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.

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.

Card #20 Shell Luminence

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

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.

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.

Card #17 Aloft

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

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?