I've been reading Jeanne Carbonetti's book "The Tao of Watercolor". It has so inspired me and I'm going to do more of this type of painting.

To begin I added color to the wet paper, leaving an area of white dry, that became my vase. After that layer dried I wet the paper again and added the red, yellow and blue. I let that layer dry and then wet the blossoms and dropped in some centers. I looked at it for a couple of days before I took the next step, then I added the leaves on the right side to cover the fact that the vase was off balance. Looked at it a few days more and decided I didn't like that long leaf, so added some dark blue to the edge of the vase and under the smaller leaves. It was looking better, but still needed something more. I then added some purple under the orange flower and yellow under the blue/purple flowers and down the left side of the vase. Let it dry and looked somemore . Today I added a few touches, like stems and the base and shadow. It was done and I'm really pleased with it. The size is 11 x 14. Title: Flowers in a Glass Vase.

Study of White Crockery

I've been away from the computer for a couple of weeks fighting an infection in my leg.

I'm better now, but not 100% yet.

This was the last piece I did before I got sick. It's a study in white and I may have a little tweeking to do on it before it's finished.

A small watercolor 7 x 11 done in Susan's class.

I'm really liking this way of using watercolor, although it really does use a lot of paint, but the colors are so brilliant.

Susan Adam's Workshop

I had the pleasure of taking a workshop this last week-end from Susan Adams.

Susan is a very nice person and lives in Petaluma. She's a very sucessful artist and shows her work internationally.

Here is what I produced out of this week-end. The top one is a finished piece that I did in the afternoon. The lower two are study pieces done in the morning.

Pomagranates Five

I found this wonderful little frame at the Goodwill and have been thinking about what to paint for it quite a while now.

Lately I've been doing a lot of Fall fruits and wanted to do some pomagranates, so I did a drawing of how they would be arranged and what size it would be.

7 x 14 on Arches watercolor paper.

Double Delight

This is a rose that grows in my garden. Faded away now that it's fall, but with a promise to return next Spring. I have this to remember it by.

11 x 15 on 140# Arches paper.

They Get No Respect (The Painting)

I really enjoyed doing this one. While I was working on it I thought about how these fruits are not popular in this country, although they are ancient fruits that have been used through history in Europe and the Middle East. Hence the title.

11 x 14 on Arches 140# paper.

They Get No Respect

I've had an idea running around my brain this last week for a subject of my next painting. It all started when someone gave me 3 small pomegranates. I wanted to paint them because they are so beautiful but thought that just those 3 tiny fruits wouldn't make the statement I wanted to make about the abundance of sustenance and beauty that we have this time of year.

Then thinking about the composition also made me think about color and contrasts, all those thing that go into make a beautiful painting. I needed something to contrast the reds that I had and remembered that a neighbor had a quince tree and was always asking me to take some. Yes they would be perfect with their pale yellow and greens and fuzzy textures. As I walked down his driveway I noticed his black fig tree and saw that there were still figs on it. What a great addition to my arrangement, I hope that he would give me a few, really only need two, but one extra would taste just great, with yogurt and honey, for my breakfast tomorrow.

I brought my treasures home and set them up on my painting table and lit them with an overhead and took many shots, added a second lamp and shot some more. Here is the one I choose and now have to decide if it will be watercolor, acrylic or oil.

Aspen, Eastern Sierras

Don't you just love the colors of fall. This painting came from a trip that Tom and I took a couple of years ago, over the Sierras to the Eastern side. It was in late September and the alders were in full color. Who could resist such a scene. I love the stark whites of the bark against all that riot of color.

This is a watercolor on paper, size 11 x 15

Pumpkin Time

It that time of year again. The colors of fall show in the pumpkins that are now being revealed in the gardens as the leaves die back. Everywhere I go now I see pumpkins, at the grocery store, in front of Walmart, along the freeway north of town and on front porches in the neighborhoods. The excitement is building and you can see it in the childrens faces...Holoween is coming...Boooo.

The Last of the Sunflowers

With the fading of the sunflowers the summer also fades.

But now we have a riot of color to look forward to. Fall is one of my favorite seasons and I look forward to what it brings. Piles of leaves and dropping nuts from the trees.

Chilly mornings and cozy evenings by the fire.

Life is good.

Sunflowers with Red Chair

I'm so happy that my watercolor group has started up again.

I really enjoy these women and we have such a nice time painting with each other. It great to get feed back from them and I love the critiques at the end of our 2 1/2 hrs of painting.

