Daisy Jar 4

Continuing to build up the darks and work on the jar. I'm not sure about the checked cloth at this point.. we'll see where that goes. Still working capture that feeling of light in the daisies and glass. I think I might put this aside for a day or to and work on the next fruit and crystal one...a re-do of a pears and crystal. This time in a larger size for the print people.

I sent off a packet to a gallery in NY that requested some slides and information. I've never really worked with a gallery before, and I hope I sent the right information. I already feel I didn't send enough slides. Funny how just sending information to NY can make me feel like a country bumpkin LOL I'm not really, I grew up right outside Washington, DC and now live in Charlotte (which while not a big city, does hold it's own :)) There just something about "new york gallery" that can strike fear in the heart of an artist! Please keep your fingers crossed for me... maybe they will like my work, even if I didn't have the packet just right.

Watermelon Art

Just shows, art comes in all shapes, sizes and mediums! I wish I knew the artists, but this was sent to me in a forwarded email...I have no clue where it originated, but wanted to share.

Daisy Jar 3

sorry the photo came out a little whopsided on this one!

I consider this painting to be in the ugly adolescent stage.. all my painting seem to go through this. Just have to grit my teeth and keep painting and hope it all turns out okay in the end. Working on adding darks to the leaves, starting to work on the jar and shadows. Darkened the back ground and added shadows to the daisy petals.

Pentecost, A. Wythe,tempera, 1965

A few weeks ago, Dev and I went had dinner with some of our fellow rock enthusiasts. It was a wonderful evening of good food and better company. Our host is an avid collector of minerals..museum quality. He has a stunning collection. However, while the other guests were ooooing and ahhing over the rocks, I was blown away by what they had over their couch. It was a signed Andrew Wythe print of fishing nets blowing in the wind. I am sure I have seen the painting in books, but seeing it full size just stopped me in my tracks. I must have stared at it for 10 mins.. it was like having a painting class to be able to see the painting so close. I tried not to leave any nose prints on the glass!

Daisy jar 2

Have the first layer on the stems and the cloth painted. Next will be the daisy centers and some of the shadows. Shadows on white flowers are always tricky.. keep your fingers crossed for me.

Dev and I just finished two weekends of rock and gem shows. One in Charlotte (our home club) and one in Asheville. I couldn't believe how "arty" Asheville has become since I was a kid. I enjoy the shows and meeting people, but I am glad to be home and excited that tomorrow is my painting day! (after filling orders, and vacuuming.. ah the life of an artist is so glamorous!

The Daisy Jar - Drawing

Drawing on paper.. photo darkened so you can see the lines. Painting the stems through the glass should be an interesting challenge!

Grapes and Crystal II - finished

This is another in my series of fruit and crystal. Didn't take progress pics...sorry! If you would like to see a larger image and a close up, you can see them
here.. just click.

Trying something a little different and working on a seascape next! I'll try to get progress pics of that one.

Didn't do progress shots on this one. I love the shape of calla lilies and did this a break from an new crystal still life I have been working on.

All done...

All done and have it up on the website if anyone is interested :) Working on a grapes and crystal painting. Hopefully I will be doing a step by step of it also.

Just click here to visit the website

I got a new quilter's sewing machine for my birthday and took a little time off from painting to play with it. So much fun...a different kind of creative. Here is a jacket I just finished:

almost done

Finally...another step! This is getting close to done. I need to darken the markings on the petals and maybe a few more edges here and there. Soften the edges where I removed the masking. That's about it. I have an idea for a new painting and I am anxious to get to it!

Rhodie 4

I finally had some time to work on the petals...using quin. magenta and trying to let it go with the flow. My students and I have been working with a book by Roland roycroft, WATERCOLORS WITH LIGHT AND COLOR. I can't find this on on amazon anymore, but you might want to check ebay.

My book of the month this month is Transparent Watercolor Wheel by Jim Kosvanec. I have two copies of this book, because I ripped pages out of the first one to post on my wall near my painting table! It has the best information about watercolor apinting and how and why it does what it does.

