tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73602955801310063652012-03-12T17:44:18.613-04:00Life should be anything but boring. A Normal life is ordinary, regular, average, usual and typical. AND Life's Journey is a trip, voyage, cruise, expedition, hike or pilgrimage. Who doesn't want to be on a journey all the time. Every day is the adventure I am looking towards with a minimum of normal thrown in to keep me grounded.maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.comBlogger501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-7601014475389415652011-11-29T13:40:00.001-05:002011-11-29T13:52:50.489-05:00

Lambs make an interesting subject.  I have used the same composition for 2 pictures which turned out with there own look.  This photo was taken from a sheep farm nearby, one of many reference photos taken.  I have used them for cards and now this painting. The blue painting is on a full sheet of Arches #140 watercolor paper.  No matter what I do the paint didn't seem to reach as vibrant as

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-73979380039914201572011-07-21T12:25:00.000-04:002011-07-21T12:25:36.419-04:00

  I love it when art goes together.  This picture was one that only took a short time. It was created on yupo with acrylic, at least the first layer was acrylic.   It was one of those painted and set out in the cold to develop crystals-like patterns as it dries.  The next step was to find a picture that would go over the random colors.    I sat before it staring until it hit me...one of the

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-15589874697983539952011-07-16T13:09:00.000-04:002011-07-16T13:09:21.455-04:00

I just smile everytime I look at this painting.  I just like it! The title was a statement made when I was describing the thought process to a group of painters during critique and it stuck. It sort of says it all. The picture was taken by Sandy who shared it with me.  It was started last summer when I was as hot as the weather.  The bird seemed to say to me turn on the fan to cool me off too..

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-46222620270885071322011-03-02T14:09:00.000-05:002011-03-02T14:09:17.653-05:00

When on location, I tend to walk and take pictures. Of course many of them turn out blurry, so it made the perfect choice for a wet-on-wet painting.   This painting flowed together rather easily...no pun intended.  Really it was not as difficult as I thought which I attribute to 2 things.  The photo was so helpful.  The blurred lines made it easy to follow...in a way that I would not have been

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-57219363670754979682010-09-17T11:14:00.008-04:002010-09-17T12:06:27.508-04:00

A friend and I went photo crazy. The deer have all but taken over her neighborhood so finding them to photograph was not hard at all. I am not hurting for reference photos to choose my paintings. Here is the first of four planned images of deer.The top painting was on gessoed Arches #140 watercolor paper using watercolor but the effect is too stiff not at all showing the innocence of the deer.

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-46202028249348003292010-09-02T13:03:00.006-04:002010-09-02T13:28:04.270-04:00

It been about a month since I attended a workshop by Nicholas Simmons. He made four days full of techniques and painting time go quickly. Here is one of my paintings that was started during the last day. I was able to finish it with what I think is success. At least I like it.It began by drawing an outline of the subject then pouring or throwing paint over the image trying to get it in just the

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-1858003857880649752010-06-03T20:01:00.009-04:002010-09-17T12:05:16.864-04:00

This painting on gesso 140# Arches watercolor paper was drawn on tracing paper first and then using a light box was transfered to the gesso paper.The challenge with this painting started with the drawing. It was made up of two photos and some adlibing on my part. Once the planning was complete.. the painting seemed to flow together. This is a close up of the painting in progress.This process is

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-79326540640903895392010-06-03T19:39:00.005-04:002010-06-03T20:00:28.456-04:00

Watercolor on Gesso is a process of painting the middle value all over the paper, wiping off paint for the white or light areas, and adding darker colors for the darkest value. Gesso over Arches 140# paper is the foundation for my last two paintings. Painting on gesso seems a challenge for me, the paint doesn't want to stick and I have a tendency to add too much water which doesn't help. This

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-62352895827642412172010-02-18T13:44:00.005-05:002010-02-18T14:01:11.386-05:00

This is the Steve Blackburn technique that Sandy's class is undertaking. It has proven to be a challenge. This is a different way of thinking about the painting process that seems to slow me down. After adding the miskit, then pouring the colors, the process seems to shift to negative painting. With a little help from my camera and tracing paper, I figured out where to paint. I took a picture of

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-18126942497926114602010-02-18T13:22:00.007-05:002010-02-18T13:43:51.969-05:00

I am trying to make 20 minute studies whenever I begin painting on a project. It hasn't been successful so far. I seem to start right in and realize that I didn't make a small painting. I used to think I was a quick study. New habit takes 3 months to become automatic so I have time to learn. Here are my studies so far. One of the hardest things about the whole process is deciding what to paint.

