Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

I survive the trip home....didn't have a chance to paint. Just a word of caution, if you're going to fly, renew your drivers license before you go. My expired on my Birthday, July13! In Ohio we have a 30 day grace period.....not in North Carolina!!!!! I couldn't even rent a car!!!! What a mess! So, when you can't fly, can't rent a car, you take a bus!!!! What an experience!!!! Left Ashville at 3:30 pm arrive in Columbus at 4:30 am. I will try to paint some in the coming weeks, but HOOT (Heart of Ohio Tole) convention starts in a couple of weeks. I have 4 classes, if they fill, I will have 35 students in each (they usually do), so needless to say, I have much work ahead getting ready for them.

Well, it's over!!!! Lots of people, but not many buyers!!! It's a look & see thing! The displays will stay up until Monday Week, so maybe we will get a few buyers coming back! Tomorrow I leave for Ashville , yea! yea! Going to have a week with my oldest best friend, just hanging out. No painting for a whole week, I don't know if I can handle that, but I will try very hard!

6"x 6" Oil on Canvas Worked on this yesterday morning.......after looking at it this morning, I need to add more paint!!!! Just not up to par! Today & tomorrow will be very busy, have to set up for the Art Walk. As John Denver said in a song, "some days are diamonds and some are stones". Yesterday must have been a stone! Some days you can paint and others you need to read a book.......

6" x 6" Oil on Canvas This is #4! I think I need to go on to another series.......I really enjoyed doing them.

6 x 6" Oil on Canvas This is number 3 in the series. It really is about learning and practice. I painted this last night after 5 days of not painting.....so it took a little longer.

The difference between the two Green Apples is the first one has smaller dots! It's been a crazy week. I was out of town visiting my Mom until Friday. This week will also be crazy. The Art Walk is this Friday, I'm almost ready, but need to finish up a few things. Will try to paint a few small ones. I didn't realize when I started that I would become OCD ........I have this feeling when I don't paint that I forgot to do something.....it's like my day isn't going right! This is a good THING!

6" x 6" Oil On Canvas Looks like I'm doing a series! I think I will do 2 more. This one is a little different than yesterdays, besides the placement of the apples there is one more thing........see if you can find it! I'll let you know in a couple of days. I'm heading south to visit my mother, but will be home Friday morning.

6" x 6" Oil on Canvas More dots..........just can't get enough of that fabric. I guess I just love the repeat of the circles. This is number 51 and I painted it in 2 hours. So I think the next 50 will go much faster. I can't express enough how important it is to practice. Of course, I've been preaching this to my classes for the past 15 years. It's not about talent, it's about putting in the TIME!!!!!

I can't believe I haven't had a chance to paint for 5 days! We've had a great time with all the grand kids ........everyone went home yesterday. Both Dick & I are pretty tired.......but just loved having them all here. I did get all the framing done for the upcoming Art Walk, July 20 th . I hope to finish up and pack them today. So tomorrow I can paint!!!!!!

8 x 10 Oil on Canvas This is number 50! I started posting pictures on this blog at the beginning of March. I have been painting almost every day, it averages out to 3 paintings a week. So I feel pretty good. I can definitely see a difference in my work. Plus I have 50 painting, some not so good, some I re did, a couple I probably will burn. But overall I'm very happy that I committed to do this. I have completed the last several painting in less time. This one today took me about 3 hours.......so let's see how fast the next 50 go!!!!!

11" x 14" oil on Board I photograph the last two paintings using the new light box! I think it's a great new tool.