THURSDAY W I P

More layers of blue have been applied to the car, more work on the tire.

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Here I've worked on the bumper and tires.

Pale wash applied on the fender.

More work on the tire and fender.

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During our art retreat this year, one evening a friend of one of the artists came by to say hello.  He and his wife drove up in a vintage Thunderbird!  (I forget the year).  Of course, this was a "photo op"!

Of the many pictures I took, so far I've begun two paintings.  Not sure how they will ultimately turn out, but they are fun to paint!

Here is the beginning of one.  Drawn out and miskit applied.

Some foreground paint applied - a bit of miskit spattered, color "blobbed" on.

A second layer of foreground colors applied.

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Once the poured painting was completed, we then did a direct painting of the same scene.  Below you will see both paintings (again, not completely finished, but close enough).

Compare the two and see which you like best!

Poured

Direct painting

ART SHOW - WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF INDIANA

Once again, since I had not attended the show opening, I grabbed a couple friends and we drove up to Indianapolis to see the Watercolor Society of Indiana show.  Each year the show is held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

This is a small show but a lovely facility, easily accessed, free parking, restaurant - all the perks!

These two ladies are both in TWSA - and you can see why!  Cheryl Lowe's painting "The Last Blast" (left) won an award.  Anna Roberts' painting"Up, Up and Away" (right).

I just liked these next two - "Berry Buzzy" and "The Union Preserved" which won an award.

Then there was mine (again, no award!)

After viewing the show and stopping in the gift shop which is directly opposite this gallery, we headed to the restaurant for lunch.  They have really good food here, just so you know - in case you, too, would like to join friends for an "Art Day".

Here was our view while we ate:

Time to head home and, although I've made this trip multiple times with no problems, apparently I cannot talk and drive at the same time since I accidentally took the ramp to Dayton!  Oops!  However, once again, 2 GPS found our way back to I-74 with a lovely tour of Post Road!  (This is a detour I won't live down any time soon since I had proudly announced on our way up that I would not be needing the services of a map . . . . )

Oh well - more laughter, a beautiful day, good friends, good food and Art - what more can we ask for!

The show runs until December 3, 2016.

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Almost complete - I need to add the wrought iron railing on top of the bridge.

ART SHOW - OHIO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

The Riffe Gallery in Columbus, Ohio is sponsoring the Ohio Watercolor Society show.  The gallery is located downtown on High Street, directly opposite the State House.  The show will run until January 7, 2017.

Since I didn't attend the opening and banquet, a few friends drove up with me last week to see the show.  Between printed maps and 2 Smartphone GPS, we managed to find the gallery!  In these situations I am "just the driver".  They point me in the proper direction and I get them there, more or less intact!   After searching for a parking lot or garage (which didn't work out) it was time to locate a parking slot on the street, somewhat close to the gallery.  In order to accommodate 4 people, I drove my husband's car and - just to prove I CAN PARALLEL PARK (even in a car I rarely drive which is bigger than mine) -  I took this photo to show my husband and decided to let you all take a gander too!  LOL

Anyway . . . back to the show . . . .

First up is a photo of my friend, Tom's, outstanding painting "Where's Your Child?" for which he won an award.

Next is an amazing painting, but it's more than that.  This woman somehow paints and QUILTS her paintings!  They are amazing, and she seems to win an award each year, as her painting "Earth Song Quilt 7" did this year.

I took a photo of my painting hanging on the wall, but it doesn't show well since it's rather pale.  No award for me, though.  But at least it made it into the show and it will be in the traveling show.

After viewing the show it was back to the car to load it up with coins so we could find a restaurant for lunch.  Much talk and laughter ensured, and then it was back to the car for the long and boring ride back home.- and I didn't miss the very odd little ramp onto I-70/I-270 that they have hidden right next to a proper right turn onto the wrong street . . . . .

Time to plan our next Art Adventure!

For more information, here is the website:  http://www.oac.ohio.gov/Riffe-Gallery/Exhibitions.

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Then I removed the tape and miskit and began to paint directly for the darkest areas.

Some people pour the entire painting, but as a class project the students were "getting antsy" to finish, so bringing out the brushes made them more comfortable.

The painting comes to life as the darks are added.

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For the next pour I covered various areas of the buildings with blue tape and added miskit as needed.

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I wanted to keep the yellow building very light and yellow, so for the next pour I covered both the sky and the yellow building with artist tape and also put miskit over the edges of the tape where they overlapped, hoping to keep out all of the paint.

Artist tape applied

Miskit applied to edges of tape

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For a class project we did a poured painting of a Venetian canal scene.

Once again, I neglected to get an initial photo, but the following photo represents at least two pours of red (quin. rose), yellow (hansa) and blue (cobalt).

Misket was first applied to any of the buildings where I wanted to keep all white - around the windows and doors.  Then I taped around the edges of the buildings and poured the darker shadows.

The sky was poured by wetting that area and then holding the painting upside down so the blue did not run into the building.

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Unfortunately, I didn't take any other photos while this painting was in progress - or, if I did, they are completely lost in the mess that is still my computer photo library!