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-46037857722423165302010-01-22T10:13:00.003-05:002010-01-22T10:30:43.458-05:00

This is a quick warm-up painting no more than 4x6". I have learned that all I have to do is move the brush on the paper to warm up. I wanted to make it meaningful, you know count for some learning at the same time. After looking at a catalog of Ohio painters, I decided to find out first hand how other artists approached their painting and what better way that to try to duplicate their thought

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-57488012991021021522010-01-18T14:48:00.009-05:002010-01-18T15:42:49.043-05:00

This is my latest painting. I took pictures of my grand daughter this fall as she road her bike in the cul-de-sac near her home and decided to combine them in one painting. I especially like the one image of her tooling along without a care in the world which to me showed in her fingers. She seemed to move them as she peddled.I did my usual drawing to place the images in a good compositional

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-18514546606447707232009-12-21T15:44:00.001-05:002009-12-21T15:46:06.452-05:00

Have a Joyful Christmas and a Blessed New Year

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-76639337302523361742009-12-13T14:24:00.007-05:002010-01-04T21:30:46.833-05:00

This is an attempt at learning the value range of the colors in my palette. At first I started from light to dark and had some trouble getting the range to show much difference which is the blue area at the bottom. Then Sandy suggested to begin with the dark of the color range, direct color without water and go lighter. This was ok for a while but on some of the colors I had to go back and make

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-89874762032194322222009-12-13T13:42:00.009-05:002009-12-13T14:23:01.061-05:00

It has been a long time since my last post...so much time has passed since I entered anything that I forgot my password. I HAVE BEEN PAINTING but unfortunately it has been walls in one of our rental properties. Hopefully with one more trip, my painting contribution will have ended and I can get back to more creative painting.As you may recognize, this child painting is one that was last posted. I

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-78112939926191291962009-09-08T10:38:00.010-04:002009-09-08T12:01:43.081-04:00

The latest Watercolor Artist, October 2009 has an article by Donna Zagotta titled Watercolor Chronicles that has really challenged me lately.She mentions ways of journaling, thinking through your process and challenges for yourself. One of which is doing a series or one painting several times which got me to thinking about my latest portrait of Gracie. I have already painted her 2 times and the

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-81026081712088517632009-08-20T12:12:00.003-04:002009-08-20T12:28:21.614-04:00

Here are paintings from frogs in my neighbors pond. My frogs kept jumping into the water everytime I came close ... so I went next door for photos. My frog is camera shy ! The ones that have been there for a while let me get close enough to take photos but the young one don't waste a moment and into the water he goes. I figure it's a guy. I am fascinated watching the frogs in our pond. I

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-54945942849188810002009-08-18T12:27:00.004-04:002009-08-18T13:03:07.172-04:00

This painting was one of three that were entered in a International Christian Art Competition this year. It can be found on Art4God.com along with 200 Honorable Mentions. There is a wide variety of subject all relating to how we see the Lord working in our lives and those around us. I feel very honored to be included in the collection of art.The last years' sponsor has contracted with me to

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-2032364145899437502009-07-23T20:09:00.006-04:002009-07-23T20:31:27.547-04:00

Value studies prove to be invaluable to me when it comes to painting. I took the time to do this value study from a photograph but I did not follow it exactly when I painted the subject for the first time. I am not sure why I over looked the placement of the shadows on the face. It didn't match the photo would be my best guess. This time I painted the subject two ways to see which one I liked the

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-68475753441830761282009-07-13T11:17:00.009-04:002009-07-13T14:28:13.214-04:00

I asked for a photo from a friend so I could practice my portrait skills. Gracie's look was such that I couldn't resist painting her. She says so much with her eyes that I hoped to capture it in watercolor. There is a set pattern that I follow when I do most of my paintings. It has been working so well for me, I am reluctant to change it so quickly. You know "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-74084811282657695942009-06-21T13:28:00.008-04:002009-06-21T13:54:42.835-04:00

