Just look at the beautiful arrangement Zach and Brooke give me for my birthday! So beautiful I had to paint them---because when they're gone---there gone.

Happy New Year!

Well, here we go into another year! Goodness, they are going by fast. As I said above I usually don't make resolutions because I either break them--or forget what they were...but I do want to go into this year with a new and renewed excitement for my art journey. I want to paint for the enjoyment of painting with no expectations other than the fact that with every painting I am learning and getting better. Good or bad, agony or ecstasy, I am moving forward to becoming the best oil painter I can be. I know that it's going to take years but I am in it for the long haul. Next year if I remember, I am going to post my first painting of 2013 and my last one of 2013 and compare to see the improvement.

So, here we go... hello 2013!

Maiden Voyage on the Bernina

I am very excited to have my new baby, the Bernina.  Now that I have learned to thread it and bobbin it---I am off and having so much fun.  As you can see I tried my free stitch foot and it kinda got away from me. Need to practice on that one. I will start the Mastery classes on August 1st so I can really learn to sew---probably about 45 years over due---Mama would be proud of me---

1st image--original painting on watercolor

2nd, 3rd,4th images printed on fabric

5th image--original on watercolor

6th --original acrylic on gessoed canvas--this one almost went into the trash after I painted it but I found it in the back of a drawer---I kinda like it better now with the stitching.

Rainbow Row in Charleston, SC

Absolutely one of the most favorite places on earth for me is Charleston, SC.  There is just something about that low country attitude and accent that just get inside and you just can't get rid of it. After several of us Converse girls failed our freshman language requirement (oops--!speaking another language was not our priority at that time in our lives) we took a make up class at the Citadel that summer. I just can't describe to you what it felt like to be the only girl in a Spanish class of 15 cadets. My other 4 friends were in the French class. I also made an A but I earned that A by studying---really--I did!! But those Charleston days were magical. I made friends who are some of best friends still today. 

Rainbow Row in Charleston is historic I am sure and charming of course but when you get there you always say---ok,so  is this it?--this is rainbow row?? It's not as colorful as one would think but in the painting above I punched up the color a bit because I am sure at some point the colors were brighter. Well, in my mind they were anyway...

...In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina...

My Photo-Spring 2008

Michelle Brown Class Poppies 2

We really do have so much to be thankful for! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! God is good!

Here is another watercolor Poppy picture using all those great techniques for lots of layers. I am loving these backgrounds. Hopefully I can move into another flower but for now, it's POPPIES!!

ORGANIC DIMENSIONS BACKGROUNDS--Online class with Paulette Insall

This is week # 3 of my online class with Paulette Insall. We have added layers and layers of acrylic and various stamps etc. It has been lots of fun and I am looking forward to the last class next week. Then next week I start her other online class "Painting Faces." It will be great to see how she does it---hers are beautiful and I am looking forward to that!

Next week she might have us put a focal point object on our pieces but these are just backgrounds we are creating.

"BEAUTIFUL POPPIES"

This is more of a graphic look. I painted the Poppies (I am into Poppies--you will surely see more) and then added the text in Photoshop. I do have my own Chinese chop but it is at the studio and I am at home now so I found this one online. Who knows what it says but I will use it for now and then transfer mine. I don't think it is anyone's name--but some sort of virtue, I think. (I hope)

I am going to rate my pieces from one 1-10 as to the artist (me)approval rate for each piece instead of talking negatively about any piece I do. I do not "love" all of them but some I like more than others. Anything under 5 probably won't be posted but 5 will be--not very satisfactory, 6--pretty good---worth posting with the work that went into it, 7-some really good elements but not as good as expected  8---good, I am pleased,  9--really good, worked out as expected and 10-- really, really good and worked out more than expected and I am extremely pleased. So there you have it.
Artist approval rating--or APR for "Beautiful Poppies"---(9)