Merry Christmas to all!

Dusky Wings, Gold Leaves (mixed media on paper)

Art can say "Merry Christmas" without the traditional symbols and colors!

Ok I'm a teacher

Ok, I'm a teacher, as well as an artist, and sometimes you just have great students that make an experience a pleasure. That was my workshop this weekend, Plein Air at Cheniere Lake.  Fresh air, sunshine, few bugs, adventurous students, and OH! great scenery. What more could you ask?

One of the fun things, 20 minute sketches.  One student's response, "I am frustrated but I don't give up" Another, "Look, it's like diamonds on the water." And another, "The light is just incredible." Both days, I stayed to paint after class ended.  Energizing rather than tiring.  Thanks to all of you for a great weekend.  Below is a small sample.

 Ann's 20 minutes at Cheniere

 Margaret Looking Out (20 Minutes)

 Nancy and the Red Tree

 Peyton, New at Oil Painting

Rachel's 20 Minute Masterpiece

My "Day's End" Saturday at Cheniere

Painting at Lake Loop 10-9-2015

Painting at Lake Loop Road

Painting with Linda on Lake Loop Road in the morning 10-9-15.  The lake was beautiful, water birds were plentiful and Mr. Lyons let us use his deck.  Great Day!

Golden Flame

Golden Flame, Oil on Canvas, 7X5 inches

This cypress tree was like a golden flame in the late afternoon sun. I could not possibly do justice to the beauty of the lake and the light that afternoon.

This and other small Plein Air paintings are featured as gifts and stocking stuffers at the Ouachita River Art Gallery, 308 Trenton Street, West Monroe.

Lake Loop

Chilly Morning on Lake Loop, Oil on Canvas Panel,  5x7 inches

Painting with Linda last Saturday Morning. The forecast was for cool but sunny weather.  When we got down to the lake at 8:30AM, the sun was not over the trees, temp in the high 50's, and the wind was blowing so we were cold.  I was attracted by the greens and golds of the sunlit far bank and the curve of the sand.

Some Good News

Flight of Dragonfly, Fluid Acrylic, 21 X  14 inches IM, 29 X 22 inches FR

Just got the news, Flight of the Dragonfly received an Honorable Mention award in the 30th Annual Mississippi Watercolor Society's Grand National Juried Exhibition, Juror: Paul Jackson.

Plein Air 9-25-15

  Early Morning at Cheniere,  Oil on Canvas Panel, 6 X 9 inches

Early morning at Cheniere. There were high clouds and the sky looked a little pink.  Trees were almost backlit,  This little painting was the result.



Plein Air Almost Noon

Almost Noon, Oil on Canvas Panel, 6 x 9 Inches

Finished an early morning painting and decided to stay for another.  It was almost noon when I started the above paining so the cypress tree with knobby knees was only catching light reflected from the lake. September and October are a good months for plein air in Louisiana, but it was hot by the time I finished.  I tried to save the light as it was at the beginning of the painting, but finishing the knees took some time. 

Plein Air painting at Cheniere Lake

Cool Morning Cheniere (oil on canvas board)

Little Red Tree (oil on canvas board)

Cheniere Afternoon (oil on canvas board)

Plein Air Painting Set-up

My Set-up

I usually always paint standing up but could not get the angle I wanted without sitting.  So today I sat and worked at my tripod easel for 2nd painting.  I missed the freedom of movement and I got tired a lot quicker.  

"Night's Breath Paused"

Night's Breath Paused (fluid acrylic on watercolor paper) is currently showing at the Hoover Watercolor Society's Member Show at the Norsworthy Art Gallery in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Plein Air Painting at Randle T. Moore Center

At Randle T. Moore Center, 9/1/2015, Oil on Canvas Panel, 11X14 inches

 

When asked to do a demo for the Shreveport Art Club, I decided to visit the site a few days beforehand to get an idea of the light direction and possible subject for the painting.  The day I scouted the site was bright and sunny with very strong golden light and cool shadows. As happens often with plein air, the day of the demo (above) was nothing like my scouting day.  Instead it was overcast with very gray greens in the shadows. I think it turned out ok.  Total painting time was a little over 1 hour.

 

Workshop Demo Watercolor Masking

 

 Sipsey Wilderness, WC, 15 X 11 inches

Above is the finished demo in watercolor on using masking fluid and underpainting to preserve drawing (from the Learning to Love Mr. Grey Workshop). 

Workshop: Learning to Love Mr. Grey

Working on edges

   Fluid Acrylics

  

 Oil Demo

Practicing Greys 

Discussion of Self-Critique

 

Every time I teach others I learn so much.  Thanks to the participants in my workshop for making it a great experience. I loved working with you all.  Now you know what to do with 50 shades.



Flower Studies on Watercolor Paper

Arches 140 lb. WC CP

Lanaquarelle 140 lb.WC Smooth Side

 

 Through the years working with various media, I have learned that you cannot economize on some things and expect quality results.  Quality Paper is an absolute necessity when working with watercolor. I work on 140 lb. or 300 lb. paper. Brands I prefer are Arches and Lanaquarelle.  I like 140 lb. paper because it is heavy enough to work without stretching and it dries faster than 300 lb.  I will be discussing various papers and how they perform in my upcoming workshop, June 24,25,26



Ice Rimes the Beaver Pond

Ice Rimes the Beaver Pond, Watermedia, 29X22 inches

Another painting inspired by a Haiku by Ferrell Mercer.

Ice rimes the beaver pond

lone male cardinal flits

spring's scarlet promise.
 

The contrast is interesting with cold gray implying winter, but bright scarlet promising that spring will come.

Renewal

Renewal, Watermedia Fluid Acrylic, 29X22 inches

 

This painting was inspired by a Haiku by Ferrell Mercer.

Pasture falls to ruin

 thistles and butterflies abound

 nothing is wasted

Endless

Endless, Watermedia, 28X22 inches

  In this painting I am trying to evoke a mood of quiet peace and a world without time or end. The lack of a clear horizon and the ripples of the water suggest an endless aspect of time and space. The trees are strong verticals that contrast with the horizontals of the ripples, tree limbs and heron.  The idea of timelessness contrasts with the flight of the bird which suggests an frozen moment in time.

Le Tour des Jardins

Painting at the home of Dr. Steven Russell in Shreveport. 

Great day to be outside enjoying the garden, the people.

 

 

 Back View of Home and Garden

 Finishing touches for the entrance

 Beautiful Live Oak featured in Front of Home



Blend of the Bayou 2

Another great "Blend". Enjoyed comments from guests.

Blend of the Bayou

Time again for Blend of the Bayou, join me there.  A Benefit for the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council. Great Food, Drinks, Art and Music  I will be showing a variety of works there.

Shreveport Art Club Workshop



Great Workshop, Great Artists

Shreveport Art Club Workshop



Shreveport Art Club Workshop Demo Painting

Demo Painting Rocks and Water Shreveport Art Club Workshop

This unfinished painting demonstrates the use of Chromatic Greys for altering color.

Demo SAC

Today I had the pleasure of doing a demo for Shreveport Art Club