Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

In Full Bloom 11" x 13" I'm committed!  I joined Leslie Saeta's Challenge "30 Paintings in 30 Days".  This is about making yourself paint everyday (or almost everyday, you can paint a few ahead), then post on her blog. She has almost 200 artist committed how fun is this going to be?  I think I finally have the website, facebook and blog ready for 2013.  As most of you know I took the WebinArts Workshop with Leslie Saeta on using todays social media to market your Art.  I still have much to do but the basic designs are finished.  It was a wonderful learning experience, she is starting another one in January 2013, you may want to check it out.  

Silver Reflections 11" x 14" Watercolor I've decided to do Leslie Saeta's challenge of 30 paintings in 30 days!  WOW!  As many of you have noticed in the pass few days I've been updating my Facebook, Website and Blog.  It really is  all about marketing....In September I took an on line workshop with Leslie Saeta (Webinarts)  .  I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned bydoing this class.  My learning curve has been a little slow but I'm still working on the class projects.  Students have access to the blog site for up to 6 months, so you can take your work at your own pase. She is offering another one starting in January.  It's the best investment you can make if you are serious about your ART!

Haddie Girl 11" x 14" Watercolor This project will be taught on Thursday, August 8, 2013 8:00 am until 2:30pm Heart of Ohio Tole Convention Columbus Ohio Convention Center

Beach Chairs 11" x 14" Watercolor This project will be taught on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 8:00 am until 2:30 pm Heart of Ohio Tole Convention Columbus Ohio Convention Center

Florida Birds 11" x 14" Watercolor This class will be taught on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, 8:00 am until 2:30pm Heart of Ohio Tole Convention Columbus Ohio Convention Center

This was painted on Friday . .   It's about 9x12. . . .the day was very gray, but the sun came out a couple of times.  Jerry added a few brush strokes. . . So it's a Jerry & me painting.  We got to the boat, had great first night.  Today we're off to the black forest.

What a wonderful surprise! Foundation Beyeler Basel was having a special show of later works of Degas.  This show combined  works from private collections the first time on display for many years.  Also had a great DVD on his later expermints with monotype.  He would print his first image, then would do the shadow which he added pastels. Today we start our barge trip down the Rhine.  I hope to have time to paint.  I'm just so excited about my journey into impressionism!

Very sad to leave ...... Class was such a learning experience, I can't explain what a mark this has made on my painting, but I have just begun my journey to impressionism. Jerry is a true teacher of "the mechanics " of painting. It's all about the process 1. construction 2. Under painting 3. Re construction 4. Painting.

Painting is a very personal journey, we all go about in a different way. Yesterday the question was "why do you paint?"

Jerry Fresia's Painting Lake Como, Italy We arrived in Washington DC yesterday afternoon, we fly out of Dulles tomorrow.  Today I got picked up by my friend Sandra Hill for" a girls day out".....she had a wonderful outing planned for me!  We visited the Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens, this is Marjorie Merriweather Post's home - the legendary heiress.  She was a diplomat, philanthropist, and collector of mostly Russian Paintings and Decorative Art.   We also enjoyed a special display "Pret-a-Papier" the exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave.   The brochure states Ms. Borchgave is an artist with the unique talent of refashioning historic costumes and dresses as tromp-l"oeil masterpieces out of paper.  Crumpling, pleating, braiding, and  painting the surface of ordinary paper.  The exhibit more than 25 of her  interpretations of historical costumes and dresses.

8" x 8" on Canvas Board This is another one of the workshop pieces from Dreama Tolle Perry' s workshop......of course it has a few Dreama's little brush marks!  Since we returned from the workshop I haven't had much time to paint, but all those wonderful tips she gave us is still floating in my head.  I have a thousand pictures from my trips to France over the years with Chris Curry, my first watercolor teacher.  I also joined the Ohio Plein Air Society again.  I was a member a few years ago, but as most of you know I HATE PLEIN AIR, but I still want topaint in plein air....you say why?  When you hate it.....I hate it because I am so bad at it....I fight myself the whole time I'm out there!!!!!!  I love looking at all those wonderful landscape of trees, rivers, barns, etc.  My goal is to paint those wonderful little vignette you see everyday, like the one above....it's not so much a landscape as it tells a story!

Girls taking a Break! Heart of Ohio Tole Convention 2012 was over yesterday.... I had so much fun visiting with old friends and making new friends.  I had three 6 hour classes.....what fun! Thanks to everyone who attended.....I hope you were as pleased as I was with all the wonderful paintings. Remember to email me about the FREE  Watercolor Theory Workbook and the famous  BAG!!!!!! Pattern....no bags in these classes.....

6" x 6" Oil on Canvas Board Another one hour painting......I will be at convention for the rest of the week.....but if I get a chance I'll post something....maybe a few pictures of my students at convention.......

