Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

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.