Little Waterfall

9" x 12" Watercolor

We went to Tallahassee on Christmas Eve, to spend the holiday with Bill's kids and grandkids. We had a wonderful time, and returned on Christmas Day. Believe it or not, just that short trip exhausted us! We took Barney, so much time was spent worrying about him and what he was doing - and, there were several other dogs there - most of whom he didn't care for, and spent a lot of energy trying to get away from them! It's only a 3 hour drive, but it felt like FOREVER!

So, today, it felt really good to be back to some kind of normal, getting back to painting class. I wasn't quite sure that I liked this particular painting that I did, but the more I sit with it, the more it grows on me! Now, we just have to get past this week (Happy New Year!), and then I can start focusing on getting ready for a couple of shows in February and March.

A Peony and Mexico City (Again)

9" x 12" Watercolor

Peonies have always been my favorite flower. Growing up in Kansas, my mom had lots of peony bushes that she transplanted from her home in Iowa. And, when Bill and I lived in Kansas City, I had a lot of peony bushes there. I usually grew the double kind, so I'm not sure how the singles smell! Oh, how I miss the smell of peonies! I painted this beautiful flower from a photo on Wet Canvas.

5" x 7" Watercolor

And, here is my 2nd try at the Virtual Paintout for Mexico City. I like it a little better than my first one, but I'm considering trying for a 3rd!

In case I don't post again before Christmas, I hope all of you have a Merry and Safe Christmas Holiday!

Make a Snowflake!

I just found out about this fun site! Click on the icon on the top right, and you can create Snowflakes! It's so much fun -- and you can see millions of other snowflakes that everyone else has made. And, it is so true -- no two snowflakes are alike! Have fun!


OOPs! I deleted the icon -- I'm tired of winter already!

Virtual Paintout

7" x 10" Watercolor

"Sur 116 - Mexico City"

So now I have a new obsession: The Virtual Paintout!

Artist Bill Guffey has a new fun blog for us to play with -- every month he starts a challenge of painting a street scene from a different city. You then go to Google Maps and go to that city. You then drop a little yellow man onto various streets in that city and look around (360 degrees) and find something interesting to paint! Of course, the problem is that you spend a lot of time looking around! What a hoot!

You know that I have a fear of painting buildings - so for my first time, I really simplified the scene. But, he allows each artist to post up to 3 different paintings, so I'm going to try another one, and maybe even a third. I'm determined to conquer this fear!

Another fun thing to do is to put in your own street address, and voila! Up pops a photo of the front of your house! Then, of course, you must look at everyone else's house - and before you know it, hours have gone by!

Watercolor Club Luncheon and Tom Jones

Friday was the Citrus Watercolor Club's Christmas Luncheon. We do a card exchange - if you bring a card, you will recieve another person's card - and this is the lovely card I received! This year they expanded it so that you could bring a card made from a print of one of your paintings. But, if you brought an original, you would receive an original (which is what I did).

And, we had Tom Jones back as our demonstrator after the luncheon! He's so wonderful! This time, he walked around the room showing each step of his demo.

And, the finished painting! I've been to his workshop, and I've watched his demo several times at club, and I watch his DVD's that I have -- I think I could pick his artwork out of a hundred different artists! And, he gave this original to our club, to be raffled off next year!

Hollyhock Heaven

9" x 12" Watercolor

After the last snow painting, I really needed some flowers! Barbara Joan told me about a site called Wet Canvas. This website is a great sharing site for artists. And, best of all, they have a Reference Image Library. These are photographs some of the members have downloaded, and are available for all to use as painting inspiration! It's especially good for me, since I really need something to look at as I paint! This painting was done with one of those images - as was the sunflowers that I posted last week. Check it out!

Chickadees in Snow

9" x 12" Watercolor

Well, whaddaya know! Now that I'm through with all that crafting stuff, I'm really wanting to paint! I did this yesterday in class. Someone brought in this image (I'm sure we're abusing someone's copywright - I think it was off of a Christmas card) - but, anyway, it was challenging for me to paint. Buildings are not my friends!

I'll be glad when the winter season is over. I really don't like painting dead trees and snow. It's fun for awhile, but then I remember why I moved to Florida -- to escape the dead trees and snow! Time to paint another flower, maybe!

A Little Beach Scene

4" x 6" Watercolor Postcard

Here's another little painting I did at the Craft Fair yesterday. Didn't have a reference photo, so I just made it up. Now you can see why I prefer to have photos! It's not too creative inside my head!!

Sunflower Power

4" x 6" Watercolor Postcard

I painted this - along with 2 others - while sitting at my table at the Art & Craft Fair. The weather outside was cold and rainy, and the show wasn't very well attended. I didn't sell much, but had a good time with Donna and met some other nice artists!

I ordered these watercolor postcards from Cheap Joe's last week, and had great fun painting on them today! I'm thinking of actually sending some out, and am wondering if they will do ok in the mail.

So, now that the craft part of my life is over I can get back to painting classes. I'm so looking foward to that!

Ready to Sell!

So, finally, I've made all the stuff I can!

I'm hoping that the Art & Craft Fair will go well on Saturday.

Of course, I've spent so much more money than I will ever see return to me!

But, it kept me off the streets for a few weeks!

Maybe next week I can get back to painting.