You mean it's already past Wed??

Where oh where does the time go?  I cant believe I used to have a job and still did all the stuff I do now!


I am busy getting classes together for after the first of the year.  I have had some requests for Landscapes.  One of my students brought in several she would like to do so I am going to be looking for surfaces for those.


But for the time being I am getting ready for Christmas.  Michele and I are having our Christmas Lunch for our combined classes. We need an ornament to exchange for that (and a lunch plan).  I also need ornaments for Bunco and the Chapter meeting.  I also need a gift for our Thursday painting group.  Lots of painting to get finished!


Tip of the week . . .  preparing a good surface is the beginning of a good painting.  If you do sloppy work tracing  and basecoating you will not have nice lines. Take the time to do it correctly.


Keep painting . . . . 

It's been awhile!

Hello All . . . I am going to try and be better about posting something new.  I have decided I will have a "feature" each week and will try and post on Wednesdays.  That seems to be my least busy day.


A couple of items . . . after the beginning of 2012 - yes 2012 already - I am going to hold a class once a month.  The class cost will be $5.00 and will be for 2 1/2 hours. We will vary the times so everyone can get a chance to come.  We will be doing a daytime, an evening and possibly a Saturday.  


The class will be called "Catchup and Mustard up the Energy to Finish!  We will just call it Catchup for short. I will do a short 20-30 minutes demonstration or talk or how to do things....such as crackle, reduce and enlarge patterns, the importance of basecoats, etc.  You can bring things to finish or just get help on something you want to paint or just paint.  More information will follow as the beginning of the year gets closer.


The "feature" for this week will be a painting tip . . .
When starting a new project, trace around your surface onto tracing paper.  Then use that tracing to actually trace your pattern.  It will fit the surface and you can also center it much better so it fits nicely.


Until next week . . . keep those minds busy and those paintbrushes moving!

October - the middle already! Are you kidding?

I cant believe it is already the middle of October.  Classes are progressing.  We are working on a couple of different projects.  Both are "altered art".  I think everyone is enjoying them.  It is a different thing to do. We will be starting a Halloween project - the Moon, Cat and Pumpkin, on the 31st.  After that we will be starting in on our Christmas projects.  After all it is only 10 weeks until Christmas.  I dont know about everyone else but I always say I am going to get busy right after Christmas . .  but do I???  NO!  Here is it and I am once again beginning to scramble.  So...everyone keep those brushes moving.  I know several of you need more than one hand painted ornament for exchanges!

This was a tough week for classes!  Several people were out of town and some were sick.  And . . . ornament class on the 1st Wednesday of each month has been cancelled.  It was just not working out.  And . . . on that note, there will be a new class starting after the first of the year.  It will be a reduced rate class and there will be something for everyone.  Watch for information!


Everyone keep painting!

It's about time . . .

Well, it has been some time since I posted . . .  but summer was very busy.  I attended Sherry Nelson's class PALS in Tucson and we painted a nice table with hummers and jacamars and of course tropical flowers.  Too bad mine is NOT finished.  Then I went to HOOT in Ohio and did a lot of painting and a lot of shopping.  


Classes for fall have begun already . . . at the Artist Haven in Grand Junction, CO.  There is an Intermediate class that I teach and a Beginner II class which I am teaching until my co-hort Michele returns in November.


We are doing some very interesting classes this year . . . some very different things.  Some altered art, some on canvas, we have painted on screens and we have tin, wood and more in the upcoming months.    I am also working on a couple of comissions . .  one is almost finished - a painting bag for a friend and the other is not even close - an octopus that is from ancient Greece.  Please check back and I will try to be more consistent now that painting is back in full swing.  


There is also a group of painters that meet at the City of Fruita on Thursdays.  Anyone is welcome and you can paint anything....you might even get a bit of help if you need it.


Happy Painting . . . . . 

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday America!  235 years old today.  We are very lucky to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave!  I hope everyone appreciates living in America and having the freedoms that we have!


Be looking for the fall class schedule soon.  Also, ornament class is on July 11th and Doe's Summer Seminar is August 22nd.  We will be doing the Candy Cane Santa Plate.  This is a series of plates.  I think there are five of them altogether!


Happy Painting to everyone.

Seminars

Just had a wonderful seminar with Shara Reiner.  The Western Colorado Decorative Artists were the host for the seminar.  We painted snowmen and candy canes on Friday and a nice fruit basket on Saturday.  It was a very nice and relaxing seminar from a National Teacher.


There are a couple of local seminars coming up this summer.  In June Michele will be teaching a tin bread basket with flowers.  And in August Doe will be teaching a Santa face on a plate.  Both are very different but should be lots of fun.  Try and attend both if possible.