6" x 6" Oil on Canvas Board Mint Chocolate Chip! Yum! Since the "paint around" at Dreama's workshop I decided to paint cupcakes in one hour or less! What fun!  No pressure! Just paint! 

Thanks to everyone who gave me a comment on the Pony Paintings..... . .

Orange 4" x 4" on Board Today was a big day ...... I purchased a MAC. .... Yea!  Yea!  I have been wanting one for years....so I bit the dust,  met my daughter (she has one) at the store and did the deed....  Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows XP.....so if you have XP you can't sign up to receive my newsletter or blog using Feed Burner....so please email me! I've signed up for classes..... so stay tune! 

8" x 10" Oil on Board My Little Pony I painted this a few weeks ago.   Then I took Dreama Tolle Perry's  workshop and I painted another one.  I approached it in the technique that I learn from her.  8" x 10" Oil on Board The difference in the painting is I have softer brush strokes, more diffuse color.  What do ya think? I would love some feed back.  It's always a learning process.  Always a student......

11" x 11" on Watercolor Paper Holly Hock Tuesday August 14th 11" x 14" on Watercolor Paper Swan Lake Thursday August 16th 11" x 14" on Watercolor Paper

8" x 8" Oil on Board Last morning of class Dreama challenged us to a "round about" where each artist starts a painting from a photograph that Dreama gave us.  We were to work on  each  painting for about 5 minutes, you got to take your brush but that was it!  What fun! Five other artist worked on this cupcake that I just love.....what a wonderful take away from all the new friends.  I got to work on a sunflower, a flower in a glass and another cupcake.  A couple of the photographs were upside down......they always say you can trick your brain into seeing the shapes not knowing what it is....next week is the HOOT (Heart of Ohio Tole) Convention. I will be teaching 3 classes, plus a demo on Wednesday on Color Theory.  This will be my 20th year teaching....where has the time gone?  Thanks to a wonderful lady and teacher Betty Denton. After I had been painting for about 2 years I got to take a class with her and it changed...

8" x  8" Oil on Board Dreama's Blue Ball Jar This was our first project in Dreama's Workshop.....I started this one in class but had to switch to another board....this was a masonite board, very slick, the second layer of paint wouldn't stick.  Surface too wet.  Dreama's process is to first add Transparent Paint, kinda mapping out your design.  Next you go back in with your opaque colors.  It was a total mess!!!!!  no drawing, just a few marks to show you placement of the subject.  Soooooo much fun!!!! I love the looseness of the process.....the intimidation of the white surface was gone.  I finished this painting the last day of the workshop when we had time to try out the technique on our photographs.  Everyone in the class got great paintings. Tomorrow I will post the "round about"?  What's a round about?  Stop by tomorrow to find out.

Dreama Tolle Perry with Class Project Workshop Dates were July 16-18th in Paris, Ky.  I can't begin to tell you how good this workshop was.  Dreama is a wonderful teacher, very sharing, wants to  give you all the tools so you can be successful in completion of your workshop painting.  I was blow away with just the first 3 hours of her demoing her first piece.  We had 18 wonderful students who also shared in put.   Dreama made sure she got to give everyone individual attention....it was the  BEST EVER!

Sold Green Apples 4" x 4" Oil on Board FYI - I had a few problems with my blog (internet explorer had an error that I still can't fix!!)  the last couple of months post did not post...... so to catch you up.....I will re-post what's been going on! I was in the German Village Art Crawl in July.  This is an annual event where artist display in residents garage.  Local restaurants also have samples of their menus.  I shared the space with two great artist and friends,  Annette Simon and Judy Hazen.

10 x 8 Oil on Board I love painting the complementary palette......the orange just pops in this one. This is one of the times when you need to paint from life as the elispe is very important to get correct.  Of course I got to eat the orange after I finished, but it was a little dried out!

7" x 7" Collage on Paper What a fun projcet!  I can't remember the last time I had sooooo much fun with tearing paper and glue!!!!!  As most of you guys know I have been playing around with collage for a few years......Like the one of Georgia O'keefe that I did in Sante Fe about 10 years ago......WOW....how time flies!

8" x 10" Oil on Board This painting proves you need to paint from life! I sat this still life up in the Pumfrey's afternoon class....I love all the reflections in  the silver bowl.....I've been studying a DVD by Patricia Moran. She doesn't draw the subject on the surface, she blocks in masses of color......as soft as you can for as long as you can. I've learned sooooo much, about getting a good start that will create a great finish.......the ampersand gessoed board that I have been using makes the brush strokes show without using a great amount of paint.

10" x 8 " oil on Board I put this up in the studio just because I didn't like something about it....it didn't feel right!  Guess What! The sides were off, so in class Wednesday afternoon I corrected the pitcher and now I know it's finished!

8" x 10" Oil on Panel I set this still life up in the Pumfrey's oil class at the Beach Art Center.  The past couple of weeks I have been painting on canvas, but the texture of the canvas make the brush drag and I don't get those loose impressionist strokes.  The gesso panels are wonderful, they let you lay down one stroke and the brush hairs show.  I use a soft synthetic flat brush.  The small detail is done with a small round synthetic brush.

