The Last Party of the Season

Well, summer has hit us with some heat finally and it was so nice to be able to set up in the cool basement for the last Watercolour Painting Party of the season.

I only had five participants this weekend so it made everything go very smoothly. Another advantage was that they all had some experience with watercolours.

Here are the photos of the work created:

Heather and her Derelict Boat

Closeup of Heather's painting

Eileen's Lighthouse

closeup of the Lighthouse

Jane with her Summer Veranda

closeup of Jane's painting

Mike and Rhonda with their paintings

Rhonda's Flower Garden

Mike's Rickety Old Barn

Everyone was very happy with their finished paintings and I think some of them will be back in the fall for another Painting Party.

Teach and Learn

I have often found that each time I teach a class or workshop that I learn something too. Yesterday's Watercolour Painting Party had seven complete beginners so everything was completely new and frightening. Do you remember the first time you sat in front of a blank sheet of paper or canvas? Do you remember how you hesitated to add any colour? I still have trouble sometimes when confronted by a large canvas and acrylics or oils but not with watercolour so I was a bit surprised by the hesitation most of the group exhibited.

Dora, Karen and Judy

Karen's Victorian Garden

Dora's Weathered Sheds

Judy's Soft Sunrise

 I also learned that when teaching raw beginners that seven is really too many. I found that I was not able to give everyone the individual attention that they needed. I often felt that I rushed through explanations so I could move on the the next person. Luckily no one held it against me and they all seemed to have a good time.

Veronica, Edith, Ingrid and Lee

Veronica's Fantasy Garden

Ingrid's Shipwreck

Edith's Barn on the Hill

Lee's Barn in Autumn

In spite of the fact that they were beginners I think they all did a wonderful job with their paintings. Once they got going they didn't seem to be afraid of the colour any more and they also learned that they could do a lot with just water.

This was the last Watercolour Painting Party until September when I will be doing two more with the vignettes for those who weren't able to attend in June. I will also be offering some parties where participants will get to do 2 small paintings that will be matted to 8 x 10's.

I hope I can take what I have learned and make my next Painting Parties even better than the ones I already done!

Success! - Mostly

My first Watercolour Painting Party was today and I think it went rather well. There were a few minor problems; the weather was cold and wet so we set up in the basement, and I forgot to charge the battery in the camera and it died on me before I finished taking photos.

There were seven party goers, all seniors except for a 12 year old boy who really likes art. His mother is a friend and she booked the space for him when I offered it to her.

My husband took some photos from the stairway so the angle was wrong to get a shot of everyone. This is Grietja holding Spence's painting so he could see it from a distance,

It is too bad that the lamp is blocking Donna but here you see Spencer sharing his painting with the rest of the group.

Barb, Jim, Donna and Grietja with their paintings. It is so interesting that people can paint the same scene and end up with very different paintings. Most of the 'students' were new to painting although Barb took a few lessons years ago and Grietja has painted a bit in acrylic.

This is were my camera was dying. I couldn't see what I was doing and managed to cut off heads and pretty much all of Lesley's painting - grrr! Anyway, this is Spencer, Gay and Lesley. It is a good thing that I am an artist because I sure ain’t a photographer - lol!

Everyone seemed to have a great time and I have hopes that they will come back in the fall for another Watercolour Painting Party.

More than I can chew!

For the last two days I had a display at the local Trade Show, sharing a booth with a friend who is starting a new business. For both of us the idea was to promote our businesses.

Over the Valley and Mellowood Studio display

I had a number of pieces to show the variety of art that I do but my primary focus was promoting the "Watercolour Painting Parties". I am very pleased with the response as I ended up with about 33 names on the sign-up sheets. I am beginning to wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew - lol

Although the chances that a number of those who signed up will drop out are pretty strong, I am going to assume that won't happen. So, I have to plan more parties: instead of 2 dates I will be offering 5 - 3 in June and 2 in September. I am going with 5 dates because I feel that a maximum of 8 people works well for instruction purposes and once I post on FB I might get more people interested in participating.

#948 Derelict #1

#949 Derelict #2

#947 Lakeside Living

#911 The Old Red Barn (sold)

#946 A Veranda for Summer

#950 Flowers by the Sea

#951 Beached

As I really don't like classes where everyone paints the same thing, I have a number of scenes prepared and everyone can pick the one they prefer. AND, they will have the option to choose their own colour scheme too. Participants will take home an 11 x 14 painting with a 16 x 20 mat and a clear bag to protect their work. I think we will have a blast!

September Challenge Day 26

This piece was a bit more complicated than most of the cards I have done this month. The small size made it even more difficult but I think it turned out okay.

A Working Wharf

The distant trees and bushes are all done with parallel lines which I think helps to give depth to the picture. My hand got pretty tired doing all those small lines so I ended up jumping around instead of just working from top to bottom.

Sometimes I work free hand but this card was drawn in pencil first. It is very hard to correct a mistake in pen & ink so one needs to plan ahead.

Four more day to go!

September Challenge Day 12

Although I have spent most of the day sick in bed, I find I am well enough now to share my piece for day 12.

Along the Bay

Another 5 x 7 pen & ink card based on a couple of sketches in my reference folders.

September Challenge Day 10

Another busy day ahead for me so I have no time to write more. I hope you enjoy this one!

At Anchor card

Another 5 x 7 pen & ink card. I will have most of the cards I have made available at this weekend's Creston Art Club Show & Sale, as well as a selection of my paintings.