The Gift of Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for all your support and encouragement through out the year.  I appreciate each and every one of you who have joined me at this Blog , Website , Facebook Art Page and at  my new Shop. I could not have gotten this far without your encouragement. (  Getting more and more computer literate each month, Ha,ha ) I wish you all a joyful  Christmas and a Happy New Year. I want to share a link below for those of you who might want to reflect more on the meaning of Christmas,

 30 Gifts the Father sent with the Christ child Jesus. I hope you get to enjoy some quiet time this Christmas to reflect on them. This list was given to me by Pastor Brian McGray at the  Northfield Bible church in Northfield, CT as part of his sermon this past Sunday and I  loved looking up all these passages each one a special gift.  Enjoy and I look forward to seeing you next time and do hope you are finding time to draw, watercolor sketch and paint.

30 Gifts The Father Sent  Now not to confuse you when you open this link , this is NOT my working store . I am just using this site to learn and try out new things. My Shop link is here. sorry for any confusion.

Christmas in the City and My New Shop

Yes, the city is in full swing for the Christmas season with everyone bustling about . I  bought a tree and a few wreaths for the windows on 3rd Avenue at the place I told you I passed by on Tuesday, Oh it just smelled like Christmas. It is a lot smaller than this tree below , tiny actually but I love it .
This year I  heard about a advent calendar that goes hand and hand with Sarah LLoyd-Jones the Jesus Storybook Bible  so I printed out the cards and I am tying one on the tree each day with a red ribbon. I  am just loving  it ! I feel like a little kid.

I did want to let you know I have opened an online store with a few items I have made from my artwork.  Shop    I am selling my Stick, Ink and Watercolor Sketches ( framed and ready to go )   as well as notecards and coasters showing images of my work. I hope you have a chance to stop by and take a look. Enjoy and thanks for looking.

Lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree

You know the Christmas season is in full swing when it is time to light the Rockefeller  Christmas Tree.   The lighting was enjoyed by many last night here in Manhattan.  No, I did not attend, way too many folks for me but I will venture down there soon for my yearly peek. Here is a watercolor I did a few years ago to remember the evening.

This painting already has a home  but I am painting others as often as I can. Please check out my  website and now my new  Shop  Many of the Stick and Ink Sketches I did can be purchased there all framed and ready to go to a new home as well as notecards. I do hope you enjoy this watercolor, it is one of my favorites . I am listening to Christmas Carols as I write ...Hark! The Herald Angels Sing another of my favorites. 

Looking ahead to Christmas

      I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving with your families and put aside some time for yourselves to rest and reflect . I have to admit I have been way too busy and have really enjoyed some downtime since my last post.
       Can you believe Christmas time is upon us already. I do love this time of year . On my way home from bible study this morning I was blessed with the wonderful smell  of Christmas trees being  lifted out of a truck and getting ready to be set up for sale on the city sidewalk. Now you know Christmas is coming to the city.
       As we look forward to the celebration of Jesus's birth I hope you are  able to take time out of each   day  between now and Christmas to think about what Jesus's birth means to you.

I have been busy with my family and playing with technology since my last post. I am not the most computer literate but getting better  with each adventure. My latest is setting up a store to sell notecards , coasters and my stick , ink and watercolor sketches. Remember those ?  Here is a link to my store Diane's Art Shop and if any of you can help me refine it please send me an email. I can use all the help I can get. thanks so much and enjoy ! 

From Gallery to Apartment

Hi,
  A huge thanks again to all who came to my show last week. I so enjoyed sharing my artwork with you and hope you had a good time while here in New York City. Today will be spent turning the gallery back into our apartment from where it once came , packing and sending art work to it's new homes and delivering by foot  to those of you who live close by. Then I think my husband and I will take some time off and maybe go fishing.

Please contact me if you are interested in this watercolor. It is matted , framed and finished size  measures 15"x17"

FYI…. I am setting up an online store so you can purchase cards, books and coasters among other things. I will let you know as soon as it is ready. I am waiting for my cards to arrive. 

Enjoy this beautiful day, the sun is shining in Manhattan.  Thanks for stopping by.

Having Fun In New York City

             We have been blessed with  beautiful sunny weather here in NYC and I am grateful as I washed all our apartment windows, Ha, ha.  A huge thank you to all that have ventured into the city for this years show. I so appreciate your encouragement and support. One more show day here Saturday November 16 from 1-7 pm  .  Of course I'd love to see you any time you are visiting the city. In the meantime I will leave you with this painting .

