Boy, it has been awhile since I've adding anything new to my blog. It's been busy around here ....still!! Same for everyone, I am sure! I've been busy painting all kinds of things. I've got my Traditions lessons going strong again and am feeling better about getting caught up. I am somewhat behind in the other two classes I am currently taking...Watercolor Journaling and Inspirational Journaling. I LOVE the watercolor class. In fact I did my first "real" watercolor the other day. This painting was published in the current issue of Paintworks, and since it is a farm scene, I had to try to paint it for my hubby. He loves it. I can see a lot of things I should have done differently, but hey, it's not bad for a newbie watercolorist!!!

Then I finished another Traditions lesson. This one was very difficult...layer after layer of transparent paint to achieve depth. It did turn out nicely, and I am wishing that I had spent the money of the box it was suppose to be painted on, instread of a masonite panel. Oh well, I can always do it again on another surface. We are studying Intensity in this Module and it is interesting. Here is my rendition of "Jonah and the whale".

I am now working on my newest lesson, which is a French Regency design and it is beautiful. Lots of flowers!!!

I have also been working on my Watercolor Journal and it is such fun.

Here are a couple of my recent pages....

These are just little quick sketches that I've done. I've got more and will upload them as I get time.

I am ready for winter to be overwith. It has been such a cold one this year. We had some nice weather above freezing last week and got rid of a lot of the ice and snow we had piled up around here. It was just treacherous to walk anywhere....even from the house to the car to leave. I hate ice!! In the middle of the week, they have in the forecast for more snow....Oh goody!!!

I've been busy trying to keep up with all of my lessons. I signed up for a wonderful watercolor journaling class and I am having a ball with it. I also signed up for an Inspirational Journaling class at the same time. My lessons with Traditions are caught up for now, and the picture posted is a recent lesson I've done. It is a Telemark design. When I first saw what we were going to be painting, I wasn't too excited about it. It would not be something I would normally paint for myself. As I worked through the lesson though, I found myself liking it more and more. I love stroke work and this lesson was full of it! It takes a lot of time and patience, but learning brush control is what it is all about.

I will post more tomorrow with some of my journal photos. I am so enjoying this and learning to "let go" and just paint....it is such fun!

Collage From Paulette Insalls' Faces Class

I just loved taking this class and learned so much. This isn't quite finished yet...will add somemore media to it and some words that I have chosen for it. I will post the final results once it is done. This is the same face on both paintings, but with different eyes and hair. I think I like the blond one the best of the two!

We had to draw the faces and then paint them. I've got somemore collages started and will add them here as I get them done!

The Christmas Holidays

Today, we woke up so a strong northeast wind, light snow and very cold temperatures! UGH!! Guess that winter is here for sure. I would someday love to move to a warmer climate and get away from this cold, cold weather. Our spring, summer and fall aren't bad....but sure do hate winter time. The only good thing I can say about it is that it gives me more time for my artwork. That is a good thing!
Our holidays are going to be a bit different this year. We only have one son close by, so it will be quiet. The other children aren't going to be able to travel here this year. Our holidays with all the kids and grandkids in the years past have been kind of hectic and I will probably miss that, but a quiet Christmas isn't all bad. We have ordered a big old prime rib for the two of us and will cook that and eat ourselves into oblivion!!! LOL!! Ho Ho Ho!!!
Shopping is almost taken care of so I am stressless this year. Feels pretty good. I think I will spend the rest of today getting somemore decorations out and make the house look a little more like Christmas.
Merry Christmas one and all!

This is another recent painting I did this week. It is another lesson and perfect for the season. I used a sterling silver plate that was my Mothers'. It had years of scratches and pits on it and it was really ugly. I spray painting it with automotive primer and then painted this Christmas scene on it. Now, it is a keepsake that I can hang up every Christmas.

The Gatherers

A new lesson that I painted. I loved this lesson and having it hanging on my wall! It looks so nice and it was a joy to paint.

Happy Turkey Day~!

I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday with your families and friends. We had kind of a quiet one this year, but actually, it was nice. For the first time in years, we had an ADULT dinner!! LOL!! I've got 7 grandkids and they range in ages from 12 down to 6. So, when we all get together, it is quite a busy time. My eldest child, a daughter moved away to St. Joseph, Mo with her hubby and four kids. My middle son, lives close by, but they had other plans this year. He has one daughter, and four step-sons. Whew!! My youngest son, lives in Texas with his wife and 2 daughters and they couldn't make it home this year either. Maybe we'll all be able to get together for Christmas instead.
I cooked a turkey and had all the fixins' and we had hubby's sister and hubby over for dinner. It was nice...peaceful and adult conversation!!
I have many things I need to get posted here on my blog, and will work at it this week to get up to date. I've painted quite a few more items that I want to add.

I hope to get more time to paint this next week. Will post more then....see ya then!