Coneflowers sketch

This is a quick watercolor sketch of coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea L.) which I based from the pictures I took during one of the outings I did this month. 
About two weeks ago I joined a group to visit a popular garden park 'De tuinen van Appeltern' in the city of Appeltern here in Holland. The place is a 23-hectare park with about 200 garden designs full of various plants and flowers (check www.appeltern.nl). With little time to spend there, I was not able to walk in the entire park as there were so many things to see and to wonder around. I managed however to take a few pictures of some flowers and some garden models which three of them can be seen below.

Surgeonfish

13x18 cm, watercolor

This is a watercolor sketch of a surgeonfish (Acanthurus japonicas). I based this from my own picture I took from the image of Gregg Yan I saw from www.rappler.com. I love the bright colors of this fish.

Another dog

Below is my second dog project in acrylic. This was the drawing I mentioned in my previous post. I stopped working on this painting in order to see if I need to do more finishing touches on it. I really enjoyed while working on this painting because I particularly didn't expect this result. I'm hoping that the owner of this dog will also enjoy seeing him in this painting.

pear sketch

Just experimenting here with acrylic colors. Did this last month, 12x16 cm.

My small painting space

The picture below is my small painting space in our house. Aside from my painting materials, shelves of books and  other things are also crowding the room. Shown on the white table is a newly drawn dog which I am going to paint soon. Have a nice and blessed days ahead to you all.

My cousin's dog

I forgot to ask the name and gender of this dog. But he/she is my cousin's family pet dog. This painting is already framed, so it was difficult to get the real color due to the reflections on the glass. I used acrylic here and painted on acrylic paper, size 30x40 cm.

Monet's garden and Chagall's paintings exhibition

I know I have been absent for a long time in this blog. Our trip to France was I would say a great one. We enjoyed the garden of Claude Monet in Giverny, now full of flowers unlike during our previous visit. We also visited some of the places in Auvers where Vincent van Gogh had painted, lived and died. In Paris, we went to see the special Chagall's painting exhibition at Musee du Luxembourg. The exhibition is still on going - until 20 July 2013 I think. All Chagall's paintings being shown in the museum are all from different owners, so the paintings are really very special to see in one place. It was very busy and crowded in the museum, there were many visitors that it became very warm inside.
We also spent some time walking around the Montmarte square where several artists are showing their works while also busy painting. During my previous visits in Paris, I never bothered myself to spend a few minutes to look around in the square. But this time being in painting myself, I just wished I could stay longer talking with them.

Our entire trip was not all about arts. We also got to visit family members in France, then spending some days in the Alsace and Vosges regions of the country. Further, we also had a few days in Germany. Anyway I cannot show here all the photographs I'd took during the trip but I have for you a few from the garden of Monet and Chagall's paintings exhibition.

House of Claude Monet

View of the garden from the house

Part of the garden

View of the garden showing Monet's house

Monet's Japanese garden

Closer view of Monet's Japanese garden

View of Monet's garden from inside his house

Musee du Luxembourg - Boutique for Chagall's works

Entrance of Musee du Luxembourg showing partly the long line of visitors

Boutique

Chagall's painting being shown

Another Chagall's painting