An Artist Labyrinth: Ginny Stiles

Yupo Demo for Jan 23 Florida class....

2012-01-21T12:09:00.003-06:00

It's fun to re-visit a medium you have come to enjoy so much. This is done on a half sheet of translucent Yupo paper with white paper behind it.

One of the positives about the see-through paper is you can do a drawing and then lay it on top and trace so easily. Although this toucan was a pretty easy drawing...I like the objects in Yupo paintings to be fairly simple with lots of empty spaces for me to play and experiment in.

This is a demo I am doing for my Hawthorne Park friends for Monday's class. I am not done...it's so much fun to add and subtract some of the textures in the background.

And it is fun to pick a subject that has bright interesting colors. I am an avid fan of George James and I'll be showing the class about half an hour of the first of his 3 part series called "Mastering Yupo: Techniques for Synthetic Paper." You can find those wonderful foam rollers he uses at WalMart for about $2.50.

Fracturing Clematis

2012-01-17T05:33:00.002-06:00

Clematis: (noun) a climbing plant of the buttercup family that bears white, pink, or purple flowers and feathery seeds.

Tip: When you put away paintings that seem to "have no future" be sure to tape the original photo references (if there is one) to the back.

I am in the process of a BIG New Year's cleaning of my studio. My experiment with this watercolor might never have happened without the reference photos...and it has been such fun. After Peg Furlin's workshop (fracturing wc on canvas) I decided to try the technique on regular wc paper.

The downside of this is the inability to be able to get back completely to white as you can with canvas. But I took the painting to the sink and used a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge to it and took the painting down to a pale image of it's former self. I let it try overnight. (Left it on homosote board and I did not need to tape it down or staple it and it helps to soak out the moisture. It dried quite flat.)

Then I measured my imaginary mat (just as I did on canvas) and proceeded to draw fracturing lines lightly with pencil. The process of figuring out how to show the flowers and enjoy the fracturing and keeping a center of interest is challenging. I think as I critique it...I may need more of a third contrasting color in the painting which is mostly shades of rose and green. There is some purple in the painting which does not show very well in the indoor lighting. So this painting may not be done. Anyone have any suggestions. I think this is a very feasible way to re-do a painting that has fallen flat for some other reason.

My Drawing Class

2012-01-11T16:46:00.003-06:00

I feel badly I haven't been posting very regularly. I can think of excuses...but they are not very creative ones. So I'll skip those.

Instead I will mention that I am in a 6 part drawing class (two sessions) taught by Lucina Roark here in Leesburg, FL.

SO much information! She is is really trying to give us a big general overview and allowing us a lot of freedom in different ways that we can respond through practice. We DO have homework! This one is to draw an egg (two times) in two different drawing media such as ink, pastel, charcoal or graphite. I took on ink crosshatching and right off the bat am in pretty rough territory. Leave it to me. Getting the nuances of shadow with cross hatching is going to be a BIG challenge (and I used a small pen too!). Uh oh. But we do have two weeks before the next class!

Our first drawing challenge included drawing our own hands. These are graphite 4B and 6B using a stump for shading.

Oh boy. These have a ways to go also! But it's a start!

I found some pretty nice Strathmore 400 series drawing paper "buy one, get one free" sale at Michaels up in The Villages on Monday. 14 x 17- 80# which I think will hold me in good stead during the classes.

Happy Birthday Matisse!

2011-12-31T07:09:00.001-06:00

It's the birthday of painter Henri Matisse (1869), born in Le Cateau, France. As a child and a young man, he had no interest in art. He went to law school in Paris and never visited a single museum. Had it not been for a case of appendicitis, he might never have become an artist. Bedridden for several weeks during his recovery, he took up painting as a way to pass the time. It was a revelation. He said, "For the first time in my life I felt free, quiet, and alone ... carried along by a power alien to my life as a normal man." At 22, he quit the law to begin work as a full-time artist. He was a revolutionary who dressed like a bourgeois, and he once said, "It has bothered me all my life that I do not paint like everybody else."

Article taken from Garrison Keillor's blog today.

Two Different WC techniques

2011-12-22T09:30:00.002-06:00

This is watercolor on canvas.

I am using Peg Furlin's technique of "fracturing". I took my inspiration from a catalog I found showcasing interesting vases. One of my downfalls are vases and "containers". And I also love still lifes. I liked the idea of contrasting the linear painting with a few citrus tossed into the frame. And the flowers help to throw a little something more organic into the painting.

I thought I would try a different triad of color this time. Quin gold, several shades of brown, and aliz. crimson. At first I used a kind of Quin Sienna for the red but my hubby critiqued it and he said it needs to be punched up with RED. I think in this case he was quite right!!! I punched up the center of interest with black.

Originally, in the first wash I went too dark. (I am learning as I go along.) So all the white (slightly stained white) was the same color as the color strips leading out of the interior of the painting. Pretty colors but not what I was looking for. So I used a Mr. Clean sponge to wipe out as much as possible. I got almost back to white and didn't mind a little staining at all. I think one of the things about "fracturing" that pleases my eye, is the "mat" look of having an interior painting. Making the mat too dark makes you lose this. However, there are no set rules about it and there is no reason the mat couldn't be dark and the interior light. To try another day?

This little painting is a demo I started in my wc class a few weeks ago...using a John Lovett video for inspiration and also using one of his paintings for inspiration. I traced my drawing and handed it out to the gals and we all painted the same scene this time. I don't like to do that too much but sometimes it's nice to have a drawing that includes a lot of the techniques you want to teach. This had old bricks and stones to paint and then to "ink" and bleed. And it fit well with that gesso or gouache technique of softening the edges with a hake brush. I used "opera" for the curtains in the window to pop that center of interest. It's a tiny painting...just 7 x 11". (an 8th of sheet of Arches.)

I find this a pleasing little painting. Something nice about the slightly open door too, don't you think? Inviting?

Saving my Lizard Painting

2011-12-17T16:35:00.003-06:00

This painting that comes first is the "touched up" version. Scroll down below to the original painting.

I used a John Lovett technique to soften the edges of this too-busy painting (using white gouache and a hake brush).

I also darkened the center of interest and added a little more pizzaz to the redder of the lizards. And a little yellow green to the larger lizard to make him stand out a bit more.

This original painting was "okay" but awfully busy and with no center of interest to draw the eye to.

Watercolor on Arches 140#

11 x 15 (quarter sheet)

Note: These are little gems are actually called

Green Anoles

Ginny on Steve Humes CD jacket

2011-12-05T12:53:00.002-06:00

I posted about this once before...but now the album (Exit 32) is out and for sale! My little sketch is on the back.

Steve has a sort of "Jimmy Buffet" sound (in my opinion) and uses guitar, banjo, flute, fiddles, etc. Really a nice sound. What fun!

You can find out how to order here. $10.

Steve manages to capture such diverse human experiences as living out of grocery carts near Interstate Exit ramps, to interpreting the songs of Cuckoo birds on overhead wires. A talented ensemble of musicians are also heard in this artful collection, including his effervescent wife, Leigh, who has an impressive list of accomplishments of her own in the bay area music community. Other familiar names include Rebecca Zapen, Tami Wingard of Hannah's Whirl, the legendary Joe Lala, the nationally recognized songster who "digs rock and roll music" Jim Mason, and Guitar Sal Belloise, who in this case is showing his skills on the Flute. A healthy assortment of other artists also come together to give Steve an easy off ramp at Exit 32. With stories of the heart and human aspiration, this Steve Humes collection of songs should earn him recognition as Tampa Bay's Musical Poet Laureate.

Fun Ways to Share Art

2011-12-04T13:08:00.002-06:00

The Seno Woodland Education Center is now offering products to raise $ for the environmental center in Burlington, WI.

All the products feature my watercolor images! How cool is that?!!!

Here you see a kitchen magnet, a tile coaster and a framed tiles. But there are tee shirts, hats, bags, mugs, etc.

Click here to see the array of very nice products at very reasonable prices.

All the sketches were either en plein air or studio paintings from photographs at the Seno Center in Burlington, Wisconsin.

You can find out more about the center by clicking here.

Fractured

2011-11-28T20:43:00.002-06:00

Based on Peg Furlin's workshop...I did a demo for my wc class today...watercolor on canvas. We only have about two hours to work together...these gals REALLY catch on fast. I hope to post some of their work in a couple weeks.

Peg has coined the term "fractured wc" for this technique. What I need to work on now are ways to make the colors choices I use more harmonious and interesting. Peg is currently working with a lot of grays, browns and blacks...very limited palette. Hard for me...I LOVE color.

This old truck was photos in Key West and I have painted it before with the bed of the truck planted in lost of wild bushes. The truck itself slowly rusting itself into the ground. It sits outside a restaurant...some old fish shanty type. I call this "The Lemon". I did use some stamping on this. But found it way too distracting for a beginner in this sort of technique. A lot of the stamps got lifted off. I also used a lot of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to lift off the white areas. Peg's tip.

The wc canvas is very forgiving. You can wash it off and start all over if you wish.

I have two others started I'd like to work on this week while it's all fresh in my mind.

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.

This is the week my hubby has his second surgery to connect the deep brain stimulation to the battery operated pacemaker. Friday morning is the big day! Wish us luck.

Peg Furlin's WC on canvas workshop

2011-11-17T16:21:00.003-06:00

We all arrived in a downpour at the Center for the Arts in Leesburg, FL for Peg's class. But by noon it was hot and sunny again!

Many there had not painted on canvas before. Peg talked alot of about using canvas. Several brands are available and they are all slightly different. Fredrix WC canvas got into the game early and have patented the name WC canvas. But there are others now: Paramount, Yes, and Edge were 3 others she mentioned. All are available in the online mail catalogs. She mentioned she gets her's at Jerry's Artarama.

I worked on two different ones. The palm tree was a 16 x 20 gallery wrapped canvas by Paramount.

And the little boat scene was an 11 x 14 YES canvas on board. The Paramount required that I scrub the surface before priming in order to reduce the "puddle" effect of the coating.

But YES canvas on board should not be scrubbed (which I did not know) as it is cheaper and the scrubbing removes all the sizing and then the watercolor "bleeds".

Lucky for me, the subject matter of the smaller painting made the "bleeding" issue just part of the watery look. I have already made some changes to the boats...adding darks and making a connection to the edge at the bottom. More photos later.

Although I have worked on canvas many times before...I learned SO much in this one day workshop.

Peg has been working a lot lately on abstracts. This was one she brought along to show. Check out Peg's website gallery for a variety of subject matter.

She will be showing in the Mt. Dora, Florida Art Show the first weekend in February.

En Plein Air again!

2011-11-15T16:23:00.002-06:00

Our hostess today was my friend, Dawn, who has lovely home on Lake Eustis.

8 or so artists gathered there this morning starting out in overcast but ending in beautiful sunshine. Dawn gave up painting to be our hostess making chili and cornbread! Oh yum.

