Painting My Spring

Well..... It's that time.  Gardening and spring cleaning.  Actually, I'm painting instead.  Although, I spent 3 hours in the garden on 3 different days over the past week and am paying for it.  Allergies for the first time ever!  So surprising and aggravating!  Spring cleaning is some sort of myth from the 50's, but I do love to throw open all the windows!  But I digress from the purpose of my post, painting......  I'm continuing with Jane Lafazzio's art class, and loving it.  This six weeks we're continuing to journal with our sketchbook and watercolors, only adding in some mixed media.  So far we have been planning pages with items from nature, then expanding with the designs.  I've done three pages this week.

I've been plucking things from around the yard for inspiration.

Also really enjoying Danny Gregory's book, Everyday Matters.

I took it to heart, and while we were on a little trip to Crystal Bridges I did a quick sketch of my jewelry for the day,  and one of a section of this fabulous art museum, built as giant pods resting on the water.

Everyday does matter!

And here's my guy outside 21C on his very special birthday!

I also enrolled in Jane's Cereal Box Journaling class.  I won't go into all that, other than it's creating journals with a watercolor surface from boxes, such as cereal, crackers, etc.  I made one to use when I'm out art journaling with friends.

These are all pages done while out and sketching.  The heart with the flip pages was done, again at Crystal Bridges, just the other night.  Was so lucky to attend a talk with artist, Faith Ringgold.  Her quilt, created for Maya Angelou, currently resides at the museum.  Such a treat!

xo
dulcy

It's Time To Paint!

Oh..... such a nice rainy cool fall day!  Perfect day to do a little painting.  I have an upcoming art retreat centered on balance and motion.  I've been trying to decide what to take to work on for 3 whole days..... My first thought is to do a pastel of a lovely horse that resides at the stable where I ride.   But, to be quite honest, I'm a bit tired of working in pastels (although I will most likely have time to do this piece, and probably will at least get it started).  But in the meantime.......  I looked around, and my eyes landed on this sweet little old gardening encyclopedia that my friend, Jessy, gave me.

Do you remember these?  I think they were sold as individual editions at the grocery store back in the 60's.  I thought, "wouldn't it be fun to paint on some of the inside pages".  Sort of an art journal, but without all the wording (there's plenty already on the pages, and I'm not one for adding inspirational phrases).  I decided I would paint scenes from our gardens and yard.

The above is a painting of little Firefly.  He's a stray that loves to sit in the grass at night and be with us while we enjoy our "deck time".  I feed him, but he's pretty wild and won't let anyone come within petting range.  I think firefly is ours now even though he doesn't know it.

We were so lucky to have lots of red breasted grosbeaks visiting our feeders last spring.  This one was more orange than red, and I loved the days that he hung around in the trees.

So..... I think I'm going to work mostly in my garden book at the retreat.  I've got lots of ideas for paintings, and I love getting something done quickly... and instead of loose paper, they're nice and neat in their sweet old gardening book!

I've also started a "doodle book"  where I do pencil drawings and color with pencils, pastels, and oil pastels.  The type of art that's portable and doesn't require trips to the sink.

It's all just for fun!!!

xo
dulcy