21 Secrets Give-away!

21 Secrets is starting April 1st!  This one os going to be the best one yet! Leave a comment and I will get Mr. Random.org. to pick the winner on Sunday the 1st and you can start the class immediately.

Also if you don't win and want to take the class I would greatly appreciate if you will join the class through my blog. You will see the button on the right side of my blog: Just click it and it will take you to the class site.

Thank you much!!!!!!!!!!

Practicing loose---

One of my goals as an artist to just have fun painting and don't think too much about the exact shape of things.  Abd sometimes I come across an artist that sets my creative spirit free and helps me to loosten up. That artist now (I have had a few) is Robert Joyner. He is REALLY loose and sketches with a fat Sharpie for pete's sake!

So I decided that I was up for the challenge so I found my fat Sharpie and started to sketch. There is something about that fat Sharpie that set me free. At least for today. Sometimes I think I am free but the cage door is still open and at the end of the day I go back into my little cage. Ok, so I know why the caged bird sings...

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom. 

Maya Angelou

She is not a poet that I read but I thought this was appropriate for my art life.

 I am that little bird in the cage that sometimes gets to soar--- because the cage door is always open.

PS Yes, I know, it does look like Robert Burridge. I like him too.

Hi big journal...I have missed you!

It's always so fun to finish up a page spread in my big journal with the grid. I like to use stamps and stuff I don't usually use. Plus I love to write with Calligra-FUN letters.   I am just about the fill this one up.

Another repurposed canvas

I painted this after spending the morning watching several Youtubes of Robert Joyner. He is very loose but I so enjoyed watching his instruction and demos. There are so many gracious artists on the internet who give away they expertise for free.

 This was a repurposed 12 x 24 canvas that was screaming to be painted over.  I had fun painting this because I had a plan before I painted it. It helps to have a plan.  I used a palette knife for the flowers, a credit card for the stick- like marks  and also for the border--- and my new leaf stamps I carved for the 36 x 36.

I should have taken progress pictures because it was an interesting progress but I got so enthralled I forgot to stop and take pictures. I started out gessoing over the failed spray paint graffiti underneath
then while it was wet with gesso I "smushed" down a stencil for some texture. Then when that was dry I decided to use some of my brown gesso that I bought at Art of the Carolinas but haven't used and put it all over the canvas. I sketched out the vase and the flowers quickly (like Robert Joyner) with some of Marc's sidewalk chalk then started painting. This one didn't take too long to paint. The dots were from underneath. I decided I would keep them.

All done!

I think I made the right choice with the grungy white-ish pot. I decided not to show you all the decisions that were rejected for the pot color. Painting is really just a series of problem solving, trial and error, and little sweat along with a little (ok, maybe a lot) of frustration but one thing I have learned about myself, if I just don't give up then usually I can pull it out in the end. So, I can't believe it...I actually painted a 36x36! Maybe I will start to feel like a real painter now.

Jackson-bill! Look who's coming to see us!!

There will be here in about an hour!

Can't wait to see my babies!

The big painting is done so I will post that tomorrow. Thanks for all your sweet comments about the progression. It was fun to do that. Maybe I will do more of that with my paintings.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Making progress--not sure which which direction..

I just didn't like the stems so ...

...when all else fails---crackle paste! I will have to decide what color it should be and it needs a darker glaze so the cracks will show.

YAY! Crackles. Not sure what color to paint it.  Maybe it should just stay white/light-ish.

I added a crackle top and some more crackles down the front.

More Texture...

Who knows is any of this will show in the end but it's fun putting it all. It's all about the surprises at the end.

I love Wood Icing.

Pretty cool!   I'm getting closer.

Hello leaves and texture...

I had an idea...I thought I would carve a quick leaf. I don't want to get too literal on this painting---but like a carved leaf stamp is literal anyway!

I think I like the effect of the leaf stamps.

So here I am so far with some of the leaf stamps  Now to stand back and take another deep breath and decide want to do next. I think texture...

Stay tuned---

Hello flowers...

Ok, so the flowers were hiding in the hodge podge!

I pulled out my new Crafter's Workshop stencils to play around a little bit. This layer will get covered up anyway. This might not be the color for the background that I end up with. 

It was time to take another deep breath and add some flowers. Red is in my comfort zone so I decided to try to say as comfortable as I could with this big canvas...which is the biggest I have ever painted in my life. So far I am enjoying the process...

Stay tuned...

There's a vase of Flowers in there somewhere...

YIKES!! The blank white canvas!!

This is a 36 x36 and these big canvases have been haunting me ever since I bought them. Actually I bought them with the intention of going down to south FL for a workshop called "Larger and Looser" by Robert Burridges but I had to cancel that one. So I am stuck here with about five 36 x 36s as well as some that are a little bit smaller. So today I thought I would just take a deep breath and just do it!