Despite the fact that it was 85 degrees...the chili tasted great (it IS November after all.) and a slight breeze kept the temperature just about right all day and there was SO much lovely shade from her huge trees filled with spanish moss.

We had birds calling around us all morning and butterflies galore. She says they have a wonderful huge owl who sings to them at night. The lake reflected the sky as white which is the way I painted it...but as the clouds cleared to show more blue, then more blue appeared in the water....so I am going to have to go back and touch up the water a little.

This was done in acrylic. And I haven't done anything in acrylic for many many months! Can't even remember the last thing! Surely something back in August up north!

I started with my usual orange prime coat (for tropical scenes). And I worked 16 x 20 which is really too large for en plein air!

But I just felt like working with big brushes today!

I was tired afterwards...4 hours (broken in half with lunch) on my feet in 85 degrees. I'll sleep well tonight!

Susan Lansdown 75 day sketch complete

2011-11-10T16:17:00.002-06:00

Susan is one of our Sassy Sketchers...and since we all started together last August, we are all ending together in October!!!

Susan also sent a picture of the first substantial snow fall in Minocqua, Wisconsin (where Greg and I summer).

Susan and Leslie are "holding down the fort" until the rest of us snow birds return.

We had close to 80 today here in central FL.

A slight cool down around 70 tomorrow but back up to 80 by Monday.

I admit her yard looks more like two weeks to Thanksgiving than my yard. But I have learned to adjust!. Over the river and through the woods still applies. Just not a sleigh. We go by golf cart here!

Receiving my Artistic License!

2011-11-08T15:25:00.002-06:00

How totally fun is this!

When the Sassy Sketcher's signed up with Brenda Swenson on her blog to do the 75 days challenge of doing a pen and ink sketch for 75 days....Brenda promised to send us a license at the completion.

SO...it came in the mail today. All the way from California to Florida!

How nice is THAT!

And all in plastic so you can carry it around and show it off. :-)

Here I am after just opening the mail today (with my studio behind me).

Check out Brenda's wonderful blog posts here.

Joan Stephens Finishes up her 75 Day Sketch Challenge

2011-11-07T16:30:00.002-06:00

The Sassy Sketchers are gradually coming to a finish on this particular project!!!

It was great to hear from Joan (pronounced Jo-Ann) and hear that she made it through too!

The holidays are just around the corner now...can you believe it? Our art group here at Hawthorne is making plans to decorate a tree with home made ornaments and Christmas music is in the stores.

My hubby is doing well in his recovery now from surgery and will have his staples out next Thursday. We are on the count down now to Surgery Part II where they will connect now the wires to the stimulator. That will happen on Dec 2.

It is his early Christmas present!

I am busy with my art class here at the park in Florida. I have done a second pour on the watercolor...it's not look too great at this point...but I plan to carry on.

Photo to follow.

Pouring Watercolor Part I

2011-11-06T18:35:00.003-06:00

Actually I am posting this for my November 14th watercolor class here in FL.

We are preparing to do a little pouring of watercolor ala Jean Grastorf.

Doing this in a 3 hour lesson won't be easy so I am trying to give the gals a heads up so that they not only have the proper supplies but can have paper ready and a drawing in place by the time we start next Monday.

Here is the basic supply list:

1/4 sheet cold press 140# wc paper, stretched.
at least 3 clear plastic cups for color mixing
a triad of transparent red,blue, yellow (I plan to use permanent rose, cobalt, and aurolin yellow. But there are many triads.
a spray bottle
plastic cloth for table
something to catch the paint (a jelly roll pan? aluminum throw aways kinds from Publix work okay) also an old terry towel and paper towel.
a drawing in pencil
hair dryer
masking fluid of your choice and some synthetic old small brushes for application
a rubber pick up
soap (liquid or solid)
pencil/eraser
tape

I am going to use one of Jean's examples from her book Pouring Light. I think we have her permission to use it for practice. If any of the class members would like to use the same drawing, I'll be happy to share the line drawing so you can trace it before class. I will bring copies to the Fine Art Meeting tomorrow morning. I am also going to put faint x's on the first layer of masking. Remember, the masking cannot go on until the paper is BONE dry. Here is a little masking demo that is pretty good (click here) but I would recommend that when using a paint brush that you wet your brush, dip it in soap or rub on a bar of soap, dip in water again and then put on the masking. It will make you brush last a LOT longer.

If you click on Jean's name above and go to her gallery you will see the drawing as a completed painting there.

You might notice in the picture that I have a "sharpened popsicle stick" in the supply photo. It is one of my favorite applicators for masking fluid!

If you have not ever stretched paper. I'd recommend you click here and look at Cheap Joe's video of how to stretch paper. (note the drawing is on it first!!!). At the end of the process, you will want to staple the paper down starting at the four corners and then in the middle of each side, and then every 3" or so. Then let it dry at least overnight before you come to class.

I think we will all have better luck with the pouring having the paper tightly secured to the board. Tune in for more art!

Leslie Johnson completes her 75 day sketching Challenge!

2011-10-30T13:39:00.002-05:00

The group of gals (The Sassy Sketchers) who started out about at the same time on this challenge in August...are, of course, finishing up at about the same time. We were all in the north woods of Wisconsin at that time.

Some of us have fled to FL now but Leslie and Susan stay on through the winter and brave the cold but often beautiful forests and lakes of Wisconsin.

Congratulations Leslie!

Here is Leslie's lovely False Solomon Seal with red berries...one of her favorite final sketches.

I posted one of her sketches much earlier (the Jelly Jars). Here is what she says she is doing with that sketch.

I did make copies of my jelly jars, colored only one in in red for interest, and then ran them off on 4 x 4 cards with ideas on the back of each card of what to do with the various jellies I am giving my family for Christmas. I'll put a card in each of their baskets. Fun!

Completing the 75 day challenge

2011-10-27T20:32:00.004-05:00

Well, I knew when I started back in August that I was doing a "count down" to my husband's DBS surgery (Deep Brain Stimulation).

It seemed only right to make this last sketch right in his room as he rested up from a very emotional few days!

The surgery was VERY successful and Greg was able to feel how it is going to be when the second operation happens on Dec 2. He was able to write his name, draw a circle and hold a cup. Things he has not been able to do with that hand for over 10 years!

He was up and walking in the room 3 hours after surgery!

Day 74 was done in the waiting room looking out toward the street in front of Shands Hospital (U of FL) in Gainesville.

Greg will have a second surgery on Dec 2 to implant a stimulator device (somewhat like a pacemaker) with a battery that will activate the wire now in his brain.

It is all science-fiction stuff to us!

So many kudos to the staff and doctors and nurses at Shands. They are fantastic!!!

Greg did not feel much pain but is very tired.

Thanks for all the kind messages we have received.

Watercolor Class #1: Masa Paper

2011-10-24T12:36:00.003-05:00

We had a fun time at watercolor class in the Fine Arts room at Hawthorne Park this morning from 9 to noon. About a dozen of us experimenting with masa paper (rice paper) and wc paper.

It was so nice to see folks again and be painting together!!!

This was my demo this morning.

Geraniums in a window box.

Sheila suggested maybe showing "lattice work" on the bottom of the painting. Behind the long strings of leaves. I think that has a lot of merit, don't you?

Tune in later for my finish up.

Cynthia Edmonds demo (oil)

2011-10-23T19:59:00.004-05:00

Cynthia is a Winter Park, FL artist.

She did the demo for the Leesburg Art Association October meeting last Saturday.

Although she works in oil mostly she also has experience in acrylic. I have signed up for her two-day workshop in February (in acrylic).

She tones her canvas in yellows and golds first. Draws in with oil and then begins.

You can see some images in her gallery here. The house painting was done previous to her demo. Almost all her work is en plein air.

Note: I am now on Day 72 of my 75 day Sketch Challenge. Greg and I leave for Gainesville to prepare for his surgery tomorrow night so the last 3 days of the challenge will be Monday, Tues and Wed. Wed is the day of his surgery. It will be sort of amazing to be finishing up at the hospital. But I have known for a long time that the final day would be this special event. Watch for more in days to come. Keep us in your prayers.

75 day sketching Challenge Day 63 & 64

2011-10-17T06:51:00.003-05:00

The scenes are Fl scenes now.

As I fall now into the last weeks of the challenge. The corner of my Florida room on a sunny afternoon and a tiny bit of the patio out back. Actually yesterday was day # 65 and that one is done also. So 10 sketches left in the challenge. It's been a pretty interesting "journey" and I know that I have seen artistic growth!

The interesting thing (to me)...or ONE of the interesting things is that this challenge turned out to be a "count down" to my husband's surgery date. I knew this when I started. The last sketch will be while he is in surgery.

On Oct 26 Greg is having DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) surgery to help alleviate the severe tremor in his right hand from a genetic disease called Essential Tremor. The surgery will be done at U of Fl hospital (Shands) in Gainesville, FL. Anyone who could throw a few prayers our way, it would be welcome! There is a fascinating 45 sec video of how the procedure goes that you might like to view if you have no idea what DBS involves. He will be awake during the whole thing! Click here.

Every time I look at this video tears come to my eyes. The correction that happens at that moment is JUST what we are praying for. Greg will experience this during the surgery BUT he will have to "detached" from the electric stimulus after surgery and he won't be re-connected until he has a pace maker stimulator gets put in on Dec 2. So we need to pray for patience too. We wait and wait and then wait some more!

Meanwhile, my faith and my art has been my saving graces...they hold me and center me and set my my mind in peace.

I am currently preparing for a watercolor class I'll teach one week from today. And still trying to find things in my studio, get unpacked here and organized.

My en plein air FL friends are trying to set up some dates to paint together again too. I think we are going to try to get together on Nov 11 at the Eustis Sailing Club to do some sketches! They are getting ready for a regatta there! If weather cooperates.

Malcolm Carver

2011-10-12T20:16:00.005-05:00

I wanted to add one more comment about sketching today. In the latest issue of International Artist (page 120) is a GREAT article by Malcolm Carver on "The Art of Seeing".

And on the second page he shows his tools

which include the same Cotman painting kit I use AND an iPad!

I checked and his website and it is not all that great. But the article has a lot of good information about the reason we all sketch rather than take photos for everything.

Day 61 and 62 of the 75 day Sketch Challenge

2011-10-12T20:11:00.002-05:00

Kind of feel like I am in the home stretch now with only 13 days left in the challenge!

This is my studio in Florida (or a small part of it) and I am now stacking videos and books on the desk trying to get some sense of order! Arrrrr....gh. It's going slowly.

I did the table one day and the chair today so am counting it as two days sketching. Kinda stretching it today.

Doing the Sketch of the Mill

2011-10-10T15:36:00.003-05:00

I met SO many lovely folks while I was sketching the mill picture last Thursday in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Folks who were artists came by to visit and folks who wished they were! Several asked for my card (glad I had a few tucked into my sketchbook!).