And be watching for the calendar of fall projects from both teachers.  We will be posting them as soon as we have it together.  Lots of different techniques for fall!

summertime and the livin is easy!

Summertime and the livin is easy!  And classes are over until fall . . . except for the special ones.  This year my annual summer seminar will be August 22, 2011.  I have changed the surface and project as the other one was too much trouble even for me!  There were far too many mixes to contend with.  It just seemed better to change.  Right now I think we are doing a Santa on a 10" plate.  It is very soft and nice and will be a nice lesson in faces and beards.  There might be a couple of other things along the way but time is short.  I am thinking of doing a kids class at Artist's Haven.  More to follow on that.  Ornament class will continue on approximately the first Monday of each month.  We have had to change some of them because of holidays, etc.  Keep those brushes moving so you dont get stale over the summer!

Fun Weekend

Just got back from a very fun weekend with great friends.  We went to a painter's retreat in Estes Park.  This is an annual event but this is the first time I have attended.  The food was great, there were raffles and prizes and games.  We had four classes where we painted snowmen.  The little touches done by all the committee members were just fabulous.  It is hard to explain all the extra things that went into this retreat to make it so special.  There were decorated candies, special name tags, table decorations, favors at each meal.  Just a very special weekend.  A good time was had by all and we all went away with a very nice center piece and many other gift bags, purchases items, goodie bags and lots of other stuff!   It snowed on Saturday and we saw lots of elk right in the yard.  Can't wait until next year!


Classes at The Artist's Haven are winding down for the year.  We will still be doing a few special things.  Ornament class will continue through the summer.  The Tuesday night beginner classes is also going to continue for most of the summer.  There are a couple of special seminars so watch for information on those.  Happy Painting!

weather!

The weather has finally turned nice!  Now I can open the door and get some things sprayed.  I also finished my floor cloth sample of Several Santa's.  I had to convert all the colors from Delta to Decoart.  I am teaching this at WCDA Chapter meeting in September and November.  It turned out great but I am glad to be finished with it.  Classes are almost over for the year although we will be doing ornaments throughout the summer and there will be a couple of day seminars.  The one that is already scheduled is the one I have at my house each summer.  It will be August 22.  We will be doing a sled designed by Kay Quist.  There is room for only 10 painters so if you are interested sign up early...keep painting even though the weather says come outside!

Fruit Plates

I have found the correct plates to continue the fruit plate series.  I have it ordered and then just have to get it painted and it is something we will work on in the fall.  They are very nice when finished.


Today was ornament class.  Everyone thought there was more work on it than there appeared to be.  That is usually the case!  I am working on fall classes and will have some very different things.  We are going to be doing some mixed media projects.  Much to look forward to.  Keep those paint brushes moving!

Fruit plate

Fruit Plate painted with Judy Hopkins in Denver before I moved away

Thursday Already!

Here it is Thursday already!  Monday is May and ornament class.  We will be painting some cute little snowmen.  All of the ornaments for 2011 will be finished and on display at Artist Haven in the near future.  Some of the other class projects are on display there.  Also, there will be some other painted pieces on display for "wish list".  Hope you go in and visit.


Painting tip of the day.  When substituting colors - just replace the base coat colors and  then add appropriate shading and highlight colors.  This works out much better than trying to convert all the colors.  Keep painting!

Spring?

Good morning to one and all.  It is supposed to be spring but there was frost on all the roofs this morning.  I brought in the tomato plants just to be safe and I am glad I did!


Last night we started the flower plate in the beginner class.  It is going to be so pretty.  And we are putting to good use all this strokes we have been learning.  I still struggle with a couple of them.....more practice!


I have only 3 1/2 ornaments to finish before all are done for the year.  I really enjoy coming up with an ornament a month.  Halloween is the hardest one but I have found a pumpkin snowman!


Keep painting and look at garage sales for those unusual surfaces to paint on.  You can get some really great things if you use your imagination.  And the best part of that is the surfaces are CHEAP!

Calendar

The calendar is set for the rest of the painting year.  Ornament class will remain on the first Monday of the month. Classes are scheduled until May 23.  The annual paint-in at my house will be on August 22, 2011.  The project is not yet determined but it will be something fun.  Lunch will be served as usual.  The maximum numbers of painters this summer will be 10 - no more no less!


Hope everyone had a nice Easter Holiday in spite of the weather.  We had rain and wind and our egg hunt was on the inside instead of the outside!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all.  I hope everyone has a good time with family and friends.  We are supposed to have lots of rain so I dont know how the egg hunt will turn out!

Behind!

