Janet Rogers Workshop ~ Art Journal Pages

This is the portrait I painted in the Janet Rogers workshop. I think the color could be better but I enjoyed the experience, meeting Janet and some new friends. It was held out in the country, quiet and secluded, with animals nearby. Russell Farm Art Center is in Burleson, located on a Texas Century Farm, and it's an organization of working artists dedicated to fine art, with an emphasis on wood sculpture. (Check Janet and Steve's website to find out about their workshop in Italy in 2009.) I took a SWA workshop with Steve Rogers last October. The painting was from a photo on Port Bolivar and now Port Bolivar has been nearly destroyed by Ike. There are other posts about the workshop.

Art Journal Pages:

I'm still on the "stuff organization", trying to get on friendly terms with my computer, and painted my Joe T's square for a CBC project. Other CBC members there were Betty, Cindy Y and Maryann.The workshop was for 3 days and we did a floral first and then the portrait. I drew off the beach scene but didn't get around to painting it as Janet kept us jumping. We had to laugh at her because she moved so much it was really difficult to get a good photo of her unless we just said "Stop. We need a photo." She was an excellent instructor and walked the room answering questions when it came time for us to paint - always an endearing quality in an instructor.

This is my Janet portrait in my Cason All Media Sketchbook. This week I've gone over my notes and have included some Janet "sayings". Practice your color swatches, why did I do that, I love Bounty paper towels, (which she held onto like a security blanket, under her arm), make puddles, make color changes, don't count flower petals, I believe in swatches, adjust water from the puddle edge, try things, don't be boring, "smoosch" your edges and from US, "Why do you paint with one eye closed?" She reminds us to draw, draw, draw and we love her drawings and especially the drawings and paintings of big, pouty lips.

Here is a slide show of some images taken during the 3 day workshop. Janet knows her medium and can explain it now for practice, and more practice.

Joe T's and Art Journal Pages

This 8" square was painted for a project designed by Canvas by Canvas member Margie Whittington. She wants a Fort Worth themed painting. Watch for it on the Easel. Joe T's is a favorite restaurant of mine and has figured in many events of my life, real and imaginary. A favorite fantasy of some fellow elementary librarians that I'd be married in Joe T's garden and they could all be bridesmaids dressed as favorite storybook characters. Fortunately, that event remained a fantasy.
Last week I was in the Janet Rogers workshop and will post some photos later in the week but for now it will be an update on journal pages.

I've been in an organizational nightmare at home and this rolling cart is a solution for my watercolor paints. Nine paintings were accepted into the Preservation is the Art of the City show at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center and 5 paintings sold opening night on the 4th.

Painting at The Upstairs Gallery on Monday I finished my cactus square for Karen's project, updated my charm bracelet with a palette, 9 for 9 squares for CBC paintings, Girlfriends, and a diary for "art journals", one entry in the Art in the Garden show, and the assembly of a mobile laptop desk. Hint (buy the floor model already assembled if they will sell it to you.)

This is not an abstract. It's a portion of my pathetic kitchen floor. It has the original brown linoleum from 20 plus years ago and some squares are coming off and leaving ugly white edges - mainly where I sit and roll around in my chair. Several years ago I discovered a quick fix to keep from having a complete overhaul. Brown shoe polish the white and put silver duct tape around the edges to prevent more lifting. Now the old silver is wearing through and getting very sticky so it was a time for some re-flooring and it nearly blinds you upon entering. I can't even think about moving everything out (bookcases, jelly cupboard, chests, tv, tables) and having a professional install a new floor. It would just be too disruptive and then I'd have to have new wall paper - just can't deal with that at the present but a friend did suggest I try brown duct tape next time since I wasn't aware it was available. All decorating hints are appreciated.

Continue with closet sort, the reception, mail, and we met Lynx at the gallery opening. We had to meet anyone who came to the opening with a coat hanger in his tie, positioned to make it look as if his tie was in a perpetual wind storm.

A granddaughter visit and I gave her my journal and watercolors and this is a combination of Grace and Maddie's work. Grace loved the orange which we know as cadmium or Chrome or some other technical name and she calls it "Home Depot Orange."

Shower heads quit working and that led to the realization of the 16 year old Ruud water heater had expired and it's scary when they mention "financing available". I'm finding many, many 3.5 high density diskettes during the cleanup and saw Ratindra Das demo at the SWS meeting, new computer that would not have been purchased if I'd known about the water heater. Monster Ike on the way and after the fact it has completely destroyed that wonderful Port Bolivar where CBC took some vacation time last year. Now to the store for some brown duct tape.

New Acrylic Paintings ~ Art Journal Pages

6" Acrylic Cactus Square as part of a painting for Canvas by Canvas. (At the request of Karen, the designer of this painting, my initials have been scaled down but I forgot to take a new photo. We try to put our initials on each piece but I agree this was a little overkill.) CBC is working hard getting a show ready for The Fort Worth Community Center and our October show at the Petroleum Club. You may take a sneak peek on the CBC web site to see what's on the easel.
This is my acrylic square for Cindy Y's project of the Texas Flag. This is a pecan leaf on a white background square. The pecan is courtesy of Cindy as I told her I only contracted for the leaf and she is always eager to paint on your square or your square if you'll let her and she always does a beautiful job. The pecan is the Texas state tree.
This is page 20 of my art journal, Canson Montval all media, 9 x 12, with lunch at Hoffbrau, painting boots and pecan leaves at the Upstairs Gallery, a trip to Dallas for the Park Cities Presbyterian Art Festival guidelines, a secret message tucked into a cut up greeting card that may have good news for my friend, and my old bugaboo bills.

I signed up for AT&T U-verse and we've become friends from my many tech support calls but they have been super, my scales are screaming again and I need to eat more veggies instead of Personal Pans and pancakes at I Hop, movie to see Vicky Christina Barcelona, my new notebook from Borders with a lovely design on the front by Laurel Burch.

Trying our two new items, a metal pan of watercolors, Lucas, from ASW and a Raffine sketch book 5.5 x 8.5, Lana paper made in France and it is 100 pound, 48 sheets and it took the watercolor nicely. I decided to use the Laurel Burch design on my first page and used some gold pen outlines.
This is the notebook with the Laurel Burch design from Borders. The design appealed to me so much that I had to try my hand at reproducing it in my art journals.