Bonita Springs Workshop

I enjoyed my week in Bonita Springs tremendously and was grateful for another opportunity to teach. Everyone was a pleasure to work with and I think we all learned a lot. I've come away from workshops with new friends and I hope it happens again this time!
As you can see the Art League was not only beautiful but well equipted. They even zerox machines to downsize drawings. Feedback was that they learned a lot about color and loosening up (brush strokes) both of which can be applied to any size canvas. I hope I can go back and do it again in 2010 or 2011. Whew! Workshops book so far in advance!
I got to see some of Bonita Springs, especially the beaches which were beautiful. The water was 82 degrees but felt even warmer to me.
One person had to leave early so she wasn't in the group picture. From left to right is Carolyn, Patsy, Laurie, Barbara, Marie, Lydia, Dave, Jan, Julie, myself and Marion.

I came away inspired to try a dry painting technique on a small scale. I'd like to think that I was given this inspiration in return for inspiring students in the workshop. Anyway, it's the best feeling. Can't wait to see what develops.
I have some pastel pencils from my textile design days which I will try first. Any suggestions?

Still Life with Garlic and Antique Cup

This is the first oil painting I've done since my husband had retired and since we've been back from Asheville, NC. I usually try and determine if my composing has anything to do with what is going on with my personal life. Here I see there are two groups of two. It's the first time I've set objects up with a definite path or space separating items. Could this be my husband and myself before and after (his retirement)?? Also, the two items in the background are opposites; one black one white while the two objects in the foreground are twins. To give you a little background about my husband's retirement: he wants to pursue his passion of photography. So now we are both "doing our thing"!!! Hope I haven't overanalyzed this!
Just a reminder about my workshop in Naples, Florida in a couple of weeks. It's 4 days and starts on May 11th. Please check my website or send me an email for more info.

Storing Paintings

I was asked how I store my paintings. As you may know since I live in NYC and paint in my bedroom this unit is at the foot of my bed so I couldn't get a better vantage point to shoot the picture. It's a great unit. I store my still life items, fabrics. framed paintings and there are three drawers on the bottom where I numerically keep my paintings!!

How Long Do You Wait Before You Varnish Your Paintings?

Someone emailed this question and I thought I'd share this answer here:
How big are the paintings or rather I should ask how thick did you apply paint?
I use Winsor Newton paint and usually spray a retouch varnish (Kamar) when paint is dry to the touch which is usually three or four days. The reds usually take longer, but no more than 2 or 3 days.
Conservators would probably tell you to wait 6 months. I guess you can respray after that amount of time.... Maybe I should respray all the ones I still have here? I'm sure a conservator would be better equipped to answer but that's what I do. I can't wait to see the colors come back to their origins.

Grand Canyon after Edgar Payne

Landscapes

It was great fun to paint over some starts that I had used as steps for my book. (I wasn't good at photographing small wet paintings in progress so I stopped as different stages in the painting process and had them professionally photographed when they dried.) I liked the freedom of having a few paintings going at the same time thinking that at least one of them would be gallery worthy!!

John Carlson influence

I had done some steps for the oil painting book and then sold the last step. So I had a few starts in different stages of progression. I decided to try and finish the paintings which meant I had to paint over paint. After all these years it was the first time for me. I think it worked out very well. Only difference was that I couldn't scratch my signature onto the board.
I think you'll probably see more posts like this in the near future!