Let's Go - France and Beyond!

Join me on a fun, imaginary watercolor trips to France and a Tropical Paradise.  I am gearing up for the 2017 Portland Art & Soul Mixed Media Art Retreat!  Here is a short video with lots of examples of what I will be teaching:

Art & Soul - Portland 

• Tuttie Fruttie - April 6, 2017
• Tropical Paradise - an Imaginary Journey - April 7, 2017
• Let's Go France! - April 8, 2017
• Art for the Soul - April 9, 2017

Playing with my Muse and Color

Introducing Pixie Star!  She showed up to help me along in my creative endeavors....

Ooh!
 Pixie Star loves being surrounded by color!

Pixee Star and I have been playing around with my color palette.  Those of you who know me, know that I am obsessed with color and watercolor is my favorite medium.  In preparing for my All About Color class that I am teaching in my Bend, Oregon Studio, I took a closer look at the yellows on my palette.  My goal was to have the warmest yellow and the coolest yellow available.  I am happy to announce that I found a cooler yellow than I already had!  It is the Daniel Smith Lemon Yellow.  It is bright, fresh, and semi-transparent.  Next I will try using it in triad and tetrad mixes.  If I come up with something great, I will let you know!
Here are some photos from my Color Class.  There is some serious color study going on!

Fun Art Journal Page, Part 2

For one of the first time's in my life, I am snow bound!  The high for the day is 11 degrees and snow is falling constantly.  What a great day to do some art but first I made chicken soup from scratch and a new found yummy cardamon cookie recipe.  Now I had time to enjoy finishing my Fun Art Journal Page.

Out my back door....

Finishing my art page:  After all the colors have dried and edges are finished, (see part 1)  I added the words "The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step".  This is a quote from Lao Tzu.  I love this quote because it means that great things start from humble beginnings.

I wish that I could say I can do calligraphy because I think it is so beautiful.  The one time I tried it though, I realized quickly that I don't have the patience to learn it.  In one of my art classes several years ago, one of my art students (Cindy was that you?) turned me on to Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pens!  I will bring them to the class I am teaching at the Art & Soul Retreat in Portland, Art for the Soul.  

They come in 4 different nib sizes and lots of great colors of ink!  

 I used the Parallel Pen to write the quote on my journal page.  I hope you have fun trying this out!