I am up to date on my 75 day sketches too...I will post them later. AND I've been hearing from my Sassy Sketcher friends who have been en plein air in Indian Summer weather too! And from Susan in CA too! Such fun.

We are in Florida as of last night...85 and humid. Takes getting used to!

Last Day on the Blue Ridge

2011-10-08T09:54:00.001-05:00

Did a half hour sketch of Mabry Mill near the 170 mile marker on the Blue Ridge in VA on Thursday. Wonderful cloudless skies and warm sunshine! We found more tree color south of Roanoke. It couldn't have been more perfect.

We are now in SC on Lake Wylie with my sister and brother-in-law. I laid my sketchbook on my sister's jigsaw puzzle table to snap photo with iPad2. I am not counting these sketches as part of my 75 day challenge because I do them in pencil, watercolor them and add micron .005 ink pen afterwards.

The old grist mill is part of a working walkthrough exhibit with many docents working in there making apple butter and gardening and blacksmithing, etc.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sketching on my iPad2

2011-10-05T07:07:00.001-05:00

I know this looks more like a contour drawing today! But I did this little "sketch" of the lamp, my brief case, etc that was sitting on the motel desk beside me with a stylus on my iPad! Hey, when you are traveling you do the best you can! Hahaha. Gotta keep up with my assignments! We are in West Virginia now and headed into the Blue Ridge after breakfast.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 51 and 52

2011-10-03T11:17:00.001-05:00

I did a few out door sketches on the last two days at my daughter's home in s.e. WI. The weather has turned golden and looks, feels and smells now like Indian Summer.

The sun feels warm on your back and makes you feel like taking long walks.
Knowing I'll be car riding alot in the next few days has sent me outside.

We are re-packing the car now for the last 7 days of the trip.
It is fun to anticipate seeing our old Blue Ridge Mountains again. We should roll in there on Wednesday. We have reservations at the Peaks of Otter lodge that night.

I'll be getting out my travel journal now.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ginny's 50th College Reunion

2011-10-02T16:52:00.001-05:00

Today I am thinking back over the last few days to my college reunion at Beloit College in Beloit, WI. In the photo are a few remembrances. Each of us received the golden hood (which we proudly wore all weekend). Our name tags bore our graduation photo from the year book. WHO is that girl?

It was a bittersweet weekend for many reasons. On the back of the program was a list of everyone who has passed away since the the 25th reunion. My heart ached to read Pamela Hurlbut Troop. I haven't seen her in 48 years...but I always held out the hope of one seeing her again. So many adventures together.

But the old friends who were there were filled with laughter and good stories made the event so worthwhile. So we alternated between hilarity and nostalgia. An emotional weekend to be sure.
The weather was nippy but dry and sunny. The campus is very pretty. It was strange to walk in the places we walked so long ago. I think everyone took some time to do this alone. We were all so aware of much time has passed. This does put one in a reflective mood.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

75 day Sketching Challenge: Day 47-50

2011-10-01T19:50:00.001-05:00

These sketches were all done while visiting my daughter, Beth, in WI. She'll hopefully recognize everything in them! I also took the photo references with my iPad2. (Rather than downloading them from my camera.) It is the first time I've tried doing that!

Today was my 50th college reunion at Beloit College. What fun to see old friends. Also sobering to see the list of those who have passed away. I thought it coincidental that I did my 50th sketch today, don't you?

I hope that the sassy Sketchers will send some photos after Oct 10 so I can post their work as well.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Travel Blogs

2011-09-29T19:27:00.001-05:00

I am still working on the sketch challenge and will soon be headed toward the Blue Ridge Mountains of VA. Until then here is a fall painting I did some years ago in WI.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

75 day Challenge day 41,42 and 44

2011-09-27T10:20:00.001-05:00

Now I am experimenting with taking a photo, downloading it to the iPad and attaching to a blog post.

The numbers are not always consecutive in my sketch book as I bounce around looking for spaces that fit the size I want.

Day 41 was my last sketch (top left) at the cabin. Day 42 (top right) my first sketch at my daughter's home in Fontana, WI.

One downside is that so far I haven't figured out if I can crop or adjust photos on the iPad.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

75 day sketching Challenge Day 37 & 38

2011-09-20T10:37:00.002-05:00

As our last two days at the summer cabin unfold...I find myself in the usual emotional sort of limbo. Anxious to get "home" to Florida and anticipating the interesting driving trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains and visiting friends and relatives. At the same time going through a sad farewell to a place we hoard up special memories with the grandkids and with nature.

This old chair came with the cabin and Greg has threatened to replace it a number of times but I just can't let it go. The Swan's Head arm rests are not that rare...I see them a garage sales all the time. But, as I say...it is old and full of nostalgia and I am guessing it will last as long as I do at least. We have had to make room in our lives for many changes. But you need to hang on to a few old things for nostalgia!

We went for our last canoe ride on Tippecanoe Lake for a few hours yesterday. The sunshine called us down to the quiet shores. We were the only boat out on the lake. Most of the piers have been pulled up on shore now for the long cold winter ahead. Fish swam under the canoe in the clear, clear water and huge boulders reached up from under the water looking dark and secretive. Water skimmer bugs flitted away from the canoe as we parted through them and although we searched, we are sure the loons are gone now. We did see many eagles soaring over us. A balm for the soul. And a good farewell ride.

Part of our pier frame rolls up on shore on wheels. So while Greg tidied up the boat house, I sat in the warm sunshine (in sweatshirt and wind breaker) and sketched my daily sketch. The lilly pads have all changed colors to bright reds and yellows but not much color in the trees along the shore yet. Probably another two weeks for that. And we can't wait around.

We leave on Thursday. Weather forecast is rain and a high of 47 degrees that day. YIKES! It's 88 in Leesburg, FL. We'll spend 18 days on the road during which time I won't be posting.

I hope my faithful readers won't give up on me. I should have some nice sketches (and some from my travel sketchbook in color) after the trip.

I did purchase a blogging app for my iPad but have not had time to work with it yet. Another learning curve. Happy fall, everyone. And safe travels to all. See you in October.

Approaching Masa Paper & WC in a slightly different Way

2011-09-17T13:30:00.005-05:00

I meant to put these in proper order from start to finish, but see that I reversed them. Sigh. One of those days.

So you will need to go down to the 4th picture which is the first picture and "read up". See what I mean?

Step 4: I added colors for the flowers using only mixtures of that same triad I started with.

Step three: I remembered that I wanted the watering can a dark color to emphasize the pattern in the paper and so I used turquoise pretty much straight for the can (note bleeding which takes place naturally with this rice paper). I tried to remember to use some value changes as I painted because it is almost impossible to lift once it is try.

Step Two: Using pencil, I transferred the ink drawing to the masa paper (using a light box). Using the triad of colors I chose: raw sienna, winsor newton red, and turquoise, I re-wet the masa paper with a wide brush (very gently). I might have used a misting bottle as well. Holding the paper upright and letting the colors blend. Yellow first, then red, then blue.

Dry throughly (see hair dryer in photo.)

Step One: Same photo as yesterday's post only this time I actually drew out the subject matter (in much smaller scale...about 1/8th of sheet of wc paper). It was drawn in ink on a sheet of drawing paper. (I guess I could have counted this as my sketch for the 75 day challenge, couldn't I?)

Then I also played with a few triads of color for the painting on a strip of wc paper below.

I prepared the masa paper as in yesterday's post, crinkling, wetting, glueing and then letting it dry overnight.

Watercolor on Masa Paper

2011-09-16T09:24:00.004-05:00

One last little project for the studio before I pack up for Florida....

I am teaching a class in Florida on Oct 24 using masa paper and watercolor. I wanted to do a little demo first and be sure that I remembered what supplies are needed for this project.

I thought it might be neat to ask you bloggers out there if you have done a similar project and have any new hints for ways you have adapted this.

I put the photos in sequence on this one. Materials first...140# cold or hot press paper (not rough), masa paper in about the same size as the wc paper, old brush for glue, YES glue, and a small brayer or roller. Tape the wc paper down on all 4 sides. (note you can substitute Elmer's white glue watered down slightly to a creamy mixture.)

Then crumple the masa paper up (note the X on one corner.) You need to mark the rough side of the paper with an X first. After you wet it, you will no idea which side is which. I glue the slick side down, rough side up.

After crumbling you thoroughly WET the paper. Then squeeze out all the excess and glue the masa to the wc paper with YES glue. You will then use the brayer starting in the center to smooth the paper out over the wc paper.

I suggest picking a photo of something very simple with simple shapes. I use a hair dryer to dry MOST of the paper...leaving it slightly damp for the first application. You can leave it overnight and then just spray the papers again to dampen the surface. Getting it completely dry first allows you to do some drawing on the masa. It must be totally dry for any pencil marks to show up. I did not use any pencil on this sample.

I like colors to spread out in lovely bleeds for the first wash of color.

One thing I did forget since the last time I did one was that darker colors show up the masa textures best. Next time I'd do the watering can in a darker color. I am using a #12 Dreamcatcher brush (round) for first washes.

See how the wonderful texture shows up on the dark blue stripes in the background? This would have been so much more effective with a darker watering can. That is what you want to feature.

I'd suggest that you make up 5 or 6 small pieces of this textured ground and then experiment with lots of different subjects on it. Very fun.

The folks who signed up for my class will get a preview this way of what we are going to do!!!

75 day sketching Challenge Day 33 & 34

2011-09-16T09:18:00.002-05:00

Sort of stuck inside for sketching now at least for a few days as temps in the north woods of WI drop down into the 20s at night. Snowflakes have been seen in the area! YIKES! We are setting records now for earliest frost and snow flakes! :-(

My sketches will definitely be inside or through the window for awhile! I love doing shoes. These are Greg's work boots sitting by the fireplace. And yes, we have a fire going now!

And my computer desk (soon to be packed up) looks a little messy right now, but that's the usual with me. We are 5 days and counting to leaving the cabin now.

The Sassy Sketchers

2011-09-14T19:03:00.003-05:00

Nothin' more fun that a group of artists out to lunch. Here we are at the Minocqua Brewery.

Let to right: Leslie Johnson, Susan Lansdown, me, Judy Tuhy, and Joan Stevens. The 5 Sassy Sketchers of the North woods 75 Day Sketching Challenge! It was a farewell luncheon for the snowbirds (the 3 of us to right are the snowbirds). Susan and Leslie plan to sketch snow scenes from their hot tub. The the other three will be sketching palm trees by the pool. We intend to keep in touch and so you'll be seeing those sketches down the road a piece.

Speaking of winter... we all woke up to 38 degrees this morning with a wind chill! Note that we are all wearing sweaters!!! Greg and I have our fireplace merrily burning tonight. Boy does that ever feel cozy!!! We'll be 32 tonight and 29 tomorrow for lows!!! I am totally thinking of Florida now!

