Play before cleaning

Practice, training, skill, are always factors in improvement.

You realize this when you have to learn something that you need but isn't something you like.

But fortunately when you are doing something you love it is called fun.

I have been sorting and cleaning my studio. This is a very long process because every time I find a tool I haven’t used in a while, all cleaning and sorting stops so I can play with my new found toys, This time it was my collection of Sumi brushes.

These brushes mostly used for Asian painting with inks are wonderful for expressing line work in watercolors. So often I focus on colors with watercolor I tend to ignore line work. And I thought these would be something that I could share in my watercolor class. So I worked up a few small paintings. Took a pile of brushes to class and shared the experience.

But of course my studio still isn’t clean, but what is more important an neat desk of time with an old friend.

If you want to start with a simple brush stroke I suggest basic orchids….

SO Much to DO

Usually Jan. is a cold, long, slow month. Well it is cold...but it is not slow. My show came down last Monday, and yep there are pictures left to pack up, but some did sell, too so I am happy. I have more room to store work, with a studio away from home. Started the month by moving into a space at Red Ink Flint. So far I like it, there is a freedom to working away from home...no phones, no pets to step on wet paintings, and a lot more room!
Also started teaching a watercolor class,Boundless Art, Grand Blanc and I think I am learning as much, if not more that the students. To try and explain how something works, that you do automatically....is a challenge.
This is going to really good, I am moving out of my comfort zone. Now that I have you all up on what's happening...on to some art work.

Painting with water.
I had some 8 by 10 inch illustration board and with just water, painted the out line of a person sitting. Then with a round brush very wet with color...started with yellow, just let the color drip into the pre-wet area. Added some green and red the same way.
I let that dry the did some finishing painting ............











Did one more starting the same way just finished it off...well different. These are ways to start something with a small idea and let the paint lead the way....

life goes on

Life goes on up, down, and luckily back up again. I mentioned once that I had a solo show cancelled because of budget cuts where it was planned to be hung.
Well, it finally happened, another place another time, and all is well. Boundless Arts gallery and art supply is a happy home to a number of my paintings till Jan.09
Never give up, never give in, I think it is a line from some movie but I like it.
The hardest thing about getting work together for the show was putting together a theme. My stuff tends to be all over the place on subject matter, but
“Domestic Nature” worked pulled a good mix that fell into that theme; dogs, cats, horses, and flowers. Here are a few paintings from the show:



If you are thinking of doing a solo show, plan to spend some time and money on frames.
I had a lot of help from Kelly at Jagged Edge Gallery and framing shop in Fenton MI.
A good framer can help set a painting off....matting scares the tar out of me.
You can learn a lot about your work when you have to present it as a group, hope it something that every painter gets the chance to do.

Painting a bit at a time

The sunflowers are growing great this year! And I have save several digital photos to work on when the snow falls. But I have also painted outside with acrylics and have added that painting to my website mbschiros.artspan.com
What I want to share today is a watercolor.
I love letting colors blend on paper, to get the full richness of color range that only watercolor can do. But sometimes you have to space out areas so there isn't too much blending.
Thought I would share the steps with these photos of the painting growing.
mary

stuff on my shelves

I have interesting and not interesting thing laying around, but have taken time to practice drawing and painting with these things. Add a flower or two and a even a plain pitcher can look ok on paper...( having an old coyote skull on the shelf does help add interest to a painting)...the angle, the lighting can all help make what is just hanging around the house, turn in objects for still life paintings
here are a few to share.

award winner picks

the following five blog sites are my picks to award the Arte Y Pico Award

Tilly Strauss
for: Come out and play in wax paper.
http://tillystudio.blogspot.com/
http://tillystudio.blogspot.com/2008/08/come-out-and-play-in-waxed-paper.ht

Brenda Yarborough
For: her blogs about painting on yupo.
http://www.amberridgedesert.blogspot.com/

Peter Dimmock
For his watercolors.
http://paintingsuk.blogspot.com/

Trine Meyer
For: Blue underwater abstract.
http://mtv65.blogspot.com/

Sarah’s Playing with paint
http://www.upsidedownsarah.blogspot.com