Saturday, June 22, 2019

Rainy Days

We have had some rainy days and several thunderstorms this week here in Missouri. That’s one of my excuses for staying in and not doing much! 

The other excuse is that I tweaked my back on Tuesday, and it is not better yet. It’s ridiculous how many little movements I normally take for granted—like bending over and picking up something that I have dropped, or putting on my socks and shoes, or lifting Sassi (who is better now) up on the sofa for her nap...I’m trying to take care of myself, but I’m not very good at slowing down.

Here are a couple of art pieces that have been therapeutic for me while “recovering.” Both of these were from lessons by my favorite teacher, Maria Raczynska.




I think one reason I enjoyed these pieces is because the colors are soothing to me...

#watercolorpractice #seahorse #icecream #WinsorandNewton #MariaRaczynska

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

June in Missouri

We have been sticking fairly close to home in recent days, since our little Sassi Girl has not been feeling well. She is 16 now and really pretty perky for her age (it’s all relative, now isn’t it?). 



We did venture out on a little road trip on Father’s Day, to join our daughter’s family (about 2 hours away) for church and lunch. Sharida and Greg and Dawson brought along a surprise for us—Evan and his girlfriend Katie, up from Texas to visit Sharida and Greg for a few days.



I am continuing with my watercolor practice, some days encouraged, some days not so much, but I press on.



I followed a tutorial in a Skillshare class for this little hummingbird.




Another Skillshare tutorial, this poppy.



And this little ladybug from a lesson by my favorite artist/teacher, Maria Raczynska.

#watercolorpractice #FathersDay #SassiGirl #tinytoypoodle #MariaRaczynska #ladybug #poppy #hummingbird


Saturday, June 8, 2019

Wonder Forest

We have so many woodland creatures in our Wonder Forest (5 acres where our home is located, in Troy, Missouri). I think maybe animals are one of the more difficult subjects to paint, but I am drawn to them. Here are a couple of paintings finished today.


Raccoon (though they are cute, we aren’t thrilled when they try to get to the bird feeders!)


Tufted Titmouse

#watercolorpractice #wonderforest #titmouse #raccoon #MissouriWoods



Thursday, June 6, 2019

Golden Retriever Watercolor


This handsome guy reminds me of our Samson, our first golden, our outside pet while we were living in Licking, Missouri, many years ago. 

This painting was inspired by Sarah Cray at Let’s Make Art, although I didn’t actually follow her tutorial for this one. Sometimes I do better just winging it.

Golden retrievers are special dogs. My brother and his wife have two. Goldens are sweet and live to please their people.

Still learning about watercolor, and at some point I will probably focus in on a more limited subject matter, but for now, I’m bouncing around like a ping pong ball—flowers, fruit, dog, bird, whatever...but it does keep me interested, and that may be the most important thing right now!

#watercolorpractice #goldenretriever #letsmakeart #WinsorandNewtonCotmanWatercolors #ArchesColdPressedPaper


Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Missouri Summer: Here and Now


Well, we did have some beautiful spring days, though interspersed with thunderstorms and tornadoes in the area. But I do believe summer has arrived here in our neck of the woods in Missouri. I can tell, because I just stepped out on the upper deck to look at some flowers, and the heat/humidity practically took my breath away. Yep, that’s summer in Missouri.

On the watercolor practice front, my eye is taken by subjects that remind me of summer, like this watermelon work that I created following a tutorial by @Mariamorjane. She was also the inspiration for an attempt at my favorite rose:



I have arrived at a comfort level on my style, that is, not realism but not terribly loose either. I still sometimes gravitate to “cutesy,” and for that I really make no apology...it’s just my mood, some days.



I created this little bunny in a Skillshare class (online).

#watercolorpractice #mariamorjane #skillshare #SummerinMissouri