Love this Grandma stuff!

No artwork to show today, just a quick photo to show my favorite baby...she is here for a short visit (she brought her parents, too) and I am loving getting to play with her. She still doesn't allow anyone but Mommy and Daddy to hold her, but she lets Grandma play with her and she gives good kisses! She is a real cutie now at 12 months, runs all over the place.

Petroglyph tiles

These are petroglyph "tiles", actually 4x4 and 5x7 pieces of textured clayboard for watercolor that I was asked about, so I will submit them here. I paint the background rock colors (usually three glazes) and then, when the last glaze is dry, I lift out the petroglyph shapes. I use any of my hundreds of photos I have of these things and try to stay as accurate as possible to the figures and shapes carved out of stone as they were done by the Ancients. I then "enhance" them a bit with some added black lines here and there, spray them with clayboard fixative and put them on the appropriate size display easel or table stand. I sell quite a few of them, stand included, and they have become quite popular. I thought originally I would mostly make the 4x4's, but people at my sales have been asking for specific figures to be done on 5x7's and 8x10's. These could also be framed, without glass, since they are sealed but I think they are nice to sit on a shelf or table since everyone is so limited on wall space for art, it seems. Someone asked me about using the smallest ones as coasters and since they are sealed that might work. However, I would not guarantee that since I haven't tried it and my original intent in creating them was for display.

Go Diamondbacks

This little angel will be here until Monday. Just look at all that red hair that Aubrey is growing, finally! She has the stance, though, of a sumo wrestler in pink. They are due to arrive tomorrow afternoon....yea!

We leave for a two-week trip next week, I will try to enter scenes from our stops along the way, including my workshop with Carl Purcell in Zion. Since I switched my blog over to the "new" blogger, hopefully I can enter things from remote computers more easily than before.

Mission Bougainvillas

This is the demo painting I did for the Watercolor I class yesterday afternoon. I chose the photo since it demonstrates how to do mass foliage effects without painting each leaf as well as stucco/masonry effects. The students also used masking fluid for the flowers.

Lace and flower prototype

This is an idea I have had fermenting in my mind for awhile to try someday. I found an inexpensive doily last week and decided to give it a try. I used the doily as a stencil, airbrushing watercolor over it, then painted the iris over the white left by the doily stencil. I have doilies for larger paintings, too, when I develop this further. In the future, I think I would tone the paper first, before airbrushing the stencil of the doily on. I also would pay more attention to the iris anatomy...I somehow added an additional petal in there. I think, also, that this begs for intense color on the flower, but I decided to quit on this one since it is just a sample to see if the idea works. I will try it again, using these thoughts above and see what I think. I am pleased with the concept so far and think it merits further work. I need to get busy with two commissions so will, reluctantly, put this aside for awhile. Kinda cool, huh?

Antiquity Pot

Enough of the art studio photos, on to the original intent of this blog....my artwork. This is another pot I used for a demo in my Watercolor I class to show modeling of shapes, using shadow shapes to show form in the draped cloth and using sandpaper to "age" an object.

This afternoon, I will see the students' finished pots, that is always exciting to see how they interpreted each lesson.

SWAP Gallery

I belong to an international online group that, quarterly, exchanges small paintings with other group members, never knowing from whom our paintings will be sent. I only have six to show so far, but have left room to show more in the future as I receive them, going up to the ceiling and over the French doors.

This has been a fun group to belong to and I have enjoyed the paintings I have received from everyone. So far, I have received a painting from the Philipines, Canada, Spain and different states here in the USA.

Art Studio, finally finished!

Here is the art studio portion of the build project, organized as I think will work best. Once I start actually working in here some of these arrangements may change, but I am quite far away from doing much of that. We have completely disorganized our family room, which will need to be put back together after painting, etc., and then move the computers and office furniture into the studio area that will become the office (the corner and wall from which I shot this photo). Then we need to convert the old office into a guest room. So, no rest for the weary for awhile here, but we are at least making some promising progress! The camera angle makes the right side shelves appear to be unlevel, trust me that is not the case....we leveled them all when installing!

I have an ArtChix sale this weekend, followed by a Sun City Grand Art Faire sale on March 3 so I need to get my act together to get ready for these while trying to put the rest of the house back together. Like I said, we have plenty to keep us both out of trouble for quite awhile.

