9" x 12" Oil on Canvas Panel
I broke out the oils this morning! What fun! I'd forgotten how much I like to paint with oils. This painting was from one of Donna's fabulous photos from her trip. I'm going to do another one, larger, on stretched canvas. This one was just for fun and to get back into the oils.
9" x 12" Watercolor
What a fun day I had today! Both of my children called to wish me a Happy Birthday early, then Donna and I went to painting class. Donna, being a terrific mother of 5, surprised me with: Balloons, Presents, my own personal Birthday Cake and even Goody Bags for all our friends in class! Talk about your PTA President! She also came back from a 2 week trip with some magnificant photos that we can hopefully turn into paintings!
My kids had given me gift cards from Michael's, so I got some stuff to start painting with oils again. I've been having the itch to play with oils, so the timing couldn't have been better. Last year on this day, I met the woman who would (a week later) teach me that it WAS POSSIBLE for me to paint! So, I've been on this journey for 1 year. I feel that I have improved this year, so there's every chance that I'll be doing even better next year! And, next year, I finally get paid for being old! Can't wait!
9" x 12" Watercolor
Today, I decided to try to paint another portrait, using the things I learned last weekend. This is from a photo I have of my stepdaughter, Cathy, when she got to swim with the dolphins. I'm pretty happy with it - even though it doesn't really look just like her. But, the "feel" is there.
12" x 16" Watercolor
After two days of feeling totally out of my element, I decided to paint a landscape today. This is from a photo that my Tuesday instructor, Pat, gave us as homework. It's a familiar scene from Rainbow Springs State Park. I'm still not really finished with it, but after yesterday's fiasco, I really wanted something else to be on top on the blog!
Well, I finally made it through two grueling days of Workshop! I can't believe that I actually painted a portrait! Or, make that, TRIED TO PAINT A PORTRAIT! First came the drawing (which I don't do well), and then all the shadow painting (which I kinda liked), and even with Janet's help, I still think any 3rd grader could do better. This is not an area that I am comfortable with. But, I am proud of myself for at least trying. And, I have another workshop scheduled for next month! Landscapes - maybe I can do better there.
10" x 8" WatercolorThis is just a quick practice piece that I did in Marilee's class on Monday. Sometimes I miss the changing of the seasons -- but for me, Fall only just meant the beginning of Winter, which I can do without! Here in Florida, Fall is more subtle -- cooler mornings and evenings - some trees lose their leaves, some don't - and Winter still comes, just not as horrible!
Exciting weekend coming up! I'll be attending a workshop by Janet Rogers. She'll do a demonstration tomorrow at Watercolor Club, and then workshop on Saturday and Sunday. Can't wait!
12" x 9" WatercolorI worked on this all weekend. It's a practice piece from a watercolor book that I have that's filled with large florals. I'm going to try a few more. I think it's pretty good, if I do say so myself! However, it does look better from several feet away!
I worked on several things during classs today -- none are ready to be posted yet, but if I can get some more painting time in tomorrow, they might get finished.
9" x 12" Watercolor
This was a quick painting we did in class yesterday. Pat gave us a photograph, and we all painted it quickly. Of course, they were all very different.
