My First Oil Portrait

I want to say Happy 2014 to all my readers.  2013 was not a very good year and we are hoping for a better year.  I hope that everyone's holiday season was joyful and that we can carry the good feelings into the new year.

I'm not really making any resolutions but there are things that I hope to accomplish in 2014.  I am planning on making some changes with my blog and I'll explain them as they develop.  I am also going to redo my website which is very out of date.  I'm planning on continuing my painting and hope to continue to develop my skills.  I also hope to be able to use my techniques to support my ability to become more expressive in my paintings.  I'm hoping to expand my teaching skills and I have some ideas of directions I can go in.  This is a wonderful journey I am on and I hope it continues a long time.

This is my first oil portrait.  I started it at the workshop with Suzanna Winton.  I had tried an oil portrait many years ago and could not get the skin tones.  Comparing this portrait to the one Suzanna had started her colors are much warmer than mine.  I painted mostly from the photo.  Painting this portrait was so much fun and very frustrating.  I loved the feeling of the oils on the canvas.  I liked that it allowed me to lay down paint and if I did not like the results I could just paint over it.  (Like I did a million times with her eyes!)   But it took so much longer to paint than I'm used to.  I'm sure if I do more oil portrait it will get quicker.  I really like way the hair and the dress turned out.  I am overall pleased with the results being it is only my first but I certainly can see areas that need improvement!

Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a very happy 2013.  It is a time of the year that we reflect on the previous year and anticipate the new one.  Even though I'm not making any resolutions this year, I certainly know the areas of my life that I want to improve in. 

I know that I will continuing painting.  It is such a joy to me to find a subject that excites me, to plan the composition, to start loose and then begin to define my panting and then to see it develop a life of it's own.  It can also be quite a challenge as I am finding with my current painting!  I am passionate about my painting sometimes I feel a bit obsessed.

I sincerely hope that art sales improve this year for myself and all the other artists out there. 

I am going to make some changes with my blog.  I have some ideas in the back of my mind but haven't put them together yet.  I feel that I have been doing things the same way and it's getting a little stale.  It's time to refresh it!

I have to redo my website.  It is so old and it needs to be reborn.  I just haven't figured out whether to get it done professionally or to attempt to do it myself. 

I will be teaching only three classes a week this year.  The two classes that I am teaching at the Art Studio are going very well and I'm going to teach a beginning class at the Adult Learning Center.  I will still be doing some shows but I'm going to pick and choose them a little more carefully than before.  I just really need to slow down a little bit.  And that is something I just don't know how to do!

Happy New Year to all my family and friends.  I hope you have health and happiness and that you can continue your lives filled with a passion for something that brings you joy.

Happy New Year!!!

I just want to take this time to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I hope that all of my family and friends have a great year and get what you desire the most.

I usually make resolutions but I hardly ever keep them. I can certainly think of some for this year. I just don't know whether its a good thing to make them as it gives you the chance to think about improvements that you want to make in your life. Or is it basically a waste of time because we hardly ever keep them.

I know I will continue painting. It is so ingrained in my life and it's what I live and breathe for. (It's not everything but almost!) I hope I continue to grow as an artist and keep finding new ways to connect with my students to share my love of creating though watercolors.

I want to take this time to thank everyone that reads my blog and supports me in my artistic pursuits. Your comments to me on my blog or by email or in person are so positive and they really help me on my artistic journey. (I also enjoy some constructive criticism once in a while!) Thank you to everyone who participates in my journey right alongside of me.

Happy New Year

I want to thank everyone who reads my blog for their wonderful input and comments both on the blog and to me personally. You all have been very encouraging to me and my art and I want to let you know that I truely appreciate your kind and supportive words.

I also want to say Happy New Year to all my family and friends. I hope it is a good year for everyone filled with love and health and a little bit of that old fashioned prosperity! I also hope that we continue to grow in the directions we choose to go in and enjoy the ride along the way. May 2011 be a great year for all of us.