For my SWAP buddies, the wall over the bookcases on the left (and eventually over the French doors) will become my SWAP gallery when I get all of my paintings framed. Cool, huh? Once we get the office part of the studio put together, I will be able to hang more paintings there...the art studio portion has to be more functional, with wall space taken up with storage and shelves.

I am excited to be this far along with this arduous project, it has been a long time since we felt the least bit organized in our house and we are only part way there. But, this is enough excitement for now and I am proud to have it.

Studio Build - Almost Done!

I wanted to wait until everything was completely done before posting these photos, but I am so happy with the flooring that I decided to go ahead and post now, then will post again when everything is moved in and settled (whenever that will be!). The baseboard will be finished being installed later this week and then we will paint it, then starts the arduous task of moving everything back in.

The photos were shot from two opposite corners, showing the L-shaped room. Any walls that look like they are sloping, please chalk that up to my difficult camera angles to try to get as much into one photo as possible. Trust me, they are all straight! More photos to follow as this gets completed. But, we are getting close!

Studio exterior completed

Here is the exterior view of the completed studio build. I will post photos of the interior once the flooring and baseboard trim has been installed. We have finished the painting on the interior as well as all blinds and fans have been installed. Hooray!

Still here

Our work continues on the addition completion. We have spent three days painting, installing blinds, fans and everything that is needed to get ready for the flooring installation, which should be completed next week. So, no photos to share until we have it all done. Right now, it is definitely not ready for prime time, for sure.

First attempt at Sydney final

This is all I can do to this portrait of Sydney. The paper has been scrubbed out so much that it is starting to bleed around those edges when I try to paint. So, while this still doesn't resemble Sydney's eyes and mouth, it was a good practice session and fun to do. When the studio is back together I will concentrate on doing this one again from the beginning. I always learn quite a bit, even when a painting goes onto my pile of tears stack of bad ones.

Poor Sydney is sitting on my painting table, eyes and lips whited out from the gentle scrubbing with my Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. She looks absolutely freaky right now. When I have the time to devote to it, I will reintroduce her eyes and mouth into the painting. If that doesn't work, I will start afresh. I am determined to do this painting well.

Tomorrow, we have been promised the last of the contractor's crews coming in to finish the last of our studio build project. Then it is on to the walk-through inspection and Tom and I have to take over and paint everything and get ready for the flooring people to install the laminate flooring that I paid 50% of this morning! Hopefully, by the end of next week we might be finished with this! Hooray if that is so!

Sydney - WIP Two

If I am to remain honest in my attempt to show my process for Sydney's portrait, I must include this second phase, one in which I have completely screwed up her eyes and somewhat her mouth. I will probably lift out (with my trusty Mr. Clean Magic Eraser) both eyes and start over. I have made her smile too old for her, also. There is always the option of starting over with this to look forward to, but I hope to have the corrections made now make enough of a difference so I don't have to do that. No one said portraits would be easy!

Sydney - WIP One

I have begun Sydney's portrait this morning. This is just the first stage, mainly of the initial modeling shadows (or as Taylor Bush calls them, structure shadows). I will strengthen these next where needed and continue on to the subtle shadows. One must pay particular attention to the reference photo at this stage since likenesses are created with the structure shadows and if you don't get them right at this point it is doubtful that corrections later will create a likeness. So, I need to spend more time on these structure shadows.

I was so saddened to hear of the passing of a dear Watercolor Workshop artist, Man Mohan. He graced the message board with submissions of wonderfully simple, yet so soulfully complete paintings and words. He rarely painted with anything other than a 1-inch hake brush, and painted so much with such economy of strokes and really was able to open up his soul to the viewer of his art. This painting I chose for this memorial to Mohan is a perfect example of his painting style. Simple, yet so complete in his vision. I see the light he painted into this painting so competently, and it takes us immediately into what his mood and thoughts must have been while painting it.

Mohan always had a kind and encouraging word for everyone in our group and was very willing to share any of his techniques, photos of his supplies, or any thoughts he had concerning watercolor or life in general. Our planet will share the loss of this gentle soul, we will miss him greatly.

