Today’s Classwork 7-6-16

I was the only student in class today. My instructor knew it in advance and set up an antique glass buoy for us to paint. I panicked when I saw it. He just said to paint the reds first. I stayed longer than the normal three hours to finish this, but I am pretty happy […]

Colored Pencil Drawing

I started this a week ago. I hope I can finish it today. I am very insecure about my drawing abilities, particularly with colored pencils. My daughter is a master with colored pencil and every other medium she tries. It is a huge shadow to be in. This is how I ended up: It is a […]

Classwork 6-29-16

This is a small (8×10″) painting I did in class today. I spent about 2.5 hours on it, so I think I can say I am improving. When I started this class seven months ago, I could hardly get the initial drawing down and a few paint strokes before the time was up. This little […]

4th Plein Air Attempt

Point Lobos, Ca.    8×10″     My painting class went to Point Lobos today. It was just me and “Jane” with our instructor. He whipped out a nice little painting in an hour, while Jane and I wanted to cry. I may get back to this very bland rendition of the gorgeous California coast […]

Plein Air Attempt #3

  I really struggled with this and almost didn’t post it. But, the whole point of this blog is for me to chronicle my growth or death as an artist. Trying to paint the river by my house is like drinking poison. I suppose I should be happy I have to move from this beautiful valley. I was in […]

My Second Try at Plein Air

My second attempt at plein air painting taught me I have to keep at it. My white water looks terrible, but I like the rest. Too bad there is so much white water. Painting by the river today was so nice. So many people and their dogs came to rest by the bridge where I […]

Work in Progress

I will post two photos of my progress. The first is very bright, taken in the afternoon just before I left my painting class. I started it in class and worked three hours. The second was taken in the evening at home after I tried to correct the perspective. I was unsuccessful with the perspective […]

My First Plein Air Painting!

This is my very first attempt at on-site painting. I set up my easel with a fairly limited palette and sketched what I thought would work on my 9×12″ canvas panel. The light changed so fast! The lit tree in the river was barely visible in the shadows when I first started. Two hours later […]

New Still Life Study

This is my first floral still life painting since my very first class six months ago. I thought it would be interesting to appraise my growth.  Below I have re-posted that first painting. My instructor was gracious with his compliments on this last one.  Truth or lies, I need positive critiques at this stage. At […]