Painting Lace

This is another in my casein series of lace, fruit, flowers, etc. using some of my grandmother’s things. There is one more in this series planned, if I can just get the picture figured out and drawn!

I do enjoy working in a series. Sometimes the series is planned in advance, but sometimes it dawns on me that I’m doing a series without realizing it. I’ve got several paintings composed of roses, peonies, pears, that I didn’t really realize until I sat down and looked at my digital photos the other day. Well, DUH!

Anyway, I’m very pleased with the lace on this one. My husband said I have the cup, etc. too high, there is too much lace. Well, gee, this was planned to be “all about the lace”. I took the coffee cup which appeared in my original photo and redrew it shorter and wider to become a tea cup, and made up the rose patterns on the cup and saucer.

Even my Darling Daughter (my harshest critic) whose normal critique always consists of “needs more detail” said “Looks good, lots of detail.” And my husband’s final comment was “you have raised the bar” – which I think means that I’m improving (maybe?).

Hope you enjoy looking at the “in progress” photos.

Pears and Lace, casein on watercolor board, 18x14

Chicago Trip

Arrived home safely from a 3-day trip to Chicago. It’s the third time I’ve been there, but the first time I’ve had a fun time – (perhaps it was my previous traveling companions???) Our tour guide/hostess is a true Chicagoan – which I call “She-kaw-gan”!

On Saturday we went to the Art Institute of Chicago, via train. I must mention here that I’m a small town gal – born in Batesville, Indiana, raised in Cincinnati, Ohio (which, while considered a “major city”, isn’t really all that large) and now living in rural Indiana.

I must also mention that it was my first train ride – other than the usual tourist trains here and there. So I was as excited as a little kid. And, just like a little kid, I managed to make a fool of myself! (For those of you who know me and know how dorky and daft I can be, this should come as no surprise).

After we had boarded, we were walking single file through the train – our hostess, my friend and myself. Much to my horror, the door to the next car closed in my face and I was frantic – so, of course, I let out a shriek. My friend turned around to see my look of horror, whereupon she began to laugh, but did bail me out by opening the door – which I thought I could not open myself due to the sign on the door which said “Do Not Open Door”. Well, she let me into the next car, much to the highlight of all of the She-kaw-gans there! The first few groups, closest to the door, who had probably heard but not seen the shriek had a shocked and surprised look on their faces – not sure what was going on and whether they were included in it(!) while the next few groups had most likely seen, rather than heard, and so were laughing at my expense. By the time I got through that train car I was laughing at myself and fully expected a round of applause (and somewhat disappointed I didn’t get it!).

But wait, there’s more!

After we de-boarded (is that a word??) at the station I was taking a photo of the rafters – after all, I am an artist! – when, much to my amusement I overheard two people next to me talking – “look, that’s the woman who got stuck between the cars, taking a picture of the ceiling”.

Well, I’m sure I’ve got quite the reputation now – probably along the lines of “that poor old lady with dementia”.

Blog Comments

My husband asked me to show him my blog the other evening. After reading a few posts, his comment was “it’s a lot like talking to yourself”.

I think he’s right! I know I’m getting “hits” since I was, through some miracle of computer time and space warp, able to get a site meter uploaded. Now I’d like to do the same with my website, but . . . due to slow internet, everything takes me so long to do. And, by now, I’m sure that I will never remember how the heck I got the thing linked here, oh well.

So, anyway, yesterday, July 4, 2008, was the one year anniversary of my website and, once again, while the nation went outside and celebrated (and, according to various PSA announcements, lost body parts and suffered many and severe injuries due to fireworks accidents!) I remained inside, safely but slowly attempting to blog and add to my website. (I did not want to be outside anyway since it was raining – again!).

However, after hours of attempting to update the aforementioned website, and losing some info before it got saved, and then attempting to publish it, but it wouldn’t make the connection, I gave up in sheer frustration. Compounding my frustration with the computer was my frustration of attempting to do some beading while waiting on the computer.

While I love living in the country, I do envy you city folks your high speed internet. Guess everything in life is a trade off!

Since it seems we should always have a picture attached to our blog, but I had none to go with this particular topic, here is a photo of me at the 2007 Viewpoint - my painting is the pears above my left shoulder. They sold! (Also note my wonderful sense of fashion - gee, how I love to get dressed up!)

p.s. This morning I was finally able to update the website. If you haven’t seen it, you can go to my link or just hit this: www.debwardart.com.

Old Glory

In visiting several blogs, I see that some of you are putting up flag paintings, so here is mine. This is one of the small paintings that I use in beginning watercolor classes. Of course, there is the usual grumbling from the students – no way can they accomplish such a detailed painting! But then, of course, they do!

