Abstract Bottle Collages

This summer at Riverside Arts Center in Wapakoneta I am teaching a mixed media/watermedia class.  Our first project - last week - was an acrylic painting on a stamped tissue paper collage.

First we tore the white tissue paper into small pieces approximately 4" x 5" and then stamped designs on them using textures such as rubber stamps and rubberized shelf liners with patterns.  Then we did a drawing of bottles in pencil and painted it with acrylic paint.  Students were given the option of doing it abstractly or realistically.  We used left over pieces of white mat board as our supports.

I went on a road trip with my daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter yesterday.  We drove to Cleveland (my birthplace and where I was raised)  - a trip of about 3 1/2 hours for my niece's baby shower.  It was a beautiful day, we saw family we hadn't seen in a long time, and ate some wonderful food...Their showers always have such great food.  After the shower we headed south again  on I-71, and stopped at the outlets at Lodi, Ohio.  We had promised my granddaughter that she could ride the train there that goes around and through the opening of the buildings of the outlet.  I rode with her while the other 2 shopped.  After the train ride, Rachel and I had something cool to drink and then we all headed south again.  In Mansfield we had dinner at Olive Garden - love their soup and salad.  Then we headed for home and were home by 10:00 p.m. - all in all a wonderful day spent with loved ones! Lots of wonderful conversation, laughter and great moments. All in all, a wonderful day.  Back to painting today!

Michelle's Glass Still Life

The still life painting group painted in Michelle's studio Tuesday evening.  She set up these beautiful bottles for us to paint.  This painting is 11" x 14" and is painted on stretched canvas.  It was nice to be painting in oils again.  Thanks, Michelle for the delicious dinner (prepared by her daughters) and for your helpful suggestions.

Purple Beauty from Rhonda

I received this beautiful little gem from Rhonda Carpenter in the Naked Postcard Swap - 2012.  Rhonda - this is so lovely and I absolutely love it!

Peace

I painted this small watercolor (5"x7") from a photograph taken by my photographer friend, Pamela Baker. (http://www.bakercreekdesigns.com/)  

If you haven't checked out her work, please do!  It's wonderful!

This painting is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper.  Looks cold, doesn't it?

Ryan - The Computer Wizard

This painting was also done for the Watercolor Workshop June projects.  This 2nd project was to be a portrait in watercolor of a child (or anyone.)  This painting of Ryan was done from a photo I took of him at my laptop computer 3 years ago, when he was 5 years old.  The painting is 12" x 9" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches hot-pressed watercolor paper.  Isn't he adorable?  He still is - just older!

"Beach Baby!"

I finished this today - it is painted from a photo provided by the Watercolor Workshop  yahoo group for the June project where everyone paints from the same photo. This little gal is painted on 140 lb. hot-pressed Arches watercolor paper.  She doesn't look too happy, does she?

On the Cusp

I started this painting 11 years ago...This painting is of my granddaughter, Jennifer, at my nieces wedding.  She was 12 years old - not yet an adult and not a child...that in-between time that is so difficult...thus the title "On The Cusp!"  She was sitting on the edge of the stage watching the guests dancing - probably bored out of her mind.  Today she is beginning her last year in a Physician's Assistant program and is 23 years old...also quite the beautiful young woman now!...no longer watching at weddings.

I never finished the painting - until this week - as I mentioned in a previous blog, I am trying to finish old paintings.  This work is 15" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper.