Congratulations to the Studio Open House Prize Winner!

Thanks to all who attended my Annual Studio Open House on Saturday. It was wonderful having you there to see where I work, to visit for a while and to offer you our hospitality.

One of the highlights of the day is at 5:00 pm when we have a prize drawing. The winner may choose a studio credit of $100 or a painting chosen by me for the occasion. Then we celebrate with wine, cheese and good conversation. Maybe even another prowl around the studio.

Congratulations, Shar! She chose to apply the studio credit to this original piece, "Red Car, Dobcross" from our UK trip.

Incidentally, we defused the Lancashire cheese bomb and it was delicious!

I highly recommend their 2 year aged cheese with a nice Pinot Noir, some grapes, dates, nuts, art and friends.

Black and White

Perfect! After "Black Friday" comes "White Saturday"!

Not everyone in our area has this, but I saw snow coming down late last night. I hoped there would be a white surprise for everyone when we woke up. Here is what it was like outside the studio this morning at 8:30 a.m.

We still have family staying here with us, but if I can grab a few minutes, I will post any sketches I do on my Instagram. 

DO NOT EAT

Pay no attention to the Cheshire Cat or anyone else in Wonderland for that matter. Noooooo!

These absolutely non-edible mushrooms suddenly appeared in our lawn today after a soft, intermittent drizzle of rain. Unless you harvest your own wild edible mushrooms, it's hard to find any in the store with the roots still on them. I think the natural shape is so much better than a chopped off end. 

After adding warm and cool watercolor touches.

I do know that the red striped cloth is there. The question is: Would you paint it into the picture?

Lamy pen with water soluble ink and a touch of watercolor.

I like the way they turned out, even before adding color. The ink in my fountain pen creates the perfect pale shadow as I run the damp watercolor brush next to it. The paper in my Stillman & Birn Beta Sketchbook is perfect for this ink and wash approach. It's smooth for great line work and thick (180 lb. white) to hold the watercolor washes without wrinkling.

Ink Scribble Figure

Here's a quick 1 minute demonstration I did for my class. It's a combination of gesture and contour drawing with a Micron pen. I scribble from the inside of the shape to the outside, adjusting as I go for the proportion and angles that I need.

The whole idea is to use your sketchbook all the time, not worrying about how to perfect what you're doing......just do it! Practice creates freedom, freedom and enthusiasm create artistic growth.