Joyful Purpose

Awkward Teenager Phase

All paintings go through the awkward teenager phase.  I don't care how trained, accomplished, or fabulous you are; there is is always a point in the evolution of a piece where it looks awkward.  You will want to toss it and start a new all the while doubting your abilities to even put brush to paint.  Thoughts that may arise  - I don't know who I am kidding, I'm not an artist ... I really am wasting my time ... who do I think I am ... really? seriously?  to mention just a few.  But hold tight!  This is normal and even necessary!  Stick with it!  It is the process of the painting.  So I am showing you the evolution of my work to see that I really do practice what I preach.

I find it helpful to work on two paintings at once so when you are totally frustrated with one you can set it down and grab the other.  It is amazing with some time away how the spirit is refreshed!

 

 

 

sketch

 

 

 

 

laying in background

 

 

 

 

 

Layering (awkward teenager)

 

 

 

 

Starting to mature

 

So stay tuned .....

Progression with Paint and Horses

I often work on quick studies in my journal in preparation for the finished pieces - often just working on line and color as above ......

Here is the progression of my watercolor painting of a horse so far.  I often start something and leave it for months and just stare at it before I actually start work on it again.  So after doing some quick studies last night I woke up to feeling it was time to begin on this guy.  Stay tuned ....

Fooling around with the Basics

I have been doing some exercises for my Back to Basics class and thought I would give you a peek ;)

Rooster Two Ways-

Acrylics on Pen and Ink Sketch

Watercolor on Pen and Ink Contour

Playing with Portraits

 

I normally don't paint people.  But the way to grow - to get yourself moving is to stretch and do something new.  I teach many online classes, but I take them as well.  I believe we can never stop learning - there is always room for more.  So I have started two new classes this week - Misty Mawn's Open Studio Workshop and Pixie Campbell's Soul Lodge.

 

New Explorations

 

I have been fooling around with the idea of watercolors and using patterns in my work and honestly "I think I like it"  Defintely something worth exploring .

I did these two last night in the car while my son had basketball practice.  Let's just say that the weeks ahead are going to include me in the car waiting a lot ;)  Lacrosse starts next week as well.  So I am hoping to get some work done in the process.

Studio Work

Come take a peek into my studio and see what I worked on today ...

come a little closer ...

closer ...

closer ...

Weekend Watercolors

Artfest 2011~ Painting into Portals

What an AMAZING group of artists! It is always so wonderful to have such a positive and cohesive group to teach.  Each and every one turned out fabulous work.  I am so proud of them all.  We started out the class setting our intentions ~ they for their pieces and me for the class.  Take a look at the work and smiling faces and you can tell that the proof is present ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Peeks

I thought you might want to see some examples of last year's Artfest classes and the student's results ...

These pieces are from the Story Painting With Punch Class (I will be teaching this class at Art and Soul again this October in Portland)

also two expressionistic painting classes

Bird on a Wire

Aren't you Koi

This coming Artfest 2011 I will be teaching

two

NEW PAINTING CLASSES

both based on my painting style of combining black and white photography with paint.

 

I will also be teaching this

 

Under the Influence at the end of October at Journalfest

Hope to see you there ;)

Artfest 2011 is Up!

I am teaching two (very cool in my humble opinion) classes!

Painting into Portals

Multiplicity

Check it Out!