There are paintings that I like the first attempt and then there are times when you just have to do it again. That surprises me that I am able to make more than one painting from the same drawing, I am not usually like that...one time and you move on. They never seem to be the same the second time around so that must be the difference. And I usually prefer the learning curve it provides.This

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-41279751907923401012009-05-31T18:15:00.005-04:002009-06-01T17:54:52.813-04:00

I added the contrast it needed to behind the birds and I would like to add some small significant dark touches to the birds bodies to tie it all together. I want to keep the softness of the bird on the right and show the movement of the bird on the left...just a few spots should be enough to do it.Sandy showed us how to use an acetate sheet to test out the additions before actually touching the

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-64971429664897344712009-05-29T15:21:00.007-04:002009-05-31T18:14:51.357-04:00

I took this photo of the "love doves" off my deck railing several years ago and this is my second attempt at painting them. My first try (not shown here) came out too dark all over, I also added colored pencil to it to try to fix places..not pretty. This painting seems too soft all light and medium colors. I am going to add more darks to give it the contrast it needs. I thought it was finished

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-69060867423883035722009-05-29T15:06:00.005-04:002009-05-29T15:20:28.909-04:00

He has an attitude doesn't he. I just love the expression on his face. I can't take credit for taking the photograph but Sandy did give me premission to use it. Thanks Sandy !!It was painted rather quickly after I did the prelimenary studies that I have made my work go smoothly. Everyone seems to dread the value studies but they are not drudgery to

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-29612513844055587142009-04-06T19:13:00.012-04:002009-04-17T13:56:07.443-04:00

Janet Rogers offered a 4 day portrait workshop at Sandy Maudlins' Greentree studio in the beginning of April. This workshop proved to be very rewarding in several different ways. It reaffirmed to me the need for warming up before I sit down to paint. Not only do I now exercise to keep my bones strong, I have to do exercises to keep my artwork fresh and free looking.Janet took us one step further

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-33136144241007207632009-03-31T15:33:00.005-04:002009-03-31T16:13:42.754-04:00

Using a bendable sheet of paper makes the bubble process easier and a great use for the flimsy sheet of yupo. The painting process on yupo was easier as well. It still is easily lifted even though the bubble colorant is fluid acrylic. The bubble themselves allow for the easy erasing where you want white areas.This copy has more colors than my first painting. I used pink, burnt orange, blue and

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-1772299139644316012009-03-12T13:32:00.008-04:002009-03-13T13:11:11.424-04:00

One of the latest techniques that we did at Sandy's Greentree Studio was to print blown bubbles. They are fun to do. I could have made them all day. I must admit that I was not sure what to do with this page of circular outlined bubbles. My plan came into focus only after staring at it for over two weeks. Sandy chose (see her blog) a rock motif which looks amazing but I didn't want to repeat her

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-6328577364753446882009-03-03T15:24:00.004-05:002009-03-03T15:49:36.006-05:00

Here is the results of planning ahead. I had the challenge of doing a series of lambs that needed to be completed in record time. I attribute the quickness to doing a value study and white shape design before hand. With the left brain stuff out of the way, I was free to put emotion and expression into the brush strokes. It was a pleasure to do the painting.There is a sheep farm in the country

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-6291064169743544792009-02-17T16:50:00.003-05:002009-02-17T17:07:01.441-05:00

After the value study and my great white shape was figured out, I made a color study too. This helped me take the guess work out of the color choices and left me more free to paint. I chose the colors based on what I want to say.I was ready to just paint. This also allowed me freedom to change since I had an idea of the direction it would take. Go figure! all this prep actually made a

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-33724510334061369992009-01-24T17:28:00.006-05:002009-01-24T18:08:35.293-05:00

I have been painting but unfortunately most of the paint went onto bedroom walls. I was helping my son paint spare rooms over Christmas season and have just gotten back to more fun painting.Lately, my approach to painting seems to be making 2 prelimenary sketches before actually painting. One is a value study and the other is my "great white shape" (which is actually called a"good white shape"

