Fall Leaves

I love this time of year, the warm colors that cover everything. The sun is setting lower and it seems to paint everything it touches with a warm orange/pink color. The trees are turning colors and everything that has been growing with exuberance is now slowing down, to hibernate for the winter.

I was driving down the street the other day and the wind was blowing, there were clumps of leaves that were twirling around in the street as if they were dancing. It was so inspiring that I started to think of poems, and I am not a writer. But everything at that moment was so beautiful, and perfect and it was speaking to me. I had to write it down when I got home, this bit of magic that happened on the road. I journaled about it and I wanted to share it with you too. Are you open to these magical moments in your life? As an artist you need to be, you need to take the time to really look at what is in front of you. The beauty that surrounds you at all times. It is the job of the artist to record that moment for others that don't have the same vision as you do. The more you stop to notice, the more you will notice. The more time you take to look for colors the more colors you will find. Its all about practice, awareness, fine tuning your artistic vision, your artistic eye.

Your assignment or challenge for this month is to notice something about this time of the year that speaks to you. It can be a color, a memory, something that your thankful for, anything that really speaks to you. Now draw or paint it and record your thoughts. These pages will become the most important ones in your journal when you look back. Take the time to really share some or your inner thoughts.

Our sketching workshop will be on the 17th this coming month, see you them. More info coming on my newsletter! I have added tabs to the top of the blog, I will always have the workshop info posted there incase you can't remember dates, times etc. Happy Painting GF's!

It was a beautiful southern California fall day for our journal sketching class - I chose to sketch this lamp on the old weathered wall across the pond - it's a great group with a great teacher - Thanks Desiree!

Learning to post

Desiree is very patiently taking me thru the adventure of posting. First we have the painting from the October sketch class at canyon crest shopping center. The weather was perfect and everyone had a fun time enjoying the day. The other is a pencil sketch done at home a few days later. I'm committing to sketching more often, even if its not every day!

Working on some Christmas card ideas

It's that time of year again, time to paint my Christmas cards. I love doing it and I love watching my students paint their own cards. This year that class will be on the 27th of October, next Saturday!

I am just playing with some ideas and photos I found, doing some small paintings to see if I like them enough for my cards. While i was in Vegas this week i saw the most amazing candied apples and the strong lighting in the hotel made them so shiny, they almost look glass! I think with some fun lettering and maybe some bows and tags added they would make a nice card. For me, the hardest part is deciding what I want on my Christmas cards every year!

Are you painting your cards this year?

I think I am going to do some birds next!







I am not happy with the puppies, they're off and I won't paint them again since its not what I want for my cards.
- Desiree

Saturday Sketching

I enjoyed the fun outing we did to sketch and paint with our friends in Watercolor class.  Enjoy meeting all the new people who came.  Everyone had something different and it is really fun to see so many different styles, looking at the same pond.  I had a site a little further away from the large pond, where there was a small, narrow stream of rocks and reeds.  Enjoy the outing tremendously.

October Sketch Class with Friends

Another great day learning how to paint with Desiree. Weather was perfect to sit outside and sketch. Food was great too!! Although we were looking at the same pond mine doesn't look quite like Desiree's!

October Sketchclass

We had our October Sketch class at the beautiful Canyon Crest Center. Marilyn is back from Oregon!! Welcome home Marilyn. Christa missed last month too so I was excited to see her and Marilyn show up at my door this morning. We missed Karen, Marianne and Ghurtej, hope to see you at the Christmas card class or next months class.

We sat next to the Koi pond where everyone picked a spot to paint and we worked on how to approach painting an outdoor scene. We talked about editing, what you put into your painting and creating good value. This was a big project for beginners and I am so thrilled that everyone jumped in and did an amazing job. We had three new people and they attacked this challenge like a pro.  Everyone did a wonderful job and I hope that all of you will post your paintings. Here is mine, I decided to leave it the way it was when I left, it is a good representation of our small pond and I am happy with it.

I wanted to remind you to journal about what you learned today. The dark line at that runs between the rocks and the water. How to lift out the reflections after you lay in the color and while its still wet. How to soften your edges. Write about anything today that rang a bell and helped you to understand the process. This is the best way to learn, taking learning notes as you go. They will be a valuable tool later and you will be glad you took the time to write it down when it is fresh in your mind.

I will be adding a tab onto this page called supply list, this way you can see what supplies might be needed. Please use it as a wish list not a mandatory list of must haves. If you cannot afford to purchase everything at once please do what you can and grow slowly. This is an ongoing journey and you will find that art supplies will happen! I am happy to share. I will also be adding things to the list from time to time so keep a look out.