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​I have been invited to teach at the Decorative Artist Group of Southern Ohio chapter meeting (DAGSO), this Saturday. I am teaching four small seasonal wreaths in watercolor.  The exciting part is that I will be introducing them to a new watercolor medium, Nicholson’s Peerless watercolor sheets. The paints are luscious, intensive, easy to use paints. They also come in so many brilliant colors it is so hard to decide what to buy. So I went all in and bought 17 paint colors( individual sheets of color $2 each) for the class as well as their Sidekick(30$), an Edition set((16$). Needless to say , I am hooked on these. I will share how the class likes using them.
I had to adapt how to use them for a group of painters.  I’ll share that at another time.

This is a little 4 1/2 inch square that I taught with my Tuesday morning students. We are painting one for each month and they are then put in a magnetic clear acrylic frame.

This ‘Cross my heart’ is a 12 inch painting that was almost a throw away. I had been layering paints on the canvas and had some extra molding paste on my palette knife,
That I didn’t want to toss . So I quickly made a heart on the canvas. Next to the rescues was watered down acrylic paint and Posca Pens.  I do love a little Posca pen!

When I painted this large 36 x 36 inch acrylic abstract, I wasn’t thinking ‘Happy Valentines Day’. I was actually trying to channel a soft, Spring day since it was cold, gloomy, gray and dreary in Cincinnati.  It wasn’t until later that I saw the repeating hearts and decided it was the season- Happy Valentines Day.  I think it would be lovely in a young girls bedroom or for newlyweds.  What are your thoughts?

M  Hopple  Card  Contest

 

M Hopple & Co. had a citywide art contest with the theme, “Winter in Cincinnati.”  I was thrilled to learn that my submission “Winter Vacation” was a runner up and included in a package of cards that are now sold at MHopple, 7920 Holbrook Road, Cincinnati 45243. The best part is that the Queen City Book Bank will receive 10 percent of the sales.  I volunteer for the QCBB and they are a champion for the development of literacy throughout the city. 
Cards are sold in assorted sets or you can purchase sets of one style.
My design is done in watercolor and ink. It depicts places to visit during the winter months in Cincinnati.  Our city is now a destination city for culture as well as sports, look at FC soccer.  Reminders to visit Music Hall, Union Terminal,  Krohn Conservatory, Fountain Square, Art Museum and our beloved hippos at the Cincinnati Zoo are front and center on my card design.  Thank you M Hopple and our dynamic city- Cincinnati.

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I just completed a 10 inch square house portrait or better yet- cabin portrait.  What a beautiful place to spend a week or two.

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Book Explosions

Happy Spring!
If you have not heard about explosion/ squash books, now is the time! I am busy making them for birthday and graduation presents for family and friends. They can be personalized for your special grandson that is graduating or become a piece of artwork displaying your unique art.
Enjoy! Let me know if you would like to learn how to make these unique, little gifts.

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Cover and in side of botanical, eco-printed squash book.  This paper is dyed and cooked in roasters using natural dyeing products such as rust, turmeric and rust. Now is the time to think about eco- printing since our gardens and trees are flourishing with beautiful foliage and plants.

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​This book is made with  my abstract art and gelli printed papers,a beautiful black and tan print from Blick. I completed both sides of this little gem. The explosion books shown in all these pictures are 5 inches square.

Having fun with watercolor and painted papers.  I find it difficult to throw anything with paint on it away.  This book has watercolor botanicals that I painted on a recent Hilton Head vacation, even threw in a few cactus. The second side has a yellow gelli prints as well as carefully selected squares of my art paint palettes .  The pretty pastel cover paper is from Blick.

This little number is covered with paste papers that have some flowing black marks.  My favorite mark making tool is one that is made with shoelaces attached to a dowel.  You can make some nice, fluid, carefree marks with this hand made tool.  I have to give artist, Jacqueline Sullivan, credit for teaching me how to design paste papers and using this fun tool. The black marks are made with India ink.

This is a second book decorated with more handmade paste papers, India ink and mark making tools. These little books are a fabulous way to use that pile of gelli print papers, paste papers, napkins and store bought decorative wrapping paper.

These are by far my most favorite books to make for family members.  My grandson , Brecken, graduates from 8th grade and celebrates his birthday too. The hardest part is searching for bits and pieces to apply to the pages. Needless to say, all those random pictures and random findings on walks come in handy. I always add a lucky penny with their birth year and tuck in some birthday money.

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