Summer Landscape with Blue Flowers (Senior Citizen Painting Class)

What a treat to guide these wonderful senior citizens through an oil painting!

This was our 6th time to teach OLLI students.  Click HERE to see the others.

Everyone of them did such a good job with their landscapes!

Yes, it's a lot of work to get prepared for teaching an OLLI class, but it's all worth it when the students come in.  My teaching partner Julie and I couldn't have been prouder!

Favorite moment... One of the participants thought I looked familiar and we discovered why. I had her daughter in my 4th grade class about 30 years ago!!  Of course I remembered her!  She texted her daughter who texted back some specific happy memories she had from that year with me. Oh, happy sigh...

Oil painting on 11"x 14" Wrapped Canvas

Click Summer Landscape with Blue Flowers if you'd like to purchase my example painting.

Paint-iversary - 16 Years since that first painting - Square/Squiggle Self Portrait-ish

Years ago there was a teachers' professional development activity which involved a personality test.

We were told to imagine a circle... then a triangle... then a squiggle... then a square.  

After a time, we were instructed to focus on the one that we most naturally related to.

Then they had each group stand up in turn.

*** So many squiggles hopped up, laughing and talking about irrelevant things, pointing at friends both sitting and standing.

*** Quite a few triangles scattered across the auditorium stood up. They were working out the rules and checking out the others, making sure it was all being done correctly.
*** Lots of circles took their turn to stand. They were hugging and making sure everyone was happy, walking across aisles to greet other circles and smiling at non-circle friends.

*** Then it was time for the squares... and the weirdest, most uncomfortable thing happened. There was only a smattering of us across the room... like the superintendent, some principals, me... (Of course the circles were cooing that it was alright, the squiggles thought it was hilarious, and the triangles were working out whether it had been done right.) The few of us stood up, looked around, then sat back down.

Okay, so the point of personality tests is supposed to be that you see the value in every type, that we need all kinds, that there are positives for every one.

It doesn't matter which "test" is given - (I'm the lion in the lion-otter-golden retriever- beaver one.  I'm red in the blue-red-green-yellow one.  I'm the pointed lipstick in the lipstick one.) - I suppose we are who we are.

Not long after that, I started painting. On February 22, 2007 I painted a tree.  I couldn't believe I'd done it!  It looked like a tree!  I was so proud.

To say that art has changed my life is not and understatement.  It's simply the truth.

I know that I'll always be that "square" or "lion" or "red" or "pointy lipstick" girl.  I've tried to embrace that.  (The world needs a few of us or things would never get done!) But, I think art has caused some of those corners to round, brought some value to the squiggly.

On this 16th anniversary and my 650th painting, perhaps a self-portrait-ish painting could celebrate that.

Part of the idea for my painting came from the Willowing Arts Class I'm taking on-line this year.  The teacher (Tamara LaPorte) guided through the painting of this lovely blue haired fairy.

Tam also guided us through a wonderful playing-with-supplies exercise before beginning the blue haired girl.  

I have to admit that the "square" in me came out on this one.  The idea was to simply enjoy playing with paint and shapes and color.  (Such a squiggle thing to do.)  I know I missed the point with more of an okay- let's-get-this-done attitude. Ha ha ha

My word for the weekly-ish art challenge, by the way, was "Squares."  I'm pretty sure my work took a completely different direction than my partner expected!

Original Acrylic Painting on 11"x 14" Wrapped Canvas

[NFS at this time]

A Boy & a Hen... Friends

This boy has been feeding chickens from that step since before he could walk.

My heart...

The chickens know he's the one who's very generous with treats!

"Friendship" was the topic for my weekly-ish art challenge. They're good friends, this boy and these chicks.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

[NFS]

Buttons

"Buttons" was chosen as the February subject for a little creative group I'm working with this year. What a pleasure it was to spend time considering what buttons mean to me.

My painting came together quickly. I picked out some fabric, buttons, needle & thread. I set up a tiny still life, snapped some reference photos, and painted it.

The companion piece, however, consumed my thoughts for a few days.

I found a photo of Grandma Powell (wearing a dress with buttons down the front).

I found a photo of Grandma Tallent (wearing a dress with buttons down the front).

I found the photo of Great Granny MacReynolds (wearing a dress with buttons down the front.)

I found photos of Mom at different ages (wearing buttons).

I found a photo of Mom with her sisters (all wearing buttons).

When I get to the top of the stairs and open the door to my painting/sewing/crafting room, the first thing I see is this treasured work of art... okay... it's a stack of fishing tackle boxes. But, it's filled with those buttons.

My grandmothers were quilters.

My mother sewed everything we wore.  I think she probably sewed nearly every day of her life (...Except Sundays. She didn't sew on Sundays.) She was a Home Ec teacher for many years and taught many other girls (and boys once Title IX came to be) how to sew.

I kept most of the things in her sewing room, and I enjoy using them.

But the buttons... oh... I played with them as a little kid, sorting them, arranging them. I loved them and "knew" them. Once they were mine, I cleaned the cases, cleaned the buttons, organized them, and put them where I could enjoy seeing them every day.

Original Oil Painting on 5"x 7" Wrapped Canvas

[GIFT]

I Like Thursday 2/23

Thank you to Leeanne of Not Afraid of Color for reminding me to notice things I like. 

I like our newest granddaughter who surprised us
 and joined the family 5 weeks early!
We love her so!

I like working the log splitter.
Holding a lever is sure a far cry from swinging an ax.
(Not that I've ever swung an ax...)

I like having all the firewood we'll need...
for years it looks like!

I like the pretty little eggs my pretty little hens lay.

I like Welcome Home Retreat...
a whole weekend filled with art, friends, food, and relaxation.

I like the SIX paintings I finished during our art weekend retreat.

I like having a nice fluffy snow
and knowing I don't have to go anywhere.

I like watching the cardinals come out when the ground is white.

LeeAnne gave several other prompts to think about. 
Here are a few quick answers to them:

Do you use a calendar? digital? like it? wall? brand? diary? desk? system to remember things?

I look at my Google calendar every single day.. I've got it color coded for different types of events, appointments, or reminders. I can see it on my phone, my tablet, or my computer. If something is not on the calendar... well, it just doesn't exist.

Do you make lists? how? phone? scrap of paper? what kinds of things? does it work?
I live by my lists.  There's something so satisfying about checking something off a list. I use Google Tasks.  I have 5 different lists that I can toggle to, but there are three that I look at every single day, multiple times each day. 1st - Daily - the 9 things I want to be sure I do each day. 2nd - To Do - The things that need to be done, met, taken care of 3rd - Reminders - Things that repeat (monthly or yearly for example)

I also have checklists on Google Keep.  These keep me on track, streamlined, and organized for specific things. The top three most used would be - Grocery List. House Cleaning List. Packing for Travel List.

What are your favorite colors?
Green & Purple - my favorite color combination.  If there is some turquoise or aqua mixed in, that's even better.

What do you like about Valentine's Day?
For all the years I was a teacher, Valentine's Day was a huge deal.  The kids loved opening each little card. There was always a party with cupcakes and so much excitement.  And there were always pretty boxes of chocolates for the teacher... me!  I'd have half a dozen or more of those heart shaped chocolate boxes. I might have a confession... I may have stuck my thumb in the back of those chocolates to see what was inside and eat the good ones first. 

Fish Tessellation

I was tasked to paint "Repetition" for my weekly-ish art challenge.

The possibilities for that topic were endless... yet it took the muse (You know the muse... the one who you just can't always count on when you need her.) took 6 days to show up! 

Good thing my challenge partner and I meet up on a loose weekly-ISH basis instead of a hard weekly schedule!

I think I know a sweet little guy who's about to turn one and about to move into a new house who might need some fishies on his new bedroom wall. 

Original Acrylic Painting on 11"x 14" Wrapped Canvas

[GIFT]

Valentine Gnomes

Just a happy little Valentine painting for my weekly-ish painting challenge. That was our word this time. "Valentine."

Thanks to Step By Step Painting with Tracie Kiernan for an easy and fun painting lesson.

Acrylic Painting on 5"x 7" Canvas Board.

Click Valentine Gnomes if you'd like to purchase this little painting.

Mixed Media from Welcome Home Retreat Weekend

Watercolor, colored pencils, pens...

This purple-haired girl is wondering what is happening with my art style these days!

I'm not sure whether I'm having an art growth spurt, an art skill setback, or an art mid-life crisis! 

Torn bits of paper, stamps, bubble wrap blots, pen, acrylics, written words...

It's either a mess or a piece that you want to zoom in for a closer look.

I'm taking part in Life Book 2023 with WillowingArts, 30 different teachers from around the world with lessons each week.  

Who knows what will be next!

Collage papers, stencils and paint...