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-88854582280611699822008-12-08T19:09:00.004-05:002008-12-08T20:35:30.041-05:00

This is my most recent attempt on yupo. I am following the techniques from George James video that Sandy demo'd in one of her classes. One of the processes in the video was to use a roller to absorb a lot of the water. It gives texture to the color just applied and removes the moisture at the same time causing it to dry rather quickly. I didn't do a lot of squeeging to spread color, that is a

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-33977000050127758762008-10-24T20:07:00.006-04:002008-10-24T20:50:07.097-04:00

This is my most recent work using fluid acrylics. The source of my inspiration is my pond. I chose this one photo mainly because the reflection of the bright flower in the water caught my eye. I tried to capture the way the beauty draws you in. I can sit there for hours and listen to the melody of the water fall. The tadpoles are now frogs starting to make sounds of their own. One must

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-17570843379213267822008-09-26T13:50:00.006-04:002008-09-26T14:12:43.735-04:00

This is a value study I did from a photo of my pond. The birds do not like to be watched while drinking or taking a bath so I had to sneak around to get photos of them. I really like the way the darks move through this drawing but I had a difficult time duplicating the movement when I went to put color to paper. This attempt is my third one. The first two were done on regular Arches paper and

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-4300793855615549712008-09-12T12:06:00.004-04:002008-09-12T12:30:39.335-04:00

This is my first successful painting on Yupo.The simple definition of Yupo is plastic paper. It definitely is challenging to paint on it. The best way to describe the way paint must feel ... it's like trying to grab a hold of something so you will not slip off the edge of the earth. Or the first time you try to ice skate, nothing to hold on to.The way I paint if I am not careful is to pick at it,

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-29236829454797917592008-09-08T20:59:00.010-04:002008-09-12T12:04:56.868-04:00

These 3 paintings will be on display at Sharon Woods at the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society' Art show September 20 through the 28.If you get a chance to stop by let me know what you think of the show. The first one is from a previous posting. This is the painting that I cut in half because I thought it wasn't working as one painting. Like I said before, it seemed to look like it was painted

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-11092119878548006752008-08-15T16:07:00.011-04:002008-08-15T16:26:00.772-04:00

This was my first attempt from a workshop taken from Carol Carter this pasted weekend. If you have been looking at my blog for any length of time you know that I do not paint this bold. Surprising to me, it was actually freeing to use colors in there full intensity. I do like it in some ways.Not sure about the blue food though...for some reason it does not bother me as much viewing the artwork on

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-85629359106514909292008-07-28T19:50:00.011-04:002008-08-15T16:33:54.389-04:00

This image is from a photo taken while hiking at Hocking Hills Ohio. There was a strange noise coming from the top of the gorge that day which turned out to be a bear snoring in one of the caves. As long as we heard him snoring we felt safe.I learned from the last painting that I need to plan or at least choose the colors in advance. So I did make a color sketch for color choices and tenative

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-27523386810035363742008-07-18T16:58:00.007-04:002008-07-19T08:25:36.791-04:00

These paintings was done from a picture that I took while photographing in Sharon Woods a several years ago. The picture was taken without anyone knowing so I could get the candid moment of the 3 children looking at something on the ground near the play area. For some reason I chose to make my first attempt (L painting) cool colors probably more focused on the shadows and background than a

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-64279474807060191232008-05-07T20:45:00.004-04:002008-05-12T20:21:46.542-04:00

This was fun to do. I was surprised. Usually when I try a new technique I have some trouble but this image went together so easily. It must have been a good subject for the process. Painting with gesso was something that was demonstrated at a Nicholas Simmons workshop and was shown to me by Sandy and class. It is the process of using gesso over top of the watercolor pigment (or acrylic like

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-33099064810338159852008-04-21T17:27:00.004-04:002008-04-21T17:54:24.896-04:00

This image is one that I sent to a juried show and was not accepted. I thought that it was one of my better ones. It was one of over 300 entries of which 65 were picked to be in the show. Tough odds for a beginner.This was a fun picture for me to work on. The photo was taken while I was walking around Nashville Indiana, a small town of people watchers and shoppers. I had my camera about waist

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-58351534138155271002008-03-23T14:38:00.004-04:002008-03-23T15:03:23.066-04:00

This photo was taken from a garden magazine that I found while looking for ideas. I cut out photos/ ideas so I don't have to keep the whole magazine. Not sure what I had in mind when I cut it out but eventually it became a painting. This one took more time to draw than most of them do because of the lattice and the angles. My first drawing needed to be reworked to get the angles more accurate.

