Beyond the Dunes and Potted Geraniums

7" x 10" Watercolor

5" x 7" Watercolor

Here are a couple of paintings that I did today in Marilee's class. I've had company all weekend, and have been sewing a baby quilt, so it really felt good to paint!

Somethin's Fishy

9" x 12" Watercolor

Today in Pat's class we played with latex house paint again! We used the latex to draw the subject, let it dry, and then paint all over it! Below is the first one I did several months ago. I really didn't like doing the first one, but this one was more fun, since I decided what I was going to paint, rather than just make lines, and hope it would become something.

Orchid Day

The Art Exchange is set, and we're all starting our paintings to share. What fun this will be! Thanks to all who are participating! This is a little 5" x 7" painting that I sent to my friend, Barbra Joan, to thank her for our wonderful outing last week. We had such fun with orchids that day! Long story short: This lady was selling beautiful full-bloom orchid plants in her shop - great discounts - so, I had to buy one! Barbra didn't. Smart lady! Once mine got home, it decided that it was finished, so started losing all it's pretty blooms! I just hope that I can keep it alive long enough to make it bloom again!

Interested in an Art Swap?

Is anyone up for an Art Exchange? If so, just email me (nbeaton@bellsouth.net) with your name and address, plus your email address -- and put "Art Swap" in the subject line (cause I won't open emails that I'm not sure of) before Wednesday, June 17th. I'll randomly select an artist for you to send to, and another one to send one to you.


I propose that we exchange small pieces of artwork (no bigger than 8" x 10"). This can be in whatever medium you choose. But, please, no nudes or "shock art" -- let's be kind to each other.



I'll send each of you an email, giving you the name of the person you are to send to, and also the name of the person sending to you on Thursday, June 18th. All artwork should be received by the intended receipent no later than Thursday, July 16th. This gives us 3 weeks to paint, and 1 week to mail.



Please only reply to this post if you intend to follow through -- and, you might forward the information on to anyone else that might want to be included! I'm going to try to post this on Flickr, also, in the Watercolor Group. Here are a few pieces that I've received lately -- I truly cherish them!

Fruit ABC's

7" x 10" Watercolor

Fruit ABC's - Apple, Bananas, Cherries! Another still life that I'm not too sure about. But I do know that I'm not having the best of days! My neck is twisted up like a pretzel, and I'm in a lot of pain, so I decided not to go to my painting class - darn! And then, this *&! computer is driving me nuts! For some reason, it has decided not to upload my photos easily (like before). I made the mistake of downloading a new version of Internet Explorer, and everything since then has been going crazy!

Oh well, it's finally working (for the moment), so I'll just chalk it up to bad Karma! Must go take pain pills now!

A Fun Day with a New Friend

(Please understand, it was 95 degrees and muggy today -- that's why we look like a couple of drowned rats! Especially me!)

I love this wonderful world of blogging! It's enabled me to find artists from all over the country(and the world) and be able to appreciate all kinds of art! BarbaraJoan is one of those artists that I met online. We live about an hour and a half apart here in Florida, and so we decided to meet in Dade City today. We spent several hours looking in antique shops and having a delightful lunch. We have a lot in common, and shared many laughs. I'm so grateful to have a new friend, and to top it off, she rewarded me with a little painting and a bookmark (below)! Of course, I'm such a loser, I didn't even think to do the same for her. I hope we get to see each other again, soon!

Yupo Sunflower

6-1/2" Square Watercolor on Yupo

Today in Pat's class, we played with Yupo. It was the first time for me to use this kind of paper, and I found it to be a little unsettling. For my non-painting friends, Yupo paper is slick, it's kind of like painting on glass. The watercolors slide around and in and out of each other, so it's a little hard to control. But, the good part is, anything that you don't like, just wipe away (even after it's dry)! I might try it again someday, but for right now, I don't think I'm in love with it!

Veggie Tales

7" x 10" Watercolor

I have learned that I can only paint what I see. I laid out this still life, and started to paint it and realized that it wasn't looking the way I wanted it to. So, I took a picture of it, put it in my photo program on the computer, and cropped it the way I wanted to paint it. Once I had that image, I was able to paint it.

I have this same problem with painting plein air. There is too much stuff, and I can't seem to focus in on the composition that I want. I'm going to keep practicing, though, and hopefully I'll be able to "see" what I want to paint, and eliminate the rest!

This little painting is for Pat's class on Tuesday -- we were to paint the veggies that are in our fridge!

Second Sock Syndrome

Anyone who knows me knows what a short attention span I have. I paint for awhile, sew for awhile, read a little, and knit some -- all in one day! A few years ago, I started knitting socks. I love knitting socks, but I truly suffer from the "Second Sock Syndrome"!

Once I have the first sock knit, getting on with the second one takes awhile. Take, for instance the two examples above. The sock on the left was finished over a year ago - it's twin is on needles and hasn't been touched in at least 4 months. The beauty on the right is an easy sock to knit - just simple stockinette - but it's mate hasn't even been cast on yet.

But has that stopped me from starting another new sock? Of course not! In fact, I now have 4 brand new first socks on their journeys as we speak! This is definitely a sickness!

Baza Lakes Challenge

9" x 12" Watercolor

I painted this for a challenge on a Flickr group that I belong to. The photo was taken in Spain. I really like to do challenges - love to see what everyone else does!

My asignment for Pat's class next Tuesday is to paint veggies or fruit from our own kitchen. Never had good luck with that, so we'll see!

Magnolia Blooms

9" x 12" Watercolor

There is a beautiful Magnolia tree that sits at the entrance to our development. I've been driving by every day for weeks, thinking that I should get my camera and take some pics of the blossoms. Finally, yesterday, I did just that. Then, I combined a couple of them and came up with this painting. This time of year, I think most of us love to do Magnolias!

I finally have an afternoon with nowhere to go, so thought I would sit by the pool -- but no, it's decided to thunder and rain! Our rainy season has begun. Poor Barney, he barks and carries on the whole time the thunder happens. We gave him some pills yesterday that are supposed to chill him out - and he was like a drunken sailor all afternoon! I think we'll have to rethink the dosage!

Lighthouse and a Birthday

7" x 10" Watercolor

Last week, Pat told us to paint a Lighthouse for this week's class tomorrow. I really don't like to paint lighthouses, and had planned to take one that I painted last year -- but then in Marilee's class today, I found this image and decided to paint it. It's a little crooked, but I guess it's ok.

Today in class, we celebrated my friend, Donna's birthday! She's on the right. Another student, Mary Jean, is on the left. Several weeks ago, I gave everyone in class some watercolor cards and envelopes and asked them to paint a birthday card for Donna. So she received some lovely painted cards today! She cried! Success!