 My first 1/2 sheet watercolor which I framed and have hanging in my dining area unless of course you would like it for your home. Enjoy !

Art Show is finally here …. or …. You Can Just Go fishing !

Hi,

 Busy as a beaver here getting ready for you all. Just reminding you show starts this Thursday November 14 - Saturday November 16 from 1-7 pm.    If you have any questions please feel free to email me at  dianegklock@gmail.com.    Or You Could Just Go Fishing !

This painting will be available at the show.  Enjoy this beautiful day we have been given. :)

My Art Show is coming up …. November 14-16

Apartment Art Show     November14  -  November 16  1-7pm

Here is a sampling of two  Stick,  Ink and Watercolor sketches  you will be able to personally view  and purchase. They come framed with a white mat and  brushed gold frame .Finished size measures 12X14. 

If you are going to be in New York City and would like more information about the show please email me at    Dianegklock@gmail.com

New York City Apartment Art Show

Hi, hope you are all enjoying this Fall day. I am busy getting ready for my Fall Apartment Art Show and do hope you will all come by.

November   14 -16     from   1-7 pm  or by appointment



I will be doing some painting during the day and will  have some paint and paper out if you would like to give it a try.

Looking forward to seeing you at the show and please feel free to bring a friend.  If you need any additional information please feel free to email me @ Dianegklock@gmail.com

                

City Harvest Christmas Card and a whole lot more

  Sledding in Central Park  will be on City Harvest's Christmas card this year. I am honored to have been asked to use this painting on their cards . City Harvest for those of you who are not familiar  helps to feed 1 million New Yorkers that face hunger each year.
 

This painting will be available at my Apartment Art Show this year . 

November 14-16  from 1pm-7pm  or by appointment. Please stop by if you are in New York City

In other news I finished a new little book today  Stick and Ink Sketches of New York City . It also includes some of my watercolor sketchbook traveling  journal  pages as well.  I will let you all know when I receive them. Can't wait !

Have a great day and I will see you here next time. 

A Huge Thanks to The Watertown Art League

  I want to give a huge thanks to The Watertown Art League , Watertown , Connecticut  for the invitation to demonstrate for their members this past Monday night. I had a fabulous time sharing my passion for painting and especially my love for watercolor. I enjoyed meeting you all. Thanks so much for having me.

 

Painting Demonstration at The Watertown Art League Watertown, Connecticut 10/7

 Looks like I have disappeared but I have been busy painting and learning.
 I just came back from a plein air workshop at The Landgrove Inn in beautiful Landgrove Vermont. What a beautiful time of year to visit the Green Mountain State. Class was fabulous and I enjoyed painting  outdoors for a week. OK ,well my easel fell over four times in the wind but who's counting. I finally got smart and put my water bottle in a bag and hung it from my tripod to hold it down. The weather could not have been better cool ,windy mornings and sunny warm afternoons ... Fabulous.

I also wanted to share that I will be doing a watercolor presentation at the Watertown Art league in Watertown CT on Monday October 7  at 7 pm. If you are in the area please stop by and say hi. 

Watercolor Sketching in Copenhagen

  These quick sketches were done while hopping on and off a  sightseeing bus tour we were on. I did the sketches with my Ultra fine sharpie in a Nujabi watercolor journal and put the washes in at the hotel in the afternoon while enjoying a glass on wine. I used a water brush for that as this paper can handle more water than my Canson sketchbook .
 If any of you give this a try on your next journey I would love to hear from you.  Till next time. enjoy this wonderful day.

Copenhagen The start of our Scandinavia Trip

 I did start a new watercolor journal of our Scandinavia trip. A wonderful way to bring back personal memories and fun to do. I used my ultra fine Sharipe,  a Nujabi handmade watercolor journal , my traveling watercolor palette and a water brush by Niji  I hope you enjoy !

 I did these very quickly while we stopped for a bite to eat. I did the quick sketches and I mean quick a few minutes on each one and did some watercolor washes at the table and the rest when I returned to the hotel at the end of the day. I was very mindful of my husband who is not an artist and of our time together.
 If you do travel with other sketchers the dynamic will be much different and you may have more time to spend on each sketch. Either way take time to be still, observe your surroundings and nurture your creativity.

