Turning the corner on winter

Everything is coming up primroses and with them the promise of 6 months of warmer weather.  Time to put away the wooly socks and gloves.  I love this time of year.  It makes me forget how long and dark winter is.

I also can be reasonably sure that Art-Startz won't get canceled again on account of icy weather.  Twice was enough.  I've reserved Sunday April 3 and Sunday April 10 for our next sessions.  We will use a watercolor wet-on-dry technique, mixing color on the paper, and try out watercolor pencils and crayons.  They're perfect for capturing the tulip fields.  Very fun!  Ready to paint?  I sure am.

Breaking Rules

I recently have discovered the artwork of British painter, Shirley Trevena.  I have purchased her DVD "Breaking the Rules of Watercolour" from Creative Catalyst Productions and have also purchased one of her books "Taking Risks with Watercolour" from Amazon.  Mixing paint on the paper rather than on the palette reminds me of the way I used to paint before I began glazing.  It's a much more spontaneous approach.  A chance to get excited about surprises.  A chance to suspend expectations.  A chance to throw exactness out the window.

Winter Art-Startz

The January session of Art-Startz brought a welcome dash of color to an otherwise gray day.  Sadly, snow dictated that we cancel the November and February sessions, but spring is coming.  Everyone was asked to bring 3 simple-shaped objects that they would find interesting to paint.  I brought a few of my own favorite things as well.  Already I think they have seen the positive effect of filling the whole picture plane, varying the size of the shapes and thinking about foreground and backgrounds.  So fun.

I am on the edge of a flurry of creativity.  Several wholesale card orders, the spring Antique and Craft fair in Lynden where Christa Warren will include my prints in her lovely display from her shop, Surroundings.  The Bellingham Farmer's Market is only about 6 weeks away for me and I have also committed to 5 large original paintings!  I'm honored to be asked.   Biting off more than I can chew?  Time will tell.  But hey, life is short and anything worth doing is worth overdoing.  I think Mae West said that.