Workshop Week continues.....

I know it looks like we are just having fun, but I promise we have been working hard all week- painting, drawing and talking about building a career in art, marketing and selling art. But, we did take time out last night for a Texas version of a low country boil.

Workshop Week

My fabulous workshop artists are here at the studio this week. I limited the group to five (the number I can fit in my studio). We started out with a get together Sunday afternoon and the promptly got to work Monday morning. The weather has been spectacular- actually cool and dry. Four of the ladies are staying at a guest cottage about a mile down the road from my home/studio and another has her RV parked on our property. Here is the group- left to right, Dottie ,Tifton, GA, Lisa, Bellingham, WA, Judy, Lafayette, LA, Sara, Brownsville, Minnesota, and Pat, Dallas, TX.






The ladies and my husband Steve enjoying a late afternoon "happy hour", along with an hors d'oeuvre of Dottie's recipe for "baked bacon".

Morning on the Flats
16 x 30
Private Collection

Just a few days until my workshop group arrives, so it seems we are on a merry go round here! I did want to mention that I've had one cancellation in the Skies class which starts May 7- so there is a spot available. I've also posted a new online class- Painting Water- which will start on May 14. There is information and registration for both classes here .

Busy Spring

In about 10 days I have five artists coming for the Advanced Workshop & Mini Mentorship here at my studio. They are traveling here from all points across the country, braving the difficulties of getting to Clarksville. In fact, one my students said that getting to Clarksville was more challenging than the logistics of her former job as field director for a state governor's political campaign!

So, we are in high gear here getting ready for that. I am also organizing my materials for the online Skies class I'll be teaching in a few weeks, and finishing up the last week of the Luminous Landscape class in progress now. I've got several larger paintings going in the studio, but none of them are in "postable" condition just yet. So, here are a couple of sketches by John Constable, the great early 19th century English landscape painter, who I have written about many times on this blog (see sidebar for links). Constable undertook several campaigns of skying during his career and left us with a record of not only the weather but the very heart of his art. Enjoy!

Painting the Night

Moonlighting
12 x 12
Available at Blackheath Gallery, London

Its probably no secret to those who have been reading this blog for a while that I love nocturnes. Like many of my visual obsessions, this one goes back to childhood. Like a lot of kids, I stayed out on summer evenings to catch fireflies and count the stars. But my most vivid memories are of a cottage on a lake where we stayed for a few weeks one summer. There was long dock with a covered boat house and screened porch where I could wile away hot summer nights watching the moon rise or the reflections of the lights from the other side of the lake.

These days I sometimes wake early to watch the full moon, huge and glowing, set outside my window. Here is a favorite poem that puts words to my fascination. Enjoy.

Moon & Water

I wake and spend
the last hours
of darkness
with no one

but the moon.
She listens
to my complaints
like the good

companion she is
and comforts me surely
with her light.
But she, like everyone,

has her own life.
So finally I understand
that she has turned away,
is no longer listening.

She wants me
to refold myself
into my own life.
And, bending close,

as we all dream of doing,
she rows with her white arms
through the dark water
which she adores

Mary Oliver

Spring!

After a couple of false starts and a late snow, it appears Spring has finally arrived in northeast Texas. The red bud trees are all in bloom and the woods are filled with the intoxicating scent of wild plum trees.

Every year since we moved here I have planned to do several spring paintings but I am always in the middle of other painting deadlines. Although, I have the same problem this year, I am determined to paint Spring this year-even if it takes me until Fall to do it!







Update: I saw a hummingbird this afternoon!

Southwest Art Magazine Article

I am happy to say I have an article in the April issue of Southwest Art Magazine! The painting which is featured in the article, Autumn Light, will be part of the Spring Gallery Night show at Galerie Kornye West, opening this Saturday, March 27 from 5-8 PM.

(Click to enlarge)

Here is another new piece I'll have in the show. I'll be in Ft Worth for the opening so if you are in the area come by and see me!

Evening Pool
18x 24
Available at Galerie Kornye West

Sold

We are just wrapping up the online course Drawing & Painting Trees. As part of the course we've looked at 19th century examples of drawings and painted studies of trees. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

John Constable-Study of Ash Trees



Asher B. Durand
Study of Trees


John F. Kensett

Jervis McEntee

John Constable

My good friends Lynne Windsor and Barry McCuan are renting their house just north of Santa Fe. Its an old adobe with studios, garden and lots of charm-perfect for artists wanting to spend some time in northern New Mexico. Take a look here!

Autumn Twilight

Autumn Twilight
24 x 30
Available at Hildt Galleries, Chicago

This is another of those fall pieces that I put aside last November to work on other things. Its been almost four months but I still have a very vivid memory of the evening that inspired this painting.

Autumn Pool

Autumn Pool
24 x 36
Available at Whistle Pik Galleries

Last fall I laid in this painting and a few others, but had to leave them to start working on the pieces for my solo show in Florida. A few weeks ago, I finally got back to it. So even though I am really looking forward to spring, in my studio it's still autumn!

Myakka Evening
18 x 24
Available at M Gallery of Fine Art

It's been a long, cold, wet winter here in northeast Texas. Today feels a bit like spring even though its only 45 degrees out. But, the sun is shining and the dogs are out sunning themselves in the yard. Spring can't be far away, can it?

I have just a few spots left in my upcoming online classes.
Painting the Luminous Landscape - 3 spots left
The Painted Sky- 4 spots left

Information and registration is here.

Trees

Pine Tree Study
Vine charcoal on Hahnemuhle paper

I started teaching my online class Drawing & Painting Trees this past Friday, so trees have been much on my mind. Here is one of my favorite poems . Enjoy.

The Trees

Do you think of them as decoration?

Think again.

Here are the maples, flashing.
And here are the oaks, holding on all winter
to their dry leaves.
And here are the pines, that will never fail,
until death, the instruction to be green.
And here are the willows, the first
to pronounce a new year.

May I invite you to revise your thoughts about them?
Oh, Lord, how we are all for invention and
advancement!
But, I think
it would do us good if we would think about
these brothers and sisters, quietly and deeply.

The trees, the trees, just holding on
to the old, holy ways.

Mary Oliver

Breakthrough

Breakthrough
16 x 16
Available at M Gallery of Fine Art, Sarasota

I got back to Texas yesterday (missed that record breaking 8" of snow!) and I'm still decompressing from the last two weeks and the two day drive. But, I love long drives -time to think, watch the landscape roll by and conjure up new ideas for paintings. Tomorrow, back to the studio.


Online Classes- Info and Registration here.

Painting the Luminous Landscape- 5 spots left
The Painted Sky- 5 spots left

My class

Here is my wonderful class outside our studio for the week. I am so proud of them all- they have worked so hard and all have some interesting work going. Today we laid in skies over the underpaintings they completed in the first two days and there is some really exciting work being done. But its not all work, and lots of laughter and good humor have made it an enjoyable week so far!

Our lovely surroundings couldn't be more conducive to making this a fantastic experience. Here are few shots of the Braden River and the area outside the studio.