Florence Before
Florence After
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After I completed Florence, I put her away for a few days. When I looked at her again with fresh eyes, I thought she needed a little “pick-me-up” of some kind.
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A soft-edged, subtle, background, diagonal wash…
seemed to help .
If you’re keeping up with my Facebook Page, you know my latest fascination with Edward & his four lady friends 
Edward & his friends: Marilyn, Margaret, Floosie and Florence, “Flo” to her closest friends, live at John C. Campbell Folk School and I am loving getting to know them through camera lens and paintbrush.
I was delighted to get this reference photo of Florence and have spent the day working on her portrait. She is an Ameraucana and the special one of the group. Maybe because her eggs are a pretty, mint green.
I’ve not yet been accepted into her inner circle to call her “Flo,” but I think she is considering it as she finally posed for the camera. Up until the two photos above, she has pretty much ignored me.
Here is the watercolor of Florence, last, but certainly not least of Edward’s Four. Portraits of Edward and the others are in my Daily Paintworks Gallery.
I’ll share most of the process of this painting over the next few posts. As usual, the first thing I do after the sketch is experiment with colors I want to use, this time, with Florence’s approval, of course
Edward and his friends are making my Spring a happy one!
Hoping for a happy Spring for all!
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In my January 1, 2013 post, I shared the 2012 stats for my blog and mentioned an upcoming return to watercolor. We’re entering the second quarter of the year. My 3rd DVD, Piñata Alcohol Inks On Ceramic Tile DVD is now available at a $19.95 intro price which includes six demonstrations along with all the basics to work on and seal glazed ceramic tiles. I have a sense of completion and the timing seems right to turn my energy and focus to explorations in watercolor and water media.
While I will continue to play in alcohol inks as they are quite relaxing, freeing and fun, and occasionally showcase some outstanding work by artists who have purchased my alcohol Ink Dreamscaping DVDs, it’s time for me to do a little dreamscaping in watercolor. Let’s begin with the basics and background of one of my newest and cathartic, (dreamscaping can be cathartic) watercolors, Busy About Her Business.
Basics
I used Daniel Smith’s Extra Fine Watercolors: Mostly, Hematite, Tiger’s Eye, Genuine, Sedona Genuine, Purpurite Genuine with accents of Turquoise Genuine, Amozoninte Genuine and Rhodoninte Genuine. Also used Maimeriblu Raw Sienna.
I worked on 140 lb. Fabriano CP using sable and sable blends flats and rounds. The background and gourd were painted loosely and quickly using Winsor Newton granulation medium and a lot of dreamscaping, dropping and guiding. The next few posts will show some of the process steps. Below, you will see where I began by masking some of the details.
Now, The Background
Here is the reference photo for Busy About Her Business.
I took this reference photo while in Virginia visiting my mother Spring of 2011. I have fond memories of the two of us sitting around her kitchen table in front of her sunny picture window watching this busy, Carolina Wren build her home. I took about 50 photos while we laughed at her antics of going in and out. In and out. Talk about a purpose driven life 
We didn’t know it then, but that turned out to be the last spring we would sit around my mother’s kitchen table. Nov. 2011 brought with it a move into longterm care. My mother’s house has recently sold. That chapter has ended.
Is there any wonder this painting set-up felt more like a healing station for me? As I worked, I heard my mother’s laughter and felt the sun and the joy and the urgency of this little wren, fully present, busy about her business. She was so intent on building her life as each of us are so intent on building ours.
I am thankful to have my mother’s kitchen table, to touch the smooth oak and feel the memories made around it. So thankful for the joy shared and rekindled in the painting of this unassuming, little Carolina Wren…the gateway for me hearing my Father once again sing, Precious Memories, How They Linger…
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Anything calling to you to be painted?
Consider following where it wants to lead.
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May Each Of You Have A Spring To Celebrate & Remember.
Recently, I was exploring around John C. Campbell Folk School Campus with my camera and found inspiration when I ran across a Plein Aire Weekend Watercolor Class.
It’s turned cold in these NC mountains the last few days making the desire to paint outside diminish, but not the desire to wet my watercolor brushes.
Feels good….for this…
To turn to this…
To turn to this: Busy About Her Business
12 x 15 , Fabriano 140 lb CP
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Stay tuned for the story behind this image and a little of what happened in between
It’s still a little over a year away but wanted you to be the first to know.
I just found out last night…
An Intermediate Watercolor Workshop
(To get a preview of what we will be doing: Visit Iris No. 8 Demo in this blog.
Guess who’s excited about being a local, guest instructor at the John C. Campbell Folk School?
July 2012, Rob and I relocated to Murphy, NC which is 7 miles from the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.
Workshop schedules are determined a year to a year and half in advance. Beginning, Feb. 16, 2014, I will be teaching a 5-day, All About Iris, intermediate watercolor workshop in this lovely 300 acre setting that encourages joy in creating and sharing in community! See examples of what we will be doing at: All About Iris
For more info or to register, contact: 828-837-3899
Sometimes we turn to art to express feelings we can’t put into words.
I painted this watercolor over a decade ago. It’s titled, Supplication.
For the little children….we pray.
including up against the far side wall of the living room…
with your over-zumbaed, hurt knee, propped on a chair with an ice pak around it…
and the only thing you’re aware of is this multi-hued gateway into another world
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