Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

We will be going back to Ohio for the summer.......we're leaving Florida on the 9th of June, stopping over in Charlotte to see that "baby"......my new great grand daughter!!!! I know, I know I'm not that old!!!! I will be teaching a 3 day workshop in Durham, N.C.(June 12, 13 & 14). Hopefully we will arrive in Ohio on Father's Day. So I will not be painting much in the next couple of weeks......stop back by toward the 18-20th.....hope to see you soon!

Watercolor 11" x 14" I really enjoyed teaching this..... the class worked very hard and I think they had "aha" moments.....remember it's about value, shape and hue. If you're having trouble seeing the shape (when painting from a photograph), turn it undside down! Thanks for a great class! Hope to hear from all of you!!! Keep Painting!

Watercolor 11" x 14" What a great class!!! They all did a wonderful job.......thanks so much for attending. Let me hear from you! I would love to see what you are painting.......

6" x 6" Oil on Gesso Panel This is the third in the series......I hope to have time to do a couple more....just love my new green bowl.

6" x 6" Oil on Gesso Panel

6"x6" Oil on Gesso Panel This is the first in the "peach series", I'm still trying to work with Alizarin Crimson.....so it's getting a little easier, but it's a diffcult color. The National Society of Decorative Painters Convention is in Tampa starting next Monday. I have two classes to teach....so it's going to be a very busy week. I've painted the three "peach series" so I will post them today.

Click here to place your bid on ebay . 5"x7" Oil on Gesso Panel I'm still trying to work with the Alizarin Crimson, I've found you have to let it dry a little before you add additional layers. This is the last one in the cherry series.

Click here to place a bid on ebay. 6" x 6" Oil on Gesso Panel The cherries were a real challenge.......getting that transparent glow of the skin took about three wipe offs! Sometimes you just have to walk away for a few hours, I ended up working on this one the yesterday morning.

Click here to place your bid on ebay 6" x 6" Oil on Gesso Panel With the price of produce this was an expensive still life........the cherries were $6.99 a pound! These babies need to last a few days. I love the blue green with the red orange .......

6"x6" Oil on Panel This is the block in with a burnt sienna base. I love the glow with the complements (orange & blue). Alizarin Crimson is a wonderful transparent red, but it takes a long time to dry. I started this yesterday, still wasn't dry this morning.

6"x6" Oil on Panel Since I was in the citrus mood, I decided to paint orange slices on a plate. I just love this plate it came with a little cup, which is also square. I love the abstract element in this one. Plus the wonderful reflection in the shadow on the plate.

6"x6" Oil On Panel This is the last one in the series, the lemons are looking so bad! Also I didn't want to spend $1.99 for 3!!!!!! I love the reflections on the B&W Tile....it really was a learning experience...I had to use black paint and the yellow/orange keep getting muddy.....

Click here to bid on ebay 6x6 Oil on Panel This is the second in this series! They are looking pretty bad!!! I think I've figured out how to do the photographs. I have spent the last 3 days working on it.......

6x6 Oil on Panel Today is Monday!!!! New Subject!!!! I went to the produce stand yesterday but everything look really bad, but I found these two Lemons in the produce tray in my frig....so I guess they are going to be the subject for the week.

6 x 6 oil on Panel The is the 5 th , yea! yea! I was starting to get a little tired of the onion.....trying to create another set up with the same old onion was getting to be a real challenge!!! Of course this is my favorite.....the fabric is a place mat.....the wonder contrast of brown & blue plus the two different patterns makes the composition more interesting .......I'm still working on the photography.... urg !!!

6x6 oil on Panel This is the 4 th in my Vidalia Series.......I painted it yesterday morning but forgot to take a photograph........the blue & white background is a piece of fabric from my trip to Minnesota....found a wonderful store with lots of fabric.....I love the excitement that a piece of fabric can create in a still life. Since my last trip to Italy a couple of years ago, when I got to spend the day in a small museum with Bonnard & Matisse......it was about color and pattern.....I knew after that day I would be forever effect by pattern in my paintings.

6" x 6" Oil on Panel This is the 3rd in my weekly series of the Vidalia Onion.....what a fun subject. I think the series is the best way to go to get the practice. I still have to get a better way of photographing the painting.....