Weird how drawing and painting a person that's not really a specific portrait always ends up with bits of myself looking out from the paper. (Not the fish-scale looking forehead!)

Layers of cut colored paper, dabs of paint, white ink...

How does a frustrating mess of color blobs gel into a favorite with a few white doodles?

My art partners and I drove to Welcome Home Retreat in Weatherford, Texas for weekend.  We were creative and productive in the relaxed atmosphere they provide there.

Experiment - "Painting" with Fabric

Well, This is different!

I have some friends who are real-live serious quilters, and I know they sometimes have a look at my blog posts.  When I see the precision in their angles and straight lines... Well, I'll just say that I'm not in competition there.   I'm more of a play-around-with-fabric-sometimes kind of girl. 

A while ago, one of those amazing quilter friends, LeeAnne,  posted an image of a landscape done with fabric scraps.  I was mesmerized and went back to look at it again and again. (You can see it HERE.) With a little advice and encouragement from her, I started placing scraps of color.

This is what I see when I stand beside my mailbox.  I love seeing that huge gorgeous tree in every season. It served as my inspiration for this experiment of painting with fabric.

My weekly-ish challenge was "Standing."  I was reminded of this Advice from a Tree... Stand Tall and Proud.

Warm Winter Evening

I was challenged to paint "What Winter Means to Me"

First I made a list:

Hot soup on the stove

Cardinals in the snow
Warm quilt on the bed
Fires in the fireplace 

Pajama pants 

Turkey & dressing

I've painted cardinals in the snow several times before, and I've even painted hot soup once. 

As I was setting up for a to take photo for reference, of course Buff Kitty had to lay on the quilt and act cute.  I decided not to fight it.  He could be in the painting too. 

He had different ideas about the best pose.

Original Oil painting on 10"x 10" Wrapped Canvas

[NFS at this time]

I Like Thursday (1/23)

Thank you to Leeanne of Not Afraid of Color for reminding me to notice things I like. 

I like a quiet evening beside the fire...
So does the cat. He's mesmerized...

...even when there's no fire burning!

I like having a sewing project that lets me use up scraps.
When my grandson asked if I could make him a superhero cape, I was on it!

Little sister would need one too, of course.

I like traveling to visit a niece three states away and seeing my paintings on her wall. 

These were done in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2017

I like making dressing for Christmas dinner.
Leading up to that there has to be suppers with hot soup and cornbread;
The left over cornbread makes goes into the dressing. 
This year, for fun I tried some cheesy-corn-chive corn muffins
and some jalapeno-chive corn muffins. 
A+ Exceeded expectations!

I like the way all the cardinals show up when it snows. 
(I wonder where they all hang out when it's not snowing!)

I like the guy who keeps birdseed in the feeders.

I like that every year I hang stockings on the N.O.E.L hangers,
and every year someone changes them to spell L.E.O.N.
(That's why our Elf on the Shelf is names Leona!)

LeeAnne gave several other prompts to think about. 

Here are a few quick answers to them.

favorite holiday movie or show to watch 

Classic - It's a Wonderful Life 

Contemporary - The Grinch 

favorite Christmas cookie or treat....

Bought - A Zero candy bar 

Home Made - Chex Mix

favorite songs.... 

Church - Silent Night 

Secular - Another Tennessee Christmas

YouTube videos...  

SkyArt Portrait Artist of the Year

SkyArt Landscape Artist of the Year

Did you ever participate in holiday shows?

I've sung in The Messiah a couple of times.

Do you attend any musical theatrical events each year? 

Our church has special music each year.

Are there any songs you do not like? 

There's always the option to switch to another station or fast forward.

Do any songs bring up memories of times from the past?

Oh, my goodness yes!  Doesn't every song have a memory attached?

What songs do you know by heart?

Well, this one is a problem.  I have a condition called "dyslyricia" (It's like dyslexia is a real issue for words and letters, dyscalculia is a real problem for numbers and math) And, yes, I did make up the word dyslyricia because it's a real thing for me!  Me and lyrics... it's sad... or hilarious depending on how you look at it.

Is there anything you'd like to try or to learn this coming year? Some new art technique? A new hobby to try? 

I've signed up for LifeBook 2023.  There will be 80+ on-line art lessons by 30 different teachers.  There will be collage, drawing, watercolor, and every other art thing that I'm neither comfortable with nor good at.  

A place to visit?

To be determined.  

A challenge to face?

Always. I love a good challenge (in the art room, in the kitchen, in the garden...)