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.

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Christmas Blessing and Hope

What we all need now is hope. Just like Christmas lights bring light to a dark season, Christ brings light to a dark world. Jesus is the gift we are all given at Christmas. He is the hope we have as we celebrate his birth at Christmas. Peace on Earth is only possible through the gift of Jesus. But the angel said to them " Don't be afraid I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people ." Luke 2:10

I wish each and everyone of you a blessed Christmas as we celebrate the indescribable gift of everlasting life that came to us through the birth of Jesus.

France In Watercolor

I am in a creative mode but not with a paint brush at the moment. I am involved in a Webinarts 101 class with Leslie Saeta . You can check it out at www.saetastudio.com Sorry I could not get the link to work. Looks like another days project. I hope you enjoy my first video using Animoto and come back soon to see what else I am learning. Way out of my comfort zone but the challenge to learn something new is rather exciting. Slow but rewarding.

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Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day. A huge thank you for all of you who serve and have served in our armed forces to give us the continued freedoms we now enjoy. THANK YOU ! I know you have seen this painting before but it is one of my favorites and has lots of flags and that seems so appropriate today. I hope you enjoy seeing it again.

Fifth Avenue Watercolor This painting has sold