Spring Is Here!

7" x 10" Watercolor

This is my entry for the "Twenty Minute Challenge". We've had such a weird Winter this year in Florida! Lots of cold and rain. It's a perfect Spring day today - and I noticed that my Chinese Burgandy shrubs are blooming more than they ever have! Must have been all that rain! So, I cut a branch and put it in a little vase and decided to paint it for my challenge.

Floral Abstract

11" x 15" Watercolor

Wow -- I'm exhausted! Today was another Sue Conner class. It's all day - and it's intense! I'm learning so many things, my mind is in a whirl! In the pieces we did today - we started with making tissue paper shapes, wrinkling them up and placing them on the paper and glueing them down with gel medium. Then when that was dry, we wet the paper and added texture with surgical gauze and jute. Then slapped on the paint without having a clue what was what on the paper! After that was all dry, we removed the string and started making out our shapes. Sue is just amazing! When I was freaking out and not knowing what to do next, she very simply suggested a couple of things - and BAM! It all came together! Still not sure that I could do this on my own, but hoping that I learned enough to try!

Mixed Messages #3

8" x 8" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This is my first attempt to do one of these textured pieces on my own. Not sure how I feel about it yet. I may still do some tweaking. Anyway, they are a lot of fun!

Old Plantation

12" x 16" Watercolor

My friend and nail tech, Karen, asked me if I would paint this for her. It's an old plantation in Southern Georgia that she and her fiance pass by on their way to the hunting cabin. It's fallen into bad shape over the years, and the owner lives in a trailer next door. When people stop their cars to take pictures, she comes out with her shotgun and sends them on their way! Anyway, it was fun to paint, even though I don't like the way I paint buildings. I gave it to her this morning as a wedding present. And, she loved it!

Acrylics Texture Class

This was a very fun class! Our instructors were Carlynne Hershberger and Kelli Money Huff. These wonderful ladies were very instrumental in my success as an artist! They first helped me conquer oils, and later started me off in watercolor. Lately, they've been creating some of the most fabulous texture pieces with acrylics -- I hope you'll go to their blog and check them out!

Here, Kelli was explaining all the different textures that were used in her "Tide Pool" pieces. There's gesso, sand, gel, glass beads and crackle medium. They had already prepared textured canvas boards for us (since it takes so long for the texture mediums to dry) - and we got to pick out an 8"x 8" and a 5" square. Then they took us through the painting - adding textures with tissue and other things, as well as glueing on papers, glass, beads, shells -- almost anything that you can think of! They helped us keep on track and simplify - and I must tell you - everyone had pieces that were simply gorgeous! Can't wait to do more! Yes, of course, I bought more stuff!

Here are my pieces from today. I still have a little more work that I want to do, but not much! I've entitled these "Mixed Messages" - since they both have pieces of paper with words on them. Really, had a blast!

The Experiment

7" x 10" Watercolor

Today in Pat's class we did a little experimenting. She brought in several black & white photos, blown up to 8x10's. We took little squares of paper and found interesting shapes in the photos - then we painted them, using our own colors, and adding or subtracting anything we wanted. I found this to be quite interesting - I think it will be a way for me to start branching out into abstracts, without having to come up with my own composition (that's always the hard part for me!). Yesterday, I tried another pour - I wanted to make a lightning sky -- but it just didn't work as well as the flower. Again, I think it was my lack of coming up with a good design. I'll try something else later!

Jungle Flower

I'm so excited! I did this today - and I think I love it! Below is how it started. I had poured the frisket and let it dry overnight. This photo showes how it looked after the 2nd pour of color - I used Aureolin, Quin Gold, Opera and Red Rose Deep - kind of following my photo inspiration.

Next, I started putting in some darks, using Permanent Mauve. I also removed the frisket at this point.

And here is the finished product! I'm sure I could tweak it some more, but till I take it to class, I'm not really sure what to do next. What do you think?

7" x 10" Watercolor

Perhaps to Pour

Last week I was blog-hopping and found Kathy Wirth. She has some incredible paintings done with a pouring technique that includes pouring frisket. After reading a lot of her posts, I found Stephen Blackburn, who teaches this technique - and immediately ordered his DVD. Then, on Friday, I went to Watercolor Club, where our demonstrator was none other that the talented, entertaining Jean Grastorf!

And, of course, this is her book on pouring!

And, one of the many paintings she brought along to share!

Watching her demo, I was sure that I probably had no interest in the technique - it seemed so painstakingly long!

So then I get home, and there is the DVD from Stephen. I watched it, and something got me excited enough to try! So, I poured the frisket yesterday and let it dry overnight Today, I'll do the first pours and see how I do. I really want to take a finished piece to class on Tuesday!

What's on your shelf?

My friend, Carlynne at Hershberger & Huff posted pictures of her bookshelf today. I thought it was pretty neat - and decided to take photos of my own books. Mine aren't quite as diverse as hers (I haven't been experimenting as long) - but it was fun to see that we share some of the same books!

Notice the Colored Pencil book - NO, I don't do colored pencil -- this is Carlynne's book with her partner in crime - Kelly Money Huff!

I notice that a lot of my books talk about Loosening Up!

I started out painting in oil, but my watercolor books now are in the majority!

And, of course, there was the book that made me think I could paint like Monet! LOL

So, I ask you the question: What's on your shelf?

Plein Air in the Park

Once again, I have proven to myself that I just am unable to paint Plein Air! That said, I really did enjoy myself today - sitting on a bench, listening to the live music, watching the people and their dogs and painting away! Today was a fabulous day for our Art in the Park - in the 70's and sunny -- lots of people were out - and I sold some more stuff! Below are the two paintings that I sold this weekend:

"Just Beachy"

"Floral Bouquet"

Art In The Park

Once again, it's time for "Art In The Park" here in Dunnellon, FL at the Rainbow Springs State Park! There are about 4 different art groups who show and sell their work at this show. When I took my things there this morning, it was about 32 degrees! But, I went back this afternoon, and it's climbed up into the 60's and sunny! Glorious! Tomorrow should be even better, with highs expected in the 70's. And, I sold a painting this morning!

Here are Darla and Joyce from the Watercolor Club, painting plein air - and posing with my dog, Barney!

Painters line up on the walkways -

And, everyone can find a beautiful vista to paint! Maybe I'll take my stuff and paint tomorrow!

Tulip Tree

7" x10" Watercolor

This is my first entry into the blog: The Twenty Minute Challenge

The challenge is to draw and paint something in twenty minutes. This tulip tree sits in my front yard - planted by some former owner. It's always kind of puny, and doesn't get too many leaves on it - but it does produce a few flowers in early spring! It was an interesting exercise - the timer went off way too soon! There was so much more tweaking to do! I challenge you all to do it!

Red Meadow

6" x 8" Acrylic

I just returned yesterday from 4 days away with my daughter to Anna Maria Island. We had a good time, but the weather didn't cooperate! One sunny, warm day - and the rest, not so much! But we shopped till we dropped - rested, ate, and just thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.

So, today, I decided to play around with acrylic paint. I've never had instruction in this media, but I'm wanting to take a textures class later this month. Thought I would play around and see if I could figure it out. It's a little like watercolor, and a little like oils, and I'm not too sure exactly how to handle it. But, it was fun to try!