Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

I don't believe this, but my COMPUTER CRASHED again! Had to have a new hard drive!!! Well I guess Santa came early......was hoping for a kayak!!!!! Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Just got my computer back from the doctor! It crashed last week........of course I lost everything, I do have most pictures on a back up! Dick is starting to up load all the programs so hopefully I will be back in operation in a few days. We go to Ohio next week so most of the program stuff is there........Will keep you posted!

11x14 Watercolor on paper This is a very good friends Granddaughters.......22 years apart.....

6" x 6" Watercolor on Paper This will be the second project for Make It Take It Fridays at the Beach Art Center. We will also be doing a few "Zentangles".

6" x 6" Watercolor on Paper This little painting will be our first project for "Make it - Take it Fridays". The Beach Art Center is experiencing (as most art centers) a few cut backs from our grants! So, being the creative people that we are! Starting in January we are offering a class for the person who wants to try their hand at making art, but don't want to commit to a 4 or 6 week class. All supplies ( painting surface, paints, written step by step instructions, a color mixing guide, a photograph of the finished piece and the loan of brushes) will be included in the project packet! All you have to do is call the art center and register for the class! We're also working on a program designed for groups that are looking for a fun outing that includes lunch!

My friend Brenda De la Mora is now a certified teacher for Zentangle! What is Zentangle? It is an easy to learn method of creating images from repetutive patterns. A new art form that is for everyone who loves to doodle. If you google Zentangle you will come up with a millon sites. Check them out! Of course being the watercolor person that I am, I have to add color! Here are a few of my beginning exercises! These little guys are in my sketch book about 2"x2".......what fun! Plus it gets you into the "zone". It's a great warm up exercise, especially when you've been out of touch with your creative side for an extended period of time.

It's been a crazy time since we returned from Colorado for the month of September. Our condo in Florida has major water damage from the apartment above, we have "Black Mold"! What a mess! We're in Florida trying to deal with this problem, so far they had to remove everything including the wall board. We're waiting for the condo association and insurance to decide who pays for what!!!!

7" x 5" Oil on Panel

11x14 Oil on Canvas Board Yesterday I joined the open studio at the Columbus Cultural Art Center. I attended classes there about 20 years ago. A couple of artist that were there then was in the class. What a wonderful surprise. They've moved to the second floor and the natural light is unbelieveable! So I signed up for the afternoon open studio, so now I get to stay all day. I started this from a photograph that I had set up in the studio, then I came home and finished it this morning. Nothing like the real thing for the wonderful colors.

4x4 Oil on Board The photo doesn't show the storm clouds very well, but I was surprised how I made rain by dry brushing down from the clouds. I hope to work on landscape this summer as we are going to Colorado for the month of September. The landscape is unbelievable ............

4" x 4" Oil on Board This was painted from a photograph of Carol's in our Wednesday afternoon class with the Pumfrey's.........We finally made it back to Ohio from Florida.......just had to take time to paint today! Since the weather is Ohio Gray!Yuk! Welcome back gift for the next 5 days!!!!!

Jude getting a little breeze out by the pool. What a beautiful day.....

Miss Haddie, age 1, but going on 15......her mimi purchased her the new sun glasses and she loved them, except she wanted to keep them on all day!!! She's a cutie!!! We had a fun day at the pool at our hotel, then Nana make fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy! WOW! Brittney's favorite dinner. The new baby is soooo handsome, he sure does eat a lot.

The above paintings were done by Wendy Thorn in the Wednesday Watercolor Class at the Beach Art Center. We spent the month of April learning Mark Polomchak watercolor techniques for doing landscapes and water. Mark is a wonderful teacher, he produced a video a couple of years ago and it really shows some wonderful techniques. As most of my students know I don't do very many landscapes. Wendy really worked hard on studying Marks techniques and of course you can see she was very successful. Next season I expect to see lots of landscape painting from the summer! It was a great season and I will miss all of you guys! Have a great summer! Keep me posted on your progress.

