I generally don't work from a beautiful photograph because I like to try to make my painting more interesting than a photo, but this intrigued me quite a bit.  Sadly, it's not what I had hoped, but I'll try again and see what happens.  It's an interesting subject that deserves another look!  This is done in colored pencil - maybe I'll try again in watercolor or oil...

I volunteer at the West Sound Wildlife Shelter (http://www.westsoundwildlife.org/), where they rehabilitate - and release back to the wild - injured/sick wildlife.  It's a great experience and a I learn something new every time I'm there.

 I did a little painting of one of the oppossums recently released as a gift to another volunteer. It's a nice little painting. I hope to do some painting of the other critters there one of these days as well! 


That's it for now - June already?  Where does time go.  My quote for the month: 

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.  -- Bill Cosby