Oregon Water Lilies

One of the January projects for the Watercolor Workshop is waterlilies. I have had this reference photo since this past summer when we took a lot of scenic drives through Oregon and found this mountain lake which had lots of these yellow lilies. I have hesitated to paint water lilies since they seem so difficult for me to paint, they always look like they are going uphill instead of laying flat on the water and the water, itself, is problematic. At least with this one most of the pads seem to be flat on the water, but the water is still problematic. I figure if I keep doing this, in another ten years or so I might get the hang of it. Some things are just more of a struggle than others!

Studio Build - Tape and Texture

The crew who did the taping and texturing of the walls finished this morning. The photo on the top shows a view of the studio where my worktable will be on that end. The bottom photo shows the end of the room where the computer wall will continue from the old art room. This is the end of the room where the wall has been removed and the studio flows into what will be the computer room but I can't show that well in the photo angles.

Now, all that needs to be done is to have the French doors installed and painted, the electrical to have a final hook-up and the air conditioning ducts to be hooked up. All of that is roughed in but not the final hook-up. Then, it is up to us to get the room painted and have the laminate flooring installed. We are going to try to select the flooring this afternoon so that will be ready when we are ready to have it installed. Then, the tough part of putting all of these rooms back together that have been demolished since early November.

Self Portrait - Final

I finished the self-portrait project this morning. I am pleased with most of this in that it went better than any of my other portraits have gone and has more life to it. I have made notes of what I want to work on for the next one so it is a continuing learning process, as with anything else with artwork! I have to say I love Taylor Bush's process and am enjoying using her portrait DVD series. It is very helpful and informative.

We have had three crews of workers here today, only one of which did not make a lot of noise. Hopefully that all means big results. The exterior is painted and they are working on the taping and texturing again this afternoon so I will take some more photos later to show any progress.

Self Portrait - Step Two

I am getting farther away from my own appearance so will step away from this for awhile and rework the mouth and the left eye (our left) to see if I can reconnect with myself.

I don't want to hurry and it will be better if I wait, I think.

Stucco - Painted

Before the wind started blowing today the painter was able to get the exterior walls finished. The trim will be done tomorrow if the wind settles down.

The sheet rock tapers were here and said they would return tomorrow. All of the seams are now taped, awaiting texturing.

Self Portrait - Step One

Our current project for the online Watercolor Workshop is to do a self-portrait. Since I just received my supplies to start the Taylor Bush method of portraiture, I decided to pick on myself first and try a self-portrait. I took a bravery pill this morning and started this. I took another pill before posting this photo of stage one. At least, if I mess it up from this point on, I have proof I indeed tried to do it. I am enjoying it for the most part so far, but I haven't gotten to the details (like wrinkles, crinkles, droops, sags, etc.) so the depressing part will come later, I suppose. I haven't found in Taylor's DVD's or written text what pigment should be used for hazel eyes, I am sure it is there, I am just not finding it. So, I took it upon myself to do a yellow underpainting and will see how to proceed from there. I may end up looking jaundiced, but we will see. I like having her pigment mixing guides handy for the different stages. Like I said, so far so good.

The painter is here today, painting the new room exterior and will plan on painting the French doors for the inside entry into the studio. Photos of this to follow tonight.

Stucco finished

Tom took this photo to show the texture of the new stucco that was finished today. The crew did a wonderful job of matching the stucco texture on the old part of the house so it should be a seamless blend on the exterior walls once painted. Tomorrow brings the tape and texture guys for the drywall.

I am still under the weather; went to the doctor this morning, who confirmed my suspicions that I have a sinus infection. So, no traipsing around for awhile, including the ArtChix show this weekend. Sad, but true. I know I will be missing a good one, but just cannot do it this time so that is that. Hopefully, I will soon feel like beginning the self portrait project for the Watercolor Workshop since I now have all the paints and supplies needed to follow Taylor Bush's DVD instructions. I just need the energy to get up and do it. Too much coughing, too little sleep!

Studio Build - Drywall

No painting going on here while I try to deal with my first bad cold in five years. I was starting to feel like I was invincible regarding colds and flu, then boom....it hit. In the meantime, the studio build continues. They finished the drywall yesterday and will start the taping/texturing either this afternoon or tomorrow.