4x4 Oil on Board Of course, another Dune painting from Pass-a-Grill. I've sold two of them! Maybe I'll become a Dune Painter?

This is my new great grandson........my granddaughter Brittney had a wonderful Easter Day present.......Now this really makes me feel old....number 2!

4x4 Oil on Board Last summer for my birthday my friend Sheila, took me to her "cabin" in Canada. We had a week of painting and playing. I took so many pictures that I will be able to paint for a 100 years. I seem to have more success with the little landscape so I think I will continue working on these little guys for a while.

4x4 on Oil Canvas This is a nice little painting of the dunes in Pass a Grill, but I painted it on a canvas board and it has way too much texture......no more small painting on canvas.

4x4 Oil on Board After a couple of "wipe outs" on Wednesday in the Pumfrey's class.....I was bummed ! Just couldn't do anything right....so yesterday at open studio I decided to paint small.....less time invested for a wipe out. Finished this little guy this morning.....I also used water mixable oils. They're a little stiff but once I added the medium, it went on pretty good.

8x10 Oil on Canvas Board I'm still painting! Last week was Paint the town in St. Petersburg . It was a wonderful week of painting every day with Judy & Larry Pumfrey . We went to Pass a Grill 2 days and over to Salt Creek on Friday. I had several wipe outs, but I learned a lot. The weekend before we had a 2 day workshop on Plein Aire Painting with Judy & Larry also, I got a couple of good starts but I need to go back to the Garden at Hertiage Village, maybe this Friday Morning. The paintings from Paint the Town are in the Finn Gallery on 4 th St. until April 19. I can't tell you how wonderful this show is, it really makes me know how much work I have ahead to get up to where I would like to be in my painting in Plein Aire !

All I can say is WOW! David A. Leffel did a demo at Longboat Key Art Center, this was the third day of his workshop.......couldn't afford it, but just couldn't miss seeing the master at work. It was wonderful, he is the best! Also I purchased his book (out of print from 2003) from Gallery M in Sarasota, they had one of his paintings. So I got it signed and he was just a gem......thanked me for coming and purchasing his book. I've had the opportunity to see several pieces in Galleries out west and let me tell you they are just awesome!!! This has made my year!!!

8x10 Oil on Panel I have a collection of photographs from a local park that has an annual re enactment every spring. This was one of my favorite photos......just loved this little guy.....you may see him in a painting again!

11"x 14" Watercolor on paper This photo was taken while we were in Ohio over the holidays......we live on 40 acres of woods so it was a winter wonderland......had to paint it! I just love the reflection in the small creek in back of the house.

10"x10" Watercolor on Paper

22" x 30" Watercolor on Paper

4"x4" Oil on Gesso Board Painted this in the open studio class at the art center. Great fun! I decided to work on a few close up views of flowers. Of course, I only have 5 million pictures!!!!

4"x4" Oil on Board I painted this one in Judy & Larry's class yesterday. The board needed more gesso, the paint became very tacky.

4" x 4" Oil on Board This painting was painted from a photograph from a workshop a couple of years ago with Church Marshall, a wonderful teacher and artist. Of course, I have a bunch of landscape photos that I've been taking over the past years. So here's to finally getting to them!

4" x 4" Oil on Board As most of you know I don't like doing landscape, but I've decided for my new challenge, paint more landscape. The St. Pete Plein Aire "Paint the Town" is coming up in April, so here's hoping I will get more experience, so I'm not so intimidated.

Making a Mark: Art in 2008 - A Review (Part 2) This is a wonderful art blog.....it's all about the art business, especially with what's happening in this tough market. I discover this link from Karin Juricks site, she's a faithful reader and I can see why. As most of you know I talk about Karin's work and what has made her so successful. It's about hard work, painting daily, because if you paint everyday you will get better! Remember the old saying "Practice makes Perfect". Speaking of Karin check out her blog ( http://karinjurick.blogspot.com , she's having a show at Morris Whiteside in Hilton Head in March......I may have to go visit my friend Julie, or maybe Shelia will be in Charleston. If you haven't visited Karins blog......you need too!