PILLOW TALK

Some art projects are more fun than others, especially those done with grandchildren. The pillows shown here were created by our eight year old and three five year old grandkids.

If you go to http://thatartistwoman.blogspot.com/ you'll find some great ideas from a Canadian artist named Gail. She adds detailed info in her various blogs about how to create unique art with children, including this batiky look done with washable glue.





















First, the kids 'drew' and wrote whatever they desired on their pillows with Elmer's blue washable glue. After it dried thoroughly, they painted the pillows with fluid acrylics diluted with water. Once the pillows were dry, we washed them in very warm water to remove the glue. They were really pleased with the results and are working on banners now.

Thank you so much, Gail, for sharing your projects and instructions on your blog. The kids loved it and did a great job at cleaning up too.

YUPO - SOUP'S ON

They say if you don't like the weather around here, stick around. It'll change in an hour or so. Very true, too. We had no class this morning because of icy roads, and now our Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society meeting is cancelled for tomorrow morning, too. Whine.

Painting with friends can be very inspiring, even though many say that making art is a solitary venture. The artistic energy in a class can create synergy, making each artist even better at what they do. At least, that's been my observation.

Today has been a day of quiet along with cleaning the studio. I manage to put that off as long as possible but had to make my way there to clean today. Even the holiday things still needed to be stored away.

This winter scene is from the archives, created from several of my photos combined together, and painted on my favorite surface, YUPO. Thank goodness we don't have that much snow right now.

"SOUP'S ON" Transparent Watercolor on YUPO 26 x 18" COLLECTED

GESSO AND WATERCOLOR

Before YUPO 'paper' was available, painting on gesso-ed watercolor paper seemed like the best thing going, at least in my opinion. Even after the paint dried, it was very easy to lift it off, almost back to white, and the colors also appeared more intense after they'd dried on the gesso-ed surface.

The birches in this ten year old painting were lifted out with a thirsty brush, as were the highlights in the stream and some of the highlights on the stone bridge. Now days, gesso is often used to resurface a painting-gone-bad. Some artists paint several layers of gesso over the old painting, sanding the surface lightly between coats of gesso. Some like the brush strokes showing in the gesso, and some artists like to create textures purposely on the wet gesso, even stamping or embossing items into the damp gesso. It's great that anything goes. Give it a try.

"HOMEWARD BOUND" Transparent Watercolor on Gesso-ed 140#CP Arches 20 x 14" COLLECTED

HOMETOWN

Recent posts have been from my archives of paintings from the last 20 years, and here's another one. In my hometown there's a city park with a creek running through it which is lined with huge Sycamore trees. An old covered bridge was moved from somewhere in the county and rebuilt across the creek, creating a scene often painted by local artists.

This painting was done with a traditional watercolor approach, background first, then middle ground, then foreground, working on the largest areas before smaller ones. Miskit was applied to the Sycamore branches and lightest part of the trunk, as well as the bridge roof and snow covered rocks in the stream, before painting anything. A limited palette of colors was also used to help create a sense of unity and simplicity in all the tangle of branches.

"WILDCAT CREEK" Transparent Watercolor on 140#CP Arches 110 x 22" COLLECTED