Jim - started at workshop

As I worked on the painting of my dad during the workshop, I became more and more unsure of how much more it needed.  Here is how it stands today.  I have a made a few changes and have decided it should live on the wall for a while.  I think it may be finished but who knows!

In an effort to SLOW down and not ruin the one of my dad, I decided to start work on this painting of Jim on Friday.  Here's the photo.  We were at a Team Roping event watching my son, Freddie, rope.  

Here's the painting so far.  Lots more to do but I am not going to rush!  Gotta use what I learned this past week!

Ted talks alot of how he really studies the work of various artists, especially those who work in oil.  He looks for the ways he can incorporate their techniques in oil into his work in watercolor.  The Modern Art Museum here in Fort Worth has had an exhibition of the portraits by Lucian Freud.  I went to see it yesterday and all I can say is "wow!"  I certainly can see why Ted studies him.  Lots to learn.  Great work and I'm so glad I saw the exhibition.  It closes today.

Nuttall workshop

I had the great pleasure of participating in my second watercolor workshop with Ted Nuttall this past week.  My goal for this workshop was to re-focus my energies on getting back to his techniques for my work.  I have discovered that it is my favorite style and that when I stray and start incorporating other styles, I become frustrated and lose my enthusiasm.  Hence, my sporadic posting.

Ted is a wonderful teacher and artist- so generous with himself and his knowledge, while at the same time not disparaging of other styles.  So I carefully watched and listened, drinking in all that I could in the five days and wondering how I could have forgotten so much!!!  LOL!!!

Above are two shots from the workshop - Ted lecturing and Ted painting.  If you are interested, you can see his work at www.tednuttall.com

I went to the workshop with two drawings prepared for painting for the week.  The one below is the one I chose to begin first.  The photo is of my dad taken probably in the 1930's.  I like this expression on his face and it is ingrained in my memory as the "look" I saw when he was not particularly pleased with something or was in deep thought.  He was a very intelligent man and extremely well-read. 

Ted does not rush your progress and instead urges time and again to SLOW DOWN!!!!  (Patience has never been my strong suit!)  As I said, though, I listened carefully and forced myself to take my time.  In my next post I will show the progress on this painting and also the second one that I began on Friday of husband, Jim.

I'm tardy!

Seems I always intend to post and then life or something like it gets in the way. 

 Here are a couple things I've been working on.  This is a portion of a photo of me from the seventies. 

Here is the beginning of the painting.  Trying to do a little looser style on this one.  Hmmm....

Then I figured, what the heck!  Soon (art teacher)  told me to stop being so stuck in the middle of two styles.  To just go for it!  So here is how it stands right now.  I actually rather like it.  Not sure if it is finished.  It is living on the wall in my studio right now while I let it simmer.

A recent shot of Chandler, doing what else - looking at her phone.  Thought I should immortalize it in case I never see this pose again!  Not a chance!  LOL!!  My beautiful sweet granddaughter had her first day of high school yesterday. OMG!!!

This is in progress, as you can see.  Lots more work to do.



Thanks for reading!

I actually have been painting

I have not posted in a while but I actually have done some painting.  With Jim's retirement, it took me a bit of time to adjust and return to my own schedule.  We have also done a couple RV trips. 

This first image is a painting I did of  my dad.  The photo was probably taken in the mid to late 1930's.  I always liked the photo.  I named it "cocky sailor" because of the tilt of his hat. 

This next painting is of an artist that I met at an art festival this past spring.  She was actually writing up a receipt of sale for one of her works.  I am naming this one "private thought".  I might consider entering it in a competition. 

I'm also preparing to enter two of my paintings in some art competitions.  I need to start getting my work out there in public.  Recently I took two pieces, "the Drive" and "Vaquero Style" to the Adobe gallery in north Fort Worth.  Although they are not  hanging on the walls of the gallery, I'm still pleased to have them in the files in the framing shop that is attached to the gallery.  Joel, who runs the frame shop,  told me that he sells alot of loose paintings there in the frame shop and he chose those two of mine to try out.  I'm anxious to get feedback from his clients on my work. 

Ready for the show!

