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I am kind of known for painting roses in a fast and loose style.   The process of painting the rose is essentially my one pass approach to all of my paintings.   I like to paint on dry paper and I often start with my darkest values first.  Pulling from dark to light charging the pigments with different colors as I go.   This video is a little rough and not my favorite rose painting but it will give you a good idea of how I approach florals.

Thanks for watching and let me know what you think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRoNgAHXu1U

You know?  Part of the beauty of watercolor is allowing the pigments to merge with fluidity on the paper.  This comes from a knowledge of water and pigment ratio, timing.....something we all focus on.  But I want to introduce you to another train of thought on this.    Brushwork.    I have as loose an approach to holding my brush and I do a loose approach to controlling pigment.   If you watch my video you will notice unorthodox ways of handling the brush.   When I am using the black extended point sable you will notice that I am holding the brush at the far end...and I am rolling it as I go between my thumb, index and middle finger.   Flipping it casually through the wet pigment on the paper.    I have worked so many hours with my brushes this is second nature.....for my friends who struggle with wanting to loosen up but don't know where to start.....how close are you holding your paintbrush to the ferrule?    If you are holding it like you would a pen or pencil you may want to rethink this.    Ok...enough said......Let's Paint!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjQXGG1JV-4&feature=youtu.be

I have made it to Friday...yeah!   One thing I wanted to accomplish before this work week ended was posting my palette.  This is to have one place where I can direct my friends and followers to my basic palette.   This is it.   I am very simple.  Even with these colors I could probably keep it even simpler.   I paint most of my paintings with Ultramarine Deep, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Carmine and New Gamboge.  But this is it.   I also keep and frequently use Titanium White.  Unashamedly.   Sorry transparents......times are changing.    About pigment.  I use fresh pigment every time I paint.  Always.    I used to use exclusively Holbein pigments with great satisfaction.   Since signing as an ambassador with Royal Talens, Canson and Arches I have switched to Rembrandt pigments.   They are intense.   The colors are true to the global standard but they have an unsurpassed vibrancy.   So....with my palette posted......let's paint!   

For my workshop students,  Here is a supply list for my classes.

Pigment, professional grade.  Rembrandt, Holbein, Windsor Newton, Graham,   please bring professional grade paint.  You will be frustrated if you don't.    

Cerulean Blue

Ultramarine Blue

Cobalt Blue

Olive Green

Raw Sienna

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

Carmine

Vermillion

Aureolin

New Gamboge

Titanium White

Brushes,   I use a #6 Rosemary Squirrel Mop, 1/2 angled synthetic shader, #10 round sable, #8 extended point sable.   (you can also use a rigger but once you try the #8 extended point sable from Rosemary & Co....nothing else will do) ......   I do most all of my paintings with these four brushes.   My brush set available through Rosemary and Co or directly from me  (message me).....is all you need!   

Paper,   Professional grade only.   100% cotton.   I use Arches 140# CP or 300# CP.   I also use Saunders Waterford and Fabriano.   You can bring blocks or individual sheets.   I insist on professional grade materials.    You can order all of these through Cheap Joes or Dick Blick.

Masking tape,  neutral...no color.

Paper Towel

Misting Bottle

#2B pencil

small sketch book

kneaded eraser

water container

Surface to tape your paper to.   When traveling by air I bring foam board with me.   In the car I have a large oversized clip board 24 x26.  This is what I paint on.

If this is a field plein air event,  I use my   "Eric Michaels En Plein Air Pro"  Travel Easel.    This kit is amazing and I have used it exclusively for three years now traveling the globe.

If you have any questions please email me at [email protected]

http://www.rosemaryandco.com/gift-sets/brush-sets/sandra-strohschein-field-set

http://www.enpleinairpro.com   ( I use the smaller kit)

Let's Paint!   

For a couple of years now people have been asking to see a video on U Tube of my painting process.   To be honest I have always hesitated for a couple of reasons.   I suppose it felt like I would be essentially giving away my process that I have spent thousands of hours and dollars refining.   I don't know if withholding made me a selfish person or a smart person.   This was one reason.   The other reason was wondering if what I had to offer was really of any merit.   Am I doing anything any different from the next watercolor artist?  Am I that unique?  Yesterday I had the realization that it was time.   I am trying to develop a workshop schedule and as a relatively new artist I need to get my name out there.    I have brushes with my name on them....I have corporate sponsors.....which still amazes me......but what I do not have is art groups asking me to come and workshop with them.    I thought maybe publishing a video would inspire confidence that my process can be embraced by watercolorists at every level.     With that said,   I offer a quick video demonstration, under 8 minutes in length in which I paint from start to finish an 10 x 14 transparent watercolor.    I use only four pigments and two brushes.   The music on the video is "The Blowers Daughter".  I am using the Squirrel Mop and the Extended point Kolinsky Sable from my Sandra Strohschein Rosemary Brush Set.  The pigments are Rembrandt, French Ultramarine Deep, Cerulean Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna and Cobalt.  (Sorry 5...I forgot the Cerulean) .  The paper is Arches 140# CP.

Here are the links to my brush set which I sell from my own inventory or you can order direct from the company.    And also the link to the video.   God Bless you and and "Let's Paint"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjQXGG1JV-4

http://www.rosemaryandco.com/gift-sets/brush-sets/sandra-strohschein-field-set

"Portrait of a Master" was accepted into the 2014 Michigan Watercolor Society Competition.  It took honors winning the "Michigan Watercolor Society Anniversary Award"   Juror for the show was internationally acclaimed artist, author and photographer, Paul Jackson.

This painting has so much meaning for me personally.    The reference came during a workshop by Alvaro Castagnet.   I had been watching him paint for a week with unashamed bravado and passion.    Watching this master work, I found myself again and again amazed at his ability to throw paint with seeming careless abandon.  But the mastery lie in a clear sense of a focal point in the middle of water chaos.  This ability to create logical form in the middle of passionate madness clearly articulates the soul of this artist.   I hope to embody these same qualities.  When Alvaro was finished with one of his last demonstrations everyone rushed to snap photos of his painting...but I stood spellbound in the wake of his workspace.   I could not take my eyes off of this scene.....the remains of a frantic, beautiful dance between the artist and the paper.   There is a ton of symbolism in this painting as well which I won't go into at this point in time but it stirs my heart in many ways.   One of the things that I love about this painting is the degree of difficulty for me to execute it.   My brain constantly struggles to accurately perceive strange vantage points...the bird's eye view in this painting was very challenging...not to mention to degree of difficulty portraying glass, wood, rubber, metal, plastic, liquids and squishy pans of wet paint.....all while keeping the spirit of Alvaro's messy workspace.    Yes,  while this is not my most popular painting...for me it is the most meaningful.    My favorite painting.   Good night my friends,  and please...paint.  Paint your heart....don't paint what you think you can successfully paint,   paint something that moves you....jump every hurdle that you think would stop you.....and see where your artistic dreams take you.    Let's paint!