Rocky Stream...

Happy Halloween. I thought I might have some Halloweeners visiting the studio today. But instead,  the 76 degree weather must have taken them out doors to enjoy this lovely fall day. It reminded me of a day last month, before the leaves began to change, when we found this lovely rocky stream not far from our house on the north side of town. This is a 5 x 7 watercolor on Aquaboard that I did that day. A really pleasant day...I want to go back and explore some more. $150/$5/NCSTx

Quick sketches...

The best thing I can recommend over and over again is to do lots of sketching.  Some of my students have told me the last few days that they enjoyed seeing these little quick sketches that I do all the time.  I was also reminded of the time I accompanied my daughter to Vienna when she was singing with a group that was performing there.  I sketched everything! The buildings, the interiors, the singers, the hotel... I had my sketchbook with me all the time. Good or bad, fast or slow, I was indelibly etching these images on my brain in a way that a momentary snapshot never would.  Now get out the pencils and get to work!  This quick sketch is graphite and watercolor... $50/$5shp/NCSTx

Vienna Boys Choir...

...and so in the middle of the recuperation and cabin fever what should come to Raleigh but the Vienna Boys Choir.  What a treat... All along the audience had the delight of hearing these angelic voices. What we were surprised with was the behind the music notebook antics that caused the giggling to ensue.  Our friends and my husband and I had the good fortune to have been given these lovely seats 8th row center orchestra, so we were privy to all the on stage shenanigans.  They were after all a bunch of little boys... and how they managed to travel with 25  7-12year olders I'll never know.  The littlest and the biggest were teamed on the front row...whatever it was that set them off - it affected the front 10 rows or so as well.  This was a little memory sketch in graphite and watercolor I dashed off when I returned home...  $50 /$5shp/ NCSTx

The cafe series...in the piazza

Continuing the cafe series, I want to impress on my students that the graphite/watercolor sketch is the fastest possible way to collect ideas.  Seated, and sometimes standing, just about anywhere for a very short time can give you movement, placement, rough shapes and the basic idea and feel of the place. Use dozens of these to create the painting later int he studio if you are not comfortable with the "street show" you become as an on site plein aire painter. This is 5 x7. $50/$5sh/NCSTx

The cafe series...the red dress

This is a quick 7 x 5 watercolor sketch of a lovely, tall woman in red... on a cell phone.  I thought the burgundy of the dress matched the cabernet she was enjoying. Back when I was doing a series of cell phone paintings, this was among the quick sketches. I love that we have these wonderful outdoor cafes even here in Carolina now. It has taken years, but I am so happy that Raleigh has added our wonderful cafes and this lovely way to enjoy food, friends, and the beauty of the day.  $50/$5sh/NCstx

The cafe series...near the villa

I think that this was a very interesting juxtaposition of the cafe near an amazing palazzo behind the wall. The building of the cafe is off to the left out of the frame of my 5 x 7 inch watercolor sketch.  But in this series of cafes in Italy, I was surprised at how many of these I collected over time in many different media. These little ones are easy to do in your lap or on the table after expresso and biscotti. Families, sunshine, great food, a little vino make up a great great day...
$150.00/ $5shipping/ NCSTx

The cafe series...

A wonderful artist Johanna Spinks is off to France to do a five week residency. Love the idea. She will have a marvelous time.http://portraitpaintingbyjohannaspinks.blogspot.com/ to see her things. She will certainly have time to enjoy the scenery in the villages as well as the famous towns and their museums. In the meantime, I thought I might bring out my cafe series from Italy for you to see. This is a 7x5 oil called "Waiting." Just a little something fun.  There will be some more later this week.