My goal is to be healthy enough to participate in the big ArtChix sale this weekend at SCG. This will be a good one and I would hate to do anything that causes a relapse so that I have to miss it. I have had to push back the start of the Beginning I Watercolor class I was to start teaching today until next week. I am sure I am still contagious and my foghorn voice would not see me through an entire class, so it had to be postponed; along with some other activities for this week. Really poor timing, but lesson learned...I am not invincible.

Regarding the Bird of Paradise.....

After submitting the B of P painting to the online critique group (Watercolor Workshop) and garnering comments from others here at the art club, it looks like the opinions to make the colors more vivid as opposed to leaving it as is, soft and glowing, were about 50/50. So, I think I will consider this finished as is and do another (hopefully before long) with more vivid colors typical of some varieties of B of P and do it on at least a half-sheet of paper. The comments on the "abstract" nature of this painting makes me wonder if it shouldn't be larger to exploit that, with larger negative spaces surrounding the flower. So many ideas, so little time!

I bought a few wonderful frames at the Aaron Bros. penny sale yesterday that would be good with a half-sheet size painting so if I needed more motivation, that would help. Usually, I have more motivation and inspiration than time to carry them out. Beginning this week my Beginning Watercolor classes I teach will begin for the next two months, so that will add two paintings a week to my efforts; but I tend to choose paintings I have done already that I feel demonstrate a particular focus for each week, so they don't require much inspiration since I have done them already at least once. I will be framing my Tumacacori Granary painting from last October for the ArtChix sale Jan. 13th and 14th at the SCG Art Club, and if it is still available it will be brought to the art club display change on Jan. 25th. I have given up trying to decide what will probably sell and what won't anymore, all I can do is bring a wide selection and wait for something nice to happen.

Bird of Paradise 2007

I got to attend a session of the watercolor open painting workshop at the Art Club this afternoon and finished (I think) this bird of paradise painting and worked on some more petroglyph paintings for the next ArtChix sale. I may add more glazes of color, especially to the yellow areas, but do not want to lose any of the glow I was able to achieve so will think on that one for awhile. Lots to consider sometimes!

Tomorrow will bring the drywall hangers to the studio build so there may be some photos later tomorrow.

Morning Musings....

No photos to share this morning, just some thoughts on painting. Quite a few friends from my various online watercolor groups have been reporting feeling uncertain about what to paint, not being motivated, holidays blahs, etc. I am having a rebirth of energy regarding my painting and want to get at it. With holiday preparations over, and work to start again today on the studio build, I am chomping at the bit to get at it, with lots of ideas swirling around in my head. I have started another series of small paintings for the January 13th and 14th ArtChix sale and a self-portrait is sketched out (January project for the online Watercolor Workshop) on paper.

Artists are usually out there alone, thumping along as best they can and hoping to sell what they paint. I have found belonging to my online as well as local art groups to be an invaluable source of information, fellowship and inspiration and one feels a part of something larger than their little studio world. It has also served me well when small/large honors and recognition are given for something I painted. This happened to me last night when I opened up the homepage of the Watercolor Workshop ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WatercolorWorkshop/ ) and found my Colorful Bouquet (posted here earlier last week) was selected, out of the many wonderful paintings submitted to the group last month, to be on the group's homepage. It was a nice surprise! It has become important for me to sell my artwork in order to pay for expenses that this endeavor entails, but I have to say how important the recognition factor becomes for me. It is the same when I am at my sales table at the ArtChix sales and there is an equal number of sales to just kudos without sales. The kudos for my work are very inspiring to do more and affirmation that I am on the right track, very sustaining.

Hopefully, today will bring the return of the studio building crews so we can get closer to the finish line of our project. If that be the case, photos to follow!

Color Bouquet Grouping

These four 8x10's are a continuation of my fun from yesterday. I'm on a roll!

Color Bouquet

Christmas Eve dinner with family was a success, we all had fun being together, but it was a bit too much for my feet. So, today seemed like a good time to sit down and splash some paint. A good friend bartered some wonderful colors of Daniel Smith paint for me if I would help her with some computer tutoring and this is the result of the new paints. Thanks, Norma!

This was such fun that I think I will do a series of small ones to be matted to 8x10 size to sell at the next ArtChix sale in January.

