Who Are These Kind, Generous People?

Artists of course!  I am just back from CREATE, Seattle and just love all the beautiful friendships that come with teaching.  We share and give each other so much.  We share ideas, new art supplies, creative thoughts and encouragement.  And gifts!

Marlene gave me stencils - she says she bought too many, lol.  Diana made me a beautiful envelope to keep all the cool Polaroid mini photos that Michelle shared with me. Michelle also bought me a pencil sharpener because I needed one.  Susan gave me a magic wand (that can also be used as a pen).

Today in the mail, I receive two beautiful ceramic brush holders from the National Gallery of Art sent to me by Pat.   Here is what she says about them:

"ceramic brush holders - like a mug w no handle - I had one in class.  I think of you every time I look at it and would love for you to have one.  I use it for my clear water and pipette when I paint - lets me know it is NOT the one with my coffee in it and the water is always clean to add to a half-pan without getting too much water over into the next pan that I don’t want wet.  You of course, may actually drink out of it or use it for brushes.  I find it interesting that they list it as a brush holder. 

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Happy Colorful New Year - It's a Beautiful Day!

"Your success and happiness lies in you.  Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties."  Helen Keller

Today is my birthday and the beginning of a new year!  I feel blessed in many ways.  I am so happy that I made the decision 14 years ago to quit my secure job as a lab technician to stay at home and pursue art.  I was scared, lonely and I had no idea what I was doing but I just knew that I had to draw, paint, mix gooey colorful messes and create.   I have made so many wonderful new friends.  Artists are the best!

Adding Texture to Your Paintings

Textured Stone Wall and Red Door

It is fun to play with different ways to add texture to your watercolor paintings.  Sprinkle, Splash and Splatter; Creating Texture with Watercolor, is one of the workshops that I am offering at CREATE, Chicago this Friday, August 23, 2013.  "Texture Stone Wall and Red Door" is just one of the step-by-step examples of one of the exercises that we will be painting in this workshop.

Getting Ready for CREATE, Chicago!

I love collecting artistic tools to put in the goody bags that I give to my students.  I love meeting new artistic friends and catching up with old ones.  I love sharing what I have learned over the years about how to paint beautiful, colorful, glowing paintings and filling art journals with watercolor paintings and mixed media.  I love CREATE!

My little suitcase of supplies

Better clean up my palette

Showing off a colorful background ready for journaling

Dripping with color

Busy creating

Looking forward to catching up with Jenn Mason and Sue Pelletier

Stuffing goody bags

Photos from CREATE, Chicago 2012

I am learning new things about my iphone!   I have finally figured out how to add photos quickly to my blog soooo....... here are some photos from my watercolor Rainbow Studies & Slice of Life Classes that I taught in August.  So many wonderful, fun and creative artists!  So many messy, beautiful palettes of paint, lusciously painted pears and happy smiles!

More Photos from Irvine- Create & Beautiful Art!

Here are some photos from my classes at CREATE, Irvine, 2012.  We learned about color, adding dimension with value, colorful shadows and how to paint along our journey.  Thank you all for a fabulous time!

First time painter EVER!  Shelley"s pear painting using
the color wheel to pick her colors - Way to Go Shelley! 

Jeannie getting into her supplies

Beautiful glowing colors on Flip, Flaps & Fold-out Tag

Beverly's Juicy Pear & Color Chart

Jeannine's pears turned out as colorful as her t-shirt!

Using stencils in new ways....

Mother- Daughter Team

Cool art supplies

More art supplies

Fun!

Love using that colorwheel!