Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

11" x 14" Watercolor on Paper This week  I plan on working on Watercolor Projects for my Wednesday Morning Class at the Beach Art Center in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.  This will be a fun project to teach because we used Salt to create texture on the very old wall.  I try to teach a technique with every  project we do.  So many people say they can't paint, have no talent, it's not about any of these, some people do have a natural instinct but it's like learning to play the piano.....practice, practice, practice!  It's a SKILL.

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas This painting is very "High Key", the Impressionist, especially Monet painted with in this value range.  My problem is getting a good photograph.....the colors look "chalky" in the photo, but are very bright in real life.  Today I'm going to try to play around with different locations with various light sources.  I have a "photo box" with lights but they seem to wash out the painting.  If I get a better one I'll be sure to post! Having sooooo much fun, plus I have 12 new paintings!!! Yea! Yea!

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas SOLD The challenge today was to paint RED ! How many reds in the paint world are there! Well I think a lot!!!!! I had at least 6 tubes out ........the transparent  of the skin was the hardest to get.....I love the yummy reds against the cools of the table cloth.  I added a little light green, but it didn't show up in the photograph.  This painting is much better than the picture.... you can't see the impressionist colors juxtapose together.   Anyone doing the challenge can't help but get better......what fun!  Thanks Leslie!

14" x 11" Watercolor on Paper This is a transparent watercolor that I will be teaching step by step to my Wednesday morning class at the Beach Art Center.  I still love doing watercolor because they always create a challenge.  The big difference between watercolor and oils is you have to have a "concept".  This was the topic of discussion  in Wednesday afternoon oil painting class with Judy & Larry Pumfrey.  Larry ask the question what is concept?  Basically it the plan, what's going on in your head about what this painting should look like.  Watercolor, because of the way the paints are applied to the  paper you have to have a picture in your "head" of what this will  look like as a finished painting.  The nice thing about oils is you can change your "Concept" in mid painting.  Just wipe off the area you want to change. Not going to happen with watercolors...... This was a glass chest set our grandson...

10" x 8" Oil on Panel Yesterday was a very busy day....first day of classes at the Beach Art Center, plus I take the oil class in the afternoon.  I'm not a good painter in the afternoon especially after I teach, so this is one of my "stash" .  I knew I was going to be very busy after classes started so I painted a few ahead this past week.  Sooooo Happy I did!  The photograph does not do this one justice.....it's a very warm and colorful painting.  Plus the "light areas" have a few really nice thick brush strokes....

14" x 11" Oil on Canvas Talk about a fun painting!  This guys just went together with out any effort, I think Jerry's "enjoy the process" is finally sinking in......I'm still working with the lighting.  I photograph the  process.  I have about 20 picture that are a step by step of the painting.   I hope to have a little slide show in the coming weeks. While in Italy we worked with North light, it's the best.  I have a natural light that represents North Light but it's not quite the same.  This will be on Daily Paintworks Auction.

4" x 4" Oil on Panel SOLD As Leslie said we've finished our first week!  Yea!  A couple of my friends have selected a theme or challenge within a challenge....my challenge is just to paint for 30 days straight....I'm loving it!   I start my weekly Wednesday Morning Class at the Beach Art Center, it will be great to see all the "snow-birds".  I have several new designs for them to try out"....most of them don't know it that I use this class to "practice teach",  the projects that I will be submitting to various traveling teaching classes. Thanks Guys! Daily Paintworks Auction starting Jan. 9th Click here to place your bid.