Fun with Watercolors

Jane Davenport has a whole new mixed media series.  Specifically I really wanted her "Mermaid" markers, but they are nowhere to be found.  Not on her website though they are really expensive on her website - $89 and on Michaels - $39 Her product line is in Michaels but they don't have a lot of the line in stock either in the stores or online.  Guess I have to wait.

Meantime, I'm playing with DerWent pencils and my little Windsor and Newton portable watercolor pan.

Unfortunately these subtle pale washes don't show up so well online.

I call these next two my flower girls.  Since I seem to have a challenge getting both eyes to look as I want, I sometimes cover one with something.  In this instance I cut flowers out of magazines.

 

Finale

Finally, layer 3 - and this little work is finished.

I've had a cold that knocked me for a loop for two weeks.

I'm fascinated with painting flowers and particularly sunflowers.  I'm starting to play with watercolor, and it might be fun to try sunflowers in that medium.  I just don't think it's very forgiving.  How about you?  Do you have a favorite medium?  Do you stretch yourself to get out of your comfort zone?  I tend to stick with what is comfortable, but how will I learn and grow if I don't do something uncomfortable.  Its the old inner critic saying 
"You know you can't do it, so why try?" Time to get out of comfort zone. I just may not want to put it on my blog.  
But then again this is a journal of my work.  Stay tuned.

The Middle

From time to time I will write about my Arizona adventure.  After living in one place for so many years, it's interesting to note the differences and at the same time the similarities.  I love that in California we call it the DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicles) and in Arizona it's called the MVD (Motor Vehicle Dept).  California's Transportation Dept. is called CalTrans.  Here in AZ  I kept wondering what the signs were that read ADOT.  Finally figured out it was Arizona Dept of Transportation.  Minor details but fun to note.  In Gilbert, the city where we live just outside of Phoenix, trash is put into one bin, and it must be bagged.  The second bin (blue) is for recycled material.  They are very specific what can be put in the Recycle bin - no plastic film bags as they clog their machines.  I find myself collecting them and taking to the grocery store recycle bins for that purpose.  At Home Depot we get the 15 gallon white trash can liner bags and have the pretty stainless can in our kitchen.  Just pull out the bag, close the ties, and voila - the trash is bagged. 

 Okay, this is the second layer of my sunflowers.  I added leaves, background and blue table top. 

I checked out the art group in my little community here.  They meet  two days a week and we can pretty much bring our own work and work independently.  Although they do have TV monitors, can play instructional DVD's etc. Sometimes they work collaboratively.  It seems like a pretty active group, so I will take my art journal and supplies next Tuesday. 

Have a great one!

Believe

     

The Beginning

Starting the new year with a painting.  I dearly love sunflowers.  This is the first layer.  

What does your first layer look like?

BELIEVE

Welcome 2017

I welcome the new year.  The past four months have been waaaay too occupied with selling our property in Southern California and moving to the Phoenix area in Arizona.  It's hard to believe

we did it, but for many reasons it was the right decision for us.
So far, we love it. Of course we have yet to live through one of their famous summers here.  We may lock ourselves in the house with the A/C for those months. We are in a very active 55+ community and are taking advantage of some of the amenities like their gorgeous gym and fitness center.   Everyone is very friendly in our community and I suspect it's because we are all transplants from somewhere else.  They do fireworks here for New Years Eve as well as July 4.  I was so concerned about the dogs but we barely heard anything - dual paned windows really helped!  People in our little community didn't do fireworks.  We're past that stage in life.  So, it was an enjoyable evening for us.....and the dogs.

I don't know if artists are even blogging anymore except for my friend Jacki.  

My first piece of "art" for the new year is a piece of mail art which I'm sending to her.  Sorry, Jacki, you'll get the hard copy in a few days .

Glue stick is my friend these days and you know what they say about it.......