I had a nice surprise in my in-box this morning - a student informed me that she had forwarded my blog to http://www.jmgartblog.com/ and there in the Nov. 14th entry was one of my paintings and a nice review of my blog! It even mentioned my book. Thanks!!!

I am still working on small paintings. I read on someone's blog a day or so ago that quantity can lead to quality. Makes sense - practice makes perfect. Keep those pencils and/or brushes moving!!!


Last Friday I met with some friends to paint, critique, look at art books, and just see what we have all been working on. Of course we ate some muffins, lunch, chocolate . . .

There are two things that I just can't stress enough: one - have a space of YOUR OWN for doing your art - a place where you can leave it out. If you have to put it away every time you eat or someone is coming over, you will not get it out again! If you can leave it out, it will "call" to you, and you will be ten times more creative. Even if it is on a little cart that you can push out of the way, have it ready and waiting. The other thing is find yourself a support group - or a "support friend" Someone you can paint with. Someone who validates what you do!!! I think this is true in all aspects of life, but ART is what I do, so that is where I want my support and validation.

Okay - that's my lecture for the day. I am starting a new watercolor class in the morning. I have a full class signed up and I'm rarin' to go. Hope they are too. Sometimes I have a little stage fright when I am doing a new class, but think how the new students must feel when it is their first watercolor class! I'll be nice to them. Some of the students aren't new, but I'll be nice to them too.

I have been working on some very small paintings for the past couple of days. These are about 4 X 6 watercolors, matted 8 X 10. They are fun to do and go very fast. Makes me feel like I am really accomplishing something - especially if the mats are already cut. AND the fact that I need some small things for Christmas sales. . . .

Now back to unfinished work.
Awhile ago I showed you the sketch for a commission I am working on. I put it aside to work on a few other things, but I thought you might be interested in seeing the progress - slow but sure.
Besides, whether you are interested or not - it makes me feel accountable to think someone MIGHT be watching.

The owners of the cottage think it feels a little menacing, hovering up on that hill, so I have changed the horizon line a little to bring our viewpoint up. I wanted to keep the hill - just not quite as steep.

Another Finished Painting!
This is a View of The Straits from Mackinac Island. It's a half sheet (15 X 22) watercolor.

Finally - I have something to post! I have just finished this half sheet watercolor.




I worked from photographs, a watercolor journal sketch, and then a pencil sketch to work out the values (lights and darks) and the composition.

I thought you might be interested in seeing these, so I posted them also. As you may be able to see from the photograph, I made quite a departure from the original scene. Well, maybe not so much from the scene as the overall mood. I took the photo and did the journal painting in the evening because I was very attracted to the lighting and the "feel" of the place at that time of day. However when I began to work on the sketch for the final painting, I really started thinking summer - just really didn't want to let it go yet, I guess, and I wanted to show more water. Maybe someday I will do it again and try to capture the evening mood of it, but for now I am very happy with the sunshine and blue-green water of a summer afternoon.