More fun and publicity on Red Bubble

My recent painting Springtime in Venice was chosen as the cover image for the current Works on Paper group challenge on the Red Bubble site. Thank you again, Red Bubble for all the great publicity!
This is a fun-type of challenge where the top winners are chosen by fellow artists. The Prizes? Usually just the fun of participating and the thrill of winning.

I have been looking through my hundreds of Venice pictures and trying to decide on which one to use as my next inspiration. Here is one that has a lot of potential...Nice contrast of light and shadows, nice architectural details. I know that I will paint this one day.

Finding one's own style

Do you have a distinct painting style? Can you describe it without hesitation? Does it reflect your personality and is it really you?

I am still looking for mine. I think that I often confuse personal painting style with favorite painting techniques. I enjoy pouring techniques using some initial masking;I try to let colors blend on the paper as I did in the painting below, Venetian Guardian. Does that describe my style?
Last night, for the third time, I watched Nick Simmons video, Innovative Media, and kept telling myself: that's how I like to paint. But then, I read about Sandy Maudlin's batik techniques, and say: " That's how I would like to paint". I suppose that these are proofs that I am still searching for my own style and am letting others influence me too much.

One of my goals for 2010 is to try to be really "me" in everything I paint.
What are your artistic resolutions for the New Year?

"Springtime in Venice" featured on Red Bubble

I was very pleased to find out that my watercolor below,  Springtime in Venice, was featured this week in the "Art at its best" on the Red Bubble site.

For all of you who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a joyful and peaceful Xmas Eve.

Throwing paint around for the first time in a month

I had not painted in over a month, but today I decided to finally get back to my art and throw some paint around. My, it felt so good even though I felt I had forgotten everything I knew about watercolor.
I want to thank all of you, my dear blogging friends,  who sent me such nice messages these last few weeks as I mended my shoulder, cured my cold and tried to repair my computer.
The following, inspired by the Venice picture in the previous post, is a quick painting on a half sheet of Arches 140 lb. cold pressed. "Spring is here!"