About Being an Artist
“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.†– Andy Warhol When I was in The Frame Factory yesterday,...
How to Stretch Watercolor Paper
And... Pros and Cons I usually stretch my 140 lb watercolor paper. Pros: Stretching creates a wonderful firm flat surface to paint on, instead of ripples and buckles in the paper. I use 140 lb Arches Cold Pressed paper, but any watercolor paper can be soaked and...
Making your own Transfer Paper
Materials needed to make your own transfer paper: Pad of tracing paper (any good tracing paper will work) I use an 11” x 14” sizeGraphite Stick - #6B (Make sure it is graphite, not charcoal)Cotton ballRubbing alcohol Follow these steps: 1....
New drawings
It's fun for me, lately, to spend time drawing. Here are a couple new additions to my Moleskine sketchbook. A new larger size book, with bigger drawings are leading me to amp up my drawing skills... new challenges! Here is a comparison in size from my original little...
Teaching classes, on Zoom!
Hi Everyone!Things have changed. And, 2020 has become a time of gaining knowledge, experience and pushing beyond your comfort level So, for me, that means learning how to teach online To start with ... I'm going to teach a class through French Escapade...
The story of “The Unseen Folk”
The Light in the Darkness Some of you may not know that I have a series of graphite drawings called The Unseen Folk. In 2015, with a small Moleskine sketchbook, I began. Here is one of the first drawings from that sketchbook. I was on a journey of discovery.It...
Painting from my imagination
I love to draw in my small sketchbook. In fact, I often take my pencil case and sketchbook in my purse ... kind of wherever I go. I've been doing this for about 4 years. I've now completed 4 sketchbooks with all kinds of weird and sweet little...
What’s up with Watercolor Backgrounds?
Can you paint a lovely portrait or flower, but when it comes to the background you don't know what to do? This is an issue I hear from my students and followers on Facebook and YouTube many times over. Ideas on the Figure Ground Relationship Look for my tutorial...
Inspired by the Art Nouveau Style of Alphonse Mucha
In the late 1800's and early 1900's the beautiful refined style of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha became well known. I first saw images of his work at American River College when I was studying with Gary Pruner. Gary used Mucha's work, among others, to illustrate...
Look for me on You Tube!
Yes, I'm making you tube videos! At the beginning of 2018 I decided that I'd like to start making instructional videos. You Tube seemed to be a good way to go. As a beginner, I've floundered my way through and am finally, here in November, getting...