Zennias Last Day

Zennia Last Day
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

Loved doing this little watercolor sketch of some dead Zennias in my studio. The colors and texture will make a wonderful larger painting to me. The red ribbon was really a wild card. Zennias are such a wonderful and colorful flower to me. Enjoy, I did.

Ink Roses

Ink Roses
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

Ink sketch of some roses I saw. I haven't taken them to color yet but maybe someday. This was done in a moleskine book. These are calle Knockout Roses I am told and are very hardy around Missouri area. They were a brilliant red.

Roses

Roses
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

Quick little ink line sketch with watercolor of some roses. There is a touch of fall in the air when looking at these roses....they are already turning colors. Wished I could have caught the color better but in a hurry.

Chinese Watercolor Roosters

Chinese Watercolor Roosters
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

Well I had a day in the studio cleaning....whoopee! So I just decided to go through and practice some styles I haven't painted in for quite a while. This of course are the famous fighting roosters in the Chinese watercolor style.
It was really challenging again and fun. Moleskine book. You know how I am about birds and especially roosters..ahahha

Rickys Caricature Bird Friends

Caricature Birds_edited-1
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

We all have dumb friends and these are some of mine. I found these youngsters in the woods this morning. Flying and looking good just wasn't there best suit YET! All I had was folded paper in my pocket to draw on so that's the reason for the cartoons.
No great lessons here except that fun stage of life we all go through....every creature of God's, one time in our life. They were so loud also.....no manners yet.

Turquios Skies

Turquios Skies
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

This is a quick sketch I did while on vacation a few weeks ago. The sky was so turquoise color and my favorite birds, Ravens, soaring on the hot air currents. Man I wish I could soar like that. Ground colors are so magnificent there. I can't wait to paint this someday.
I did this in my aquabee, 5 X 7 sketch book. On this particular page I had a prior wash of matte medium and water before drawing. Ink and watercolor sketch outside of Taos, New Mexico. En Plein aire is always a treat for me but my chemo is driving me more and more into the studio to paint.

Rio Grand River Series

Rio Grand River Series
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

That famous river of every western novel I have read....'The Rio Grande'. This is the first of a series I will be doing from my recent days to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. Trying to do it justice is sometimes so frustrating. My memory, sketches and some photos help but it's not like setting up on the site and painting with all the smells, sounds, sights and mother nature telling you how to paint it.
This is 8" X 16", on archival/acid free board and a watermedia painting.
I hope you enjoy, I did. LOL

Taos Ravens 1

Taos Ravens 1
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

I just love these big ole Ravens. They are gorgeous to me and when they squawk their throat feathers ruffle all up giving them such texture. The sooty carbon black does show some beautiful colors in the wings if you look close.
The mountains are full of these guys and I couldn't get enough....
This is just a quick ink brush drawing done while they were fighting on top of a dumpster. I swear some of guys were the size of an old buick! ahahaha.
Enjoy if you like quick brush sketches.

Taos Rhododendron 1

Taos Rhododendron 1
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

This is one of the sketches I did while on an art trip to my old painting area Taos, New Mexico. The colors always overwhelm me when I go back. The forest and flowers etc are just crazy there. Everyone is probably familiar with these flowers because they grow all over the world basically. I love them with their big bloomy selfs and different greens that cascade from them. I didn't do it justice but I enjoyed it. Done in my little Moleskine in watercolor.
These can grow to 6 feet high over a decade time span. Enjoy

White ibis

Ibise Bird
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

I love these guys and when I lived in New Orleans I could go out and see them all the time. Roosting in trees with mossy growth and other things or in the wet mud areas. They were a super sight. You could draw and paint forever. They hunt like nothing I've ever seen. Beautiful white with big red beaks and legs.....kinda like me..hahaha!
Watercolor and casein on crescent and approximately 7 X 12". Another one of those odd pieces I'm trying to use up. Enjoy.

Red Panda

Red Panda
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

This is the cousin to the GIANT PANDA, big and black and white. The Red Panda is always confused with the Fox or Raccoon family but it's not either. He travels the same bamboo forest as his cousin. You'll find him in the Himalayas and two provinces in China. The zoo is where I find them since I don't go to the Himalayas on a frequent basis. Hopefully this quick ink pen and watercolor sketch will deliver a nice painting some day. Enjoy...Addios
Ricky

Red Footed Booby Bird

Red Footed Booby Bird
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

Moleskine of the this bird that is fantastic looking. It morphs in color until adulthood. The feet are bright red, body white with black outer mark and the bill is a beautiful pale blue. This is a sea bird and they get up to 2.5 feet tall. I thinkd they look very nice. Found on Eastern Island, Midway, ...and Hawaii. Which is where we took a photo of this guy/girl. They nest in shrubs and in this case an Ironwood tree in the National Park. Nest made out of big twigs for a big bird...enjoy. This is the biggest of the boobies. haha

Rhode Island Red 1

Rhode Island Red 1
Originally uploaded by Ricky Holtman

Chic, Chick, Chickun' anyone..? Here he is the top and hardiest we have. I had to find out where my brown eggs were coming from and it is the All-American Rhode Island Red. Unfortunately there are under 5,000 globally and they are now on the WATCH list. We need these big hardy birds for there old genetics...so don't eat him please!
This bird supposedly came over with Columbus, on his second voyage, in 1493. This is done in my little Moleskine and watercolor. Enjoy.

