here's a better photo, this time the color is just a little off.

I finally finished the portrait of Avery. It's really not this dark, but I don't know how to photograph my artwork. I'll try another photo of it when I can set it in natural light.

I've been taking a 5 week "introduction to watercolor portraits" class, here's an attempt at a portrait of my other granddaughter-Ellie. Just the first layers in today. I'll hopefully finish it next Friday in class. I find watercolors much more difficult. think I'll stick with oils!

Still working on the portrait

I feel much better today. Yesterday, my husband made a pot of 5 alarm Chili, and I think it killed whatever bug I had. Put a couple of hours into painting today. The "Avery" portrait is almost finished...I think.
I might just have to put it away before I work it to death.

I'm also working on a landscape, from a photo taken in North Carolina, but, I'm finding the trees very difficult. Think I'll watch some of Roger Bansemer's videos for a while tonight.

nothing to show

I've been a little under the weather with a cold this week, so haven't felt very artistic. Much better today though and hope to pick up the paintbrushes again tomorrow.

finished the crabapple sketch...then I found this beautiful lady in a magazine, and had to sketch her too.

Refined this watercolor as far as I could take it with my limited skills. The window and door are crooked, I know, but I was trying to convey the state of decay in the house, while the daisies are thriving.

This is as far as I've gone with this portrait of my granddaughter. I'm a little afraid I'll mess it up if I continue...but, I think it still needs some work so I'm going to tackle it again tomorrow. This is the photo reference I'm working from.

waiting for election results

nothing blogworthy to post... just killing some time waiting for Susan Carlin's Ustream painting session to begin, and checking the election results on the tube now and then.

still need lots of practice...

The yellow house is another attempt with watercolor.

And, this is as far as I've taken the portrait of Avery. Just starting the first layer of skin tones. Just about to go watch Roger Bansemer do a painting demo on Ustream. so ttfn.

Some of my first attempts at botanical illustration.

Here's the begining of my latest portrait.

oil on masonite

"Avery"

so here's another copy of the oil portrait of Liz and a colored pencil version I did, as a color study.

Just figured out that I was posting my photos incorectly! (when all else fails-read the directions, right?) Anyway, this is a tomato I did using Arlene Steinberg's book, Masterful Color, Vibrant colored Pencil paintings layer by layer. I highly recomend this book to anyone wanting to explore colored pencil use. It's very well written and explains the process in detail.

this is my second attempt at botanical art. It's a seed bract from a Linden tree.

just beginning this portrait of my 8 yr old granddaughter.
oil on gesso board (masonite) 11 by 14
I've just painted in the rough outline in a combination of ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, so far. Just started it last night.

some botanical drawing

I'm studying botanical art. Here's my first attempt at it.

just finished portrait

portrait from life
oil on canvas, (16 by 20)
found out painting from live model setting is more challenging for me than painting from a photograph. I had a difficult time with this one. Changed the background so many times, light to dark, then back to light. But, I did enjoy using a palette knife tecnique on the background, that was the first time I had tried that.

Still need to load some photos

spent Saturday morning with some of my artist friends in Frankenmuth Michigan, managed to sketch a bavarian street scene, and take a few snapshots for future reference. Still working on a portrait, worked on it till the sun went down yesterday. I need to get some pictures and put them in here, but I've been too busy doing art stuff.
Crappy weather we're having here in Michigan today, and I still have some winterizing gardeneing chores to finish up this week., maybe tomrrow. Hard to tackle all the things I need to find time for.

First Post

Here I am trying to start this blog.