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-76889044351866104932008-03-14T15:14:00.004-04:002008-03-14T15:59:26.607-04:00

This painting took me several attempts before I liked the outcome.I was going for a clear, sharp image of the girl on the tire swingand the background blurred to show rapid movement.At first I tried to paint it without blocking out the girl but that proved fatal. I tried masking her completely but that buckled the paper. Then I tried using clear contact paper, cutting around her shape with an

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-3507656217936773182008-02-29T11:16:00.003-05:002008-02-29T11:36:27.105-05:00

This was a project that focused on lace. I rummaged through my hutch and found a tray that was given to us for a wedding gift MANY years ago. This was the only time that I remember using it. I chose it because of its reflective qualities. The color and shapes stood out around it; the lace in particular since that was the main idea. It was a challenge to paint the lace and all the holes. I

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-22118739277087339302008-02-22T12:40:00.004-05:002008-02-22T13:52:44.518-05:00

This piece started out as what Sandy called "the sandwich process". I start with half sheet of clean watercolor paper on the bottom, #140 CP which is my favorite paper weight. Add very wet watercolors, tear or cut cheap, scrap papers like typing paper, coffee filters or anything lying around to the base paper. Repeatedly add layers until you fill the paper with multiple sizes, a variety of edges

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-30030184788396333322008-02-13T09:20:00.005-05:002008-02-13T09:57:13.459-05:00

This artwork is my pond. I am currently having trouble keeping the water level from draining. Not sure why, but that is another concern. It is one of my favorite images. It has the white and red colored fish that was my granddaughters favorite. He died last year. Last year was a hard year for the pond, a lot of the fish died. The picture was made from several different photos of the pond. The

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-73349961970866417632008-02-13T09:04:00.003-05:002008-02-13T09:19:29.107-05:00

Since I have been tagged, I am suppose to mention 5 things that no one knows about me. I have to think about this myself. Ok here goes,1. I love gardening. Most people that know me will know this but the part they don't realize is that all I do is put the seeds into the ground. Mother Nature takes over. I really don't do anything. It's even hard for me to remember to water them. I have to

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-55845904092069326102008-02-07T15:46:00.000-05:002008-02-07T16:00:53.675-05:00

Mardi Gras being this week brought this to mind. Whenever I hear about what is going on in New Orleans I think about this painting. It was from a photo taken in the late 70's when we visited the city for a conference. The artwork was done on Masa paper in a loose wash and details added after the thin paper was glued onto Arches 140# CP for backing. I achieved more detail than I thought that

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-18921192113759326802008-01-27T15:34:00.000-05:002008-01-28T19:26:08.460-05:00

The challenge for this painting was to get the texture of the old paint on the door but not on the cats' shadow. Taking the advise from a friend in the painting group, I used Windsor Newton's texture medium directly on the paper, letting it dry before I began to paint. With the thicker coated surface the watercolor seemed to float as I brushed it on which made it seem to have a grain effect. The

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-87470311138844276802008-01-20T15:05:00.000-05:002008-01-20T15:56:18.013-05:00

This is a recent painting from a photo that was taken on vacation in Seattle, Washington. We visited Pike Street Market and the visual stimulation was tremendous with flowers everywhere, vendors lining the buildings and lots of people. I wanted to just take picture after picture in hopes that I would have some to use as reference for future paintings. When you point a camera at someone it seems

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7360295580131006365.post-28648190329750811662008-01-14T16:25:00.000-05:002008-01-14T17:12:16.300-05:00

This image of a girl walking on the windy shore looking for whatever the ocean leaves for the taking is something that I like to do whenever we travel to the sea shore. This is my first attempt at using watercolors that I am willing to let others see. I remember my main lesson this day was learning the technique of washing away colors that didn't work and finding that it is a necessary practice

maryjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12467580422163721804noreply@blogger.com3