Sugar Pine

I went out to sketch today, since I didn't make it yesterday with my sketch buddies. This old barn was right outside of a little town not to many miles from me. I have a few acres not far away so I'm out that direction frequently. But this time something about the light and textures stopped me, so here's my subject.
But I was really impressed to see there was sugar pine timbers in this old place. For those of you who are not a carver or wood sculptor....this is the mother load to find. Yes, the sugar pine is still there...not my barn but it's nice to know.
Anyway I had to move the silo from up the hill down behind my barn and put a little extension on it. You know how all this goes and then of course I finally got to do the fun part of slinging paint.......God I love being able to get out again.
For those of you who don't know me the answer to that question in the back of your mind is probably..."No those are not local colors, Ricky seldom uses them." But I have fun using my artistic license.......don't you?
I probably won't post for a few days cause' Tuesday is the start of "CHEMO" week again.
God bless.

American Goldfinch

Yes I was doing my plein aire painting and kept looking at this tree....."did someone put christmas ornaments on the tree?" No, as my eyes got adjusted it was a whole HERD OF AMERICAN GOLDFINCH! I had never seen that many in my life. What a blessing that was....all I could do was stare and get my binoculars out. Thank GOD the sun wasn't playing tricks on my old eyes. This is a watercolor approximately 12" X 18"...140 pound cold press paper. Enjoy.
They looked like big lemon drops in that evergreen....strange but beautiful. I'm guessing the black on their wings were really defining them. Thank God for nature and birds. What a nice healing experience. I know everyone would prefer a portrait of the Goldfinch but that's not the way I saw it. God Bless

Ms Azelea

Here she lay on my studio table. I had forgotten about her for a few days. The other day I painted her with all the energy and bravado Ms Azelea was showing. How glorious I remember her being. But now the colors were all muted, dry leaves, and flat, all folded upon herself like some prom dress thrown on the floor. Yes now all the energy was replaced with an air of regalness and some type of majesty. Even now in the throws of of death she still was sharing with me and deserved another painting. I wish I could have done her justice. No hard line used this time, just watercolor and devoid of any volume like before, only flatness or some decorative quality.
It makes me think, while I was painting, is life counted by the hours we are on this planet? Or could it be by the length of time you are remembered through the years or centuries. If this was case it would be me and Ms Azelea sharing timelessness through this watercolor and possible blog. I think I like the later........I choose life.
This was in a moleskine book approx 6" by 8". Enjoy

Colorado Waterfall

Hey Friends,
I was going through some pictures and thought you might like this one. This was painted in Colorado about 10,000 ft. level. Summer before I came down ill. Going there is always a joy and I can't wait to be strong enough to hike up in there again. Of course it was beautiful but you know me ..... I became one with the site and then painted with whatever artistic license was called for to express it. I think every state has it's own special topography and it is all beautiful....maybe just different. Watercolor, plein air, 15"X 22". Finished some in studio due to drying at that altitude. Enjoy

River Bottoms

I did this a few days ago and forgot to post it. SORRY. When I did the sketch of the Missouri River I turned around and did the view behind of the bottom ground. Lots of different colors and you can tell the clouds were getting together for the next big rain we had.

Azelea Plant

One of my favorite plant flowers is the Azelia. So many varieties so I been told. I came across this one and did a quick watercolor study of a sprig off of it. In this study one was bloomed and the others were waiting for their special momemt.
I try to capture the spirit of things as I feel them and I thought this one was gorgeous...believe me I don't do portraits much because I can't do them the justice they deserve.

Missouri River

It was so nice out today I couldn't believe it was me in it.........thank you GOD. This is a scene of the Missouri River. Not a reporting of the river but more of the sense I had of it today. Gorgeous with spring coming on. I was so lucky to see a Baltimore Oriole and a Northern Flicker.......so exquisite. The colors were breath taking. SO , when I got back I went to Wally World and bought myself a pair of binoculars. Can't wait to see that chipmunk that Vickie posted........hahahha. Hope you enjoy the scenery here. Watercolor in a moleskine...Ricky