Chinese Brush Painting Class

First we did stems

Then we did leaves

Then we did small branches

Then we learned to write "Peace" in Chinese Calligraphy

This was my at-home practice

More practicing at home

What a wonderful, peaceful morning!

I really enjoy Chinese Brush Painting although it is a sign that fall is coming and I hate to see summer end.

Plein Air Marigolds

Sat in front of some Marigolds in Dow Gardens with my Monday Plein Air class --  attached are the results. This is watercolor,  on a dull orange colored pastel paper, then on gray and then in my sketch book

I took the photo at an angle, the square is actually a square, honest!

The dappled sunshine we were sitting in ...
beautiful, but not the best lighting to paint!

Done in inktense watercolor pencils
plus brown calligraphy pen

watercolor class

Finished!

supplies

sky and water

waves and birds

Did an all day watercolor class today ... we received 3 brushes and a palette as part of the fee!

workshop day 2

Still in process; needs more color

In process, with art gum still in place

On day 2 we did birches ... and used pebeo art gum for masking.

 I have 2 unfinished pieces plus the class projects to share today.

After art gum is removed, the whole piece gets a yellow glaze of thin transparent wash.

I may frame this one!               I love the colors.

Workshop notebook

Can't say I was bored, but I had a pencil in my hand and paper in my notebook.


Here is my rendition of Helga Flower and both the bell she uses to begin her class, and her spritz bottle.

Gotta get back to weight watchers!

Saturday painting was down at the tridge again.  Priscilla got this photo of me ... oh, look at that belly!  I should post this pic on my fridge, maybe I would stop opening it all the time for the chocolate ice cream!

I drew the tridge again ... I am getting a collection of tridge prints!  (Midland is unique for its bridge over the spot where 2 rivers join and become a third.  Our 3 legged bridge is called a tridge.)

Loving my calligraphy pen to sketch and a light wash of watercolors.

Helga FLower workshop day 1

Wow, what a week ... 4 days of watercolor from 9 to 4.  On day one we did flowers from a bouquet; first one drawn in ink, then painted then add the background.

 I love how it turned out.

Second one we learned the drip vase, and eliminated outlines.

I gotta say, I am very tempted to go in and add some harder edges to my flowers with a drawing pen.

garlic and potatoes

I keep thinking I need to find my style. I have been doing a lot of plain air watercolors and they are fun, it is such a challenge to bring along everything I need and work outside.

But then I come inside and do pen and ink or colored pencil and really enjoy that too.

I so admire the artists who know what they like and do it .... and get better and better at it. I keep jumping from one media to another ...












The elephant garlic was done in a brown ink then water brushed.  I am thinking I may add some color to it today.

The sunflower ( now tell me, doesn't the center look like a potato?) is in colored pencil.

Daisies Tell

Daisy Challenge

Practice Daisies

Rose sketch

NOT FINISHED ... Dow House underpainting
I am doing this Plein Air and it has a lot of work left to be done.

  I enjoy the online still life challenge and just

 completed this watercolor of the June still life.

In hindsight, I probably should have left it a watercolor 

without inking it, but then I learned a lot by doing it.

I kind of like the wonky sketchy look.

What a Rose-y Day

The Rose Garden; Painters in the background

Start with a pencil sketch

Midland Outdoor Painters met today in the Rose Garden of Dow Gardens.

 I was the only watercolorist amongst oil painters ... but I was quite pleased with my results.

I submitted it to the Still LIfe Challenge.

Glowing Peace Rose

Remember to wash in the background!

"Mikado" hybrid tea rose