Garden Blossoms

 One solitary blossom is enough to get me inspired to paint.  While at my son's this beautiful hibiscus bloom begged to be painted!

Last year I planted poppies and only had a few.  This year several blossomed.  The challenge it capturing the tissue paper quality of the beautiful blossoms. 

Summer Paintings - Garden Gems

After taking a break from painting watercolors, working on art for Mimi and Papi camp with our grandchildren, I took some time to paint inspired by my garden flowers and nearby sunflower fields.

Purdue has agricultural farms all around us.  A friend posted photos of this amazing field of sunflowers from one of the Purdue farms.  I just had to capture the moment of peak flowering to paint in the field of sunflowers.  I started the painting in the field, but the bugs chased me away and I had to complete it at home, trying to keep the looseness and freedom from painting plein air.

Paintings are available for purchase - just message me for purchase information.

Morning glories and nasturtiums are blossoming in our garden and I couldn't resist painting them. 

More Covid paintings - The Ocean

The ocean is timeless - fascinating.  No matter how many times I go to the ocean and watch the waves, I continue to take photos to capture the beauty.  During Covid, it has also been a favorite subject.

This painting is from a photo my son took while in the Virgin Islands at the beginning of quarantine.  I've always admired paintings of rocks in water and when I saw this, I decided it was time to "put my toe" in the water and try it myself.  The large white coral in the front was the focal point of the photo.  My other son, who is a graphic designer, gave me tips on adding white to help create the illusion of water.

On vacation in California with my sister and brother in law, Steve and I spent leisurely days along the southern coast.  A day trip to Balboa Island I captured these pelicans on the dock.  This was a very fun painting.

Simply the ocean....

Covid 19 Painting Frenzy and Sale

Well the social distancing to prevent the spread of the Covid 19 virus continues and so does my passion to paint.  I'm thankful for all the medical staff and essential workers who continue to work tirelessly, while retirees, health compromised, young and old, have the privilege to stay at home.

Along with immensely enjoying painting for myself,  I've created "Art for Kids" for my grandchildren.  Each week we meet on line to create something in the style of a famous artist.  It's a chance for me to learn about the artists as well.  So far we have learned about Giuseppe Arcimboldo,  George Seurat, Alexander Calder and Henri Matisse.  As parents become teacher, it is something I can contribute during this home school period.  Plus, it gives me some sweet times with my special grandchildren.

With all the paintings I'm creating, I decided to make them available for purchase.  If you are interested in purchasing a painting:
        * send me an email - artzjerie@gmail.com 
        * pay through Paypal, Jerie Artz
        * add $10 for shipping and handling
        * turn around of three days after order 

If you would like a painting you have seen posted on the blog, send me an email and I'll let you know if it is still available along with the price.  

From now on, if the painting is for sale,  I will include the price on the post.

After learning how to paint a crystal vase with an iris, I decided to keep painting glass and crystal.  The best way to learn is to practice.  Here is what I've been doing.

Mikasa Bowl - 11" x 14" Matted - $95

Antique Sugar Bowl or Spoon Holder - 11" x 14" Matted $95

Oval Vase - 11" x 14" Matted $95

Antique Ruby Red Bowl - 11" x 14" Matted  $125

Little Cuties in Crystal 11" x 14"  $125

Perrier - Cafe Campana, Musee d'Orsay,  11"x 14" Matted  $95

Woodland Spring - 16" x 20" Matted  $125

Resurrection - 16" x 20" matted  $150

Cocky Rooster from the Virgin Islands   11" x 14" Matted, $95

Pecking Order - 11" x 14" Matted, Yupo Paper, $95

Before the Covid 19 social distancing, I held a watercolor class painting water birds and the ocean.  It was another great time creating with my students.  Teaching a class pushes me to paint new subjects.

I loved how this flamingo turned out.  So gracefull.

Flamingo Ballerina - 11" x 14" Matted, $125

Purple Gallinole 11" x 14" Matted, $95

Fishing for Bait 16" x 20" Matted, $150

Snowy Egret  16" x 20" Matted, $150

Hello There!  11" x 14" Matted  $95

Wood Duck  11" x 14" Matted $95

Ocean  11" x 14" Matted  $95

Holy Week - the Garden of Gethsemane

It is a different kind of Holy Week this year with the Covid 19 pandemic restricting us all to our homes. We are learning how to do life differently, church differently, but God is still the same.  He is our refuge and strength.  A refuge needed like at no other time.

Originally I was to paint a large water color of the Garden of Gethsemane  as folks journeyed the last steps of Jesus through the stations of the cross created in our church.  This painting was a small scale piece of what I would have painted, sharing my own experience in the garden among these ancient olive trees on a pilgrimage in 2009.

Jesus asked His Father “if possible remove this cup...but not my will, thy will be done.”

A very fitting prayer for these days of rampant sickness.

God have Mercy.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God  as Paul said “neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anyting else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38,39

Covid 19, Coping, Creativity

Well much has happened in recent weeks that has changed life as we know it, life as we are accustomed to living.  Preventing the spread of the virus is priority as we practice social distancing.

All this staying at home makes painting a wonderful way to spend our days.

Just before social distancing, I went to a friend's home to paint for two days.  She shared with me a technique she learned in a workshop about how to paint crystal.  I'm so glad we were able to do this - because a day later, we entered the twilight zone of "social distancing." 

Here is the process - step by step:

Here is my painting

Here is my friend, Nancy Hathaway's painting

Since then, I have continued to paint crystal to work on the technique.

During these days when there is so much negative, alarming news, it is my mainstay to trust in God's love and His power.  Psalm 46 is something I read every day - "God is our Refuge and Strength."  Ultimately, beyond social distancing and hygiene practices, God is my refuge and His message is always - "Fear not!"

2020 Winter Watercolor Class - "Potpourri!"

It's time for another series of watercolor classes.  After getting input from students, this class will offer a variety of subjects over the four weeks beginning with ocean scenes, then water birds, and flowers.  The last class we will decide together to see how we want to finish up this series.

I've been playing around with the ocean scene and flamingos.  More to come!