One last photo of this silly PT cruiser. Not so much for the framing as for the matting. I wanted to put the painting out for show and tell at the meeting and so I just stuck it into an old frame and mat. Hint: the mat was pre-cut for another painting and it was brown and very faded. I just painted the mat with a coat of blue acrylic paint and dried it with a hair dryer. Voila...blue mat that looks like new.

Having a little fun with the Sketching

2011-09-13T14:20:00.002-05:00

I mentioned in one post how much fun it would be to trace a sketch and then add the color. I traced my PT cruiser onto 140 # rough watercolor paper and just had a little fun playing with the image.

My hubby said more slant to the front window frame and larger back tire. I attempted to make those two corrections.

The changes in value in the paint may be distracting...I haven't decided. It was my attempt to "infer" some changes in lighting outside against the "marine" blue car. I always want to drop in colors into large wash areas...a little purple in this case.

One thing I learned, painting from a black and white sketch and with no photo ref is that you don't remember all the colors or shading. I did the tail light wrong. It is actually red with a white dot in the middle, for instance. In many cases it makes no difference but if you wanted it accurate it would matter. I am tempted to add in some background color now...a few trees in the drive way or maybe even the cabin in the background? No time for that right now what with 8 days left to pack up here.

But it is sometimes fun to have a little sketch of something you like that you won't have forever...like a car. I did a nice little sketch of our last RV and we framed it and we love looking at that! Memories!

I remember that J.Hicks has little notes all over her sketches making references to colors. She also takes a photo but sometimes her notes are more accurate. And I think she also makes "idea changes" as she writes her notes such as "why not change first building to crimson". Etc.

Welcome to my friend, Marlene, in Florida who just started the Sketch Challenge too! Now I'll have someone to go out to lunch with in Florida!

(J.Hicks is one of my followed blogs off to the right side of my posts.) She is so generous about putting her sketch and her photo on beside her painting. That is a tremendous help.

75 Day sketching Challenge: Day 30

2011-09-12T07:17:00.002-05:00

Wow...day 30. How did THAT happen?

Turns out drawing takes practice! Blah.

Here I thought there was a magic pill if I could just find it!

Lots of things wrong with this sketch but when you start in ink...boy you are committed! You see all the mistakes as you go along. What I think might be fun would be to get some tracing paper and re-draw it making the corrections. Then I would add watercolor to that second drawing. That would be fun.

We are 9 days and counting now until we leave the north woods cabin and head for the hills. (literally). We'll spend about 10 days in southern WI visiting old friends and family and attending my 50th college reunion at Beloit College and then we'll head toward Peaks of Otter where we have reservations in Bedford, VA on Oct 5 in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We will visit a train museum (for my hubby) in Roanke, VA on the 6th and then spend two days with my sister and her hubby in York, SC. Home to FL on Oct 10.

This is our PT cruiser. They don't make these anymore! boo hoo. So when we start looking at cars again this next spring...we'll have to think of something else. With are thinking about a Chevy Equinox. Anyone have one of those?

75 day sketching Challenge : Leslie Johnson

2011-09-10T10:24:00.003-05:00

The 75 Day Sketching Club (Ginny, Joan, Leslie, and Susan) are having lunch on Wed. We are bringing our sketchbooks to share! I can hardly wait. What a fantastic bunch of painters/sketchers! So fun! Joan and I are soon headed off to Florida for the winter and so this is sort of a farewell lunch!

I am up to almost 30 sketches now out of 75. Still a ways to go!!!

But what has fascinated us all, is how 4 different people each with only a black pen, can do things so differently!!!

Here is Leslie's most current one...reflecting the autumn feel and full of tomato jelly. OH YUM! Making still lifes out of food or ingredients for a recipe is a favorite of mine. I did a "Making Apple Cake" in acrylic last fall about this time. Several of the Sketch Club have suggested she do this in color later! Imagine the rich tomato colors!!! And I would entitle it "We Eat the Blessed Earth"...see poem below.

I am reminded of something one of my favorite poets has written:

Last year, Mary Oliver published her 20th collection of poems, Swan(2010). It includes the poem "Beans Green and Yellow":
In fall it is mushrooms
gathered from dampness
under the pines:
in spring I have known
the taste of the lamb
full of milk and spring grass;
today it is beans green and yellow
and lettuce and basil from my friends' garden —
how calmly, as though it were an ordinary thing,
we eat the blessed earth.

Susan's beautiful sketches

2011-09-06T21:46:00.002-05:00

My new friend Susan Lansdown has taken the 75 day sketching challenge along with Leslie Johnson and some others. Susan and Leslie don't have a blog, so now and then I like to post some of their work. Both of these sketches are Susan's. Wow.

Although obviously they put my work to SHAME!

Wow, Susan, these are so wonderful.

Thank you for sharing these with the blog world!!!

75 day sketching Challenge Day 23 & 24

2011-09-05T21:15:00.004-05:00

I noticed just as I finished this that I did not have the back wheel of the model train engine aligned with the other wheels. Blah. Well, I was concentrating on the other details at the time!

It was fun to do this, however, and so I'd like to try another car or engine and see if I can do it better. You never realize all the details on these little train cars until you try to sketch them!

Nice for a chilly day drawing. We never got above 50 all day here in the north woods of WI. Whew. May have frost tonight, they say.

I had to do two sketches today as I had a terrible case of flu yesterday and was in bed all day! Lost the entire day.

Am still a little worn out today but feeling much better and should be back to normal by tomorrow. It rained most of the day yesterday and so I didn't miss too much!

On Wednesday it is the reception for Howard Young hospital exhibit in Woodruff. Hope anyone in the area will come by. Take 51 north to 3rd Ave. Turn left and go one block to Maple Street. That is the entrance to come into the hospital for the exhibit. Near the gift shop.

Serendiptiy

2011-09-05T08:35:00.002-05:00

Don't you just love it when something fun just clicks. I got the neatest email this morning from someone I did not know.

It had to do with a sketch I made of some folks on Siesta Key beach back in January of 2002.

A little sketch I'd completely forgotten about until now.

The man in the sketch (Steve Humes) and his wife saw me sketching them and asked to buy the sketch. (I did not know his name then.)

And now, because I remembered to sign the sketch, he must have googled my name and found my email address and he wants permission to use the sketch on the cover of his new CD. Is that not cool or what? So I get his email this morning about this! I will be sure to include info about the CD on a later post...it's not ready for sale yet.

So be sure to sign your sketches! And ya just never know what might happen! :-)

75 day sketching Challenge up to Day 22

2011-09-03T17:05:00.003-05:00

I know, not many people can get a bear to hold still long enough to sketch him. This was a brown bear too...not a the black ones we see up here in the north woods.

So the fun thing was this "stuffed" bear (sitting in front of a wolf) on top of a plate glass slab on top of an old antique sled was sitting in a used book store in Woodruff, WI. Who would have thought? How lucky to have my sketch pad in the car!!! The tag on his ear says $1,500.

The store is full of bric-a-brac and old dusty moose heads and old broken stained glass lamps, and huge stacks of dusty books! WHAT a fun place to sketch!!!

bric-a-brac |ˈbrik ə ˌbrak|nounmiscellaneous objects and ornaments of little value

This man (actually my hubby Greg) came out looking like a young Freud. Hahahaha. He also looks like he has nodded off over lunch. (Which could be true.) But I am determined that I will try a figure or two every week. Some folks are SO good at them! We had a lovely day down at the pier last week and he held his position for me for 20 minutes or so.

Waiting for Greg to run some errands in Minocqua yesterday, I started a quick sketch of the Twisted Root Emporium and neighboring stores. Very unusual architecture! And, of course, I noticed things I never saw before like a plaque saying 1919 on the front.

Painting my Christmas Card

2011-09-01T16:46:00.002-05:00

I know...it always seems nutso but I do my Christmas card every year around Labor Day weekend. And the printer says that I am not the only one!

I have this really good printer up here in Minocqua, WI that I like a lot.

And I love having it all done when I get to Florida!!! I often "start off" my Christmas letter too and just save it on the hard drive because often I find I want to revise or add some things before I run that off and send...usually just after Thanksgiving.

This is watercolor and ink on 140# Arches.

The photo reference is a stained glass window in a little German church in Illinois.

I loved the little angel. You can't read it but I wrote "Peace" in the little rectangle at the bottom. The picture might be better if enlarged it by clicking on it.

I used salt in some place to get some of the bubbly textures.

It is not a big painting...the window is about 15" high.

It'll be a bit of challenge to get the linear shape onto a standard size greeting card but we'll figure it out.

Gorgeous warm day in the north woods of WI but we have a lot of rain and cold coming from somewhere and so we are sort of thinking that this might be the last day of summer for us. Out come the sweaters now!

75 day sketching Challenge Day 16 & 17

2011-08-29T13:41:00.002-05:00

I think you can sort of see that as I proceed through this exercise of sketching every day (and you can scroll back through a few of them back to August 13), that I become more interested in "detail" and perhaps even "storytelling" in my sketches.

I find that having to work exclusively in ink I have to plan things that overlap and try to gauge where something will touch something else far more than if I had a pencil and eraser in my hand. My perspective is still "off" but it's getting a little better as I go along...looking at angles now and trying to think through how the stapler stuck out of the shelf before drawing the lines of the actual shelf.

This is my little desk in the guest room at the cabin where obviously I keep a plethora of odds and ends from string, to tape, to envelopes. It's where the books I am reading get stacked and the manuals for how to set the phone machine...yadda yadda. This is a 2-day sketch because I forgot last night and so Brenda says...just do two the next day. I felt that this was complex enough to count for two. This took about 20-30 minutes. But when you are doing it you are not aware of time at all.

Last En Plein Air Sketch for the Summer

2011-08-25T19:53:00.002-05:00

I've painted at the Thirsty Whale Restaurant before. But this time instead of acrylic I chose watercolor on hot press paper. (For when you feel drippy.) I have not decided yet if I should go back and do some ink lines on this one. I'll wait a few days to decide that.

It was a beautiful morning on Minocqua Lake...but a cool breeze was blowing and my sweater felt pretty good. It was probably about 73 degrees. We had lunch on the open air deck afterwards (8 of us) and I recommend the chicken salad wrap! Yum. But it was breezy there too and I was STILL glad to have the sweater. (My best garage sale find of the season was that nice sweater!)

Temps here in the north woods are beginning to feel like the cusp of autumn!

Last night I forgot all about my daily sketch! Until 9:39 (as noted on the clock!) So I just sat on my bed and sketched my dresser top!

75 Day sketching Challenge Day 8-11

2011-08-23T14:24:00.003-05:00

With quite a bit of company still at our cabin on the lake, all I have had time to keep up with IS the 75 day challenge. (Did a little "blind contour" of the shoe as well.)

