Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday, June 26, 2015

The Boneyard

I finished this painting this evening.  I started it before I got sick and found it difficult to get back into the "swing" of things painting again.  This, of course, is my favorite subject - vintage trucks -  and I had a lot of fun with the color in this.  It is a large painting - about 18" x 30" and I will probably mat it in white with a warm wood frame.

It is painted on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold-pressed watercolor paper and I used a lot of one of my favorite colors, Dragon's Blood in this one.

This was painted from a photo by Carla Parris with her permission. 

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Monday Night Intermediate Class Paintings

I gratefully got back to teaching my Monday night watercolor class after taking time off to recouperate from some serious weaknesses caused by essential benign tremors and myoclonus jerks. I am feeling so much better and it was so nice to be back with my watercolor family again.

We did a painting I saw in a demonstration by the blogger "The Frugal Crafter" on her blog.  It has a very interesting sky with an oriental type of boat in silhouette against the sky and water.  They did so well on this project!

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Why I Haven't Been Posting...

Just a note to let all my bloggers know what has been going on with me...I have not posted a painting for a long time.
I have had a hard time of it.  It seems that I have inherited my grandfather's  (Mother's father) essential benign tremors with myoclonus jerks and it has absolutely turned my world upside down.  For a while they thought that I had Parkinson's - but thank goodness that is not the case.  What did happen, though, is that I fell 3 times last month due to the jerks because I do not know when they are going to occur.  During one of the the falls, I lacerated my knee - 6 inches long and 1/2 inch deep and had to have 28 stitches in the ER.  I tore muscles in my calf also and my foot and ankle swelled for 3 weeks during which time I was reclining in my recliner trying to keep my leg up.  During this time I became weaker and weaker until finally I had to be admitted to the hospital for weakness and dehydration.  After 3 days I was moved up to transitional care where the physical and occupational therapists worked with me for 2 weeks.  I am getting much stronger and am gradually taking on household chores. They said that I have to use a walker from now on because I have no idea when these things are going to happen. I have done very little painting and the tremors have affected my painting so I guess I am going to get my wish to become a "loose" woman painter.  I jerk at the most inopportune times!  Interesting!!!

Keep tuned to this spot to see the "new" Barbara!!!