Mar31Art

His song made me stop on look to see what sort of bird was making such a racket... I believe he was calling his mate, or perhaps scolding other males in the area... he was gorgeous.

Jean Haines 'Amazing Ways with Watercolor'

 This was supposed to be roses... didn't quite turn out... but it was fun trying.  As with most videos, it looks VERY easy when the pro does it... put the brush in my hand... not so easy LOL.

Warm up exercises based on Jean Haines DVD... playing with color and water to learn what my colors will do.

Mar30Art

Had fun throwing paint on paper tonight at class. For this page I sprayed Quin Gold over of doily, it looks cool, but a terrific waste of paint as I had to toss out the paint I didn't use.  Roz did a similar effect sponging the paint on... I may try that (or not) it's a pretty messy thing to do...I don't think I'm committed to it enough to buy bottles to hold different colors. ...

Mar29Art

Almost didn't get to my journal tonight... I got two painting videos in the mail from England today, very quickly I might add.  I watched 'Amazing ways with Watercolour' by Jean Haines, I have her book on order from Dick Blick.. funny isn't it, I ordered the videos the same time I ordered the book, video is here... still waiting on my Blick order. GREAT video, if you've been wanting to do looser watercolor painting, this video is a good one.

Mar28Art

How do you eat an Elephant?  One bite at a time...
I've been thinking about doing the international fake journal month, coming up in April.  I'm just not sure I'm 'creative enough' to make up a fake person and keep a fake journal, every day for a whole month... Some days I barely get anything done in this journal, I'm taking 2 online classes and a Wednesday class as well... then there is the job, and all my political meetings, with County and State conventions... and... taxes... I've still gotta do taxes... Ok I've talked myself out of it... I can't do it, not this year... maybe next year.  I'll just watch from the sidelines this year.

Mar27Art

Empty net worked for us and we tied the game in the last few seconds of the game... unfortunately we lost in overtime. The team has a few more road games, but this is it for home games... Spring is really here, hockey is almost over.

Mar26Art

Our drought is finally over, rain, nice rain, washing the yellow pollen away... YES!!! 
I spent the day in a classroom in downtown Charleston, learning about 'Women in Politics'.  It was a very informative class.  I did get a little painting done this afternoon while Ron was at a Beer Brewer's meeting and finished my rose painting.  The rain started while we were at dinner, and is still coming down now... lovely rain.

Pink rose

Watercolor on 9x12 Kilimanjaro 300 lbs paper.  I am pleased with how this one turned out.  I took some photos today of my pink azaleas... I'm hoping I can paint one of those flowers next.

Mar25Art

Boy this page needs to go down in history as one butt ugly page... should have left the paint in the box the drawing looked ok before I started painting. At least the rose I'm working on is coming along nicely...

Mar24Art

I've used sea salt before, but this time it didn't work... maybe it's this journal paper, I've never used it in this journal before... I got the look I was after with the gouache but not exactly.  Live and learn :-)

Mar23Art

Had fun tonight at watercolor class... working on another rose...  I've been trying to use the pencil less and less in my journal... using straight ink and letting the lines fall where they may. I'm taking a sketching online class that Kate Johnson is teaching...  I'm a bit behind on my homework... but I'm trying to practice more quick sketches in ink only.

Mar22Art

I REALLY don't like how this turned out. His face is not this thin and I don't think it looks much like him at all. I painted his skin with Burnt Sienna with UltraMarine Blue for the shadows. But it makes him look orange, if you look at the photos of Tim he is NOT this color, he's a rich chocolate or coffee color... I really need to figure out a way to paint black people with more realistic color... It was a great town hall meeting, I'm so proud of Congressman Scott, and so glad that he is my Congressman.  Got to see his Mom tonight too, haven't seen her in a while.
Rushed to the hockey game afterward, we lost the game, one more regular season game to go.

Mar21Art

I'm usually a very up beat person, but the transition into my sixties has been very depressing to me. I don't usually dwell on age or birthday's much, so the fact that this is depressing is a bit of a surprise. My dogwood tree did it's best to cheer me up by blooming today, as well as my favorite pink azalea had a couple of flowers today, with many more to come.

Birthday wishes from my Watercolor friends...

I'm a member of a group of watercolor artists, that draw names and send each other little works of art on our birthdays... today is my birthday.. and these are my cards...

From Linda Davis, a flower covered fence... I love it..

From Joy McKenzie... sweet flowers and birds...