I am finding that the little pen I got at the stamping store has been a fun one for the shinier paper in this sketch book. Our company will be leaving tomorrow so I am hoping to get back into the studio and I have one more en plein air sketch group on Friday (if the rain holds off).

75 Day sketching Challenge Day 5 and 6

2011-08-18T19:38:00.003-05:00

Greg has 3 tomato plants growing in pots down by the lakeshore where they get sun.

He's so pleased they are ripening up this week.

We had to wait quite awhile in Philips, WI at the Harbor View Restaurant yesterday where lots of folks were having a great old Wed evening. A volley ball game was going on below the deck area and music and lots of good food. So it was worth the wait. (Boy I sure need to practice doing umbrellas!)

I wanted also to share with you a quote from a recent article in the newest issue of "Cloth Paper Scissors" magazine. An article by Loretta Marvel on how drawing was a huge therapy for her in recovery from illness.

...."I picked up a pencil to draw. My view was limited to the living room and what I could see through the double doors onto the wet porch. Ho hum; boring, I thought, but I studiously sketched the two leather chairs and then began on the battered Morris chair, whose many slats kept me busy holding up my pencil and looking up and down to get the scale right. The only sounds in the room were the hiss of the gas fire and the pencil scratching across the page, and after a few minutes I was absorbed in the drawing.....during those drawing sessions, my mind quieted down to the narrow triangle occupied by my eyes and my hand and the page, and I entered reveries as sweet as any that could be had in a tree house swaying in the willows."

(Yesterday we were on our way back from Marshfield, WI where I'd been to see my cardiologist. He says I am doing GREAT! and he's lowering my blood pressure meds again!) Yippee. I wonder if maybe all this drawing is lowering my blood pressure? :-)

Friends in the Sketch Challenge!

2011-08-15T15:16:00.003-05:00

These two sketches are by two friends who are joining me in the challenge. I apologize in the tiny one. Susan and I experimenting with large and small photo uploads and I don't think we have it down yet! I hope we can try it again (or you can try clicking on her image to enlarge it).

The two are a fascinating contrast! Susan's is a sketch of a piece of stained glass art work. Joan's above is her studio! Mine (see below) are both en plein air sketches. Anything goes in this thing! Keep tuned for more sketches from all of us. (I promise not to make you look at all 75!)

75 day sketching Challenge Day 2 and 3

2011-08-15T12:35:00.003-05:00

These sketches are about 5" x 5" and represent several different kinds of pens.

Tombow water soluable pens allow for some water and shading to be added after the sketch which adds variety to the sketches. I am using my Micron Pens too. And the tomato was just a roller ball pen from WalMart.

And I used a burnt sienna ink pens on the one on the right just for variety. The left is the view near our church out over Flambeau Lake. The one on the right is a small portion of our cabin here on Tippecanoe Lake showing the loft windows and hanging plants and shadows from morning sun.

(The mosquitoes were just terrible this morning while I did this! That keeps you sketching FAST!

While I was sketching my husband handed me his FIRST tomato of the season! (Things grow slowly up here in the north woods of WI). He is glad we may get to harvest a few of these in our last 5 weeks here! So anyway, I quickly sketched it (in ink) and then had to add the color with a water-filled pen and my little Winsor Newton color palette.

I am finding that trying to get shape and shadows using ONLY a pen is a new skill for me. Naturally if I do just a contour drawing, you don't have to worry much about that.

My friend, Susan, who is also taking the Challenge says that she has already noticed that she is looking at details much more closely than before!

Anyone interested in starting the challenge, scroll down to my Aug 13 post for details.

Nature's Jewels

2011-08-14T15:46:00.003-05:00

This morning on our pier after the fog lifted I found the most beautiful jewelry in the world!

Three of them actually...hung like ornaments on a Christmas tree or the most beautiful necklaces in the jewelry shop!

I wish I had thought to run up to get a black background of some kind to put behind them.

But they are lovely with the natural water, rocks, and boats behind them too.

They took my breath away.

Lucky me.

75 Day Sketching Challenge!

2011-08-13T14:56:00.003-05:00

I had to laugh at this sketchbook cover. It looks like one of those funny "plan ahead" stickers! I thought it was kind of appropriate, however!!!

I needed something that would make me smile every time I got it out!!!

Okay...how many of you are taking Brenda Swenson's sketching challenge? A sketch every day for 75 days (ink only)!

I think this could be SO helpful and fun.

First off...go to Brenda's blog for all her information on the "challenge rules".

Click here and scroll down to her July 20 post.

After you have read the rules go up to her Aug 1 post for some more hints and suggestions.

Then follow her instructions and send her by email your entry information so you make a "commitment" to do this!

I am starting today so day 75 for me will be October 27.

She would like to have a digital photo of yourself to put on your Artist License when you write and tell her you are done!!! All on your honor!!! You don't need to show anyone the sketches unless you want to!

The materials are some paper and a pen! Duh. We can do this people!

The sketches can be small...you don't need to do anything huge!

My personal hint for this would be to find a small bag of some kind for the sketchbook and pen(s). SO that you can throw it into the car when you are waiting at the dentist or at any meeting while you are waiting for something to happen and so you can find your materials and do not have an excuse that you lost them!!!

Lost for an idea? Empty your purse out and sketch what you find.

Sketch the place setting at your table at lunch.

Go for a walk and bring home some leaves to sketch.

Hey blogger buddies...I am NOT going to do this alone. Who is with me!

Painting at Gateway Lodge near Mercer, WI

2011-08-11T17:27:00.003-05:00

What a lovely morning! We got lucky (rain came in the afternoon!).

It was a long drive. BUT thanks to Susan Lansdown our great driver, Joan Stevens and I had a splendid ride there! Thank you Susan!!!

There were about 8 or 9 of us there.

And we had a nice lunch afterwards at the Lodge.

This old swing caught my eye...just near the Lake (Turtle Flambeau Flowage).

Watercolor on 11 x 14 Arches rough.

Hoggie Doggie's: a local icon

2011-08-04T18:45:00.002-05:00

En plein air this morning was beautiful...about 80 and sunny.

According to the weather man...we are in for some rain and cooler temps this weekend. Perfect timing!

I looked at Leesburg, FL today (my place of residence). It was 101 there today! OH MY GOSH. Everyone there wishes they were here in WI with me!!!

Located on Hwy 47 and J in Woodruff, Hoggie Doggie's restaurant is THE lunch spot for every kind of dog you ever wanted!!! About seven of us gathered to paint around 9 am this morning until noon. Lovely day.

I switched back to acrylic this morning after several weeks in watercolor. Feels all new again! Blah. 11 x 14 on canvas board primed with orange. I just couldn't "get in the groove" today. I was all thumbs and nothing seemed to work right. I loved everything everyone else did! Some days are like that!!! I added the figures when I got back to my studio.

The en plein air show opened today..I need to get up and see how it looks! Also the People's Choice opens this Saturday for two days. I am checking artists in tomorrow afternoon from 3-5.

En Plein Air Show in Woodruff, WI

2011-08-02T15:29:00.005-05:00

Although I had 6 possible pieces to put in the show, I settled on these four.

Top back: Arbor Vitae Lake, Top right: Discovery Center: Manitowish Waters

Bottom left: Minocqua Brewing Company in Minocqua (local restaurant) and

bottom right: The Thirsty Whale: local hangout on Lake Minocqua.

These were delivered to Howard Young Hospital for hanging today. And the show should be ready to view by tomorrow (Wed, August 3 and hang through Sept 28).

Besides the local en plein air painters, there will be a concurrent show of the Manito Art League of a variety of art. So lots of fun pieces to view.

If you are local and plan to attend the show here are the directions:

Take Hwy 51 north to Woodruff to the 3rd Ave. (the stoplight at the Citgo Station).

Turn left on 3rd Avenue and go about two blocks to Maple Street. Turn left and you will be at the back entrance to the hospital at the gift store wing. Enter under the portico and turn left and then right following the art show signs past the gift shop.

IN addition, the People's Choice art show of the Lakeland Art League will open next Saturday morning so I am framing for that now. I'll have 5 pieces in that show. I am also in charge of writing all the identification cards by hand. I am almost done.

Note how dark it is behind the paintings through the window? It is not night time! The photo was taken about 10 am this morning. We were in the middle of a HUGE storm with blinding rain and dark dark skies and huge thunderbolts! Flash flood warnings everywhere in our area!

Picking Art for People's Choice Show

2011-07-25T11:00:00.003-05:00

This is a painting I started awhile ago from a photo I took at the River Walk in San Antonio. It's a famous location for paintings...I've seen quite a few in art magazines and at shows. If you walked along this lovely spot you will instantly remember it. In the evening it is strung with tiny lights. Rental boats (like Venice) quietly motor up and down the river (at all times of day). They look more like pontoons than gondolas, however, but they are painted in bright colors and have interesting guides that chat as you go. Music from the restaurants and night clubs along the river float out onto the quiet evening. There are many bridges crossing the river (you can barely see one in the distance).

But this scene is early in the morning, as we walked along looking for a place for breakfast. No one was out yet, but the waiters were putting up the umbrellas and and it was filled with the sounds of birds. The boats hadn't started up again yet. I loved the reflections in the water and the early shadows and light.

It is a watercolor (not large)...about 11 x 14 on Arches 140#. I painted it mostly wet into wet hoping to get that "misty morning" feel to it.

On a totally different theme...this multi-media (collage/acrylic) is a strange little "moody" piece contrasting a bright clown with a dark and somber background. I call it "The Train Left Without Me". The clown, though probably sad and lost, still has his smile painted on. The numbers in the painting infer lost time. It was an attempt at "story telling" within a painting.

Also fairly small, 11 x 14 on canvas board. I painted this shortly after I took Bob Burridge's class last summer. He was on a clown theme at the time and I must have picked up on that.

Bob paints in a series all the time...which is something I had hoped to start but I seem to jump around a lot in subject matter. With Bob it's fruit, or ballet dancers, or floral, etc. He paints and paints on that theme for awhile until he exhausts it and then on to something else. I wonder how many of you out there do that too?

I have picked 3 other paintings for the show. More on that later. The show starts on August 6th at the Arbor Vitae Community Center on 70 east. There will be signs up that weekend.

En Plein Air on Blueberry Island

2011-07-23T15:20:00.005-05:00

Our little lake Tippecanoe in northern WI has a number of islands...one "set of islands" we dub Blueberry and "little" Blueberry Islands. Great places for a picnic lunch!

We packed up the 4 grandkids and my son came along with us and we canoed and kayaked over to the islands yesterday. We took the usual: picnic blanket, lunches (watermelon and cookies, sandwiches, and chips, lemonade) and buckets for treasure hunters. Everyone had suits for swimming. Beautiful day!

After the picnic, while the explorers were hiking the islands and swimming around them, I took out my sketch book. Later we built a teepee for the little ones to sit in and then had a race home in the boats. It's not a bad life!

