SCENIC VIEWS FROM RANSOM CANYON

I have created two slides shows from photos I took in Ransom Canyon, Texas. Local residents may be upset as they have this secret little private beauty spot hidden away, mostly unknown by the rest of the world. Once word gets out, they may be inundated with strangers wanting to have a little piece of heaven all their own, too.

This second slide show is of a very special house built by an architect who wanted to live inside a sculpture! It is totally unique and intriguing. It is my understanding that he built it himself out of welded sheets of rusted metal. Sadly, he passed away last year in the prime of his life and the house is unfinished on the inside and not really landscaped on the outside. Still, an amazing accomplishment. I wish I was able to get inside, but we peered through the front door and I did my best to take a few pictures. He also designed a house situated across the road from his. This house has mosaic tile on its spiraling roof. Reminded me of the wonders in Barcelona by Gaudi.

I will be visiting my sister over the holiday weekend. A day in Chicago on Saturday will be especially fun. Hopefully I will come back with some interesting photos. A wish for all of you to have a happy and safe holiday weekend, too.

DEMOS TWO AND THREE FROM RANSON CANYON, TEXAS

Here are the profile demo and children's portrait demo I did last week. The profile is of my daughter-in-law. For some reason, the photo I took of the painting had the color way off. I did my best to adjust it in the computer but it isn't right. The painting does have that beautiful sunset late afternoon glow in the hair and the face in shadow. This one is on Tyvek. Eve-Marie always comes out doll like when I paint her. Maybe she is too pretty with even features. I should do her again. Demo's don't allow for a lot of fussing and correction.

The child portrait is my oldest son when he was about 8. The kids were playing pirate and my husband took a beautiful photo of him. This painting is on 140lb cold press Arches watercolor paper. I like to paint on this surface now and again to prove to myself that I still can!

Tomorrow I will put up another slide show of the last student paintings from the workshop.

"SPLASH GIRLS" ROCK!!!

Here is the slide show of the first paintings from the workshop. These women are a close knit group of friends who paint together and call themselves "The Splash Girls". Love the name and love this group. The close friendships and support that they show each other made the week extra special. There is a wide range of experience in this group from a "ringer" who teaches portraiture to someone creating their first portrait.

I had requests to explain my gesso transfer process. I will give it a try. I use this method to cover old paintings. You need two paintings laid out next to each other on a protected table top. Cover one painting with heavy gesso (I think Utrecht is the best but a few other brands can be found that are THICK like frosting in a can) While the gesso is still wet, cover it with a sheet of waxed paper. Immediately lift up the wax paper and deposit the gesso that is on the waxed paper to the other painting by laying the gooey side down on the painting and running your hand across the back of the paper or using a brayer. I do this a number of times with the same piece of waxed paper until most of the painting is covered over with spotty gesso. I want part of the old painting to show through. I sometimes take a sheet of press and seal saran and texture the gesso, as well. it has a micro dot pattern that I love. Throw away the waxed paper and Press and Seal Saran. I have been tempted to try and college the waxed paper but haven't tried it yet. Let both paintings dry and then put a new painting on them. I hope this explanation is reasonably clear. You had to have been there!

I'M BACK!

I am back from a fabulous week in the Lubbock, Texas area called Ransom Canyon. I held a workshop there and made some great new friends. I will be posting a slide show of the first paintings tomorrow. It will take me a little while to adjust the photos and put a name with a painting, etc. I also have some great photos of Ransom Canyon to share later in the week, along with additional paintings from the workshop. I took my computer but was not able to get internet reception on it, so couldn't post to the blog during the week.

Texas hospitality was in full swing there. I was wined and dined and treated like royalty. My hostess, Joyce Runyan, was so gracious. She has this great house with an incredible view overlooking the lake in the canyon. We sat out on the deck, balmy weather and sipped wine and talked art and our life history each night as the sun set and the stars came out. No pollution, clear bright skies. Joyce has an extensive art book collection, of which I took full advantage! I am looking forward to a return visit.

This is the first demo I did for the workshop. I demonstrated my gesso transfer technique and that was the surface I painted on.
I am going to include a "how to" series of photos in my book as I think I created this process and it doesn't exist in any source material that I know of. I am never sure if I invented a process or idea. I read so much that I sometimes forget that I saw it somewhere and imagine I invented it. I believe in giving credit to the originator, so if you catch me making an honest mistake, be sure and set me straight.