Here is my watercolor sketch of the tree. (see previous post!)

I've learned that Picassa will send images directly to this blog!

What I don't know yet is how to add them to a previous post.... 

This is my 4th day of being a blogger. I am practicing sending
photos from 2 different files onto my post....hmmm.

These are photos taken by my huysband Steve
while we were attending Art in the Park an event at our
local city park last weekend.

I t was a glorious day blue skies, cooler weather and the
park was full of wonderful artists, beautiful flowers,
birds, bees and butterflies. A tennis match was being
held nearby whcih supplied us with even more spectators for our art!

Several of us were inspired to paint and amazing Osage
orange tree which has survived many decades in this
location. It is simply massive, with huge knarly roots
reaching out all around it. It has two main trunks whose smooth bark is deeply grooved and rusty in color.
These trees are also called "bois d'arc" and have one of the hardest woods of any tree. The wood was prized by early native peoples for making strong weapons.

However, this tree seems to have a gentle nurturing presence. I can picture it as a "story tree" with children gathered around to listen.


I have come to realize (remember?) two things. First, it is important to have some other object in the picture for a reference when you want to show size...a massive tree. Second, so many times, the artist is better off painting the ordinary in a new way rather than trying to capture the extraordinary!

Still it was a fun exersize and a lovely day for plein aire work!




I've spent several minutes now, trying to upload the watercolor I painted of the tree...I have to go now....will try again later.

Last night at our local Barnes and Nobles I came across this very intriguing mystery novel. It is the Journal of Amy Zoe Mason and is written as an altered book. If you love mixed media art and journaling, take a look. You will find a promotional website at www.amyzoemason.com


This book reminds me of another creative series published in the 1990's about "Gryphon and Sabine".

I didn't purchase it yet, but my birthday is coming up and a copy may become mine before the month is over!

This is the last day of summer...it has been rather cooler, rainy and fall-like for a couple of weeks. Remembering the last hot dry days of August, before the drought and heat broke, I retreived 2 watercolors of my imaginary clothes-line. In the background are the rose of sharon flowers which seemed to love the hot day....perfect conditions for hanging out crisp striped towels (also imaginary). So, because I had no clothes line to use, I painted one!

After years of not calling myself an artist, I have given myself permission to be one! This art journal cover expresses the on-going joy of the creative process!(And perhaps a bit of self-doubt.)
I keep it as an informal scrapbook, full of memoribilia and flights of fancy....

Tonight we are having another artist reception at the gallery which sells my works. This is a photo of the wonderful time we had at the last reception. Gallery sales often seem to be slow....inspite of that, these art parties are a great way to celebrate the artist's journey and to honor the creative people in our community!

This watercolor is a favorite example of my pear paintings...and a little indigo is creeping in here too!

This is my favorite photo of myself.

Indigo blue is one of my favorite colors.

I am an artist who loves watercolor and is learning to use acrylics.

This photo was taken on the backporch where I do much of my artwork. Many of my paintings feature pears, they have wonderful massive shapes and interesting colors and textures on their surfaces.

I am practicing on this blog template......

The artist in her studio.