Update on my Painting Journey
As you know, I took up painting for the first time in my life 2 years ago. Mind you, I am a newbie at art. I started taking acrylic classes when my daughter went off to college. There are days when I put a lot of paint on a canvas and it is disastrous. Other days I paint, step back and think, it’s okay. Rarely do I love it.
My art teacher and dear friend, Joann Augur just wrapped up a 4 week session on using different application techniques. One class we took very watery acrylic paint and a paper towel and dabbed color all over the canvas. Then we painted in a vase and added flower details. It was such a fun class! I loved the randomness of it because I had no idea where the paints would take me. Using the same technique with different colors, I produced two totally different images.
It is so helpful to take photos of the paintings….with the one below I need to work on the vase. I didn’t notice the distortion until I posted this picture.
For our 2016 Christmas card, I painted this snow scene. I donated the original for a charitable event. My husband was disappointed that I had given it away, so I painted another one (a larger version) just for him.
This colorful landscape STILL NEEDS WORK~the mountains are wrong (no life, flat). It is a rather large painting and IF I can get it just right, I will frame and hang it.
My friend Janie, who is an accomplished artist recently convinced me to sign up for a few oil painting classes at Scottsdale Artists School. Painting with oils is completely different. Acrylic paints dry very quickly and are water soluble. Oils take days to dry. It sounded so intimidating. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
The first oil class I took focused on painting blue and white vases. The teacher, Nancy Chaboun, is extremely talented. She creates live settings for you to paint.
Dah-DA…..my very first oil painting!
My second class (which is the first in a series of 3) is focused on painting still life. Here is the setting Nancy created.
Below is my painting. I took some creative license with it. Painting flowers is hard work. The few times I have painted roses then end up looking like peonies.
Yesterday, was the second still life class. We learned about painting glass and metal…silver, bronze, brass. Our setting included rich tones, a brass pot and colorful sunflowers and oranges.
And here is my painting. I am not sure if I am done with it yet….
I feel much more comfortable with acrylic, but I am learning (slowly) the nuances of oil paints. The good news is I am L.E.A.R.N.I.N.G and meeting some incredibly talented people along the way.
I hope you enjoyed my show & tell…..Practice makes perfect so I am wishing for a summer filled with paints and canvases!
Are you learning something new?
Happy Friday!
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Gorgeous paintings! Each and every one of them are amazing and I would not have guessed that you are just a novice painter. I love that you’re taking up oil painting, can’t wait to see what you create! My favorite is the blue and white vase, by the way. Love it!
Thank you. Yesterday was the last class in the 3-series still life painting with oils. I really don’t like what I painted. My roses look like poinsettias! However, I will not look at it for a few days and try my hand in making it better. As much as I am enjoying learning something new, it’s harder when you are older!
Oh really? But it looks so good! I understand on wanting to improve though, after all, only we know where can do better so I hope you are able to get it the way you want it. 🙂
Don’t be so hard on yourself. These are beautiful!!!
Thank you!!
Beautiful job!!!!
Thank you!
I am very impressed with you work, Mary. I’ve tried water colors on a small scale through a friend who is very talented. I would also say that you have talent, What I am most impressed with is your attitude about learning new things. Learning is always up and down, forward and back, but you embrace the whole of it., letting it take you where it will. Thank you for sharing your journey.
I’m off on one of my own – back to school!
Mary you are a talent. And you have great mentors. Please keep it up!. Shelley Caniglia
I cannot tell you how much I love your painting! I think YOU are incredibly talented. Your work is infused with happy optimism–just like you! Wow. And I display that Christmas card every year.
You are so KIND!….I must admit there is always a bit of trepidation before I put the paint brush to the canvas. But, like gardening, once I start painting I don’t think of anything else. Of course, I didn’t share the really bad ones!! 🙂
“ Play is the answer to how anything new comes about”
Very proud of you ! You are a joy to have in class and I love seeing what you accomplish each week!!
It is because of your encouragement and sweet feedback that I keep going. You know, as well as anyone, that some of my attempts are pathetic. But instead of getting discouraged, I will keep trying. Cannot wait for your next class.