This was my effort this week. I'm really pleased with it.

11 x 15 Watercolor on paper.

Dancing Daisys for Rachel

This is a little fun painting that I did for my GD Rachel.
She has been feeling bad for the last couple of weeks and
I felt helpless to help her. She was on my mind a lot and
I'm hoping this helps her feel better. I love you Rachel.

A Memory

Hot summer day. Just picked tomatoes and cool cider in the jug. I can hear the buzzing of flies and feel the hot breeze blowing in from the desert. A lizard runs for cover as the cat crouches in the shade. I hear mama in the kitchen, she'll be out soon to get the tomatoes. We will have gazpacho for lunch.

It feels so good to be over my painting funk. I am feeling my

creative juices flowing again and 'am so full of ideas that I can't paint fast enough to get them all done.

I love this last piece of the Sunflowers. I'm not sure what style it's in, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that I had fun doing it and I'm happy with it.

Water Tank Acrylic 16 x 20 Stretched Canvas

Summer has finally arrived here in Sonoma County. I thought the warm days would never come. I've not been painting a great deal this month. Too much going on with family stuff.
But I intend to do more after we get back from our visit with Kathleen (my eldest daughter) on June 24 to 28. She lives in Oregon near Jacksonville and her son Evan and his wife Chelsie will be there from North Carolina, where Evan is stationed. They have a new baby which we haven't seen yet, a boy Oden. Kathleen's other two children will be there also, so it will be a fun visit for all of us. Evan will be going to Afganistan for his second tour of duty and we will be able to see him before he goes. How I pray that he'll return to us safe and sound and that this terrible war will soon be over.

Puck Watercolor, 11 x 15 on paper

This is a piece I did for my grand nephew Matt and his lovely bride Elisa.

I know that I love my dog a lot and I'm sure that they love theirs also.

I wanted to give them something very personal that they would always

have and remember their old aunt Mary for years to come.

I wish them all the happiness in the world on their journey together.

Cherries in a Yellow Bowl

Watercolor 11 x 14

This one was done last November. I love the light coming in from behind and throwing shadows on the table.

Asian Lily 11X14 Acrylic on Canvas

Yesterday was my 75th Birthday.

On Wednesday I was a bit depressed about truning 75.

But then when the day was here, it wasn't so bad.

After all, I'm still here and that's something to sing about.

My family, of course is very happy that I'm still here.

My dog doesn't know that I could not be here, because he

lives in the now. A good way to live.

Alexandra, my GD gave me a sweet card and wrote:

"Grandma. I'm so happy that on your

75th Birthday I get to be with you.

You are very important and influencil

person in my life and I feel very

lucky to be a part of you"

Now how could I not be happy to be here for her and

all my other loved ones.

Spanish Tile No. 1 Acrylic

7x7 1/2

This is the first of a series of Spanish Tiles I'm planning.

Friends Watercolor 11x15

It almost tomorrow and I'm ready for bed. Here's a piece that I did
in 2007. Saw this sweet scene in my backyard and had to snap a quick
photo for a painting referance.

Chinese Tree Peony Watercolor

To tired to write much tonight. Had a good day, passed my drivers test, took a walk and spent a couple hours in the studio.

Another busy day. Went to the Chiropractor this morning to get my by-weekly adjustment. All's good there.

DH, Leo and I stopped at the Park Deli to have lunch, Leo love their turkey basil sandwich. I share with him.

Spent a few hours in my studio and started two new paintings. I figure that if I work on two at a time I can get more done. There's always waiting time so it works for me.

Here's a painting I did a while back.

Fantasy Garden 7 x 7 1/2 Acrylic on Paper

My day was very busy today only had a hour or so in the studio, but that was enough time to finish this piece. It started with just a poured wash, then after it was dry I studied it and found shapes, and it became what you see here. I love working in this way, it's always a surprise. Took my three days to complete it. Hope you like it.

Not sure yet how to load these things and get the pictures where I want them. Guess I'll have to read the tutorial. Oh bother.....

Mandala de las Mujeres, Acrylic 15 x 15

Nice cool morning today, seems our heat wave has broken.

I'm hoping to get down into my studio today and do some

painting. It all depends on DH and what he has in mind.

First thing is usually taking the dog for a walk. If we don't

he gets depressed, the dog not DH. LOL

Here's a watercolor that I did a couple of weeks ago.