Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen

6" x 9" watercolor

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$75 plus $6 US shipping or $15 International

So. I figured it was about time I painted a cow. Don't ask me why, because I don't know. :)

But, I really LOVE their eyes, they are so expressive. And this girl's were particularly intelligent I thought. It was a lot of fun to try and paint some color into her black fur and get those soft edges on her ears.

I think this is one of the loosest watercolors I've painted. And do you know that I really like it? The whole painting came together very quickly, and I'm always happy when that happens because less time spent on each painting = more completed paintings = major feeling of accomplishment.

Which is very important to me and my life where the laundry multiplies faster than rabbits, dishes are constantly waiting to be washed, and the floors. . . Well, let's just say that it's spring and I have two big dogs, three rambunctious little boys, and a backyard full of mud.

It's not pretty my friends. Not pretty at all.

Back to the painting: I think that maybe I'm in the midst of an artistic evolution. I feel like I'm growing more with each painting that I do lately.

One of my major goals with my art is to paint expressively while still maintaining the realism that I love. I am really striving for a good balance between realism and suggestion and trying to listen to my own impulses of how I want to paint. I'm finding the process to be very satisfying. :)

In other news, my workshop went well! Thanks to all of you for your kind words of encouragement and the confidence you have in me. :)

The only thing is that I forgot to take pictures. Oops! You will have to be satisfied with this painting I did as the demo, still in process.

 Untitled

10" x 14" watercolor in progress

And in case you missed this from my last post (I updated it after it had already gone out) Daily Paintworks interviewed me last week and if you're interested you can read it right here. :)

Until Thursday! May your paintbrushes be obedient to your artistic whims! Huzzah!

Portrait Workshop Recap!

This was my demo. :) Didn't get very far.

watercolor work in progress 10" x 14"

Well, the portrait class is over and it went very well! Thanks for all the good luck wishes and tips you guys gave me, it helped a lot!

I decided to paint a step by step and stop in between each step so that everyone could follow along on their own paintings. I had every one use the same photo reference because I thought this might be a more effective way to show my techniques in such a limited time period (it was only three hours) instead of everyone painting something different. I think it worked out pretty well. 

me painting the demo

(thanks so much to Patricia Christensen for sending me these photos of the class! I brought my camera only to realize I had left the battery at home. D-oh!!) 

I was so nervous for this class. I have never really taught painting before, I've given a few demonstrations, but never actually taught so I was worried that I would be very incoherent about how to actually use my techniques.

This is what I was afraid would happen:

Student: "So how exactly do you do that??"

Me: "You just, sort of , like, put paint on your brush and then kinda move it around the paper. . . "

:D

Me again. :) And some lovely, wonderful, talented students. :))

Everyone was so great, really passionate about watercolor, with lots of talent, and willing to learn whatever I had to share with them. They were a very cool group. I mean, they even laughed at my lame jokes! :)

Here they are hard at work.

And more of the class! I was really excited because fellow Utah Daily Painter and blogger Patricia Christensen was there! (That's her in the blue shirt in the back) I instantly felt more at ease knowing I had a friend there. :)

And here's the whole class. Except for the two men who somehow managed to slip away when we announced 'Group Picture'. Next time Mike and David, next time!

It was a lot of fun and a great experience. Teaching this class really helped me understand why and how I paint the way I do, and also how to articulate that for others to understand (hopefully!). And it's been good practice for that how-to portrait book I've been thinking about doing. 

I think the class had a good time too because they asked me to come back. Huzzah!

Until Thursday my friends. Have a great week! :)

P.S. I talk a lot on this blog about being true to yourself as an artist and painting what you love so I thought I'd direct your attention to two fantastic posts that I read in the last week about the very same thing.

Sandra wrote a beautiful post that you just must read. If you don't know Sandra hurry on over there because she is not only a truly talented artist, but one of the loveliest and kind hearted people in the world. Literally. :)

And the always inspiring Carol Marine wrote about how she feels about her most recent project. Inspiring stuff for sure.

K, bye for reals now. :)