Mountain Barn Watercolor Painting

For another Christmas gift to my husband, I matted and framed one of the new watercolors that I painted last fall.  I began the painting in a workshop with Tom Jones during Art of the Carolinas.




Mountain Barn, 2011

For those of you who live in the area, I have been having my artwork framed at Michaels on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh.  I have been happy with their assistance, materials, and service.

I very much admired Tom Jones as a teacher and artist.  Charlie bought me his book,  Simplified Watercolor Landscapes, for Christmas.

                         

It is in a wonderful format which provides a working sketch, step-by-step instructions with photos, and a photo of the finished painting.  Mountains are the subject of several of the lessons, so I know I will be trying them out.

We got a good chuckle when I opened the book and read the personal inscription by the author:  "To my new friend and fellow artist Charles:  Have fun painting and remember you are better than you think you are." Charlie is many wonderful things, but have never known him to be an artist!  I take that back, he was a true artist on the trombone for many years.

There is also a nice little value sketch drawn on the inside cover under the inscription.

He also included a small colored painting on watercolor paper.  Tom is a generous artist, as I found out during his class, when he provided all paints and paper for our class, and also gave away the demo painting.

I have been procrastinating all day because I have to take the ornaments down off the Christmas tree.  We usually wait until New Year's Day, but we had a leak right before we left for our trip.  Either Charlie over-watered, or the water container has a leak.  Thankfully we mopped it up before we left, but I expect it is still damp under there, and we need to take it down before our wood floor starts to buckle.

It was a beautiful, cold morning, though, and I took Kasey to the greenway for a walk. 

She was on high alert for awhile, stopping and perking up her ears.  I thought we might see some deer moving around, but we did not.  She gets equally excited over squirrels.  I am glad to have a dog to give me a good excuse to walk on pretty mornings like this.

                     

Love having my doggy back home!  So does her daddy.

Watercolor Weekend Day 1: Tom Jones

Last night was my first class at Art of the Carolinas 2011.  I took a watercolor painting workshop with artist Tom Jones.  What a wonderful teacher- patient, low-key, encouraging, generous. 

This class met at Jerry's Art-a-Rama, and the demo station had a mirror to show the class what the instructor was doing.  For people like me with directional problems, it was somewhat disconcerting to see him painting in reverse.  But that's okay.  He walked around with his in-progress painting often.

Everything was provided for this workshop except for our brushes and palette.  He gave us the paint, and gifted each of us with a spray bottle that sprays dots instead of fine mist.  Our paper was 300-lb Arches Bright White.  I have never used that before- a very heavy paper that does not curl when wet.  I loved it...and probably can't afford it!

The class was full and everyone produced a very nice painting in their own style.

Here is mine!  I am very happy!



Mountain Barn, Jeanne McBrayer, 2011

This afternoon is my class with Karlyn Holman on Painting Colorful Boats.  I am looking forward to being in her class again. 

Here is the description:  

 Paint these colorful boats from Vernazza, Italy on this unique surface. You will be provided with a pre-drawn sketch of these boats, stretched onto a wooden frame. Paint this image and then add a spray of acrylic and frame your finished painting like an oil painting. This lesson is an abstract composition, as well as, an on location scene. The interlocking shapes and bright colors form a strong design that is exciting to paint. Join the fun and take home a finished painting on canvas.

Each student will be provided with a printed image on canvas, stretched on a stretcher. Bring your favorite watercolor paints and brushes.

If you live in the Raleigh area and have any need for paints, paper, brushes, or instructional materials, the Trade Show in the North Raleigh Hilton is free and has some great deals, plus lots of famous painters on hand doing demos.