Work in Progress

Here is my latest painting, it is watercolor, size 30"w x 24" h. I have a little bit of time in between workshops, I am hoping to finish this before the end of this week. This still life has my favorite piece of glass in it, the big piece in the middle was purchased in Murano, Italy. Just a little more to go, I will post the final photo once it is finished.

Chicago Learning Products Expo Workshop

Here is the North Light booth again, during our lunch hour Laurie and I would attend the booth and sign a few books. For more information on the Pasadena Expo, check out their website at www.learningproductexpo.com. If you can attend this event it is so well worth the time to come meet the instructors take a 3 or 6 hour workshop and shop for fabulous bargains and the vendors booth.
Here is a close-up of the poster for North Light's booth, I got the opportunity to meet Laurie Humble. It was wonderful meeting another artist, Laurie humble that has an interest in painting the same subject of realism and Laurie has a wit that made me laugh throughout the 3-days of teaching. Thank you Laurie it was great having our classrooms so close, I look forward to seeing you in Pasadena
Here is my classroom set-up and ready for the next three crazy fun days to follow. My day started at 9:00 and ended at 4:00. We had 45 minutes to grab a bite for lunch and then directly back to painting.
Here are a few photos from The Chicago Learning Products Expo - North Light's booth this is just prior to the doors opening for the visitors to the Expo. Unfortunately all of my photos are at the beginning of the expo, once classes started it was on, and I forgot to take the time to pull out the camera. thank you to all the wonderful artists I had in my workshops, you all are truly great taking the time to trust my method and apply it to your own paintings, you all are just the best, I am still smiling thinking of the past few days.

SOLD!!!

I sold "Facets & Fractures" 45"x20" varnish watercolor painting yesterday, unfortunately not in the fashion I am use to, allow me to explain...

I took 4 paintings in to be framed, my local frame shop has closed and so I decided to give Aaron Brothers a try. Received a call, voicemail, from the framer at Aaron Bros. that 3 of the 4 paintings were ready, but so sorry to say while framing one of the paintings, a screw had dropped onto the canvas portion and had poked a hole into the painting.

My heart sunk, they did not mention which piece, I thought hope it's not "Facets & Fractures". I got there and sure enough it was this painting, the framing had been complete, and it look awesome, but the painting was not repairable. The framer felt awful about it, she had cried. I gave her a hug and told not to worry. The hole was the size of a screw, up in the left hand corner. It was so sad, Aaron Brothers agreed to purchase the piece. My next questioned was will they destroy it or will the company hang it? The framer said it may be shipped to the company headquarters, to hang. So I agreed to let them buy it feeling that at least it would hang somewhere. As I repeated this story to my husband, last evening, I got the sinking feeling that it was the same type of story you tell a kid when the family dog is missing, "the dog is on a big farm where he has lots of room to run". This piece will more than likely be destroyed which is so sad to me, but the decision was either make a sale or keep damaged goods. So I opted for the sale, with hopes to re-paint this still life in the future.

Riley Street Art Supply Vendor's Fair

On Saturday I gave a demonstration and had a book signing at the Riley Street Art Supply Vendor's Fair in Santa Rosa CA. What a fun event, the group that came to see me demonstrate was such a fun group. Thank you all for attending! And a big thank you to Riley Street, all of you worked so hard, making sure everyone was happy and keeping us all very cool, it was about
100 degrees outside, and air conditioned inside. I will return to Santa Rosa to the Riley Street Art Supply store to teach a 2-day workshop Aug 29-30th. And a huge thanks to my friend and watercolor partner Guy Magallanes, he came along and was a huge trooper through out the heat of the day. Guy demonstrated his work and spoke with prospective students for our Asilomar workshop. Thanks Guy, you made the day fun.

STEP SEVEN
The final glazes have now been added. The painting is finished. Remember to paint with joy and happiness and success will follow!!

STEP SIX
Paint in the middles values, this will get this will get this vase ready for the final glaze of light values.

STEP FIVE
Here the vase with glazes of gray, blue and yellow, all the strange dark shapes now will come together and the vase gets the depth and volume, as well as transparency.