Ending the Year with a Flourish!

Looking at my blog, I see that I've been so taken up with life that it's been a while since I posted the art happenings since October.

The "Artz Tour de France" exhibit at the Henriott, 250 Main St, Suite 650,  is about to come to a clo se - January 4th.  It was a great culmination to our June trip.  Among the six artists who exhibited, there are over 40 paintings on display. 

We were impressed by the view of Lafayette from the 6th floor conference room of the Henriott Group when we hung the show, so we got permission to have a paint out one afternoon   The vista from the large plate glass windows of the city below is amazing.  I painted an entry for my watercolor journal and then painted a long narrow larger piece.

December has been filled with creative expressions of the season, and for me the emphasis of "Peace on Earth - Goodwill to Men" because of all the violence taking place in our world.  

The annual December Christmas card/miniature class was held this year in one of the student's homes.  After a yummy lunch we painted cards and minis inspired by the season.  Here are a few demos that are still in process!

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch and the challenge of painting a variety of subjects.

So that's a wrap for 2015!  I'm still wanting to paint a larger painting inspired by the pomegranates and artichokes, if I have time, I will!

Merry Christmas - and may the Peace of Christ rest on us all.

Watercolor Paintings to Print on Bags, Decorative Pillows, Phone Covers etc!

I just uploaded several more paintings to the redbubble.com site that allows you to choose one of my paintings and then have it printed on a variety of items like decorative pillows, phone covers, I-Pad covers, travel mugs,  It's pretty fun to see my paintings on items that people can use everyday. Just click on this site and scroll through the paintings and how they look printed on items!http://www.redbubble.com/people/artzart/works/16880057-monets-water-garden

BIG ART WEEK!

This is going to be one week that is very full of art activities.  I have paintings to deliver, mats to cut, a presentation of the French art trip to give ending with an art fair on Sunday.  Needless to say, I have mats to cut, cookies to bake and all that goes into preparing an outdoor exhibit.  Here are the details and a few paintings of the week's events!

Tuesday Evening - September 15th, 7:00pm,  - those of us that traveled to France to paint in June will present a program to the Wabash Valley Artists Society at TAF, 683 North Street, Lafayette, Indiana. We are also preparing an art exhibit for the months of November and December.

The Wabash Valley Artists Society has it's annual juried show opening reception this Friday evening, September 18th at 7:00 at TAF as well.  I will drop off my two paintings today.  The show will be open September 18th - October 23rd.

Paintings I am entering to be juried:

Fun Flowers

Paris Flower Market Roses

Sunday, September 20th is the annual art fair on the banks of the Wabash River.  This will be my second year to be a part of this juried art fair: Art on the Wabash.  I will be at the same location as last year, booth #6.

Art on the Wabash; A Local Artists’ Fair will be held at West Lafayette’s Tapawingo Park from 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday, September 20, 2015.  This juried fair features work from artists in a 15 county area and is presented by the City of West Lafayette with technical assistance from Tippecanoe Arts Federation and sponsorship funding from KitchenArt, The Store for Cooks.

Last year at Art on the Wabash

I almost forgot to mention that this is also the week of the "Art for Cats" fundraiser in Lafayette.

Details of the event can be found at this web site: http://www.lovingheartanimalshelter.org/2015-art-for-cats-gallery-show/   I painted "Miss Madison,"  a rescue kitty that belong to a friend of mom's.  Miss Madison is no longer with us, but she gave her owner, and my mom, great pleasure.

Painting my Garden

Sunflowers, morning glories and zenias, all calling me into the backyard to paint them these past weeks.  I've also been putting some finishing touches on the paintings from France as well as creating some new ones.
I'm getting some ready for the Wabash Valley Artists Society juried show, September 18th and Art on the Wabash, September 20th.

Along with painting for the shows, some art friends told me about a web site to sell my art work:  www.redbubble.com.  I've uploaded several of my paintings to the site that are available to be printed on a variety of articles, phone covers, pillow cushions, mugs, journal covers, cards as well as art prints.  You just go to the redbubble site and type in Artzart to find what is available.

Eclectic Fall 2015 Classes

Many people have been asking about fall classes.  I'm finally settling down after a full summer of travel to France and Massachusetts and ready to focus on art again.

Sunflowers have been a huge attraction to me since we came home and have inspired several paintings.  Since I'm an artist heavily influenced by my surroundings, it is just natural to begin these fall classes with sunflowers.  I've been asked to include some lessons on backgrounds so we'll spend some time navigating those waters.  We'll end this round of classes learning to collage some paintings that we may like, but want to freshen up a bit.

Click on this link and you can download and print the registration form!

Eclectic Fall 2015 Classes

Eclectic 2015 Fall Classes

"Funflowers!"

It's been a few weeks since my last post.  I've had the joy, along with my husband, to have "Mimi and Papi Summer Camp 2015" with our three grandchildren for three weeks!

