Fun sketching with an Accordion Sketchbook and upcoming Maine Workshop

            Hi , I have been playing tourist here in NYC  even though I live here , sometimes we get so involved in our daily life and commitments that we forget to look where God has placed us with fresh eyes . This weekend my husband and I played tourist and loved every minute of it .
           I brought along a new Pentalic Accordion sketchbook . It was my first time with an accordion type sketchbook and I loved working in it . Small, fits in my hand , in my purse , easy to use on the train and on the bus , it's still bumpy sketching but that is not the sketchbooks fault. Lol !
   

      Here are a few more pics from the bus and train , sketching to and fro over the weekend .

 Fun sketching weekend here in the city and a fun book to give a try when you get a chance.
   
     ON TO MAINE ....... Show in Tenants Harbor , Maine  July 15 ,16 2017   AND

    JOY OF WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP    July 18-20   For more information go to Dianeklock.com     I will look forward to meeting and working with some of you there. Till next time have a great day .

Painting , Sketching , Practicing and Upcoming Workshop in Tenants Harbor, Maine

  I just finished teaching a Joy of Watercolor Workshop  in Litchfield CT. We all had a great time  learning  how to improve our paintings using fun practices , a limited palette and even  experiment a bit with Yupo . Yupo is such fun to paint on  if you haven't tried it give it a go . FUN !

I have been painting, sketching and practicing as usual and am looking forward to painting outdoors in the coming months. Here are a few new paintings and recent sketches .

I am getting prepared for a show and workshop in Tenants Harbor Maine in July .  The workshop will be  July 18-20 , please check out my website for more information. www.dianeklock.com

You all have a great day and don't forget to carve out your practice and painting time on your calendars.

Painting in the Sunshine and Workshop in April

I was able to spend part of this winter in Sarasota , Florida this year . My husband loves the warm weather , me not so much but God did bless me with a good snow storm on our return so I wouldn't feel left out .

While in Sarasota I was able to witness a sailboat Regatta . It was one of the most exciting things I have ever seen. I sketched my little heart out and took tons of pictures for reference , unfortunately it was way to windy for my easel. 

The day was such a blessing as I just decided to take a ride with my easel to a familiar spot that was on my " to paint " list . Imagine my surprise when I saw all the action involved in the race . What a glorious day . It goes to show you that you need to " continue to keep your brush wet and your sketchbook by your side " as you never know what might catch your eye. 

 I have a Joy of Watercolor Workshop scheduled for April 12-13 in Litchfield CT. If you are interested in attending please email me or go to my web site for more information.  Dianeklock.com

Christmas Card Inspiration in January ?

     This is a first , I know , two blog posts so close together but I got inspired by the snow so thought I would pass this thought along to all of you .
      I am still rejoicing in Christmas joy and thought about what to paint and decided on a Christmas card.  I know it is January but why not ? You can paint from memory or your photos if you have already taken down your Christmas decorations and don't forget you could illustrate your Christmas menu or cookie ideas . Just a thought to share .
      I hope this idea works for you and if not make a date for yourself right now , yup ink a date on your new 2017 calendar for a day in December when you are decorated once again and make your 2018 card. Whether you paint or not I hope you have a joy filled day.

The Joy of Inspiration

        It is 2017 already , Where did the time go ?  If you are like me life happens and we all get busy doing "good busy things".  I am grateful for my family and for all the opportunities God has placed  in my path , now the question is How do I get my creative life back onto my priority list ?  Not that it ever left but fell way down on the priority list as it should be for me .
        Here are some things I am doing and have done to get my creative juices  flowing . I hope you find them helpful .

       I am using a Stillman & Birn  Alpha soft covered sketchbook lately after a recommendation from Liz Steel . I love it , it is light and good quality paper for pen and ink sketches and light watercolor washes . I like the 8x10 size as well as the smaller 8x5 as it fits in my city backpack.   I am calling these books " My Workbook Sketchbook " leaving my Canson Montval Sketchbooks for traveling .

