Instructions

This is a list I try to keep with me when going out to paint.

I should have it memorized but that doesn't come very easy any more.

Answer these questions BEFORE you start the painting:

1.  Why are you painting this scene?

2.  Canvas size -- Does it help to express your subject?

3.  Is the painting going to be a landscape, close-up , or a sky-scape?

4.  How are you going to get movement through the painting? (so you can create depth)

5.  Where is the center of interest?  Is it located properly?

6.  What color are you going to use to create depth?

7.  Is your painting going to be predominantly warm or cool?

8.  Brush strokes -- How are they going to be varied?

9.  Where is the light coming from? (So you know which side of the objects are warm and what side is cool)

10. If painting from photo -- Do you need to use all of the photo? Or just a part of the photo?

11. What can you leave out? EDIT, please.

12. In you mind's eye --Do you see this painting attractive?

I really didn't think painting could be this complicated. Just slap some paint around. I saw those videos of the elephants slinging paint with their trunks. However, I find the more I learn the more I have yet to learn.
But....... I love it!

Bye!

Paintings

Well here is the next couple of photos of the painting I was working on.

I still have to do the whole left side, but it's coming along.

This one is pretty much finished as far as I am concerned. 

However, instructors have a way of wanting to adjust just one more thing.

By the way, the photo that I used was taken down in Brookville last Fall.

Thought you might like to see the boats picture I finally finished a week or so ago.

It's from a photo I took while vacationing in Maine a few years ago.

That's all for now. 

For the next couple of weeks I will be getting out my watercolors to do some on the spot sketches.

Bye!

Classes

I am going to Greenwood (which is south of Indianapolis) for art classes this spring and into the summer. It's six weeks at a time and then two weeks off before starting another six weeks. It's a bit of a drive but I have learned so much that I just keep going.

 My teacher says "better put some highlights right here".

This week I started a new piece and took some pictures of the preliminary lay-in. We'll see what appears as a final work as it progresses.

As you can see, this is just the very beginning.

Now to fill in some of the under painting.

Hey, looks like there might be some water in this one.

I'll work on it some more next time.

Gotta go now. Bye!

Plein air

It was a beautiful day today so.....

Outdoors we went.

This is my setup and the view I had.
Several of us went to one of our local parks.

 I was disappointed in the resulting painting. It just reminds me how far I have yet to go.

 However, the day was lovely and the company was great.

Looking forward to our next outing.

Be seeing you......

Family

A little bit about the family.

This is all of us Christmas of 2008

Then we added one more. "Samantha Joy" last October.

This is me and hubby.

This is where we hang out...

It's been raining this week... not much to report.

Later......

About me

I'm a wife, a mom and a grandmother of 14. Hubby and I now live in Indiana close by our 4 sons with their wives and all the grandchildren. How blessed we are to see each other as often as we like. Makes holidays very special.

A few years ago I started painting. Something that I had always wanted to do. It's rather thrilling to enjoy God's creation with new eyes, an artist's eyes. I like getting out of doors and painting on site. That is, of course, when the weather is good. Otherwise you'll find me out snapping pictures or in front of my easel at home.
Sometimes I take a brief break in painting to watch tennis. I get glued to the telly when the majors are on.

Growing up in the northeastern part of the US, I expect I have always loved the mountains and the ocean but now they are even more beautiful. I can even appreciate the flat lands of Indiana a little bit more.

New Harmony, IN

I've just returned from a week of painting in Southern Indiana. It's a quaint little town and a great place to start the season of plein air painting. (a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.)

It's most enjoyable to reacquaint with old friends and to meet new ones.  I belong to a group called Indiana Plein Air Painters Assoc. (IPAPA)  This is our first paint out of the season and some of the best painters all around the region come to paint and show their work.  This is where the similarity ends. I still have lots to learn and this seems to be a good place to pick up pointers and get charged up for the summer.

Interesting barns all over Indiana to paint.

Bridge out behind the Inn.

A little waterfall. Also behind the Inn.

One of the houses in town. Pretty!

This is the Wabash river. It's always quite high in the spring.

My favorite part of the town is the firehouse. I've tried painting it a few times, but without success.

You have to take a break once in a while and cool off. Right?

Be seeing ya.....