Progress On My Card Art

I thought you might enjoy seeing all the progress shots so far, in backwards order.  I better hurry up so I can get these printed.  I'm not giving myself much time before they have to go out!  Oh -- and Happy Halloween!  

A Little More Progress

"Holiday Sparkle" - wip

I have a little progress to share on my Christmas card painting.  I also spent a beautiful day today at Old Sturbridge Village taking lots of reference photos for future paintings.  I'm so excited!  If you don't know about Old Sturbridge Village, be sure to check out their site.  "The Village" as many around here call it, has always been a magical place for me ever since I was a little girl.  I hope to visit a lot more in the future -- it's such a lovely place.

Workshop Updates

"The Group"
(and someone was celebrating a birthday with a day of watercolors and wine -- what a neat gift!)

I had a wonderful day with my class at the Hardwick Winery yesterday.  Everyone did a fantastic job.  We shared good wine, good snacks and good fellowship while hopefully learning a few things about watercolor and most importantly having fun.  If you are interested in joining me for another "Watercolors and Wine" outing -- see my workshop page on the top navigation bar.  I'll be holding another class on November 17th.  This will be my last class before the Spring. 

If a longer course is what you're looking for, consider signing up for my upcoming 5-week class at Workshop13 in Ware.  I've also listed this class under "Workshops" on my navigation bar.  

So now I'm off to paint.  Many thanks to my terrific students yesterday and thank you to you all too, for stopping by my blog.  Have a great day.  (more pics below)

contemplation

adding details

a family of painters!

hard at work

ready to strike!

"Yankee Girl"
8"x 8"
(watercolor on paper)
$50 - for sale after November 17th
(for inquiries on purchasing, please email me)

Award

"A Moment's Rest"
watercolor on paper
for sale through the North East Watercolor Society
$800

I recently was made aware that my painting, "A Moment's Rest" was awarded the Sharon A. Thomas Memorial Award for Transparent Watercolor at the North East Watercolor Society's 2013 International Exhibit in Kent, CT.  I am most grateful and honored.  The exhibit runs until November 3rd, so if you are in the area, plan on visiting.  Visit The Gallery at Kent for gallery hours.  For more information about the North East Watercolor Society visit their site.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Working On A Christmas Card

Thought I'd share the beginnings of a painting for my Christmas cards this year.  I'm still busy on the others I have going in the studio -- including a pet portrait.  I do love to bounce around!  :)

Thanks you for stopping by.

Big Fruit?

16.75" x 10"
watercolor on paper

I finished this one yesterday and I still think it's done today.  That's a good sign it's probably done, then.  :)  I've been calling it "Big Fruit" but I don't really think that's a suitable name so if any of you have a suggestion, please let me know.  If I choose your title I'll be happy to send you a little "thank you" surprise in the mail.  So bring on the names!  

Thanks for coming by.

Workshop13 Class

applying washes

I've been working on the pet portrait, so I don't have any photos to share just yet.  But I finished up my first 5-week class at Workshop13 in Ware.  My students did some wonderful paintings!  These are photos from weeks 4 and 5.  Cindy (photo above) couldn't make it to our last class because she took a trip to Florida, but as you can see, her painting was coming out beautifully.  

contemplating the next step

drying time

week 4 - work in progress 

adding layers

hard at work
(Isn't this space beautiful?  Look at those windows -- and that fireplace!)

applying details

last class (minus one -- someone took a trip to Florida!)  :)

Have a great day . . . and thank you for stopping by.

Some More WIPs

Blueberry Redo

There's a little story behind the blueberries.  I was just about done with them last time I posted -- just wanted to do one more background wash to get rid of a light spot that was a little distracting.  Well, I thought I'd get all fancy and mask off the edges that I didn't want to disturb with my background wash and made a big ol' mess.  The wash seeped under the masking and just yucked everything all up.  HOWEVER -- I kind of felt the painting was a little muddy.  Not as fresh as I would have liked.  So I decided to start over.  I'm so glad I did.  I learned so much from the first run-through that the second time around took no time to get to this point and I think it's fresher than the original.  See . . . there are such things as "happy accidents."  God bless Bob Ross!  :)

The chair was started a while ago but I don't think I ever posted the first washes.  So this is where I'm at today.  I'm excited about this one.  

Thanks for coming by.  Happy Painting!

Works in Progress

I decided to take last week off from blogging and posting on Facebook.  Sometimes I just feel the need to "unplug."  Do you ever feel like that?  I had a wonderful Backroads Studio Tour and can't thank people enough for coming out, visiting the studio and making purchases.  I sincerely appreciate all the support and interest and am very grateful to be able to work in my passion. 

I did make a lot of progress on these two paintings and a few others last week.  I have a pet portrait commission that I won't be posting until it's done that I've been working on as well.  I like having a few things going on at once (as you know) so I can still be productive, while I ponder the next steps on other paintings.  This system seems to work well for me.  

I'll post some more WIP's tomorrow.  Have a good day and thanks for stopping by.   

30 Day Collage and Backroads Studio Tour

30 Day Challenge Collage

I'm busy cleaning, matting, framing, packaging and hopefully doing a little gardening all in preparation for this weekend's  Open Studio.  I may not blog again until after the weekend - so I will leave you with this trip down memory lane . . . albeit, short-term memory lane.  :)  

Thank you again, for all your kind comments and encouragement during this series.  And if you find yourself in central Massachusetts this weekend, be sure to check out the Backroads Studio Tour for a lovely dose of leaf peeping and art.