Back Yard En Plein Air

2011-07-22T08:57:00.002-05:00

When you have a ton of company...and it's 98 in the shade...sometimes en plein air painting just needs to be in your own back yard! This was sort of experimental using that Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground on a piece of masonite. I did three coats, drying and sanding slightly between coats. But it is really hard to get it smooth and better to just maybe let some of the texture apply to the painting.

This is small...11 x 14" watercolor and gesso.

It's strange to paint on...sort of "chalky" and it does "lift well" but I am not at all sure that I like the surface. I am used to painting on glossy surfaces (like yupo) but this is sort of half way between. There is some surface tension but it also has some "soaking in" qualities. Difficult to work with, I think. Has anyone else tried this?

I missed my regular group painting on Thursday (due to tons of company). For once they didn't get rained out! Hopefully next week I can make painting with the group again.

Art Going Commercial

2011-07-20T08:05:00.002-05:00

You will remember last month sometime I was working on some oak leave/acorn images for the Seno Woodland Center? Well, this month, my friend send up one of the commercial uses for the new logo. These water bottles were handed out at recent Eco Fair in Walworth County, Wisconsin at the Children's Booth.

It's fun to see your work out there in many different forms! I guess the color version may appear on a hat or a T-shirt later.

For my part...art is pretty much "on hold" right now as I have 4 grandsons visiting me. Photos to follow later. The summer is measured in weeks at the cabin so we play hard and fast while the weather is summery! Lots of swimming, boating, fishing, sailing, kayaking and cooking out! What I should do is go out to the studio from 5 am to 7 am! But what discipline would THAT take! Yikes.

Asking for Your Input

2011-07-14T12:20:00.002-05:00

My friend, Lou, from Canada and I spend the winter in Florida exploring art. This year Lou was wondering if we could, among other things, do a refresher on drawing. We know that Betty Edwards 1999 book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, has been quite a classic for a long time for good reason. And it has a 2002 workbook to go along with it. I have copies of both of these that Lou and I can use for our "personal" drawing practice this winter.

In an initial exploration of the book and revisiting the ideas for her practice sessions this summer, I came across information about a DVD. The image here is from the DVD cover (not the book). You can get it from Amazon for about $35...it is a 2 hour DVD exploring the ideas from the book. I had never heard of the DVD (it also comes VHS).

I've never heard of anyone mentioning it, owning it, or using it.

So what I am asking out in the blogging community is if anyone has ever seen it and if so, would it be a worthwhile investment?

Lou and I began to wonder if maybe we could ask some friends to join us in our revisiting the discipline of good drawing. If anyone has ever seen or used this video or DVD, let me know.

You can send your ideas or reviews to ginny.stiles@gmail.com. Thanks

Manito Art Show (Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin)

2011-07-14T06:43:00.004-05:00

Here I am at the opening evening of the Manito Art League show (Wed July 13th). A lovely event with wonderful food, good music, and a crowd of folks! The night is reserved for patrons and artists only. The show now opens to the public today through Sunday at two pm.

I have 3 watercolors in the show. This one called Windy Days was painted from a photo I took on the north coast of Ohio looking out over Lake Superior on a cold and blustery day!!!

This piece got "best of show" and it is a mixed media piece by my new friend, Christine Alfrey. It is really LARGE by any standards I go by! Christine is a short person. I would have loved to see her painting this one!

This is a piece in oil by my en plein air painter friend, Ken Drawz. The scene is real but he added a few bears to spice things up. Ken says this is a studio painting, not en plein air, and it is such a wonderful north woods scene that I bet that this one sells!!!

I have a few more photos from the show I'll share later.

Today it is DARK DARK DARK in the north woods and I am afraid our en plein air group is going to be rained out again! We seem doomed to rain every Thursday!

Robin Zimmerman: Amazing Batik

2011-07-09T17:54:00.003-05:00

Today I helped to judge at the Arbor Vitae Arts and Crafts show. Very fun!

Lots of nice art to see and enjoy with everything from fine art to soap and woodcarving and jewelry and wearable arts, etc etc.

This is Robin Zimmerman who won an award of excellence in the show. Her batiks were lovely and you might enjoy going to look at her work online. Click here. She has a lovely gallery of work to view. AND if you live up north you can see her work again at several art fairs including Loon Days in Mercer on Aug 3 and Musky Days in Boulder Jct on August 7.

Here I am awarding an honorable mention to a delightful quilter. I am so sorry I didn't write her full name down. I think her name is Kathy.

This is Charlie and he does macrame folding chairs and they are just amazing. Look for him at north woods art fairs this summer. He will do commission chairs if you wish.

It sure was an enlightening experience to do "judging"...my first time. Although I had "expert" assistance. We looked a creativity, originality, composition, design, and presentation.

Finishing up the en plein air painting

2011-07-08T10:00:00.002-05:00

I spent an hour or so touching up the en plein air sketch that I blocked in yesterday. We all got rained out about an hour or so after we started. But I had a photo (see yesterday's blog post). The hard part about this was the "mystery paper". I had picked up something out of my folder of wc paper and it was already cut into quarters and so the brand of paper was missing. It was 300# but I have no idea what it was. Although I rarely buy anything except Arches, now and then for a class I might get a Canson, a Fabriano, or something else. This had absolutely NO sizing on it and everything just "soaked" in. Blah. It was SO hard to work on. If I'd only known! What a challenge!

Trying to get the gouache to work as a gentle blend-off of color (John Lovett style) on this absorbent paper just would not work. I tried several times. It just disappeared. I finally dried it thoroughly and used gesso which laid on top a little better.

The little "cabin" at the Discovery Center had no windows (probably storage?) which I think now looks a little odd. I can always add them later. I decided to leave them off because the little building is a "landmark" and is recognizable to people who go to the center.

Rained out

2011-07-07T15:05:00.002-05:00

We got rained out at en plein air today...I had just enough time to take a photo and do a little blocking in. Now I will have to finish up in the studio. I'll post completed in a few days. We painted at Discovery Nature Center in Manitowish Waters.

En plein air in Arbor Vitae, WI

2011-06-30T15:24:00.002-05:00

Here I am about 10:30 am this morning on a beautiful almost sultry summer day (the last day of June) en plein air painting with friends from Manito Art League. Arbor Vitae Lake is about 30 minutes from my cabin...and we were right near a wonderful pub for lunch (Slo's Pub).

There were about 10 people there painting in many mediums!

I was determined to try out some more of John's Lovett's techniques en plein air.

So...I blocked off areas, used masking tape to mask off the birch tree trucks, added some india ink (with nib pen) and even use gouache to blend off the edges of the painting on location. That was one experiment to see if I could handle that out of doors.

Afterwards at lunch overlooking the lake, we all enjoyed sharing art...hearing about what each artist was "aiming" for. this is Joan Stevens talking about her lovely watercolor.

I decided on mine, as usual, I am too washed out and need more darks and contrasts. Not more detail though. Mine was about 8 x 10 on 300# Arches. I'll post more of other's work in another blog soon.

It has clouded up this afternoon and smells like rain coming. I am so pleased it held off...as it was not predicted to be a good morning! What a surprise gift!!!

A Painting for Barb Sailor

2011-06-27T14:31:00.002-05:00

One of the fun things about blogging are all the interesting people who you "cyber meet" and learn from. Barb (her blog is under my blog list to the right) and I have been chit chatting about my recent class with John Lovett in the early part of June. (See my June 6,7,8,9 blogs below).

Our focus of discussion is how to use John's watercolor techniques en plein air.

John's class was painting from photos but one "should" be able to extrapolate to outdoors, wouldn't you think?

This little 8 x 10 watercolor was in studio (not en plein air) but I thought about it as if it were en plein air and how to approach it. Below see how I "blocked" with watercolor. I put the paint on rather intensely for a first block...but when you are working out of doors you don't have time to do many layers. I tried to think of shape, color, composition, center of interest. Just as in any medium. (Barb has been painting in oil out of doors.)

I did very little drawing...just a few pencil lines.

John sticks with 4 colors (phalo blue, aliz crimson, quin gold, and prussian or ultramarine blue.) I admit to drifting off a little bit but basically that is what I used. I added some scarlet lake to the roof color and I wanted to keep things very warm. I think I may have used a little aureolin yellow too.

The red flowers were magenta acrylic paint and I used gouache mixed into some of the drippy flowers. I also used gesso thinned to mist off edges. Now whether or not I'd do the gesso bit while en plein air or not I don't know, but I might. You need a big soft brush for that. I also used some acrylic ink with an old fashioned nib pen.

Today is VERY dark, and damp in the north WI woods and not at all an en plein air day. But we are supposed to have sunshine for our out door group this coming Thursday morning. So I will take my watercolors and see how this approach translates. Barb has ordered John's book...I have a ton of his magazine articles from International Artist Magazine and three of his 10 minutes videos. So I plan to keep plugging away.

Christmas Collage Fun

2011-06-25T12:15:00.003-05:00

Well, this photo looks a tad "pinker" than it really is...it's really more purplish. My ideas is to get away from traditional red and green and go with the purples and gold of the Church colors for Christmas. With a little Phalo Blue for contrast. The thinned acrylics were rubbed onto the gesso textures with paper towels. I've added some tinted sheet music with words that seem to tell of memories, friends, and golden times. That's sort of the theme.

My original thought was to add tinted and aged photos of family gatherings but I see that it is really too small a piece (11 x 14) to do that well. So now I am thinking of maybe using photos of us and the grandkids...collaged in. I am not sure...It could get too busy that way.

I need to let everything dry now and then come back to it. Maybe just one strong image somewhere near the center of interest.

Before.

Pondering

2011-06-24T08:25:00.003-05:00

I recently wrote an email note to my former roommate from college. Now note, I did not say my OLD roommate from college. This would predicate the need to remind everyone that if this person was my roommate in college, how OLD would that make ME?

So anyway…this email I sent to her first was a reflective piece on aging and time, and precipitated by our upcoming 50^th college reunion in October. I concluded with “It's just part of being human...struggling to help each other along the journey and sharing adventures along the way. The sweet sadness of time passing. We need to hold hands as we cross the streets. “

So now she has me labeled as “person who likes to ponder”. So she sent me a list of silly things to ponder like Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

Actually I do ponder things like that! :-)

Meanwhile, the whole thing started when I went back to re-read the Christmas cards and letters from last Christmas (I always do this in the summertime) and started thinking about a collage for my Christmas card this year. THAT is what this strange surfaced canvas board is all about. The support for a collage. A Christmas theme…pondering Christmas past for hints on how to live for Christmas present. Ideas anyone? Are you pondering?

The Re-Do

2011-06-21T15:34:00.004-05:00

One really nice thing about the iPad as a resource for photos is the ability to go back and look at a painting and use some of the original painting for the re-do. Naturally, the original is no longer in my possession. Neither is the original photo unfortunately. But with the photo...I could make a reasonable stab at the re-do.