So I thought I would start by just putting paint all over the canvas to loosen up and get familiar with the paint again. I haven't painted with acrylic in a long time. And this is the first time I have used my new painting room and I do love it. The light is great.

I mixed up some yellow ochre and white just to do the negative painting and see if there was a pot of flowers in this hodge podge of paint. Looks like there might be some flowers there. Stay tuned...

Cutie-patootie...

Can't believe he's almost 3. Such a big boy now--no more diapers. He's got on his favorite boots Nana gave him. They are coming to Jacksonville on Friday. Can't wait!

Pair of Leanin' Pears

Is there a such thing as a red pear? I guess it really doesn't matter at all because I have painted blue ones before and I am sure there are no blue pears! 

This is on my favorite paper--300 lb Arches watercolor paper. 

This is a 10x10.

Apple of my Eye

Just doin' a little doodling and playing with my new colors of pan pastels my good buddy Lori gave me. They are so much fun to use with all my Crafter's Workshop stencils. There are so many different ones it will make your head spin!

And the winner is......

PAT!

Congratulations, Pat! 

Please send me your email so you can have a free Pear-ology class!

:))


Thank you all so much for your comments!

Pear-ology Giveaway!

Hey guys! I have been working very hard on this class. As you probably know I haven't had a chance to blog very much but I really enjoyed doing this class. I really do feel that after you take this class your pears can look just like these pears and believe it or not, it's very simple. There is a trick to it which you will learn in the class. I will also show you some other fun "magic" tricks that I use for the background that you can use on any backgrounds that you paint. 

So just leave a comment and Wednesday at 8 pm I will have Mr. Random.org choose a number. You all know how it works! 

Here is the video about the class:

Sixy Pears

I have been so slow starting up to blog again. When life interrupts the art flow it really is hard to get cranked up again. But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have it any other way than to be able to help Chauncey's mother get well from her surgery and have his mom and dad settled in to assisted living.
I think they will enjoy their life there when Chauncey's mother gets back on her feet.

I have been filming my "Pear-ology" class so actually I have been doing art but as I said in my last post, I don't want to choke everyone on pears. So with that being said here are six more I painted! I hope you are with someone who knows the heimlich maneuver for safe pear removal from the wind pipe!
----------------------------
Here is some sad news:
We had a shooting at Episcopal School today here in Jacksonville and the head master was killed by a disgruntled employer. We are so shocked and saddened. Macaul and Zachry attended that school and respected and admired this head master.

Another nutritious meal

He just cracks me up the way he says butter.
Anyway as you see I have no artwork. Well, I do have lots of pears I have been painting getting ready to film "Pear-ology" but after you paint 50 of them and post most of them they start looking just alike. So I thought I would spare you the pear boredom.

Here's a news flash...
I am starting (restarting) a new venture which will be fun I think. (I hope)
I used to play guitar when I was younger and when I was 13 I had a rummage sale in front of my daddy's store to raise money for this very expensive Gibson classical guitar I wanted. I paid $150 for it 45 years ago so at today's prices that would probably be over $1000 now. I am just guessing on that one but back then is was a nice guitar.

I have agreed to lead some singing at our church with the little ones and I decided I would get out the old Gibson and get it restrung and give it a go. Our son, Zach, the" lawyer by day and rock star by night" said he would help me. I can play just basic little tunes on the guitar so hopefully this will turn out to be fun and not a disaster. Here is the Gibson.

It will be interesting to see if my old skills will come back. I will have to practice up on what I played back then..."If I had a Hammer", "Lemon Tree", " Hang Down your Head Tom Dooley".

You remember those, right?  :)))

Ok, I am off to Chip's Music Store with the 'ole girl and see if she can some back to life.

A Nutritious Meal!

Butter and Cheerios! Yum!
:))

Art Colors Life

Well, I have had a tiny breather from all that has happened lately with Chauncey's mother. His mother survived the surgery and it appears that she just might be ok. Maybe she will walk again but the extreme pain is now gone--just the pain from surgery. She is in rehab in the same place where we have moved them into assisted living. It is very amazing how God was one step ahead of me the whole time.  But I don't know why I would be amazed at that! Their apartment is really cute and I think they will be happy there. Chauncey's daddy is there now and this afternoon I think we might push her down to the apartment so she can see it for the first time. I put some of her pretty antiques in there and it really looks like home.

Maybe Chauncey and I can rest now that they are taken care of. There is still more to do with their finances and stuff like that but that's Chauncey's job to figure all that out.
God is good!

I sat down a few minutes ago and did these color drop flowers and the lettering. Feels good to pick up a paintbrush and pen.
Have a great rest of the weekend, y'all! I am off to the rest home.