South Street Seaport with Urban Sketchers continues..

Hi , Today I will continue to show you all some of my watercolor sketches that were done over this past summer.  I have fallen in love with watercolor sketchbook journaling  because it is a perfect way to record  my travels with minimal supplies and can be done quickly without too much time away from  those you are traveling with.  Here are two pages from my sketchbook ; I was able to meet up with The Urban Sketchers of NYC one Saturday this summer as we painted at South Street Seaport. This is done in a Canson Watercolor  Sketchbook with an ultra fine Sharpie and some watercolor washes.

 I  hope you enjoy these and want you to know that I do hope to share my passion for not only watercolor painting but sketchbook journaling as well through this blog. They were all Created With Joy.

Sketching this summer

    Wow ! I can hardly believe it is August 23 , where does the time go ? I thought I would fill you in on  the posts that will follow as to what  I have been doing this summer. This will include sketching, watercolor journaling, drawing and of painting both in my studio and out, so here we go on this adventure . " How have I focused on Art this summer " or  How I am enjoying trying out new venues "

    Here is a Watercolor Sketchbook entry I did back in May at South Street Seaport here in NYC. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to future posts. Till next time.     

 

This was done with an ultra fine sharpie marker and watercolors in a Canson watercolor sketchbook.

The Hamlet of Pultneyville, New York continues....

       I could not wait to post another painting from my painting adventure last week before I am off for another adventure. I love travel adventures " Don't you ?
      This watercolor is also available at Artisan's Loft   www.facebook.com/artisansloft  contact Nanette Hance



   

Mariners Club

The Hamlet of Pultneyville , New York

  I was blessed this week  with a wonderful couple of days of plein air painting in the beautiful Hamlet of Pultneyville located east of Rochester, New York on Lake Ontario.  What a fabulous inspiring spot for a painter to find herself in.  I would highly recommend a visit if you are in that neck of the woods.
  You can see my artwork along with the work  many other artists at  Artisan's Loft  The Landing  at Pultneyville.  Here is a link to  Artisan's Loft  www.facebook.com/artisansloft
 
 Here is one of the paintings I did of the area with more to follow later. This watercolor is available along with others I did of Pultneyville , if you are interested in this piece  please contact Nanette Hance at the gallery. Until  next time, Enjoy and have a  wonderful day.

Mariners Club With Building 

California Coast Santa Barbara

Ok, today I am going to post this long format painting from my computer to see if it makes a difference in eating up my side bar.
This watercolor was also done with the same 2 " flat brush. I am looking forward to spending more time with it and also using it to work my way up to 1/2 and whole sheets. That's my goal I will have to keep you posted as to how it is working out. In the meantime enjoy this one !

Yosemite National Park

      Hi all, just back from my watercolor workshop. It was a wonderful and a fabulous refresher for me. I just love painting for a weekend with like minded artists. Love it ! Love it !

      This one was painted in a longer skinnier format that I usually paint in and with a 2" flat brush. It was fun once I got used to this huge brush. I threw out quite a few before this one. I am happy with it and am looking forward to continued " bonding with this 2"flat " It definitely helps one stay loose. 

        I am also trying to post from my iPad . A new adventure to say the least. Enjoy and I 'll see you back here next time.

Landscape Collage

 Hi, here is my latest collage . I hope you enjoy it and I'll see you back next time. My bags are packed and I am off to a watercolor painting workshop.

These watercolors are all available but you will need to email me as I don't have time to make pay pal buttons for each of them tonight, sorry. They are each 11"x15" unframed .

South Street Seaport Sketching With Urban Sketchers NYC

Continuing with the collage challenge, here is a collage of sketches I did with a Ultra fine Sharpie and my homemade watercolor travel kit made out of an Altoid tin. I was able to sketch with the Urban Sketchers NYC on Saturday morning. I was only able to stay for the morning session but so enjoyed my time with them and look forward to joining them again in the future. They are a fun  welcoming group of artist  to sketch with.  Enjoy this collage and I will see you next time .

Leslie's day 5 challenge Collage

Wow , now making collages is fun. This is part of Leslie Saeta's Marketing Challenge Day #5. I just had so much fun putting this together. I hope you enjoy seeing it.

    dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com     Catch you back here next time !