When I got back home and explored my little garden, I was pleased to see that my giant sunflowers were blooming along with the tendrils of morning glories climbing up the stems.  Just like I'd envisioned!  I've read how you can make a sunflower house but planting "walls" of sunflowers with morning glories climbing up the stems to eventually make a roof.  Some day I would love to try that, but for now I'm happy to have them just growing!

In between resting up, catching up on laundry and housework, I just can't resist setting aside "duty" to enjoy the moment and capture these beauties.  As I was typing the name on the digital file of photos I made the typo "funflowers" which I think I should keep as the name for this group!

Artz Tour de France 2 Update!

I've been busy posting on the travel blog covering the 16 day art adventure in France.  My husband went along this time, and we led eight others in a two week trip to discover and paint France - from bustling Paris to the deep French countryside of "La Creuse."  You can read all about the trip at www.artztourdefrance2.blogspot.com.

Coming home, and still under the influence of jet lag, I've been using the erratic hours to paint scenes from photos that I didn't have time to paint while traveling.  It's a wonderful way to keep the wonder of such an experience going.  Here are a few paintings from both my sketch book, a Vang aquarelle journal, and some larger pieces.

Ahh, the joy of it all.  I'm so thankful to God for the experience to again go to France, share it with those traveling with us, share times with our French friends, and enjoy the amazing history and beauty.

The Journey Within - The Journey Without

Over this past year I've continued to paint the seasons.  It's what I do!  I love summer, I love fall, I love winter and I love spring.  Each season has it's own beauty and inspiration for paintings.  Many of these paintings will be part of an exhibit May 15 - June 19th.  These past days have been filled with updating my artists statement and writing a narrative for the paintings.  When I look at an art exhibit, I like to know something about the creative process of the artist.  The over riding theme for this exhibit, is seeing God's hand in creation and enjoying the process of re-creating the beauty as I see it through the medium of watercolors.

As I'm putting on the finishing touches of preparations to transport the paintings to the venue, I do so with the last phrase of my artists statement in mind:  My favorite art quote is “Every artist dips his brush into his own soul and paints his own nature into his picture” by Henry Ward Beecher.

The “joie de vivre,” or joy of life, that nourishes my soul flows from the Source of Life, Jesus Christ, who gives life abundantly.

I agree with the declarations of J.S. Bach and George Frederick Handel when they inscribed on their magnificent compositions:

Soli Deo Gloria! The Gift is His

Back by popular demand! COLOR!

Several of my students have been asking for a repeat of the
 "Fun" d-amentals of watercolor series that lays the foundation for understanding color theory.  During the month of April, four classes will be offered, what I call,  "The Genealogy of Color" or the "Family Tree of Color."

One of my watercolor mentors, Jerry Thomas, told me that once I understood the mixing of color, the primaries, their compliments,and their analogous colors it would be like portal opening up my painting in a whole new way.  He was right.  As I continue to grow in the understanding and application of a limited palette and all the possibilities that come from three colors, I am amazed.

This series will be tweaked a bit.  Instead of painting the enchanted forests of negative space painted trees, the same color principles will be applied in painting a variety of subjects.

Spring is on the way - time for some color!

Red/Green compliments and their analogous color

Yellow/Violet compliments and their analogous colors

Blue/Orange compliments and their analogous colors

Tissue Textured Watercolors

16 x 20 painted tissue on wc paper - "Oberlin's Oak"

16 x 20 tissue texture on wc, "Winter Glory"

5 x 7 tissue texture on wc paper

5 x 7 rice paper texture on wc paper

Students have been wanting to have a class on painting tissue paper textured watercolors.  A class was planned as a "Super Bowl - Super Paint Out" for those wanting some escape from the Super Bowl hype. That class was snowed out and rescheduled.  Yesterday eight students came to play!

 The technique in a nutshell is this.  You can use either rice paper, or regular gift wrap tissue paper for this project.  You begin with a sheet of 140 pound watercolor paper, it can be a cheaper brand than normal.  Mix 1/2 elmer's glue and 1/2 water.  Brush this mixture on the paper.  Roll up a piece of tissue or rice paper, cut a couple of inches larger that the wc paper.  Roll it into a tight ball, very, very tight, to create the intricate wrinkles.  Open up the paper carefully so as not to tear and lay it gently down on the glued wc paper.  Gently pat from the middle to the sides.  You don't want to smooth out the wrinkles, but you don't want to have an puffy pillow air packs either.  I found it helpful to lay another piece of watercolor paper on top and press the whole surface with my hands.

When the tissue is flat, add another coat of the elmer's glue/water mix. Dry with a hair dryer if you are in a hurry.

Paint and see what lovely patterns the tree branches take as the paint follows the wrinkles and creases.

Although the rice paper is acid free, and I don't know about the tissue paper, I do prefer the tissue paper over the rice paper.  Rice paper tends to feather out quite a bit more, even with the glue treatment.  The tissue paper creates a wonderfully free surface that facilitates the branching out with a bit more control.

I do think I'll paint the four seasons with this textured style for the upcoming May exhibit I will have at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation.  So far, I've mainly painted fall and winter because the wrinkles create the wonder branches that you see when all the leaves are gone.

It's so fun to play!