Birthday Parties ~ Lake House Art Retreat ~ Art Journal Pages

8 x 10 Acrylic Painting for CC's Birthday at the Lake House What a great painting retreat at the Lake House we rented on Cedar Creek Lake in Gun Barrel City Thursday to Sunday and all 9 members were present and agreed this one was the best yet - perfect days and perfect weather. (We have discovered it's not really in Gun Barrel City but Payne Springs). We painted on personal and CBC projects and did a lot of celebrating as we had 5 fall birthdays. It took awhile to unload and get set up on Thursday but after lunch on the patio, we were busy painting with questions such as "When does the birthday party start?". About three years ago we began a painting rotation so that by the end of the rotation each member would have one painting from each member and we'd celebrate twice a year - in the spring and fall. The above painting is the one I painted for member Cindy C. Then we began to bring smaller little gifts for each member when we went on a Lake House trip. The art journal pages are filled with a record of these gifts that range from rice krispie treats, pens, pencils, wash pens, brushes, brush holders, soap, chocolate and more chocolate, jewelry bags, cross necklaces, mini highlighters, Sharpies, key holders, bookmarks, Micron pens, mini framed photo, covered boxes, cell phone charms, tote bags, acrylic note pads, photo book, mini tool sets, nutmeg and mini grater - and some of these gifts were handmade. My personal gifts were paintings from MAS and KSF, painting smock, and a leather diary. It was like Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

CY and I went to Little Rock for an opening of two of our CBC paintings, we hung the Petroleum Club Show, then time for a movie. You will have to be the judge on the movie.
Family birthdays and then days and days of packing and cooking for the Lake House.

Some Lake House Gifts...

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.

Nancy Self Portrait Watercolor and Grace Watercolor

Nancy Self Portrait Watercolor on gesso 240 pound paper
22" x 15"
The Graham Trip girls, Cindy Yandell, Karen Foster, and Barbara Hackney, of Canvas by Canvas painted together today at the Upstairs Gallery. I gave my portrait painting some "hot licks" signed and photographed it for a show entry. I think the gesso dulls the paint somewhat but I love being able to lift the paint so easily by using a wet brush and the spashes and drips are texture effects I've always liked.

"Grace"
15" x 18" Watercolor on Clear Gesso 300 lb. paper
I took photographs of a child for the Myrna Wacknov workshop and tried painting Grace on Tyvek in the class and decided I needed more practice. Today I painted my granddaughter, Grace, on the left. with a friend at Grace's 5th birthday party. All the children were sitting on a blanket out in the back yard opening presents and all the guests were snuggled up close. I caught this pose and both of the girls looked so serious to be at a celebration. Again I think the colors are a little faded out by being painted over the clear gesso but I do like the texture and lifting abilities. Be sure and use a synthetic brush as the rough gesso could damage a watercolor sable. I think I'd like to try painting Grace with watercolor on regular 140 pound paper. My daughter, Dana, cautioned me to "make her hair curl under a little" and by the time I finished I had a hard time distinguishing where a little side pony tail began. Now I don't know what to call them. Long ago when I fixed Dana's hair with two side pony tails, I called them "dog ears" or are they "pig tails"? I consider a "pony tail" just one in the back. I'm sure to hear from someone what to call little side pony tails these days.