I will have to leave you with this thought for a while-->pears are coming!!... but in the meanwhile we have had an emergency with Chauncey's 87 year old mother. She is waiting for hip surgery which will be on Tuesday. Both of his parents are handicapped at this point and have been living independently with help. We will have to move them into assisted living community after her surgery. Right now she needs constant care since she can't walk. 

So, I will return when all this calms down and I can create art again. 

Hopefully all will work out fine and she will be able to walk again.

See you all again later!

Do a little doodle...

I have been busy gathering and planning "Pear-ology: The Painting of Watercolor Pears" class.

 I haven't been posting anything because of the mass studio clean up and the Pear-ology class.

But hopefully I will get back to my acrylics soon. 

I have also been enjoying Joanne Sharpe's Letter Love class. I just love her whimsical and fun lettering and she is doing a great job with this class. Love her!! I recommend it!

All clean and organized!

Very excited about my new area to paint big. This big easel was certainly not fitting in the front room so it took about 4 days of rearranging and sorting to change everything around. Now it's so clean I don't want to mess it up! (That's why I don't have any new art to show)

But it will be messy again soon.

All my paints are together ready to be used. Do you think I have enough?

I can't remember that this area was ever this organized.

Going to Good Will---all but Bucky. I think I will keep him.

Little sweeties

We had such a great time visiting out little ones in Greenville. Morgan is getting so big and she is so sweet. She smiles like this most of the time.  And here is Marc singing his blessing.

I don't have any new art to show although I have been working on a "Pear-ology" watercolor series for the upcoming class I am planning.

I have been totally rearranging my studio and throwing out stuff (actually sending it to Goodwill) and making a new painting room in the back. Maybe tomorrow when  I finish up I will take you on a video tour and show you my new painting room.

Oh, and I think I posted this on Facebook but forgot to post this good news on my blog. I held my breath and entered a show here in town called the"Women Painters of the Southeast."
I really debated on what to enter knowing it would be a juried show. But to my great surprise both pieces got in the show! The show is in April and if you look at the second show you will see all the cash prizes!
I am just excited that I got in!
Here are the two submissions:

This is a dream come true for me. I am glad that I didn't have to face art rejection. I have done that before and it's not too fun.

Italian Countryside

I love any pictures of an Italian Countryside. I would love to go to Tuscany and paint and that is on the top of my bucket list for sure. I painted this from a picture that I liked. Not sure if I captured the perspective or not. The picture was so beautiful looking down into a valley. It's an odd size--about 7x11 and the paper was already primed and ready for something. So that something was a landscape. I have an opinion about it and my opinion is based on my expectation of the outcome. This turned out differently than my expectation for this piece. I am not saying that I don't like it but it is different from what I tried to paint. I am trying to capture the essence and not every detail. I fight hard to simplify because in a painting giving every detail is not necessary. Tell my left brain that!

I am off this morning to Greenville for a week to see my grand babies! See ya when I get back!

White Flowers

I really like this one actually. It's a 5x7.
I am reorganizing my studio to make the back sun room just for painting. I put the big easel out there but doing this involves a complete reorganization of all the supplies that were out in that room. This is a huge job and I have been working on it for several days. I have to leave it for now because I am off to Greenville this morning for a week to see Macaulay, Marc and Morgan while Daddy Marc is out of town.  I should be back sometimes next week. I am hoping everyone will have a wonderful rest of the week!

Green Pear

"It's not easy being green," said the pear.
Actually I think that was Kermit.
Well, that's just the first thing that come to my mind about this pear 'cause I paint so many of these so just what is there left to say? Ok, here's something... I actually painted this pear with Windsor Yellow then added some Antwerp blue to turn it green. No green paint on this pear.

This was that...

I finished up this painting so it could go into my spot at the Women's center. I like the way it turned out. Good thing I like green! Maybe some green-loving person will buy it.

Art of Your Heart

I write this little saying all the time because it is just so true for me. It is so amazing to me how different (and better) my art is when it comes spontaneously and serendipitously straight out of my heart. Most (99%) of the art I post on my art du jour blog is created this way.  I have had to do many commissions and other art on demand throughout the years and although I love my art and love to create it, if it is "on demand" from an outside source I feel that it is forced and contrived. I don't think the viewer can see (I hope not!) it but I sure can.

This was written quickly with my new fabulous Pentel Pocket cartridge brush fountain pen. I also got out my Pan Pastels for the sun and one of my favorite stencils. I should do that more often because that was awesomely fun!

So today was quick and fun = art du jour!

More in the Pear-ology Series

Painting pears definitely makes me happy. This is another piece of 5x7 Twinrocker paper with the fabulous deckled edges. Ok, gotta go now and do my happy dance. :))

CalligraFUN in Orlando

I just can't tell you how much fun it was to teach CalligraFUN to my fellow scribes. They are all such a talented bunch as you can see from the images. They had great success and I am so proud of them!