Studio Build - Insulation

This morning the insulation was installed on the ceiling and exterior walls. Now we wait for the inspection of this before the wallboard can be installed. The construction company closes down operations between Christmas and New Years, so it will be over a week before that gets done, but that is okay. These guys deserve time with their families over the holidays, too.

At least it should be a bit warmer than it has been with some insulation providing a barrier. We have had a very cold house since the beginning of the build so I look forward to keeping some of the warmth inside.

From a Grandma Artist

Pardon my diversion from this being an art-related blog by including our Aubrey's Christmas photo. If this doesn't put you in the holiday spirit, nothing will!

Nothing much going on with the studio build, so preparations for Ms. Aubrey's visit continue here today. I know she is too young to eat three kinds of cookies, but I am exercising a Grandmother's perogative and baking them anyway.

Have a Merry Christmas all,

Aubrey's Grandma

Latest SWAP painting

I belong to an online art group called SWAP (Sharing With Artist Partners) and we send a painting to another group member (secretly assigned by the group moderator) four times a year. This is my SWAP painting which I received this week. It was painted by a Phillipine artist, named Linda. I like the colors and compostion of this a lot, it looks very tropical. When the studio is finished I hope to have wall space for a gallery of my SWAP paintings, I think I have five or six now.

Roof Tiles and New Paint

Yesterday brought the near completion of the roof tiles over the studio. We were planning on having the entire house exterior painted by the builder when the job was completed, but the painters' schedule opened up so they began painting the old part of the house yesterday. We have the same color, but a satin finish instead of the flat. What a difference that makes! No more work now until Monday to finish up the roof, continue with the exterior painting and then wait for the next inspection.

Remote computer test

Monument Valley Demo

This is the second of my class demo paintings that I am submitting here today. I submit them not because they are necessarily worthy of display, but rather that I am showing my students who peek in here how I tried to refine them after class. I intended to show how to illustrate the depth of field in a landscape painting by value shifts (light to dark as you move forward), temperature shifts (cool to warm as you move forward), and size shifts (smallest in back, largest in front). I missed a bit on the temperature shifts in that I ended up with a cooler foreground foliage clump than I intended and the middle ground butte could have been warmer. But, I think the students for the most part "got it" and their paintings showed better shifts than mine! Onward and upward. My next painting will be a floral that I have been waiting to paint, we'll see how that turns out.

Mission Bougainvilleas

Today I am finishing and refining a few of my watercolor class demo paintings. This one I chose because I liked the composition and how it demonstrates dappled shadows, the suggestion of bricks and mass foliage techniques. I had everyone use masking fluid for the flower clusters and wish I had shown them how to do them without the masking. I plan to redo this one, but use a stucco-walled mission and do the bougainvilleas without the masking. Next class, new approach. But, I still like the composition on this and learned a lot myself when doing it. I still think that teaching watercolor helps me learn more than ever before because I have to organize my thoughts and break a painting down into logical steps instead of just diving in and splashing paint around.

Most of my demo paintings are less than successful because of trying to hurry them through a three-hour class, but most can be salvaged to some degree.

Studio Build Electrical and Pre-Stucco

Well, today brought many changes to room addition. The electrical lines have all been run inside. The painters arrived to wash down the old part of the house and prepare it for painting, awaiting the completion of the stucco for the new part to paint that part of the house exterior. The stucco prep is almost finished today, too. Lots happened! It shouldn't be so cold inside the house tonight since so much of the cracks and crevices have been sealed with the foam insulation, should be much better anyway. More to follow tomorrow night!

New Aubrey Photo

Since the building inspection won't happen until tomorrow and I won't have any progress photos until after that, I decided to share one of the latest Aubrey photos. Apparently, she mimicks what she sees now and they caught her with this funny face. We will have her here with us starting December 22nd for a few days, I can hardly wait!

My latest artwork consists of printing more cards and prints as I prepare for the next ArtChix art show, December 16 and 17. We had a successful show in November and will hope for the same. prior to Christmas.

The roof is ready for tiles

The roof is ready now for the roof tiles. Hopefully, the inspector will be here on Monday, then the roof tiles can go on. We are thankful for the warmer temperatures currently. It has been cold in the house with this open space without insulation.