Daily Paintworks Artist Spotlight

Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful day. I am excited to share a link with you today if you would like to read more about me and my painting process. I am grateful to Daily Paintworks for this interview. I hope you enjoy reading it . Just click the link below. 

http://dpwnews.blogspot.com/2013/05/dpw-spotlight-interview-diane-klock.html

Waiter

How can you serve someone today ?
    Ok, change of pace again back to watercolor paintings . I do hope you have enjoyed seeing my stick , ink and watercolor sketches and are looking forward to seeing more of them in the future.
    My inspiration for todays watercolor was from my recent painting trip to Paris. Waiters, waiters, waiters everywhere. Just loved how they all seem to pop out of the busyness in their crisp white and black outfits.  Here is a thought for today , these waiters were busy serving customers, however  we are all in positions to serve someone in our circles with a smile, a kind word of encouragement , a deed , a phone call , cup of coffee , a written note...The possibilities are endless. Won't you take a few minutes today and serve someone around you.

     Here is the link for this painting on my website http://dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1037113   Looking forward to seeing you all next time. Have a great day !

Should We Take A Cab ?

A fun Stick, Ink and Watercolor sketch . This 6x8 is matted and finished size is 8x10 . http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/diane-klock-2648

I just finished 10 sketches in this series. I will share the rest soon. Just wanted to let you know I will be the Daily Paintworks   Artist Spotlight  Of The Week  on 5/3/2013 so if you are interested in learning more about my painting process I hope you will check it out.  I hope you enjoy this sketch and this beautiful day.

Somerville Sticks Continue With " On Lexington "

Well my love and attraction sketching with a sharpened stick , ink and watercolor continues . This sketch will be going up for auction at  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-klock/on-lexington/138776

I hope you are enjoying these sketches as much as I am enjoying doing them and remember if you do give it a try please send me a pic.

Fruit Vendor Sticks, Ink and Watercolor Auction

Here is the next sketch that is up for auction this week. I hope you like seeing it and go over to Daily Paintworks and visit their site.www.dailypaintworks.com

Here is the link for this auction   http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/diane-klock-2648   Have a great day. See you back here soon.

Little Somerville Sticks Auctions on Daily Paint Works

 I am loving sticks and ink sketches. I will be putting them up for auction over at  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-klock/flags-and-sidewalks/137211 Starting this week. I am starting out with four, each one is 6x8 and and comes with a mat measuring 8" x10 ". The auction price will start at  $ 60.  I do hope you enjoy these and think about  giving them as gifts . They will last longer than candy and flowers......Here is the first one up....

Flags and Sidewalks

Somerville Sticks

    I love the watercolors of Edward Wesson and Steve Hall ; after a recent workshop in the UK and viewing a new DVD that Steve has done  Wesson' s Watercolor Secrets  with   Town House Films  I found one of the ways Edward Wesson liked to work was with ink and sharpened sticks from the yard.
  SO on a recent trip to Boston while I was at the playground with my granddaughter  I found some sticks of my own. I sharpened them with a razor blade and purchased some waterproof black ink and I was in business. I hope you like my go at stick , ink and watercolor.
  Give it a try if you get a chance and let me know how you like it. I found it very freeing and fun to work with. It is always good to stretch yourself and try something new. Don't you think so ?

This watercolor " Heading To The Corner " is  available. It is 10"x14" . Steve has encouraged me to work larger so I am trying hard to work on 1/4 sheets of Arches watercolor paper. Hopefully I will get to a 1/2 and whole one of these days. See you next time . Enjoy !

Simplicity In The Country

      This is the day the Lord has made ; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

Happy Easter , I am grateful to have been able to spend some time in the country ( and city ) these last two weeks teaching and taking time to reflect on what the Lord is telling and teaching me.  I hope you have all been able to take some time away from your busy lives to do the same. 

 Since I am trying to simplify busy scenes, my life, and watercolor lessons for those wanting to try it out here is a good lesson ,  

to simplify your  sketches and paintings try using only three colors. there are really only three colors  , red, yellow and blue and learn to train yourselves to make the colors you need. You will be amazed how many colors you can get so easily and when painting out in Plein Air how much lighter your bag will be. 

I use Da Vinci tube watercolors , here are your tube colors if you want to give it a go ! Aureolin, Permanent rose and  Cobalt blue.

