Let’s Paint Festive Footwear!

Would you like to have a weekly prompt as a springboard to create art pieces for your portfolio or personal enjoyment? Last week I stepped in as a four-week co-host for @Ifdrawaweek, a weekly illustration challenge posted through Instagram, which is open to artists and illustrators of all levels. Everyone can join in and have some … Read more

Life and Love -Acts of Persistence

“The art of love… is largely the art of persistence.” ~Albert Ellis.An insistent bronchitis has been keeping my ninety-year-old father in the hospital. On Christmas eve, when it was time for my mother and brothers to leave, he got up and offered everyone a hug. It was an unusual gesture coming from him, but very … Read more

Nine Favorite Watercolors and The Stories Behind Them

Everything has a story and anything can be a subject for art. The nine paintings in this post are a highlight of watercolors I’ve made during  this year soon past, all of which were shared on Instagram.  Each of these watercolors represents my response to various painting challenges named by a fellow Instagramer; or is the personal expression of my … Read more

Watercolor for Beginners -Materials and Secrets for Fearless Painting

New artists often feel afraid to paint with watercolor. Usually, the perception is that watercolor is difficult and unforgiving. Even more experienced artists feel intimidated too. But, with some basic easily mastered techniques, watercolor painting is accessible to anyone. In addition to knowing watercolor technique, being open to practice and having a willingness to learn … Read more

How to Paint an Apple in Watercolor

Have you ever been told that watercolor is difficult? Well, like almost anything worth doing it isn’t easy to get the results you want on the first try.But success with watercolor can be had by investing some time and a little effort. Planning your piece and a willingness to practice some basic technique, will produce … Read more

Trust Your Eyes and Your Heart, Paint What You Want!

Have you been told that something is not what it appears to your eyes? Since I was a girl, in spite of Marisol, my first grade teacher, I have had a passion for color, art and creativity. One day Marisol asked the class to paint any thing we wanted. I painted some mountains and colored them … Read more

Art From the Kitchen -A Salt Cellar in Watercolor

Since the weather has been so humid, the salt shaker performance leaves much to be desired. So, we have kept the table salt in a small black clay bowl I brought back from Colombia. While having scrambled eggs this morning I thought of painting it in watercolor and doing some kitchen art after breakfast. In … Read more

Painting a Pansy in Watercolor

The word for pansy derives from the french word pensée, “thought”. In Spanish it’s the same, “pensamiento”. The symbolism of the pansy is indeed loving thoughts and remembrance as expressed in the following poem by Sara Dowdney: PansiesI send thee pansies while the year is young,Yellow as sunshine, purple as the night;Flowers of remembrance, ever fondly … Read more