     Keeping your sketchbook readily available will make using it easier . I use mine as a journal and try to put something in it everyday , did you notice the word try ?  I don't beat myself up if I don't get to it.
     If I have not planned painting time at your easel and don't know how to get started, I love ,
 You Tube segments. there are so many free artist demo's online to inspire you . I find if I watch a few I am ready to jump into doing my own art .  Search artist you like by name or ask " How to paint skies in Watercolor "as see what comes up .

    I love going through the art books I have from John Sargent to John Yardley and many in between. I copy the paintings I like with a note @ Charles Sovek for example  , taking  notes and keep them in a practice box so I can refer back to them. How did they do that ? Can I make that color with my limited palette ? You will learn so much doing this and after one or two I find myself ready to make my own art.

   I love doing Robert Wade's postcard size practices .  I  teach these during class , so much fun to do and learn from . They are on his dvd Wade's Watercolor Wisdom.

  Craftsy online is a wonderful place to take reasonable priced classes .Craftsy  The classes once purchased can be watched on an iPad and are yours to view over and over .

   I also love Drawing Tip Tuesday by Koosje Koene on You Tube , fun tips and inspiration for sketching and making art . Draw Tip Tuesday

 How did I originally get into the sketching habit  ? Sketchbook Skool  , a fun online site for inspiring sketching classes .Sketchbook Skool

I also use google images a lot. Google ImagesThere are tons of artist reference photos available especially if you have been to a place before to paint from. I also like their clip art to make cards.

Well, I ran out of space so I will leave this here and will get back to you when other things come to my mind to help you . Please feel free to email me or FaceTime me with any questions .
 
   

Workshop in Tenants Harbor , Maine July 18-20 , 2017

         Come join me and fellow artist  Barbara Aras for a Watercolor Workshop in beautiful
                                                            Tenants Harbor , Maine  
                                                             July 18-20     9am-4pm

       Barbara and I have joined forces to teach you fundamental watercolor principles using a limited palette and lots of fun exercises . We will start each day in our sketchbooks getting those creative juices flowing and our brushes wet and warmed up .

We will then work with our easels and watercolor paper to work on exercises and develop our painting.  Weather permitting we will also get to experience painting en plein air .  This promises to be a fun filled workshop giving you lots of personal attention , demos and opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and go for it in an encouraging  atmosphere with other artists . Space will be limited to ensure personal attention .  

The cost of the class will be $175 . You can find out more details and sign up on my website at  Dianeklock.com   If you have any questions please contact me or Barbara  and take a peek at Barbara's work at BarbaraAras.com   Till next time " Keep your brush wet and your sketchbook by your side "  and enjoy this beautiful day the Lord has made . 

Sketching, Painting and Teaching

 It has been a busy summer for me full of travel , family , sketching , painting and teaching ; all the things that I love.
  The show in Tenants Harbor , Maine was a wonderful success and a huge thank you to all who came by. Barbara Aras and I are planning another one next July and Lord willing will add on a sketching / painting workshop as well if we can get enough people that might be interested in that adventure for next year. Painting and sketching up in that area of New England is fabulous. A painting everywhere you look.
    I just finished teaching a wonderful class at The View in Old Forge , NY . A wonderful facility in the Adirondacks . A fun class full of students, excited to learn. I loved teaching them and am grateful for the opportunity to do so.
  I continue to fill up sketchbooks and go through lots of watercolor paper . My big stretch this summer is once again trying to getting comfortable painting with a 1/2 sheet of watercolor paper ( 15"x 22") , sounds easy , right ? not exactly . It has been a huge challenge for me but getting easier the more I try. Below are two I have done recently .

This one titled   Lower Manhattan was just juried into The 40th Annual North East Watercolor  Exhibition and will be available to view at the Kent Art Association  in Kent , Connecticut from October 23 through November 6.

             Felix Stowe Ferry Dry Dock is the  second 1/2  sheet "15x22" I have done this summer. I did it from a smaller painting I did on location as well as my photos in memory of my recent trips to the UK the past few years. I am missing this Fall 's adventure but hope to get back there some  day to paint the beautiful countryside.

I hope you all keeping your brushes wet and your sketchbooks by your side. It has been so rewarding for me to see some of my students posting their own work online and one even getting into a show , Awesome ! Till next time enjoy this beautiful day .