I painted this tiny (4x6") watercolor after a photo of a friend's daughter. She's just learning to play the violin -- hence the unusual configuration of the instrument (I think perhaps someone out of the frame is holding the peghead.) My painting makes her out to be a bit older than she really is, but I feel like I succeeded with the modeling of the face, hands, and sleeve.

This watercolor is after a photograph by my friend Marc Weber, one of a series. I loved the light and the repeated shapes he found. I feel like I was reasonably successful with this piece; I'm happy with the out-of-focus chair and the strong lighting on the cup. I am trying to resist putting in too much detail.

I'm reading Charles Reid's "Watercolor Solutions", and I think it's just what the doctor ordered. This book is alleviating my uptight, detail-oriented tendencies, and helping me tremendously with specific instructions on how to relax and go with the flow. I heartily recommend this for anybody starting out in watercolor.