I am behind!  It is hard to type and do many things with a cast on your wrist and arm.  I have some photos to post which I will get to!  We finished our old red truck class and everyone did a fantastic job.  I was very proud of everyone!  This was not a difficult class but was done differently than what everyone is used to.  Great job all!

short and sweet

Today has been a nice day...not too much for the weather but a fun day of painting.  My little lovlies (grandaughters) are gone for 11 sleeps so I am missing them.  They usually spend the night with me on Thursdays.  They are in Utah having fun.  We all painted at Fruita today and had a nice day.  One of the other ladies brought her little lovely and she was a sweetheart.  We had a nice lunch at Munchies and all painted on something completely different.    To the painting tip of the day . . .  write out your instructions before you start.  Write them in the order you would like to paint.  This works especially well if you have long and complicated patterns.  Typing here with a cast on and hope for no mistakes.  Happy Painting!


Thought for the day that I read earlier:  "I was born free.  Now I am expensive"

Too Many UFO'S

Lately I have been concentrating on getting some "UFO'S" finished.  I am sure we all have a stack of them!  A good friend of mine started keeping a journal of all projects that she finished and then wrote them in her journal.  It kind of works because you want to see them add up.  She keeps them by month so that is what I started.  I have a goal to finish at least five things per month.  So...the painting tip of the day is to keep a journal of all projects that get finished...even if they are a stitchery or a crafty project of any kind!

Red Cast

I have been fighting tendonitius.  I finally went to the doc...he said the best thing is a cast . . . so I have a bright red cast and it is hard to paint with it on.  In spite of that we had a fabulous class at our WCDA Chapter Meeting today.  We painted a chick on an apron.  We had a nice lunch fixed by a couple of  our ladies.  All in all it was a very fun day.  Painting tip of the day . . . sometimes it IS all about the fun!

Electricity!

Everytime the wind blows - our power goes out.  We have called and called and nothing happens.  So...my feeble painting tip of the day is that you cant paint, especially at night, when there is no power!  

I am a member of the Western Colorado Decorative Artists in Grand Junction, CO.  We are having two great instructors for seminars this year.  Shara Reiner is coming in June for two days and Diane Bunker is coming in September for a two day - seven project seminar.  Both should be great fun.  If anyone has interest in either of these seminars just send me an email for information.......

Classes

I am in a strokework class and it has not been easy for me.  I have enjoyed it a lot and I am getting better.  Tip of the day . . . never think you wont benefit from taking classes.  You can take painting classes or any kind and it will broaden your horizons.  Keeping our minds busy is what keeps us young and productive!

Ornament Class

Today was our monthly ornament class.  Everyone finished and everyone did a good job!  The next ornament will be May 2nd and it will be snowmen.  Painting tip of the day: take good care of your brushes by cleaning them out after each use.  If they arent working - its best to get some new ones!

Weekends

Weekends are the best . . . sometimes for tole painting and doing your homework for Monday and Tuesday classes!  Hope everyone has their homework done for Monday Ornament Class at Artist's Haven in Grand Junction, CO

Babysitting

Babysitting the little lovlies tonight so no painting done today at all...but the weather was great so spent most of the day outside....painting tip of the day - sometimes you just need to take a break and go outside!

Another fine day of painting at Fruita.  We had 10 people there today . . . up a lot from when we first started!  Anyone is welcome to join us.  Painting tip of the day . . . when tracing your pattern onto paper or your surface - do it very carefully.  What you start with is what you finish with!  DO A GOOD JOB!  My fellow painters said I was "tough" today when I made someone neaten up there project!  This is why....

Painting Group

There is a group of painters who get together and paint on Thursdays at the City of Fruita.  We have been doing this for several years.  Anyone is welcome to join us.    Painting tip of the day:  READ your pattern and directions throughly before you start painting.  This will save you problems throughout the project.

Off to class soon.  We are just getting started on our trinket box and this is using all of the strokes we have learned so far. Anyone interested in honing or learning how to Tole Paint should get in touch.  It is a lot of fun and has many uses.  Painting Tip of the Day . . .  Catalina Cottage has many items on sale and will give $5 off of $50 purchase and $10 off of a $100 purchase.  This is a good deal

Wet Paint

Monday and class at Artist's Haven went very well.  We did not finish but this is a long project but everyone's is looking very good.  Tip of the day . . .  don't paint where the paint is wet! You will just lift it off and make a hole!

Finally all organized!  Next week I hope to get some photos of the ornaments for class up (classes at Artist's Haven).  Just have to figure out how to do that!  I am sure I can figure it out.  I have decided to add a "painting tip" each day.  Today's tip . . .  keep your graphite paper in the back of your wax palette for easy access!  Then you wont be a painter "digging in the cat box"!

I have been working hard to get my painting room organized.  I have almost accomplished it!  I can find everything again and now I can finished all the ornaments for ornament class.  I will be posting some photos of them soon