Basically, as I noted in the previous post, white oak acorns do not have "stems" and so they had to disappear and the leaf lobes needed to be deeper. So we'll give this a try!

Meanwhile we are being drowned in Northern Wisconsin. Whew. RAIN RAIN RAIN. High of 59 today. How's that for the first day of summer! No sunshine in sight until "maybe" Saturday.

If this sounds like a little weather whining...well, so be it!!!

Our bathroom remodeling is really moving along, however, since we are not tempted outside. I may post a few photos of that. Painting is painting?

White Oak Commission Revisited

2011-06-19T17:31:00.002-05:00

Well, it's time to re-visit the oak leave/acorn commission in a slightly more "botanical" way.

Come to find out what Kendra wanted were WHITE OAK acorns. Good old Quercus Alba. Of course, why didn't you say so.

White oaks are 60-100 feet high, 2-3' in diameter..tall and straight in the forest, rounded in the open...with irregular and heavy limbs. (You don't want one of these babies falling on your roof!)

Bark is pale gray and scaly and the leaf is deeply lobed. Sometimes the leaves remain on the tree all winter.

The fruit is a light brown (green in spring) acorn maturing in the first year enclosed in a cap.

The white oak is common on better soils in the southern half of Wisconsin. It's wood is light brown and is good for heavy construction, railway ties, interior finish, furniture and fuel.

Forest Trees of Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry 1990

So...the issue of making these more botanical than previously posted has to do with more deeply lobed leaves AND the acorns are NOT on stems as previous drawn but rather close together on the twig near the leaf.

Solace when the En Plein Air gets rained out....

2011-06-16T14:14:00.003-05:00

Well, actually my en plein didn't get "rained" out, it got "darkened" and "cloudied" out. My spell checker says there is no such word as cloudied. Hahaha. But believe me, it was dark all day...windless (that was good) but not a shadow, not a color, not a peep of sun. For me that is a no-go as far as painting out of doors. I was VERY disappointed. Big sighs.

So...while my husband was sanding the last of the preparation for me to paint the bathroom (on Friday), I snuck over to the studio to play. I decided to use a photo reference I took last fall (November, I think) at Dora Lake and in Mount Dora, Florida. They have a garden show down by the lake shore. And this little lighthouse sits there on a rock outcropping. It's kind of a "symbol" for the town.

I thought this might be a good time to experiment with some new materials. I pulled up the image on my iPad and did a little rough sketch...moving things around where I wanted them...putting the flag pole into the center of interest, making the palm trees more prominent so that the tropical feeling would be there.

A few days ago I put three coats of Daniel Smith watercolor ground onto a canvas board. Three coats is what they suggest, sanding in between each coat. I applied it with a foam brush thinking I'd eliminate brush strokes that way. They also say you can thin it with up to 10% water. I think for the last coat I should have done that. It went on so thick that I still got brush strokes and even with the sanding, they were apparent. So, I learned something there right away. The paint did not "bead up" on me but it did lay on the surface more than regular paper.

I expected the dry surface to be a lot like either yupo or watercolor canvas. It has a consistency all it's own, however, and is different from both of those. It's hard to describe.

You can, like those others mentioned, lift back to white very easily and it is also difficult to get dark dark unless you use very thick pigment. I still need to go back and add more darks to my little "trial" piece above. I had to give it a light coating of acrylic varnish in order to put on a gouache wash at the end.

I also wish now I'd put the little people on the bench closer to the center of interest too. So this painting may be a "do-over" one of these days with a little different composition. I will try the watercolor ground again...more water and more sanding OR I will be deliberate about the textures and add them where I want them in order to enhance the subject matter...another experiment! I also think I need another taller palm tree.

I also taped the matting before I started.

It is 14 x 11 with a a 2" faux mat around the outside. So the painting itself is 10 x12.

Just another experiment.

North Woods Pond

2011-06-15T16:56:00.005-05:00

Last summer, this was my first en plein air painting of the season. I tucked it away intending (don't we always) to finish it up and put some last minute touches on it one of these days.

Here it is a rainy afternoon the following spring.

This is an 11 x 14 watercolor/mixed media on canvas board.

I almost tossed this one (or painted over it).

But then I decided to take one more chance with it.

I did still have a photo reference to go with it, taped to the back. That was a life saver.

I recommend you do that when you "file away" a painting to come back to. Or make some reference to where the photo is.

Canvas is forgiving and it's easy to come back to almost white in some places and change colors or shapes. Dark is very hard to achieve and has to be put on in 3 or 4 glazes with lots of pigment and not much water.

So I darkened the center of interest, added some gouache or acrylic highlights, worked a little more on the reflections, added some black sumi and some acrylic burnt sienna ink lines, and splattered some color. Gradually the warm, windless morning in the sunshine came alive again for me. The sounds of the birds...insects buzzing...even the gentle voices of other painters nearby.

Note, I did decide to fade out the edges but with a watercolor on canvas you just can't do that like you can on paper. So I gave it a light spray of clear acrylic varnish before I added the vignette technique. This worked fine. When I decide that it is done, I'll put two or three more coats on the painting so I do not have to use glass when framing it.

I did not jot down the name of the pond and I am going to ask Ken and Florie what it was called.

The Oak Leaf Commission

2011-06-13T17:19:00.003-05:00

An interesting project has come up for my weekend painting. My friend, Kendra, wants to put a "logo" on some stationery and brochures, etc. for her nature and forestry center. She knows she wants oak leaves and acorns. She knows it has to be a simple image. My first image is a classic watercolor. It might work for some of her needs and probably not for all.

This image is almost the same but stylized and inked. Simpler.

This image is shown on a light table...as I am changing the image to simple black and white ink line drawing. I did two of these simple ink drawings...one even more simple than this one. Just in case.

Last I did add a negative image. Just in case she might find that an interesting option.

More to follow and I'll let you know if any of these worked for her. I think she is thinking tee-shirt or maybe cap logo and she probably has some printing that will go along with it. I am sure she plans to reduce the size way down.

Before and After

2011-06-12T17:13:00.003-05:00

So the first image is an en plein air I did at the North woods Discovery Center late last summer.

It never was "finished" and I was not sure exactly how I would finish it off.

So, I decided, for fun to use John Lovett's techniques to finish this off. There was no real "center of interest" in the painting. So I chose one and I worked to make that area look lively and subtly "interesting". I aged the pink chair a little with some rusty nails using burnt sienna ink, contrasted the light and dark dramatically at that area, and vignetted off the other areas of the painting. I made the floral background more interesting with dropped and splashed in "inferred" flowers using gouache and

acrylic paint and used sumi black ink on a nib pen to give more interesting definition to the trees and the chair itself. I warmed the foreground with quin gold watercolor dropping in a little permanent rose to balance the pink of the chair.

What d'ya think?

John Lovett's Workshop Day 5

2011-06-11T17:56:00.002-05:00

On Friday we worked on several ideas...John took our questions and suggestions and tried some different genres of paintings to show how his technique transfers to those subjects.

This is my painting (1/8 of a sheet of Arches 140 cold press). We masked off the birches with tape before we started and then effort was made (as always) to identify an area for the center of interest. John's loose technique of drips and splashes using his "ugly brush" were used.

The technique of misting off some areas (vignettes) of the painting with "veils of gouache" still was used and also I added some gouache mixed with watercolor to sprinkle in light greens and reds to add some color into the underbrush and "infer" plant growth with leaves.

I used acrylic burnt sienna permanent ink with a plain old fashioned nib pen and then sprayed lightly with water to help the ink bleed slightly. Some marks in lighter colors were made with white charcoal and pastel pencils.

I asked John to demo making tiny people (1-2" high) to place in paintings. Here are the samples he did for us.

All 17 of the participants had a good experience and it was fun to meet folks from all over the country! I came home exhausted which is a good sign. I have unpacked into my studio again and hope to get in to do some painting this weekend.

One of my "quotes" from John indicates that he feels a good painting should have "subtle confusion" in it. In other words...some mystery for the viewer to unveil for themselves. Lots of things to remember as you paint.

John Lovett's workshop Day Four

2011-06-09T18:03:00.004-05:00

John adds something new and interesting to his demos each day. He repeats those things we ask him to do over so we can watch again how he makes his choices.

In my first painting the sky is actually painted in tinted gouache in order to feature or highlight the transparency of the buildings in the painting. The painting is a quarter sheet of Arches 140 cold press (as are all the paintings except the following one which is an eighth sheet).

I also used gouache to make the clouds in the sky in the second painting.

I looked at my notes this evening I had written:

1. Draw minimally but carefully

2. Use dark darks in the center of interest

3. Plan the center of interest early

4. Use gouache and gesso for vignette effects

5. Start by blocking in shapes

6. Use hake brushes dry for smoothly effects

7. Shake and drip in colors you need to reinforce

8. Forget local color

9. Re-arrange objects to please your painting.

Here are my paintings for the workshop so far...I have another one in the works that is not working out so well...hmmm.

This one is almost exclusively with that "ugly" brush I mentioned last Monday evening. It's hard to get used to. But John says that half of a painting is learning how to correct things so I haven't given up yet.

John has a wonderful website with all kinds of helpful tips on how he approaches all kinds of subjects. Click here to see it.

Seeing a Door in a New Way

2011-06-08T18:15:00.003-05:00

We had a busy day 3 and John demo'd two paintings. The first picture is my interpretation and the second is his demo. Since I took the photo, I've already dithered this painting some more (and so has John dithered with his).

One of the techniques in this demo is "gouache resist".

Gouache: gouache |gwä sh; goōˈä sh |

noun a method of painting using opaque pigments ground in water and thickened with a gluelike substance.• paint of this kind; opaque watercolor.• a picture painted in this way.

ORIGIN late 19th cent.: French, from Italian guazzo.

Anyway, the curlicues in the upper doorway are painted in gouache. Well, first a light wash. Dry. Then paint with white gouache. Dry. Then paint over entirely with a dark color. Dry. Then with a sprayer of water spritz off the layer of dark paint that rests on the gouache. Gently.

John has used a layer of light guoache also in the right hand corner to "mystify" that corner. I did it in the left corner but obviously I need to do it again more heavily.

This technique can be done with gesso (permanent) or with gouache (not permanent). Both require whisking the area with a soft dry brush.

I'll share the second painting tomorrow because I really was not anywhere finished with mine at 5 pm when I officially became brain dead.

Incidentally, the tiny bits of color in John's upper door is water soluble crayon.

John Lovett workshop Day Two

2011-06-07T19:12:00.002-05:00

The temperatures in the north woods have taken a decidedly Florida-like turn! Wow, be careful what you wish for!

It is 91 in Lac du Flambeau, WI AND it is 91 in Leesburg, FL.!!! We are in shock again. But never fear...the north woods will always pop back with surprises and we expect a high of only 57 by Saturday. A person does NOT know what to wear up here!!!

