Peonies

Today I was in a flower mood...so looking through my photographs these peonies caught my attention because of their lacy edges...almost like an unruly cotton ball...hope you enjoy the 3 step process...

January 24 & 25 workshop

Great workshop this passed week here in Lubbock with 14 eager participants itching to wet a brush.  Vignettes took center stage and all 14 took that challenge and ran with it.  Great paintings were produced and I never close a workshop without students probably teaching me more than I do them...here are a few of those eager painters....

Been On Hold

Yep! Fairly certain my flu shot didn't have all the ingredients most had.  Thinking mine must have been the last vile on the last shipment because my cart was in the ditch for about 3 days.  Some of you reading have experienced one of Pharaoh's plagues and if you haven't please, celebrate life.  How can you be that sick, hurt that bad and not need at least one band-aid?  You know how it starts....nagy sore throat you say to yourself must be allergies.  Few aches and pains, must have done to much..like that's going to happen.  A little chill that requires a sweater, turn up the heat when no one is looking.  Would really like to go bed-d-bye at 2 in the afternoon but you have company.  As you carry on some kind of conversation you thoughts are wondering to the tune of 'if I were at your house I would go home'.  Time comes when the house becomes yours again and you ditch that getting ready for bed routine and go straight for the Tylenol, socks, flannel gown, and an extra blanket on your side of the bed not wanting to draw attention to the fact you might not make it until morning.  That kinda of conversation takes way to much energy and at that moment someone with a gun threatening to shot wouldn' budge you.  As the night progresses you feel your body lying nude on an iceberg with not enough blankets in the free world to change the situation.  If I could have recorded my dreams no doubt they would be a million dollar box office smash.  Everything hurts, hair, fingernails, parts of the body you no longer have and some parts medical science has not identified.  Okay Lord,  all bases are covered ...have enough paintings to pave heaven, family is great, nothing more for me to do.  Morning comes and toughing it out is no longer in the picture a call to the doctor requesting Cyndie had priority.  About mid afternoon my Prince, 'the wind beneath my wings' that apparently stepped aside when I fell to this disease,  appears with meds.  My only request was a tuna salad and a boiled egg because I had drank enough chicken broth to fill my great grandsons wading pool...Seeming like hours since I had made my menu order.  From the bed,  I see a figure in the kitchen trying to make out this thing called a egg poacher/boiler and could be a bowl of something. Getting up with that Tim Conway shuffle made it to the area where food use to be stored.  My Prince was trying to put together a tuna salad while getting eggs in the steamer.  If my request had been something from the grill and a baked potato my wait would have been shorter.   Watching the process..... I ask...'will that tuna be ready today?...forget the egg'....
Now the next morning meds had kicked in and opening my eyes thought I had a bad dream.  Standing in the kitchen drinking my second gallon of water I spied my prescription on the counter......knowing then...no dream and I need to stay around to make tuna salad.......

Been On Hold.....

Yep! was on hold for about 3 days....don't think my flu shot had all the ingredients most of you received.  Or maybe it was the 'last' little bottle that dropped in the 'last' shipment....what ever the case I feel confident mine was not complete.  Some of you have been where I am about to go...those who haven't please celebrate life.  This dragon starts with a nagy sore throat...probably allergies you say to yourself.  Then you have a little ache here and there...huh, must have done to much today, like that's going to happen.  Along comes a shiver and you get a sweater.....turn up the heat when no one is looking.  Bed die-bye becomes very attractive at 2 in the afternoon....but it is hard to tell company 'if I was at your house I would go home'.  Night time comes, skip that routine 'getting ready for bed stuff' and go straight for the Tylenol, socks, flannel gown, and an extra blanket on my side....didn't have the energy to tell my Prince, I might not make it till morning. Well, a night and day in bed so cold you felt your nude body was lying on an iceberg and there aren't enough blankets in the free world to change the situation.  Not sure what my temperature was but if my dreams had been recorded they would have grossed a million dollars at the box office.  Everything hurt....my hair, fingernails  and parts no longer attached to my body hurt...even parts medical science would declare a mystery.  This little voice says give up..call  to the doctor for meds....in hopes Cyndie would be delivered.  As I lay half in and half out of conciseness...spoke to the Lord. Lord,  I have enough paintings to pave heaven, the family are all doing great, not sure why I would be needed any longer..all bases are covered and felt confident we would be enjoying conversation soon.