This watercolor says country to me. I sure hope you enjoy it and give watercolor a try. If you have any questions about how you can get started just drop me a note. This watercolor is 8"x10 1/2 " and is available for $100

IL Porto South Street Seaport NYC

Hi all,
   Just back from a fabulous relaxing weekend with friends in Jacksonville Beach  and looking forward to getting my photos onto the computer to see all my new reference photos  and really take a closer look to see what I have to work with.
  When you get a chance to relax and be quiet for a bit , have lunch with a friend , take a walk and really look around you there is such a joy and excitement in the  little things around you that you never saw before.  I have lived in New york City for 13 years now and have walked past this restaurant numerous times however on this particular day while looking for a place to have lunch with a friend it really popped out. The umbrellas, the people , the colors,  the movement of the waiters , the tables and chairs, the light and shadows , all of it. This painting is a result of that days adventure and I hope you enjoy seeing it and look around your world a titch differently today as a result.

   This watercolor is available  and is 8"x10" .  Enjoy and have a blessed day.

Cafe de la Presse 2

 Here we are again visiting Cafe de la Presse .  I do recommend you try if if you happen to be in the San Francisco area and find yourself in need of a place for lunch or dinner.  I liked it so much that I went back for dinner  as I just loved the atmosphere . It did not disappoint and gave me another chance to sketch and take a few pics.

                   This 8"x10"  watercolor is available .   I hope you enjoy seeing another view.

Cafe de la Presse San Francisco

   A change of pace from the English countryside , here is a watercolor done from sketches while having lunch  at  the Cafe de la Presse during a recent visit. I had  a wonderful lunch and enjoyed sketching as well.  This 8"x 10 " watercolor is available .  I hope you enjoy it.

                               
                                     

Spring Is Coming

Here is a variation of the watercolor I showed you last time after watching Winter Trees The Wesson Way by Steve Hall.  I purchased  the download  from Town House Films. www.townhousefilms.co.uk 
 for 3.99 pounds.  I enjoyed doing this one and using my imagination to apply what I learned. Hope you have a wonderful day. Talk soon.

Steve Hall Download Winter Trees The Wesson Way

 You know all those " How To " art books on your shelf , well how many of those exercises have you actually done ?   They are a wonderful way to practice old and new skills. Many classes I have taken incorporate 10-20 minute drills, that way you don't have that much time to ponder and think you just give it your best try and go on and do another. It is amazing how much you learn and improve after doing a few drills.  Peggi Kroll Roberts and Carole Marine routinely use these exercises in their classes and they are fabulous learning tools.  I have taken from both of them and learned so much.
I want to show you what I did last week. I took a workshop from Steve Hall back in September , he now has a computer  download you can get  from   www.townhousefilms.co.uk   Winter Trees The Wesson Way . I did this in about 15 or 20 minutes following along with my computer in front of my easel. What a fun exercise . I learned so much and love the spontaneity that comes from "Just Doing It "  and trying to beat the timer on my microwave in the kitchen.  Next time I will show you another one I did a variation of this without my computer just listening to music. Talk soon . Have a great day.

Perseverance

What have I been doing since I last posted ? Well it has been rather busy with travel, company and the flu . It took me almost three weeks after the flu to get my energy back but I am glad to report I am finally feeling like myself.  During that time " off " I had a lot of time to read and watch art DVD's and sketch. I finally got my paints and brush back out and I took time to play with my paint and to practice, practice and practice. Perseverance is important to me and my painting as I" but also we " all get frustrated and flustered and make the same mistakes over and over again. We stare at a blank sheet of paper or canvas in fear. In watercolor we miss the ever important water to pigment ratio , or we simply do not have time to paint as life's priorities take over. Well perseverance is a steady persistence in a course of action especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement, so don't beat your self up just start today where you are. This is a watercolor I did to remind me to persevere . I did it from a photo I took last summer while visiting Bryce Canyon. My husband and I got up early to see the sunrise and as we walked from our cabin to the rim I spotted this tree. I could not believe it was alive . You see it was growing out of hard rock on the edge of the rim where the wind was blowing so hard. I was in awe of God's beautiful creation that morning as the sun rose but also of this tree that stayed the course and persevered through all the elements .

My New York Video

Happy 2013, I hope you enjoy this short video to start your year and get your creative ideas flowing.

Try our slideshow maker at Animoto.