Anyway, at Dillman's we work in AC! So we are happily comfortable. This first painting is my first attempt at a dock scene ala John Lovett style. It is not done. John critiqued it and I need more masts in the sky. John's demo on this is the last of the 3 photos.

My other try was from my own photo reference and it's not done either. This reference is from my own photos of Cross Creek, FL the home of Marjorie Rawlings (author of the Yearling)

Painting with a REALLY ugly brush

2011-06-06T17:24:00.001-05:00

What a wonderful day! I started my first day with John Lovett at Dillman's resort in Lac du Flambeau, WI.

The first photo is our ugly brushes.

A gift from John for each student.

It is VERY hard to find such a seemingly useless brush!!! But darn if it does work just great! Who would have guessed!!!

Next is my first painting with John (with the flag and the flowers), then

John's demo for today (with the boat) and last a photo of John painting.

John is a very lo-key teacher...always happy to answer questions and help you with your work.

He spent the first morning going over materials and techniques that are signatures for his style of painting which basically watercolor but with a multi-media approach! We did everything from glue

rice paper on to the paper (Arches 140# quarter sheets) to use all kinds of pencils (charcoal is two colors, watercolor pencils such as Inktense, and pastel pencils. And we also made use of old-fashioned dip pens and acrylic ink! We use gouache and gesso on the paintings too.

Like most workshops by 4 pm I was brain dead. It is also 86 degrees here! How this happened in the north woods I have not a clue.

We have AC in the studio so we are very comfy and I live right on a lake so we are comfy too.

I am all set for day 2 but I need a GOOD night's sleep.

Artsy Fartsy Shoes

2011-06-03T15:16:00.003-05:00

Okay you Bob Burridge fans...those of you that got this week's Artsy Fartsy Newsletter...yup..this is what Bob suggests.

You have to "think outside the box" with Bob. This is what he calls "I-can't-think-of-anything- to-paint-today-so-I'll-paint-my-shoes" activity. My husband was speechless. You are doing what?

They were my old drippy paint shoes anyway, of course, and had lot of window paint and garage stain on them as well. Couldn't hurt these shoes. Now...will I have the guts to wear these to the workshop this week or not?

You have to admit..."they go with everything!". Hahahaha.

They will be perfect for in plein air, don't you think?

En Plein Air in Minocqua, WI

2011-06-02T18:19:00.003-05:00

It felt wonderful to be painting outside again...haven't done that since March in Florida!

You can tell from what I am wearing that I am in the north woods. It was 67 degrees at 9 am when we started but the sun was warm and we soon felt pretty comfortable.

Eleven artists showed up for the the first north woods event! Special thanks to Florie Enders who does all the organizing!

I didn't get around to get pictures of others painting as we were pretty spread out around the town. Hopefully Florie will have some on the North Woods blog and I can direct you to that later in the week.

I chose architecture this week...the Minocqua Brewing Company is a darling restaurant that Greg and I enjoy. Right downtown near Torpy Park. They are a home brewery too and make their own distinctive beers. (I am only interested in beer when it is ice cold beer and 100 degrees outside!) I think that might be awhile here. Most of us had lunch here after the paint out!

I chose two 12 x 6 gallery wrapped canvases for this time, primed in black gesso...painted in acrylic. My first diptych.

I'll miss next Thursday as I'll be in the workshop. But hope to be back on June 16.

Workshop Photos on my iPad

2011-05-30T16:33:00.006-05:00

I know that ALL of you blog readers have taken many workshops (me too) and that many of you have GIVEN workshops (me too).

But once in a while there just seems to be one that initiates that amazing kind of electricity in anticipation that you can't quite define.

So it is that I anticipate a week long workshop with John Lovett (Australian watercolorist) beginning a week from today.

If you are a reader of International Artist Magazine, he writes columns in that magazine regularly, has made many DVDs and leads international workshops all over the world. Now he is coming to Lac du Flambeau, WI????? I know. I am amazed too. 15 minutes away from my tiny little cabin practically hidden in the woods. If you google Dillman's Resort you will find out more about where this magical spot is. And if you click on workshops you can find John's class description. (You will also find a plethora of very fine artists teaching there!)

I am sorry that I have only really a week to enjoy the anticipation and get ready. As you can tell from previous blogs, part of the week is taken up with just finding where my supplies have gone to and dusting off the studio and finding the supply list...yadda yadda yadda.

Thus the first photo of the initial supplies... finding just the right watercolors, gouache, gesso, pens, inks, pastel pencils, watercolor pencils, rice papers, and acrylics along with just the right brushes (almost all flats). I tore 3 sheets of Arches 140 cold press into quarter sheets this morning. I found that for the most part...I had everything I needed. He uses some very small flats for details but I dug some up.

One problem...I couldn't find any charcoal pencils in any of my catalogs. I am sure they are somewhere, but it seemed only in sets and I am asked to bring only black and brown. Sigh. Hopefully, he'll have some for sale? If anyone knows where you can buy these separately let me know. It'll be too late for the workshop...but maybe later.

I have decided to bring my photo references to the workshop on my iPad.

I sorted those I wanted to bring on my desk top into an album.

Then I synced the two devices and downloaded the album to the iPad. Voila.

You can see what the album looks like opened up with small photos. And I enlarged one to full screen to give you the idea. It'll be much nicer than trying to print it off on my inkjet and also much easier on the pocket book in terms of printer ink. The color on the iPad is splendid.

The battery is good for 10 hours so I should be good to go.

I'll let you know how that works out!!

I may do a few sketches from the iPad this week as our weather forecast is totally gloomy for the entire week!!!

Making the Studio Ready for the summer

2011-05-29T18:02:00.004-05:00

I don't know about you...but when I want to "work" the space needs to be somewhat organized and inviting. My studio is a 1/4 chunk of a nice garage here in northern Wisconsin. Last year I even got a real door that I can shut. My hubby put in a nice picture window for me a few years back so that I have some good natural light facing toward our lake.

The studio has been getting a little grungier the last few years and it surely does need more finish work, but I need to get going now...have a class with John Lovett coming up June 6 and my en plein air group starts up this Thursday. So today was unpack, clean, vacuum and organize day. It's not done..but I made a real dent.

I just got here from FL last Thursday and I do bring my paints back and forth because the cabin is unheated here (not good for paints) and because I want my brushes, palettes and some collage materials like some stencils and stamps and papers. Any paintings you see, however, were left here. I don't have room to carry paintings back and forth. I decided to hang more of them this year as it seems that otherwise they get knocked around and it's not good for the frames or the paintings to be "stacked". Our cabin itself has very little wall space for hanging paintings...so the studio has to make do for this purpose.

Weather has "moderated" somewhat here in the northern part of WI so that we are now averaging 65 most days. We might get into the 70s tomorrow although it looks like rain again! It would be fun to see where you all paint too.

Transparent Watercolor Society of America

2011-05-26T20:35:00.002-05:00

One delightful interlude on my trip from FL to WI this spring was a stop in Kenosha, WI to see this exhibit. It was amazing! The boat watercolor painting was at least a full sheet...maybe slightly larger. It was by Steve Rogers of FL and is called "Naoussa Light".

The second is by Catherine Hearing of Minnesota. Slightly smaller. It is called "New Vintage".

It was a large exhibit and I'll show a few more later. The joy of the transparency is, of course, the GLOW. These two demonstrate this dramatically.

Some paintings from past exhibits are online...just google TWSA.

Remember me?

2011-05-25T20:32:00.002-05:00

We are finally back to our cabin in the north woods of WI...following an extended trip of sight seeing and visiting friends and family. Bet you thought I'd disappeared in a tornado. But that is not funny, is it. We drove through Alabama about 10 days after their tornados went through and we were absolutely stunned with sadness. And now Joplin, MO too.

Photos in this blog entry are from Callaway Gardens, GA on May 9 and 10. We enjoyed two days there. This little log cabin caught my eye one day...it was a steamy 97 degrees that day and I was so glad I'd brought a folding chair! I haven't gotten back to put in the printing on the cabin yet. And I need to throw a few shadows into the foreground. I took a TON of photos for later.

I'll try to get more of the travel sketches online soon.

I am trying to adjust to dial up again in the boon docks up here.

It is almost painful!

What a whiner!

One Quick Sketch Before We GO

2011-05-08T16:38:00.002-05:00

In the sunshine today it was 100 degrees in central FL. But the humidity was not too high and we had a lovely breeze. I think in the shade it might have been 90. It was just beautiful actually.

You'll see Greg and I enjoying one last swing in our back yard and I took out my sketch book and did a little sketch of our neighbor's porch/yard next door. They have already left for Michigan! I left a little vignette room off to the right so I can write some things about our last day.

I feel like we are the last snow birds to leave Hawthorne Park! But we probably are not. The really awful midwest weather has not enticed us to leave sooner.

We are about ready to pack the car now (BIG DEAL) and then we may go down and have one more swim in the pool and cool off. Hope to be back on the blog by Memorial Day Weekend. Hope everyone had a good Mother's Day!

Blogging on the run?

2011-05-04T20:58:00.003-05:00

With the arrival of my new iPad2 I began yet another learning curve! Yikes. I read my first book on it (Kindle App) and that was quite fun. I am not giving up on books, but I can see how easy it is, especially when in transit to have your books on this device!!! I am downloading a rental movie to watch as we go along.

Another thing I thought might be fun would be to be able to blog along as I travel. How hard could that be? Hmmm. Turns out it is not quite the cinch I thought. You have to have a blogging app!

I've been reviewing the blog apps and so far "Blogsy" seems to be the best choice. Although at this point in time, adding photos to the blog through this app is not a breeze.

Are there any other "Bloggers" out there that are using an iPad? It might be fun to hear about which app you are using. I think I can write on my blog without using an app but I cannot put any graphics or photos on without an app to do that.

We are leaving on Monday. We'll stop for a few days at Calloway Gardens, GA before heading toward WI. I missed the azaleas unfortunately. But hopefully I'll find other things in bloom.

Then we'll head toward the Natchez Trace and head up toward Nashville. Then to Paducah, KY and then s.e. WI for a 10 days to visit the kids and old friends.

A Picture of me....

2011-05-04T20:50:00.003-05:00

Sometimes it is better to be humbled by the vision someone else has of you. That is sort of the way I felt when I got this portrait done of me (by my 4 year old grandson, Mike).

His mother explains that those are my "fingers" hanging off my arms. I think having that many would be a huge help in art, don't you?

The round circle I interpret as a belly button.

And the choice of hair color really does not have much to do with me (I hope). At least it's not gray!

Having taught early childhood education for over 30 years...I am delighted to see this "very developmentally appropriate" rendition of granny. Arms always come right out of the head first. The next bench mark will probably the body and then the arms coming from the body.

The the fingers ARE fascinating, aren't they?

I am preparing now to leave Florida in a few days. These "transition" periods are very strange for me when I am not really in one place or in the other yet. A science fiction sort of thing...time warp.