Wait! There's more!

Everyone's drinking wine these days!  I love a little red in the evening and I just don't find those corks that attractive!  I've been trying to dress them up with these bottle toppers I've made using a low fire clay and glaze.  They look great sitting on a table and amuse our guests!  You can keep the cork in and then just pop these on top.  They really do dress up the setting.

New Pen, Pencil and Brush Holders.

I just picked these two up from being fired.  I've been making containers for pencils, brushes or whatever.  Am still on kick of cut out figures surrounding the cylinder.  I still have a lot to learn about the colors and it's always hard to predict what they will look like on the final firing.  I am opening a store on Etsy and plan to sell these and other creations (drawings, watercolors) that I don't put in my galleries.  I only place my oil paintings with the galleries.  SO!!  that means I can keep these items at very reasonable prices.  I'm thinking my price ranges will be from $20 to $100.  Depending.  Keep an eye out and thanks for visiting!

Small Gouache Paintings

I've done some small gouache figure paintings on a nice Strathmore 100% rag illustration board and have them matted in a simple white mat with a thin wood frame.  Just more exploring and painting what  I want to.

Sketches from taking Ray's Head Painting class.

Ray taught a Head Painting class at the School for Arts in Idyllwild, CA. I do not profess to being a portrait painter! but I felt I captured pretty good likenesses. I was finished teaching my workshop so I got to paint along for 3 days with Ray's class.  Really fun group.  Love the school and campus!

iPad Sketch.

Ray and I participated in the Quick Draw at the Paso Robles Plein Aire Event.  We both also taught workshops for the group.  Sometimes in the evening I will sketch from memory something from the day's work.  I did a painting of this bicycle for the Quick Draw and this is my iPad version.  Love my iPad that my son got me for Christmas!  Downloaded the Brushes App. and have had so much fun.

Back from Idyllwild.

Ray and I just got back from teaching at the School for the Arts in Idyllwild, CA.  It's a beautiful setting at about 4000 ft.  so the nights cool off.  The days were spectacular!  I taught a 3 day Figure/Still Life class and Ray taught a 3 day Head Painting class.  Ray did this beautiful demo in about 40 minutes to just get us started.  I got to take the class too!  Had the 3 days off to play and had so much fun just painting with the group and following instructions instead of giving them!  Had to post this beautiful demo of Ray's.  He really understands how to paint form!

Continue to explore.

I have been exploring a bit again.  Tried a simple floral and approached it as if it was in a "no strong light source" setting.  Inspired by the Japanese woodcuts of the Edo Period.  What immediately comes to mind are the prints of Mary Cassatt.  This is about  16" x 16".