Hello,

New SALE in my SHOP from Aug 31 - Sept 7th midnight. Save 20% with code FIRSTSALE.

So thank you for visiting, and hope you enjoy the many art tips in my BLOG, and paintings in my SHOP and just feel blessed while you hang around awhile.

Joanie

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Sept Theme: What's Your Morning Ritual?

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Let your mind wander.....from your favorite brunches to your daily eyes close make your coffee routine. Think up different ways to create a painting out of this theme...... Classes begin next week (we are taking Labor Day week off for a bit of R & R.)
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AUG Theme: Nature Studies

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Greetings my artsy friends, I announced last week that our next theme is Garden and Nature....well here's a bit more of a specific spin on it to get your creative juices flowing. Vines, trunks and branches! And do I have an album of inspiration for us all. Up in the Seattle area, my daughter and I visited a Bonsai exhibit and a Rhododendron Jungle. Oh my, the richness and beauty. The very Breath of Nature. Loads of pictorial inspiration. A quick little ink drawing this morning on mixed media paper with some graphite finger smudges to add some value. I  am proposing Ink for our medium then adding softness with either watercolor or chalk pastel for some evocative backgrounds. But per usual for all my classes, I offer the prompt, and you and your Muse decide on which direction you want to take this. Come join us.....openings in Wednesday AM Zoom classes. 10am to noon California time. Or receive the videos and send me your weekly project for feedback all on your own time.  More on my c
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Tartan Plaids and my First Improvisational Quilt

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I scored this collection of Tartan plaids. All wool, close to 8 x 12 inch pieces. They each had two little holes where they had been on a sampler pack. I was entranced by these plaids.....and just knew that if I continued to percolate with ideas, one would come to the fore.  It did. I began to slice and dice...to give it a more modern look. As is, the plaid reminded me of parochial school uniforms. LOL. I LOVE the wonky curvy stripes, don't you? Then i started laying them out....not sure what the heck I was going to do with these. And these were just little bits of scraps to insert whereever needed. You can tell I am struggling here....but I finally went to bed, very discouraged, only to wake up in the morning with a brainstorm. It needed a cohesive idea, some Unity - and for me that was a centerpiece.  This central concept is called a Log Cabin....so here's my rather wild improv on that. You can see where I inserted those little scrappy color bits. Adds a bit of charm I think.
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A quilt I call JOINING

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Well, this was just plain fun. Kind of a pattern, kind of not. Called a split bulls eye.  I collected a bunch of scraps, cut circles of 3 sizes layered them up on pieces of denim and sewed them together only to do what quilters do cut them up AGAIN and reassemble then sew them up. I did add quite a bit of meandering machine quilting to start, but then went to town with my hand stitching which i LOVE LOVE LOVE to do. It's a meditation. So here she is - a beautiful and Warm couch quilt. Winter time divine. For me, I call it JOINING. A palm thimble that i made and then had to reinforce with leather. Artists hands, LOL.Looks like matte medium to me.  My favorite part - after the wash, the crinkly shrinkage beautiful rumples. No perfection, points matching needed. Let it Be! Thanks for stopping by.  If you enjoyed this post, please share it with an artsy friend. Be Creative. It's Good for the Soul! Blessings, Joanie To subscribe to this newsletter, Simply click here ! If you enjoy
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Oranges and Violets

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Well, this work is from May, but who cares? Color is color is color and always so fun to observe. Raima B  
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JULY THEME - Pet Portraits - wild or domestic, you choose

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Hello Creative Friends My artists were challenged in June, but in a good way, as I offered instruction as to how to Get Resemblance in our portraits. Thats tricky stuff. But it doesn't mean we can't also be expressive at the same time. Its not Either/Or. Realistic OR Expressive. For instance....I taught how to get the proportions between the eyes and nose. Once you have that, well.....the mouth is much easier to place.  I will get some of my students paintings and studies and create a post soon. Amazing work was done....using several different techniques. There was truly something for everyone...beginners to more experienced. But lets talk now about What's Next! Most animals are earthy in color, but we will be mixing Earthy with a Pop of Color .  Here are a few of my paintings and as you can see, Animals can be Colorful! ....remember, I am a cat lady, thats why I paint them often, but I also love me some owls, and plenty of other animals. All animals of the kingdom are gr
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June Theme: Painting our Ancestors

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Well, really we will be combining a few things this coming month of June. Using all our newly acquired and well-practiced color mixing, with our beautiful array of NEUTRALS we will be painting vintage folks, pets, even houses. Something for everyone. This dear woman is an ancestor of mine but I haven't a clue who she is. My aunt had this photo and a few others in her photo box. Forever a mystery - but I love her! And that happened AFTER I painted her. I was seriously going to toss the photo when I couldn't identify her. There is truly something magical about painting ones own ancestors.
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— Design out of the FlyBird's Box.—