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas This was a challenge to get the whites without being chalky.....I need to let it rest for a few days .....I have been using Jerry's painting book to study his palette, plus his value range using the high key side of the value scale.

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas Painting in the impressionist style is soooooooo much FUN!  I've been studying William Schultz, Brackman, Frederick Carl Frieseke and my all time favorite  Frank W. Benson all American impressionist.  I have discovered that they all talk about " The Mechanics of Painting"  the 5 Steps that Jerry Fresia uses.  Each having a different twist.

11" x 14" Transparent Watercolor Beach Buddy My little beach buddy will be taught at the Beach Art Center on March 15th, Thursday morning Make it Take It class This little guy was my first one of many kids on the beach.  What fun!  He could be anyone's grandson!  Hope to see you in class......

11" x 14" Transparent Watercolor on Paper I just finished this one!  Reminds me of my Great Granddaughter, Haddie Girl...... so that's where the name came from.  This project will be taught at  the Beach Art Center the first two weeks of April. Just love all the primary colors.....

8" x 10" Oil on Board As many of you know I'm schedule to take a workshop on Lake Como next fall with Jerry Fresia ( http://www.fresia.com/  ).  He also has a 3 minute video on You Tube and a wonderful instrucitonal book, plus two small books of his  paintings.......Wednesday afternoon in the Pumprey's class I copied one of his paintings .....just to get the feel of what his brush strokes felt like....what an eye opening experience.  I painted it in one hour on a Masonite board with a soft hair brush.  I first scumbled in the dark and middle values per his instructions. The squinting thing is sooooo important......this morning I actually used my computer to blur the image.....this is a great help in seeing the dark, middle and light shapes. 

The Birds will be taught the last two weeks of March......I think I'm having tooooooo many senior moments!!!!!  Sorry!!!!!

11" x 14" Watercolor on Paper This is a new class projects that will be taught at the Beach Art Center the last two Wednesday in March.  My friend and student Nancy took this photograph and wanted to see how I would go about deciding colors, composition and how to paint the overall painting.

11" x 11" Transparent Watercolor The scheduled Make It Take It for Thursday, Feb 23 has been canceled due to scheduling at the Beach Art Center. This will be the project for Thursday, March 1, 2012.....

Make it Take it Fridays Has moved to Thursday Due to special workhop schedule Thursday, Feburary 9th, 2012 Impatience 11" x 11" Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 Clematis 11" x  11" Please contact Beach Art Center Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785 or Call 727 596 4331 

12" x 12" on Oil on Canvas This is a painting I started last year.  I didn't like the first run at it so I decided to work on it again......I have been known to do this to watercolors, but oil can be re-worked too! As you know from my previous post Dick & I are planning a trip to Europe for our 25th Anniversary.  We booked the rsvp last night! Yea! Yea!  We will be going in late September, first to the workshop on Lake Como with Jerry Fresia, an American impressionist who studied with William Schultz, who studied with Robert Brackman who, in turn, studied with Robert Henri, an American who studied in Paris during the 1880's.  He was also a distant cousin of Mary Cassatt, and as you know worked closely with Edgar Degas.  Robert Henri also studied with Ivan Olinsky, who studied with John Singer  Sargent.  Sargent was very close to Claude Monet and James McNeil Whistler.  I plan on studying several artist who stu...

Begin each day as if it were on purpose! Maryanne Radmacher I received an email that David has a broken knee cap, so the workshop for February was cancelled!!!!!!! Oh, My!!!!! but Dick and I have been planning a trip to Europe for our 25th wedding anniversary......so in comes Lake Como and Jerry Fresia......he is an American artist/teacher from Chicago who studied with William Schultz who studied with one of Monet's students....so in comes my new workshop. I have Jerry's book (blurb), I love the way he starts a painting (he has a 3 minute demo on you tube) with his technique of doing a small still life. If you put it out into the Universe, it may just happen....the new plan is to go on a barge trip in Europe and then a workshop for a week on Lake Como....he has several openings in September....once we book the barge I will give you the week maybe you could join us!  Wouldn't that be a dream trip? 

My Mom was 85 years old, she had breast cancer 43 years ago, after 30 days of cobalt (radiation that couldn't be measured)....I was told by a doctor at the James that no one has lived this long with that much cobalt....she was a fighter and very strong women.  My daughter, my brother and myself were with her in her home, in her bed, so she got her wish.  I was happy I was there to say goodbye..... She leaves a wonderful family behind, we will all miss her!Five (5) generations - Left Judah, Brittney, Me, Mom, Kim, and Haddie in the middle. Brit & Little Levi Haddie & Rae-Rae Judah Mal getting a kiss from Brit Kim Drew & baby Levi These are a few pictures of my family......grand kids and great grand kids.... how lucky am I?