Welcome to my blog. Sit back, have a cup of coffee and read about the latest.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Card #28 On the Line


This card was created in the same manner as cards 26 and 27. I added a linear element to this painting. I keep having more ideas for this technique so I plan to keep going.

The weather is suppose to be beautiful today--80 and sunny! Taking a break with a bike ride sounds like a good idea. My oldest son is coming home from college today for the summer. He is having car problems so I hope he actually makes it home without me having to go rescue him. Have a great week-end!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Card #27 "Round and Round"


Painting #27 was done with the same method as painting #26 where I sprayed flavored teas with water and watercolor paint and then added circles. I stuck with cerulean blue for my background color. Spraying paint and negative painting around shapes is one of my favorite ways to paint.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Card #26 Circular


The Circular painting was completed using a few different painting methods. First I laid flavored teas down on the paper with water. Then I sprayed watercolor paint in different areas. Next I placed circular shapes down and painted around them using the negative painting technique. It is more of an experimental piece.

On a personal note I think I hit a milestone today. I was able to drink coffee (decaf) and I had vegetarian lasagna! I have had acid reflux for about 5 months now and haven't been able to drink coffee or eat anything with a tomato sauce. I found a medicine that works! Hopefully I won't find out this is not true in the middle of the night!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Card #25 Chapman House


Chapman House is a 5000 square feet country English manor with Italian renaissance side porches. It was built for William Chapman from 1911-1914. The McGowen family now owns the home and runs their home decorating business out of Chapman House. It is a beautiful building and I love to walk through it and dream of living here. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?!

This card took me way too long to do. Too much detail to do for a quick painting. I love the building so I couldn't abandon the painting before I had finished.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Card #24 Masonic Temple


This card is a painting of the Masonic Temple in Rochester. I don't really know anything about the building but I like how angular the entrance is. The photo I took doesn't do the painting justice.

We went to the Green Fest they had in downtown Rochester today. They had lots of vendors with "green" products. They also had animals and things for kids to climb on and food. I thought it was interesting and I especially enjoyed the food.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Flowers to go and Card #23 Home Bakery




I labored this week over my organza flowers which will be leaving home soon and going to Little Monsters in Lake Orion. My generous friends, Leila and Chris, will have them for sale in their store.

My card painting is of the Home Bakery in Rochester. The outside of the building is made of stone. It is a historic building and the bakery has been in that building since 1930. I didn't try to paint every little stone on the building but rather give the impression of them being there. The Home Bakery is a-- you guessed it--at bakery! Can you see the wedding cake in the window?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Card #22 Rochester Brewery


I took my card a day paintings into the Paint Creek Center for the Arts today. They are going to be for sale in the Gift Gallery for $10. It's a steal! While I was in downtown Rochester (Michigan) I thought I should go for a walk and enjoy the beautiful spring day. I walked around and took some photos of the historic buildings around Rochester. I am going to make that my theme for my cards for the week--historic Rochester buildings. Card #22 is of the Rochester Mills Brewery. It was the former home of a Mill where they made wool fabric. It is a very pretty building and a nice restaurant too. It is great to sit out on their patio when the weather is good!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Etsy showcase

I am behind on my card painting because I have been busy today posting new listings on my etsy account. I also bought a showcase spot for tomorrow. I have heard this isn't worth the money but I am hoping to get more interest in my shop so why not?

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Blooming


These are some of the latest flowers that I have made. I was having cramps in my hands from cutting them out yesterday! They are fun to make despite the pain.

Michigan Watercolor Society slide show

I went today to see the Michigan Watercolor Society slide show of all of the entries for this years competition. Wow!! The depth of talent in the state of Michigan is amazing! I love to try and pick out ones I think are outstanding and see if they were accepted in the show. I can think of at least 10 that I think will be in the show. The ones that stood out had unusual subject matter, rich color, and perfection of their craft. There were many repeats of subject matter- flowers in a vase, still lifes, scenes from Venice, and abstract patterny things. Mine were a little different so I hope that catches the juror's eye. I never know if my work is up to the caliber of what they are looking for but if I don't enter I always regret it. It is better to not have regrets.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Card #21 Swirled


Another beauty from the sea. I struggled with a name for this one. Anyone have another idea?

The weather today is supposed to be outstanding. I am planning on taking a bike ride after getting some work done.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Card #20 Shell Luminence


This shell is so thin and lightly colored it is almost sheer. The light shines right through it.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Card #19 Shelling Out


This is another snail shell painting. The colors are very faint on the actual shell so I had to bump it up a bit.

Tonight I am going to my first watercolor class of the session. I have taken classes from this teacher many times before. She keeps challenging me so I keep going back. There are many repeat students in the class that I have gotten to know really well so going to the class is like going home.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Card #18 A Shell of an Idea


I am a big lover of shells. Every year or every other year we go to Sanibel, Florida. They have the best shelling there. Shells are little bits of treasure that nature freely provides and I happily gather. I can spend hours gathering shells. I have a nice collection and this week I am going to paint several of them.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Card #17 Aloft


This was a sunny autumn day with billowy clouds. The cloud shapes remind me a bit of swans.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Card #16 Floating By


Another of my cloud paintings. I am starting to see familiar shapes in the clouds even though I didn't purposely put them there. Do you see any?

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Card #15 Dreaming


In this painting I added lots of yellows and burnt sienna to bring out that glowing, just before the sun sets look.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Card #14 Head in the Clouds


This will be my head in the clouds week. I have all ways been fascinated with clouds. The clouds shift and change shape with the wind and weather. How the sun hits the clouds. The time of the day. All of these elements make a difference as to how the clouds and sky look. I hope to do lots of big cloud paintings in the future.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Followers

To my followers thank you for joining the group who is following my blog. Feel free to make comments so I don't feel like I am talking to myself! Those of you who read my blog but haven't officially joined as a follower please do. It only takes a minute. Just click on the follower button. Easy peasy!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Michigan Watercolor Society

I picked up the CD I had made of two paintings today and mailed the entries. They are my entries for the Michigan Watercolor Society Annual show. It is a tough show to get into but I surely won't get in if I don't enter. So am giving it another shot. I am sending out good vibes!

Card #13 All My Ducks in a Row


This is my final entry for the Easter theme week. These are my duck candles that I lined up on the mantle. The sun is hitting the wall behind the second duck so it creates a nice light spot and shadow behind the duck. They are well behaved ducks and stayed still for me to take their picture.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Card #12 The Real Deal


This painting was done from a photo I took of a bunny that was in the backyard. I tried to sneak up on the bunny and get a few photos. He scampered off after I took a few. The bunnies in my neighborhood enjoy eating my flowers. They especially enjoy the annuals that I spend hours planting.

In the spirit of Easter and bunny painting I felt I had to watch the movie "Miss Potter". If you haven't seen "Miss Potter" it is about the author and artist Beatrix Potter. It is a touching and beautifully crafted movie. I highly recommend it.