Becoming One with the Studio

We now have outside wall windows and the addition has officially become one with our house...today they opened up the wall that will form the L-shaped room with the addition and framed in the entry from French doors through the family room. It is difficult to get a decent camera shot to show the room in its entirety, but it looks to be a nice size to me right now. Next is the inspection before any more work is done.

I have started another Canyon de Chelly painting and will be posting it here when finished. While all of this has been going on I have been able to paint some, but my art things are in about three different rooms and the garage. No matter, I can paint almost anywhere!

After an almost one-week delay after the wrong trusses were delivered, followed by the long holiday weekend, we now have an official roof over the studio. Hopefully, tomorrow they will move the windows to the new outside wall and that will be the beginning of the wall demolition of the family room and bedroom. We are progressing!

Status quo

No photos today. The awaited trusses were delivered but, alas, were built with the wrong pitch. So, a new order went in and we are all hoping for next Monday for them to be delivered. Due to the holiday week this is all okay with us!

I hope everyone will have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Pears in a Silver Bowl

This is the finished demo painting I started for the Thursday Watercolor II class. It is interesting to see how everyone interprets the same reference photo, so I am looking forward to our next class.

My studio will have walls! The framing for the outside perimeter is finished, awaiting Monday's delivery of the trusses for the roof. They put back in temporarily the cutouts for the windows for support, my studio room will actually have windows, too. Those will be the same ones that are currently on the outside wall. Onward and upward!

Pot on Satin

This is my demo painting I did during the Watercolor I class yesterday afternoon. I chose this as a simple shape that would enable me to demonstrate the importance of modeling to make objects look three-dimensional. After painting so many pears to demonstrate this principle, I chose to change the subject and do a pot! The class did very well considering they are in the beginning class. I was very happy with their results.

In doing a self-critique on this, I recognize there are some problem areas, but considering my two and one-half hour time spent on it, I think it did demonstrate what I hope for and am not too bothered by the flaws. I want to do another, probably a half-sheet, in blue and rust colors. Another day, another time!

Framing Day One

Today they finished the wall demo and will return tomorrow to begin working on the trusses and walls framing. This is beginning to get exciting!

It's Getting Worse!

At this point, after they stripped away all the stucco and part of the roof tiles, the back of our house definitely looks the worse for wear. But, the floor was poured and they will start tomorrow with the actual framing. This is going very rapidly at this point.

I'll keep everyone posted with progress photos as it goes along.

Return From Zion

We returned from my Zion workshop last night to find the busy studio builders have been preparing for the concrete pour this morning. Lots going on! Photos to follow later today.

I had a wonderful time at the workshop. Except for one day of cold, cloudy conditions the weather was beautiful. Here are two of the paintings I did while there. Painting en plein air is not my forte, but I am getting more tolerant of those conditions and enjoyed being out there, painting.

The focus of the workshop was exporing the fluidity of watercolors and letting the water push the colors together on the paper. I punched up my color choices and had fun adding colors I normally don't use (manganese blue, for one).

Sign me tired, but satisfied, from a good workshop experience in a beautiful setting...Zion National Park.

The Studio - Day One

The permits came through much earlier than expected, so the builders started digging the footings today, big surprise! Now, the fun begins. As soon as we return from our Zion trip, we have to clear out the art room and half of the family room, we had started sorting through things, now we have to get down to the nitty-gritty since they have started. Exciting, but tiring.

I'll keep posting photos of the build as progress is made. The room will be 8'6" x 25'7".....all for my art! I can hardly wait. Lots has to happen before then, though, so I will try to be patient.

I am beginning preparations for my Zion workshop with Carl Purcell next week. This is always a highlight of my artistic year, it will be my third Fall Workshop with Carl in Zion National Park. Carl is a wonderful instructor and demonstrates his magical brushwork for three days in this marvelous setting. What a treat! I have also registered and been accepted for his March workshop in Zion. Spring is the only season we have not visited Zion, so I look forward to that as well. Hopefully, the room addition project will be finished by then!

If anyone needs reference photos of Zion, I have thousands! Just contact me and I will share.

I am teaching my first Watercolor II class of the season this afternoon. Should be fun....I usually have fun anyway!