Back at Last!!!

I know, I know, I've been away a long time now-----------been really busy trying to pull up stakes around the mid country to head west.  I've been painting more than ever so here's some of the best on the learning curve.  I'm planning to submit these to TPAPS.  Tucson Plein Air Painting Society so I can become an associate member.  I am enjoying painting around this neighborhood but can't wait to get back west to paint the winter away.

enjoy--------------------Pastel, Watercolor, Oil

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea Beauty

When we arrived in the Southwest in October I was inspired by a bouganvillia in Amy's neighbors back yard.  I took the picture and started working on a rendering as I love the color and the beauty of this flower.  I started with my former tight style and quickly changed to my new "Murray" style and was pretty happy with the effort.  Another step forward...........many more to go.

Painting again!

Charlestown, SC

Southern Beauty

This painting was inspired by a lovely antebellum home my sister Jane, Jamie and I toured last spring in Charlestown while  in the south.  

When I travel I enjoy taking pictures of simple subjects, looking for angles, colors, flowers and an interesting composition.  This beautiful staircase caught my eye as I wandered around the gardens at the end of the tour. I print the photo and carry it in my sketching bag that travels with me wherever I go.  If I have a few minutes I enjoy sketching the photo to see if it might be the subject of a future watercolor.  The sketch was done last summer sometime but the watercolor had to wait till January 2009.  I had the sketch already on the watercolor paper when I took a class here in Tucson from Murray.  His goal is to help us loosen up when we watercolor.  Well after one of his classes I thought I'd try the looser style I had learned on my Charlestown watercolor.  I like the effect  on most of the painting.  I'll let you look at the photo and see what you think of my artistic rendering of the old "southern beauty."  What a fun way to remember a glorious spring afternoon!

Fall 2008 Paintings

I was a busy painter for a month while in Indiana waiting to head west for the winter. The pictures are of the completed watercolors. There are two that I am very happy with,"Crabby Apples," and "Tumacacorii Pots." The others I am just ok with. They are not the greatest but I always remember that not all paintings are supposed to be good to great. It's ok if they are just practice on the way to being good to satisfactory. Anyway-- I learned alot and enjoyed the painting.

Watercolor Fun!

Several months ago I once again began taking watercolor classes to see if I really wanted to pursue it. I lucked into classes and a wonderful instructor and gifted watercolorist, Mary Gretsinger at the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour. Not only did I find classes that helped me challenge my abilities, I also found a group of women with whom I connected in the pursuit of art. What a happy surprise! The piece shown here is one that I put together totally on my own. I took a picture of the crab apple tree a week or so ago and used some of the techniques Mary and my past instructors taught me to create this watercolor. The best part about it was-------I loved the process and the final result. Those of you who pursue art know how very rare it is to enjoy and be pleased with a final result.

Welcome Dylan

The family has a new baby named Dylan Grace Breckenridge. I got inspired by her birth and made her a paper mache cake to celebrate. The over the top cake gives her mom Kim a place to save her baby shoes, teeth, baby bracelet and all those other mementoes we never know where to put. I knew Tom and Kim decorated her nursery in pink and green so I coordinated the colors with her room in St. Louis where Dylan lives.
A couple weeks ago we traveled to the lake to see baby and Kim and I got to spend the better part of the afternoon holding the sweet baby Dylan. Bliss!

Etsy at Last!

I worked all day and am happy to report I finally got my Etsy store up and running. Now to see if anyone wants anything. Who knows? I love handmade items and it is fun to be a part of that online community.
I've included a picture of the photo I took in front of our home of the lone sunflower on our property. It reminds me of the days we grew rows and rows of sunflowers and sold them at the farmers market. Hard work but such fun.