Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

Answer: The one in the middle! I've been tagged, so I have to tell 5 things about myself. 1. My oldest granddaughter (23) is having a baby due March 20 th , so that makes me a great grandmother! Oh! My! 2. I was born in Kermit, West Virginia, yes like the frog. 3. I started painting after having Breast Cancer 20 years ago! Sometime things happen for a reason. 4. I had a TV Painting Watercolor Show in Columbus, Ohio, that ran for 8 years on Educational TV 28. 5. I have authored two "Step by Step" Painting Books. Today I will be at the St. Pete Art Market.....so I should have a couple of painting to post tomorrow.

6 x 6 Oil on Canvas Board This little guy was painted in one hour! I totally surprised myself. After a day of lecture, watching both Karin Jurick & Carol Marine demo we had about an hour to paint a small "Daily Painting". We were all in the "zone" after all that inspiration!

6 x 6 Oil on Canvas Board One of the most valuable exercise that we did at workshop with Karin Jurick & Carol Marine was this exercise where we did three small painting with only Burnt Umber, one we had 40 minutes to complete, one we had 15 minutes and last one was only 5 minutes. Can you pick which is which? I'll post the answer tomorrow. As I have read many many times in various art books, if you get the value right the color doesn't matter! Well what do you think.

I've been so busy with "ah ha" moments, I haven't even thought of taking pictures of my own paintings. I can truly say this has been one of those "Things" that happens on your "Art Journey" that is a major step in the way you think about painting and the way you execute it! It's like Carol & Karin have flipped on another circuit breaker in my brain!

Can you see and feel the joy?

Carol's demo was really good......what wonderful brush strokes!!!! It truly is about value and shape....if you get these two right....the painting will work. Carol looks at the still life thru a view finder, studies the shape/value, then does the stroke....I don't remember who said it but "if you get the color right, the value will be right". Her demo was right on.......another day in painter's heaven, with a bunch of new girlfriends and Mark.

A few pic's from Day 2!!! WOW!! So much information, what a learning experience! It's been such a great workshop! It's like they both have opened up the right side of their brain and we got to visit.....In the am we did value studies one 40 minutes, one 15 minutes and the last 5....quess which one most of us did the best? Wrong! the 5 minute one!!!!!! So much fun. The top photo was Karin's "Spring Man"..... it truly was a "AH Ha" moment. What a neat way to describe form........the second pic is Carol modeling for Karin......next was Karin's Demo of the a Bus Stop figure......then the final Figure..........