I'll try to get pictures of the new studio (AKA the former guestroom) some time this week.

Rhodie Three

And beginning to work on the leaves and stems.

Did I tell you all I have the honor of being one of the featured artists on www.watercolorpainting.com this season? Very cool!

Rhodie Two

Working on the background..trying to keep it loose. This is a wet on wet and salt technique.



Here's a close up of the background.

Fall Leaves Watercolor

Hello out there in blogland! I haven't forgotten the rhodie, just wanted to share this painting of fall leaves. I did it as a demonstration in a class on texture last night. Lots of spraying and layers. You can see close ups and a larger version in the website gallery.

I also added a page on painting textures in watercolor to the website on the step by step page:
http://www.ejmstudios.com/site/watercolor-step-by-step.htm

Yes, my thumb is still prussian blue!

Went to the library today and got two books on tape. I listen to them when I paint and when I walk. I think I have funded several new purchases for the library with all my late fees!

I'm going to go work on that rhodie right now :)

I've put aside the blue glass for a bit. It's hanging in the studio.. just not sure where to go with it next. In the mean time, I'm working on this 16 x 20 rhododendron from a photo I took in a friend's garden a few years ago. The image is darkened here so you can see the pencil lines clearly.

Halloween e-card!

Click here to see my very first flash card!

I haven't been painting much, I have been working on learning new programs. Sorry! Some day I will get back to painting regularly. I do have a show that I am hanging on Monday, but no new work to share :(

Blue Glass Painting - One

September is here and it's time to get painting again after a summer of doldrums and dog days in the studio. This one is a painting of my kitchen window. I collect blue glass and display it on the window ledge behind my sink. When the sun comes through in the afternoon, it glows with gorgeous shades of blue. I hope I can capture just a little bit of all that brilliant color!


I've continued to work on my graphic design skills, and revamped my entire website: http://www.ejmstudios.com Still a work in progress but it is getting there!

This little guy is a hummingbird moth in my zinnia patch. I have been fascinated by them this summer. They are one of the few moths that feed in the day time. They buzz around from flower to flower and look just like hummingbirds!

You can learn more about them here:
http://www.massaudubon.org/printwildlife.php?id=5

I haven't been painting much this month. I've been busy trying to get a graphic design portfolio ready and learning some new programs. I do have a painting of blue glass drawn out and on my drafting table, and will share progress pics just as soon as there is some progress. A flash animation of the Prayer of St Francis is my current project, along with some logos for friends.

Chickadee and Blossoms 5

Almost finished. Maybe a little softening of the flowers that are furtherest away, and some work on the larger branches...have to look at it again in the morning.

Exciting news! My lemons and crystal painting (you can see a little pic of it on the side of the blog) was accepted into the NC Watercolor Society 2005 Exhibition. So, it will be on display this fall in Winston-Salem, NC.

Random thoughts:

My cat, Empress, is OCD. She over cleans herself until she is bald. She has been to the vet several times over this. All we can do is put oinment on the current spot, and one of those big plastic collars around her neck. Such a bizarre little creature.

I try to walk every morning. When I walk, I listen to books on tape. Yesterday, I was so into my book that I almost walked into a tree! Good thing I walk at the park and not on the roadside!

There are two rocks shows over the next two weekends. I am such a good wife ;)

Down the hall from my studio, there is a therapist, and she has a therapy dog named Jazz. She is the sweetest thing. Everytime she sees me she snorts and wiggles. Her owner says boy! she sure does get excited to see you! Her mama doesn't know that she is a dogcookie junkie, and am her dogcookie dealer. She gets a fix everytime she comes to visit me.

Still working on flash. Made a bouncing ball this week(yes, I am a flash genius!) and went through a few tutorials. What is it with graphic artists and insisting on mac platform? are they still in the stone age? or is it some kind of mac cult? Employment ads keep asking for mac platform..why do they care? It's the exactly same program on the pc as on the mac..I promise I can learn how to turn a mac off and on.


You can't depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus.

- Mark Twain