Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Autumn Road

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.


Monday, October 27, 2008

Happy Birthday To Me!

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!


Friday, October 17, 2008

Cathy and the Dolphin

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.


Monday, October 13, 2008

The Swimming Hole

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!


Sunday, October 12, 2008

My First (and probably my Last) Portrait!

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.


Here is one of Janet's demos. She calls it "Big Eye, Nose and Mouth". If only.............

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Workshop Woes!



This is the first workshop I've ever attended, and it is Intense!!! Two full days of watching demos and painting! It's so cool to watch a well-known artist do her stuff -- and equally as humiliating to try to imitate! I am probably the "baby" of the group in terms of experience, so that alone is kind of intimidating (let's just say that nothing of mine was in "Show & Tell" today) - but I'm trying to stay open and learn whatever I can.



This is one of the practice pieces of roses. Janet Rogers actually painted the rose in the top right for me, and I tried to paint the others. She did tell me that it took her 10 years to master this! So, of course, I think I should master it today! More fun and games tomorrow - Portraits! Hope I can manage that! Stay tuned!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Janet Rogers



Janet Rogers was our guest demonstrator today at Watercolor Club. She paints some amazing portraits and flowers! (That is a mirror above her head so we can watch her paint!) I'm taking her workshop on Saturday and Sunday - I certainly hope I can pick up some tricks from her -- I LOVE the way she paints!

Below are two of the three paintings she demonstrated for us today (all done within about 1-1/2 hours!!!). Looking forward to tomorrow!



Thursday, October 9, 2008

Fall Leaves

10" x 8" Watercolor

This 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!


Monday, October 6, 2008

Golden Poppy

12" x 9" Watercolor

I 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.


Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Lookout Point

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.