Through The Fog

I have tried watercolor off and on through out the years, with out much success. I invested in a few instructional books, but something just didn’t click. In February of 2010 a friend offered 2 basic classes online, with a few short videos and email feedback. I purchased the paper, brushes and paints, followed the videos, completed the 1st painting, with positive feedback. I went on to the next video class, after several emails and a repaint, I was finally happy the outcome and hooked.

Watercolor has become an interesting journey. Full of interesting challenges in subject, technique and simply learning how to manage the paint and water. I feel fortunate to have been invited to joined Painting Friends Forum (http://paintingfriends.com/forums/index.php) in September of 2010. The Challenges and WIP’s (Work In Progress) postings and positive feedback have been a great inspiration.

So here’s the Challenge - FOG - , humm, way out of my comfort zone. Time to experiment and learn. Fortunately I had some fresh reference photos from the Smokey Mt.s of North Carolina. I actually enjoyed “playing” with this one, learning to loosen up, so much I did 2 different paintings. I will however say that I did the first one 3 times, but it was worth it. Hope you enjoy following my journey!

I have been following my Muse, and she has inspired me to paint everyday. Come back soon to see where she has taken me.

“Deb’s Delight”

My adventure in watercolor has brought me to a new challenge, Glass. Well at least an “Appletini” challenge for now. Up until now any attempts at glass were as sketches or ink drawings, I usually get as far as the outline and basic shadows. Oh and did I say only in my private sketch pads where no one else would see. Something about glass just didn’t click.

Painting and drawing glass that is realistic and believable is a challenge. I’m a “jump feet first and learn as you go” kinda person for most things. I usually pick up pretty quick. So why is glass giving me such a problem? And then I read a response to a post that I made. Something I have heard over and over through the years as a child is school art classes. But it was the second half of the statement that really woke me up. “Draw what you see, Not what you think you see.”

So, now I am challenging myself and I have committed to painting something that I have always had difficulty with and “Not what you think you see” ringing in my ears.

The results!! I’ll let you be the judge!!

The future is ‘foggy”, but mountains of fun! When the fog clears, inspiration follows!!

Back To Painting!

Sometimes life just gets in the way of creativity, so I've been away for a little while. Long story short, I lost my painting space for a short time.  Although the definition of short comes into question when it comes to creativity. My painting space is back and it's time to create.

I used the time to fight frustration and search for inspiration. Won't give away the places I visited, you will have to wait for the paintings!! My table in place, palette filled, brushes on the ready, photos and thumbnail sketches prepared. What next?

Before jumping into my inspirations, I joined Painting Friends in a Demo by Mollie Jones. While I regret being unable to travel to the event, I was able to see the demo virtually. Through Mollie's demo, words of encouragement and trial and error, I'm learning new techniques on how to "loosen up" my painting.

This is something I will definitely try again soon. Guess I need to look for more inspirations! In the meantime, the next challenge to explore is glass. Watch for my next post, I'll be back soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my friends, family and artsy friends I would like to wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for all of you, my wonderful family, my great friends and every day I have to be creative! God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

I have been working on my Christmas Cards and projects trying to get them finished. With little time to finish my latest large watercolor. I hope to have all my Christmas painting done within the next 2 weeks, because I have 2 more that I really want to start on. I have so many sketches and projects lined up that I will be busy and can't wait to post my progress.

The Christmas Show is coming up on December 11th, at Folly Beach. I will post my Christmas projects for sale soon and the link to where they can be purchased. I hope to post the watercolor I just finished with in the next week, so be on the watch!!

Paintng and Webbing

I've been busy of late, painting, getting my website set up, a few items in progress on Zazzle and working on Christmas. There is still some work to be done on the web page, but I am pleased so far. You can view my web page at www.dksartstudio.com, feel free to leave a comment.

This blog as well as my Zazzle page are linked into my web page so you can access everything easily. The Zazzle page offers coffee mugs right now, and I will be adding Christmas ornaments soon. If there is a product you would like to see please contact me and I will design it and post it for you.

A gallery page will be added to my web site soon as well as a "WIP" or Work In Progress page. As always painting suggestions and reference or resourse photos are always welcome.

The paintings on my table are coming along nicely and I am starting on hand painted Christmas Cards. Original works are available by contacting me via email, at events listed on my web site and a new venue to be posted soon.

Frustration to Ribbon

I'm excited to say the "Sunlite" won a Blue Ribbon, my 1st, at the Folly Beach Fine Art Show!!! This is encouraging.

Watercolor, you see is a medium I have struggled with for many years. I have always enjoyed watercolor painting, from the lite and translucent to the glazed and detailed. I would look a paintings in books and magazines and wish I could paint like that. Pick up my inexpencive little pad and give it a go.

To say the least it looked like mud. Taking classes at this time in my life was a little out of reach, and following the instructions in the How to books didn't quite work out, leaving me frustrated to say the least. Back in the closet they went till the next time.

I eventually invested in a small watercolor set of better quality I found on sale. There was some improvement, giving credit to the paint, but nothing I would show to any one. But still enough to start using watercolor as a background wash for some of my color pencil paintings. Then back in the closet they went.

Finally this year, I met a new friend on Facebook and when she offered video classes on line, I took them. The first painting was better then I had done in the past, but still nothing to brag about. The second painting was a beautiful Bird of Paridise flower, at least the photograph and the instuctor Julie's painting were, mine looked like washed out mud. We conversed, a few critiques and a helpful suggestions later I repainted the lesson and I haven't stopped painting since.

Painting, Matting, Framing, Preparing

Ok, so I’m not the best at this writing thing, but I’m working on it. It’s been a month since my last post, maybe I’ll strive for 2 weeks next time. I think I need to keep a “to do” calendar for blog and web postings. A gallery page has been started on this blog, with more work to be added soon. I am working on a web page where I hope to have links to all my web postings.

My time lately has been spent painting, matting and framing several of my latest pieces, some of which are on display at Eileen’s Restaurant in Summerville. For those in the Charleston, SC area I will have paintings in the Fine Arts Festival on Folly Beach, both in the Judged Exhibition and in a friend’s booth on October 23-24. This will be the first time I have entered my watercolors in a show as I have only been working seriously in watercolors since the beginning of this year. This is the first time in 5 years I have been able to enter any show. NO NERVES HERE, lol. I will also be entering the Coastal Carolina Fair Art Exhibit October 28 - November 6. Hope to be able to announce more shows soon.

I have at least been painting almost everyday. Watching videos, reading books and trying new techniques, learning and playing with this medium that till the beginning of this year eluded me. I will say that I learned more from past frustrations then I thought, and the similarities between watercolor and color pencil are greater then I imagined. I have a few color pencil “paintings” in the works, but I must admit they are on the back burner right now. I am enjoying this new found freedom from frustration with watercolor. There are 2 paintings in progress right now that I will show when they are finished.
Well, off the paint!