In the meantime, my Prince, 'the one beneath my wings' who must have stepped aside when I hit the dirt, brought me the meds.  My only request at that moment was tuna salad and boiled egg.  Seemed like hours since I had ordered off the menu and dreaming about tuna salad I got up only to see through a sliver of ddoorway a figure working in the kitchen..as I watched trying to focus I instantly knew why I had been left here...the help with the long awaited tuna salad and just one boiled egg.  As I creep, you know that Tim Conway shuffle, into the kitchen I asked 'will that sandwich be available today?...forget the egg......the next morning upon waking my first thoughts were 'wow what a dream' but when I came into the kitchen there was my prescription with my name on it....then realizing that was one more bad trip....... 

Vignette Challenge

My Review of Yes! All Media Cotton Canvas - ¾" Boxes of Six

Originally submitted at Jerry's Artarama Art Supplies

Wet Media Canvas: perfect for watercolors, oils, acrylics, markers, shellac and acrylic-based inks, airbrush colors, alkyds and more! 11oz weight 100% unbleached cotton canvas Triple-primed with acid free special wet media primer Portrait smooth fine weave surface ...

Yes! All Media Cotton Canvas - ¾" Boxes of Six

Yes..to Canvas

By JBG from Lubbock, TX on 11/22/2011

 

4out of 5

Pros: Good cotton canvas

Cons: Good value

Best Uses: Watercolor

Describe Yourself: Artist

Primary use: Business

Was this a gift?: No

Watercolor works well on Yes Canvas. For best results use a cotton canvas it behaves much like 100% rag paper. Painting the right value, darks and lights, are important from the beginning. Unlike paper, glazing is a problem. When glazing over an area the previous color is lifed and will neutralize or mix a color unknown to man..

On The Mend

Tags: Using Product

(legalese)

My Review of Arches 100% Rag Watercolor Paper - Natural White

Originally submitted at Jerry's Artarama Art Supplies

The Artists' Choice Since 1492Beyond the main characteristics such as 100% rag content, neutral pH value, stiff sizing, four beautiful deckle edges and mould-made character, are the legendary surfaces. Hot Pressed papers are plate smooth and are ideal for traditional watercolor techniques,...

Arches 100% Rag Watercolor Paper - Natural White

Arches a good choice

By jbg from Lubbock, TX on 11/7/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Dependable, Stores Easily, Long Lasting, Easy To Use

Cons: Good value

Best Uses: Art, Long Term Use

Describe Yourself: Quality Oriented

Primary use: Business

Was this a gift?: No

I have used almost every watercolor paper on the market but return to Arches. I recommend Arches to beginning students and professionals. I like the natural or the bright depending on the subject and the techique used. Knowing what to expect when applying color is important to me and arches passes the test.

Holiday Moments

Tags: Made with Product, Darks hold from beginning

Hats Off

Tags: Made with Product, Clarity of color

(legalese)

Lamesa Class with Color

Are we having fun yet??? Barefoot and painting....discussion about color....everyone did a great job...again I was busy with critiques and everyone was ready to leave when the thought came

'group picture with paintings would have been nice'...maybe next time or better still maybe some will post on their blog.....enjoyed the day painting with wonderful painters....JoBeth

Demonstration for class

This was my demo, taught in Lamesa. Students were given 6 different color schemes to chose from. I chose analogous colors of blue, turquoise, blue violet, with the compliment orange. The compliment of orange was to be the color focus around the figures and flower shop. The building and foreground were painted wet into wet with neutrals using the turquoise, blue, and violet keeping whites in check.....while still damp complimentary colors were introduced under the awning...after dry windows, awning, and a figures were suggested with color or light/dark values...calligraphy was added for interest.....

Turquoise Mine...Night Lights...

My idea of contemporary art....enjoyed making shapes that could relate to industrial structure and signs seen in busy city's. The top image had thick gesso applied then scrapped with various tools to give texture. When this was dry I used gray acrylic over the surface to tone down the white gesso. Red acrylic was the dominant color with accents of turquoise to suggest industrial forms...dark lines tied the shapes together and some calligraphy marks. Black gesso was applied heavy and before dry added white gesso on the second image...using different brushes and tools to scrape through the heavy mixture drawing rectangles, circles and squares to represent signs....when dry I used watercolor in those shapes..suggesting arches to identify buildings....I also used some stamps for signage....both paintings are on canvas.