Sorry for the absence!  Lots going on here! Our little 3 1/2 pound yorkie, Emma, broke her leg and had surgery.  I broke the ring finger on my right hand.  Then I had surgery on that same finger yesterday to release a trigger finger problem.  Geez!!!

Anyway, on Monday I will deliver 10 paintings to the show that features the work of all the folks in the watercolor class I have attended this year.  I was able to finish all the framing this past Thursday before the surgery on Friday.  Whew!!!

The show is in the atrium of the North Texas Health Science Center, on Camp Bowie directly across from the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth.  The paintings will be up for the entire month of May.  The artists' reception will be on May 5, from 5 to 7 PM.  Join us if you can and pass the word along to all your friends in the metroplex who might enjoy attending.  There will be wonderful art in varying subject matters, all from local artists.

In addition to "A Word in Private" and "The Drive" from my previous posts, here are the other eight.  All are watercolor and all on 300 pound paper, mostly Arches. (Some are not great photos, but I did not have time to unframe some the ones I had previously framed in order to get better photos...my appologies!)

Watching the Storm

A Little Prayer

Lil' Feller

Tools of the Trade

Brazos

Railroad Man

Vaquero Style

African Girl

"The Drive" - Finished!

Not a great photo of this but I'm really pleased with the outcome of the painting. I have a possible buyer - fingers crossed!  I think it will sell, if not to this buyer, then to someone soon.  I have a show coming up for the month of May.  Hopefully I will have 6 to seven pieces for that show.  The show is of the artwork of those of us in Soon Warren's watercolor classes on Thursdays.  The location is the atrium of the North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.  The paintings will be up all month and the reception is on May 5.  Join us if you can and pass the word along to all your friends in the metroplex who might enjoy attending.

A Word in Private finished!

Finally!!! This painting is finished, framed and on display at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center for their biennial art show.  The show is open to any artist who wants to show their work.  Each artist can only show one piece.  The show runs through the Fort Worth Spring Gallery night on March 24.  If you are in the area, I heartily recommend attending this event.  There are wonderful varied art pieces by many talented artists.  There will also be a great artist reception (great food and drinks!) from 6 to 9 PM on Gallery night.  Don't miss it!

"The Drive" progress

I'm pleased with how this is coming along.  I'm taking my time and trying not to make mistakes that need to be corrected.  I want to put sky in the upper background and something resembling ground in the foreground.  Need to practice those on scrap paper first.

Thanks for reading!

A couple new starts

I have started work on a few western pieces to show at our student show in May.  Soon, our art teacher,  reserved a great space and I'm hoping to have 7 or 8 pieces ready to show and hopefully sell!  Fingers crossed!

This first one is of the female drover at the drive of the Fort Worth herd of longhorns that occurs daily in the historic stockyard area of Fort Worth.  I was there recently to take pictures for art subject matter.  I have just started this and have alot more work to do to depict the weathered face and stern gaze she has.  The title of this one "Watching the storm".  Thanks to my son, Freddie, for naming that one.  This is on a paper I have not tried before, W & N 300# cold pressed.  I managed to get a good buy so I purchased 10 sheets recently.  So far, so good.  The size of the painting is 22 X 27.

In keeping with the longhorn drive idea, the next is of a shot I got that same day of some of the longhorns as they were coming at me being driven along Exchange Ave.  As I've stated before, I don't have alot of experience with doing animals but the one I've been working on titled "A word in private" has made me more determined that I can do animals.  So I think that this has a good start.  I have just started laying in the first washes of the brighter colors.  Having these bright colors down first seems to add a glow to the darker colors added later.  On a full sheet of 300# Fabriano Artistico cold press.  Might name this one "The Drive". 

Our annual stock show and rodeo starts today and the parade is tomorrow morning in downtown Fort Worth.  It is an historic parade with no motorized vehicles and huge crowds of spectators.  I have not attended it since Freddie was a little boy.  It was considered a must see when I was growing up and I never missed one of those parades unless the weather was just too bad, as often happens during the stock show.  I'm thinking I might go to the parade to see about getting some good pictures.  Should be lots of folks and animals to catch the interest of my camera.