So, you will have to make do with the finished product.  I had completed the top three roses, then left the painting to sit for many months.  Therefore, the bottom rose looks like someone else painted it!

When it was finally finished, I surprised my student with the final result, and think she likes it anyway!

Anniversary Roses

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One of my students brought in roses from her anniversary party last year.  They were so beautiful, I wanted to paint them, so I took multiple photos.

Finally, this year, I began a painting way back in the spring using the above photo.

Here is the very beginning of this painting:

My paintings usually look like a "smooshy mess" in the beginning, and this one is no exception!

THE HAIR CUT!

I've been letting my hair grow long for several years and occasionally I'll have my daughter - a beautician - cut a couple inches off just to even it out.  At some point I decided that I'd grow it as long as possible - before it drove me crazy! - and then have her cut it and make a hair donation.

So, finally, the "big haircut day" came!  I had my daughter take a series of photos during the process. I still wanted it long enough to pull up into a pony tail or bun.

Pulled up in my usual "bun"

Combed out before the "big cut"

After the cut, and lightly styled - about 8 inches shorter

She told me to "fluff it up" and play to the camera!

Since this was one of our "Mother/Daughter Bonding Days" the day also included lunch and some shopping.

Just thought you might enjoy seeing the "Real Me"!!!  And my friends who have been pushing me to cut it all off should be at least somewhat happy with the results!

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My daughter's wedding bouquet

Here is the finished painting.  I'm happy with it.

But - more importantly - she is too!

I didn't tell her I was painting it, and when she came over after my trip I did a "show and tell" of my paintings.  When she saw this one she immediately recognized it and said "can I have it?"  LOL

She has always been my harshest critic, and when I can please her it makes me feel great!

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My daughter's wedding bouquet

Some of the roses are complete, some still need a bit more work,and more leaves, plus the vase and silver charger need to be worked on.

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My daughter's wedding bouquet

It's coming along and so far I'm happy with it!

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While on my recent art retreat, I brought along a photo of my daughter's wedding bouquet.  I've been meaning to paint this for the past few years and finally decided that now was the time.

Here is the beginning of the painting.  The roses were pale and I really wanted to keep them that way. There will not be a background on this painting.

ANNIVERSARY DINNER

September 2 was our 39th wedding anniversary and my 39th birthday!  (Imagine that coincidence!)

To celebrate we drove to Ainsley's restaurant on Brookville Lake.  We had not been there for several years, and they have done some updating which was a pleasant surprise.

Thursday evening was in the 70's with a nice breeze so we were able to eat outside - as far as I'm concerned, the only place to eat there - with a view of the marina and lake.  So Mike, myself and a million mosquitoes enjoyed a leisurely dinner!  (Actually the  mosquitoes weren't bad due to the breeze, but there were little swarms of them all around - I suppose their last "harrah" before summer's end.)

I find this place so relaxing. The boats, sounds and smells of the lake remind me of dining at a Florida restaurant, so I always feel like I'm on a little vacation when we eat here.

Before dinner began I sent my daughter a quick text telling her where we were.  There ensued some bantering texts between the two of us - and I sent her some photos of our delicious dinners just to egg her on, so to speak!  (Hey - when you add several years to my birthday wishes, anything is fair game!)

Below you will see some of the photos of our pleasant evening.

Looking at the marina across the lake - not nearly as nice as this one!

And so it begins - with onion straws shared by the two of us - you can see my husband's beer in the background.
My beverage of choice was iced tea with lemon!

His entree - grilled cod, sugar snap peas and rice pilaf with black beans and salsa

My choice was trout almandine, roasted potatoes and the sugar snap peas

One last look at the marina as the sun settled behind the hills of Southeastern Indiana
and we made our way home!

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Well, this is final, whether good or bad.  (The painting has not been flattened, so there is a bit of a curl if it looks a bit odd!)

I kind of lost my enthusiasm as it kept getting darker and darker.

I did try to lighten a bit on the upper left.

Oh well, it is what it is.  Definitely not a show stopper!

I'll probably try it again in the future.

Now, onward and upward (I hope)!!

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A friend critiqued the painting and let me know that there was a line that followed the crack in the upper white dome straight up through the bricks and off the page!  Until she said that I hadn't noticed; then it was all I could see (of course).   

I think I was able to fix it, at least make it less noticeable.  

Then I added more color to the window shutters and darkened shadows a bit more; added some more color to the top right bricks.

Then it dawned on me how dark this painting is getting.  Yikes.  Will have to decide if I want it to be lighter, as it actually was with the whitewashed brick, or if this darker is OK with me.

Stay tuned.

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The area above the window has been worked on, but I think it's too dark.  Will have to work on that.

Added more color to the rusty area around the window curve and on the shutters.  Darkened some shadows.

THURSDAY PAINTING (W I P)

I worked on deepening the shutter shadows and the designs around the side of the window as well as the bricks.

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Next a light wash of turquoise on the shutters, a bit more rusty in the arch and added more color to the greenery.

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Next I added the shadows and wood where paint had peeled off.

Then I added more of the rusty looking areas in the arch and under the pediments on the sides of the windows.  (Is that the right word for the fancy concrete on the sides?  If anyone knows, let me know!)