It's Spring, it's snowing, it's BASEBALL

A few days ago I posted a baseball painting and said I would post more... here is the 'poster-like' ink and watercolor painting that I finished yesterday.

I find myself getting very serious about my painting and getting tighter and tighter. I need to loosen up with humor...sketching helps me do this. And, how could I not find laughter when I went in search of baseball ideas? This is all I could easily fit in this 16x20 inch frame, but there are more images to be found. Challenge yourself...

We woke up this morning - the first day of spring...it's snowing! Perhaps this will cheer us up.

It's almost spring - time to think baseball

Recently an art league friend approached me and asked if I would do some baseball paintings. Hmmm...It turns out that a friend of hers has a restaurant in Baltimore and is going to celebrate the beginning of baseball season - an evening celebrating with the family of Mark Belanger - former Oriole shortstop. The artwork would be part of a fundraiser for a school in Baltimore.

At the time, it seemed like a good challenge - so I said OK. It's been along time since I attended a baseball game... I went on line looking for ideas.

After pouring through a lot of pictures, I came upon a photo of a group of boys sitting on a bench with their arms around each other. I thought - that's it! I clicked on the picture and went to the site to get permission to paint the photo. Within a few hours I received an answer that said they had just picked the photo off the internet and therefore they couldn't give me permission to use it. It seemed it was, as 'they' say..."up for grabs."

I sketched it out.

Then did a watercolor underpainting

I decided to add numbers to the shirts and changed it a little.

I framed it and was pretty happy with it until the following day...when I opened up the paper ...
There, staring at me was the same picture! Only this time, instead of having plain shirts - like I had seen in the on-line photo - the shirts had ads for a realtor on the boys' backs...right where I had put the numbers!

I still like the picture. It is going in the show (along with a couple other things that I will post). Proceeds from any sales go to Mother Seton Academy in Baltimore and it promises to be a fun evening.

For more information - Google - G&A Coney Island Hot Dog Restaurant and head there for a great celebration on March 28th at 7:00pm.

A Pink Rose

It is interesting to me that there are some people in my life that I see infrequently, but when we meet we pick up immediately as if we had not been parted. The conversations seem to go a higher level - not just the 'how's the weather?' 'what's been going on since we last met?' kind of conversation.

I recently had an opportunity to participate in one of those lovely dialogues. A friend (whom I had not seen in a year) and I sat down to talk . . .and listen. She shared an amazing story of her spiritual journey from this past year. It was a story of letting go and trusting God. I was very touched by her words . . .and that she so easily shared them with me.

When we parted I couldn't stop thinking about her story and was inspired to do a simple painting.

Thank you for your trust - here's a pink rose for you.

Shapes and Colors

When I am on vacation, I find that I really enjoy being in 'slug' mode. I take a small watercolor art set, a few brushes, ink pens, a sketch book, some drawing paper . . .and a few pieces of watercolor paper - just in case I get inspired. 

This year was no different. I knew I wanted to create without having to make something that looked frame-able - like it was going into a show. I like to draw and doodle. No rules, no pressures - just play with shapes and colors.

Here are several pages of my sketch book. They do not show the spectacular views of ocean, sunrises and palm trees, but

they will remind me of a wonderful relaxing time.

Enjoy!

"At the Helm"

It's Banner time in St Michaels! I think this is the sixth year that members of the St Michaels Art League have had the opportunity to be a part of the Banner Program. Artists submit original artwork which is scanned and printed on banner canvas. It's always fun to see my paintings hanging on Talbot Street for everyone to enjoy.

So, the story of this year's painting . . .first I try to find something that inspires me and speaks to the overall theme "Celebrate St Michaels." Last year I had painted a little boy on the dock with a crab net and a crab scurrying about. Crabs are big in our area.

I looked at several photos  - nothing jumped out and said 'paint me.' In past years I have done some more 'cartoon-like' crabs. Perhaps that would work again. I have a friend who asks me each year, "What is Mikey going to be doing this year?" (I guess the name 'Mikey' comes from St Michaels)

How about Mikey skippering a boat? Hmm . . .I started with several sketches . . . It's so silly. . .

 . . .it might just work. But, the perspective was off. Now the problem with making up a painting is that there is no reference photo to guide me. How could I figure out the angles? Aha, I found some clay that my granddaughters had been playing with and fashioned a wheel. I took pictures from several different viewpoints to see what looked right. I think that's about it.

I sketched it in and painted it and voila! Mikey is "At the Helm"

While I have your attention . . .I have to post another painting done by a friend of mine. We all get our inspiration in different places, but this one is special. One afternoon two of my granddaughters went to play at my friend's house with one of her granddaughters. Val snapped a photo of the three girls about to jump into the creek. It's called "One, Two, Three." I love it!

And, I am pleased to report that in addition to hanging on Talbot Street as banners, both of our paintings were chosen to be sold as posters!

All the banner artwork will be available at the St Michaels Library during the month of March. Stop by and have a look at the original paintings before the banners are hung in April!

Loose Watercolor Portraits

One of the great things about the St Michaels Art League is it's class offerings. We try to have nationally recognized artists come to our area in the spring and the fall each year. This past fall we invited Janet Rogers to teach a watercolor class. Several of my friends had taken a class from her and were very enthusiastic about her style.

Janet paints loosely and quickly. Her portraits are beautiful. It's fun to try new things . . .maybe I could learn to do that. I could hardly wait!

There were several wonderful demonstrations and lots of time to try out her techniques. As instructed, we mixed up puddles of paint and got going. We were encouraged to not worry about making our paintings exact images of the person. Most of us found that it was a lot easier to do a practice painting of someone we didn't know. It really didn't matter if our painting was the image we were copying - as long as it looked somewhat human!

Although I love taking classes, I find that I do better work by myself at home. When the class was over I spent time with a photo of one of my grandchildren (who is now 13)  - in the photo, she was probably 2. I have always loved this picture. . .

Now, if you read what I wrote a couple of paragraphs ago, you know that what I was told was that it is easier to paint someone you don't know . . .I had to try this anyway.

Fast and loose - gently define and give the impression of features and shadows.

Actually, I think it turned out pretty well . . .and it was fun!

Merry Christmas

Yeah, it's a little late to say "Merry Christmas", but it is still the Christmas season. We are well within the 12 days of Christmas.

Since my last post was in the beginning of November, it may be obvious that it's been a busy time for me. Life intrudes on my painting time. Actually, I let it in - it's still difficult for me to think of myself as mostly an artist when the rest of my life is so full of other meaningful things.

So, here is our Christmas card for 2014. I think it says a bit about being tangled up in life on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Not to fear, the Christmas lights did get untangled, the tree put up, presents wrapped and delivered. Our lives did settle down. It has been a lovely holiday celebration with family and friends.

Hope yours was wonderful, too!

And on to 2015 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!