Makes me think of all the grumbling we Americans do. But in reviewing our nation's history, seems like we all pull together when the chips are down.

Our American flag, symbol of liberty and justice – long may she wave.

Figures in Watercolor

My husband and I had gone to Mobile, Alabama last year to see the battleship USS Alabama, and then we drove around the area for awhile before heading to New Orleans. These girls were bouncing on a huge branch somewhere in Fairhope, Alabama. They just struck me – they were at that “in between” age – still little girl enough to play, but beginning to develop into young ladies. When I got out of the car to take their photo they automatically struck poses! I had to wait a couple minutes to get a more natural pose, until they went back to bouncing, but they were still aware of me.

My purpose in this painting was not to get an exact likeness of the girls, but to work on figures. However, I do think that if you knew these girls you would actually recognize the girl on the left and might figure the other two to be related to someone you know!

For some reason I’m becoming interested in figures. Combined with wanting to venture into different mediums and techniques – what’s up with that? Maybe I’m becoming an artist after all!

Dunham Classes

My summer session of watercolor classes is over at Dunham Recreation Center (Cincinnati Recreation Commission) and I’m already looking forward to the fall session. This is a great bunch of people.


I inherited this class from Marilyn, who had moved from the west side to the east side and did not want to make the long drive over. When she asked me to take over the class I was both flattered and scared! The spring session was the first that I taught and I felt like a substitute teacher going in – would they like me? Would they want to come back? Would I like them? Gulp!
At first I thought I would try to do everything the same way Marilyn had done things, but then I realized that it wasn’t exactly my way of doing things, and it would be better to just be myself.

So, they have put up with me! From the laughter that ensues, I know they are having fun – and I think that is the biggest part of my job. (If my students are not having fun, why are they here!). From the quiet that ensues, I know they are working hard. And from the good results they are getting, I know they are learning something.

This photo represents the 3 paintings we completed in this session – eat your heart out Jerry, Jerry and Ron – you missed the landscape!

If you live in the Cincinnati area and want to join us in the fall, let me know! See you on September 16!

Yupo Peony

Here’s my latest – done in Yupo. (Below are the stages of "transformation").

Those of you who know me know that I am not a Yupo lover. However, one of my students wanted to try it, she had heard so much about it. I figured I couldn’t go wrong by painting a flower, and I’m really quite satisfied with it.

For you “Yup-ors” – you may be able to detect the fact that I used a foam roller and some alcohol but don’t know all the tricks - don’t have any of the George James videos, don’t plan to get them either! (Although, never say never). I even managed to glaze in a few spots (my favorite way to paint).

So, feel free to pick it apart and let me know what I should have done. (Just don’t expect me to do it!)

Roses on Embroidered Quilt

This one is an acrylic on canvas; the quilt was embroidered by my grandmother. I have tried to figure the approximate age of some of these quilts and crocheted items. Some of them were made in the 1920’s or before. I think I remember her working on this one and a pink one, so it would have been sewn at least in the 1950’s.

As for those books and magazines from my last post, I devoured them (and actually did read a couple during a rain storm!). The 2 acrylic books will be well read reference books, and the Birgit O’Connor book and DVD (which I have not seen yet) would make a good beginner book.

I also received my Nicholas Simmons DVD which I haven't seen yet – but I will!

I have been painting again, thank goodness, and have completed a – get ready – YUPO! I also have worked on a casein and watercolor, all of which will be posted soon. At least my painting slump seems to be over!

Jackpot!

Got home from the grocery today and noticed a large brown container and a pile of mail on the table for me.

I must have died and gone to heaven – the photo shows what I just got! FIVE – count ‘em – FIVE art books/magazines.

Can’t wait for the next rainy day – (and actually can’t believe I just said that, considering the torrential rains and wind we have been having lately!)

I’ll be stretched out in the chair, my feet up, a cup of coffee in hand and all of these bad boys piled up beside me, savoring each one!

Fluffy, The Red Tailed Hawk

This painting of a red tailed hawk is done with both tube and fluid acrylics.

This bird has been in a couple of small shows and in and out of the gallery. People tell me “oooohh, I just love this guy, he’s so fluffy I could pet him” and yet, no one purchases him. One woman (she also said he was fluffy) told me she would buy him, so I plopped him on the backseat of my car and drove to the appointed destination of purchase, but she never showed up. So, he still resides on my back seat. I now fondly refer to him as “Fluffy, the Red Tailed Hawk”. (I’ve decided that his cousin is “Gladly, The Cross Eyed Bear” – get it???).