"Art doesn't have to match the couch"       -unknown

Long Beach

Watercolor on YUPO

30in x 8in

What can I say, I have been consumed with planning a road trip that has been the dream stage for over ten years.  And, in the midst of that was offered the opportunity to have a two month exhibit of my paintings-most of which were not framed.  I have framed about 2 dozen so far and have kept them all a simple white mat with brushed gold frame to give the show a very cohesive feeling.  Pictures of that in the future.  For now, look for hubby and me in our aqua Thunderbird on Rte. 66 the whole month of June.  And if that seems interesting to you, please check our blog www.66sunsets.blogspot.com that chronicles our adventure beginning June 2.  

Be My Valentine (please)

Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.....Albert Einstein  

Maybe we can all just encourage each other in whatever it is we do best. 

This is what I am doing on these frigid winter days.......first applied random lines of masking fluid then washed over with shades of blues (the winter snow influencing me)  When it dried I saw the twigs of the bush right outside my window which are dotted with the tiniest purple berries.  

  

I am finding the green sprigs and painting small branches.  The berries will be next. 

KEEP WARM AND KEEP MAKING ART.

“Anyone can slay a dragon ...but try waking up every morning and loving the world all over again. That's what takes a real hero.” ― Brian Andreas

A new year......another kind of beginning.....and I will try to post more but lately I simply have not put brush to paper often and I miss it. This is a small piece I did in the quiet following the holidays.

"There's no place like home" -Dorothy

Been gone a long time from this blog and from home a bit with three totally different "adventures"
I attended  a watercolor workshop on beautiful Mackinaw Island the first part of this month.

Victorian homes adorn the bluffs and I look forward to trying to paint this in the future.

If you look very closely and use your imagination, you can see the Mackinac Bridge on the right.

 

 Our instructor was Helga Flower, not only a talented artist, but a beautiful  and generous person.  I am blesssed beyond words to know her.  While on the Island, we stay at the Murray Hotel, owned and run by Pat Pulte, an artist in his own right.  Helga's style is very loose and she loves to experiment with whatever is around her....she is not afraid of anything!  I, on the other hand, am comfortable to keep dipping my brushes in my watercolor palette and leave the rest of that "stuff" alone.  But she pushed my to try new things.  We took out old paintings and scissors and created what we call fractured paintings.  

 I wish I had taken pictures of some of the other artists, they were so very different, every one of them.

A week on the Island and then a 4 day trip to DesMoines, Iowa with my best friend since 45 years ago!  We visited with her parents and helped go through a lifetime of "stuff" 
Then, back to Kalamazoo to pick up my brand new granddaughter, Harper, her brother Harry and my daughter, Kate to drive to Kentucky to visit my other daughter's family. 

Home now and could hardly wait to get back to my paints.  Here is what I matted today.

I promise, not so many words next time......just paintings.

I have been dabbling at this painting for a few days now.....I could have stopped earlier but I was still enjoying it!  So, maybe a bit overworked but the feeling of these lacy flowers comes through for me. 

 

6x9inches

Watercolor on YUPO