Farewell Breakfast

This morning at the early hour of 9,we met for breakfast to say goodbye to Susan,our dear friend. She is moving--to Maryland to be closer to her son,daughter in law and Brand New Grandson!! He is beautiful. We got to see photos of him and had a nice breakfast. Then I insisted we paint(I have taught each of them) so we all did,what we ate or our coffee--I took my palette and brushes and small paper for each of us.We then gave them to Susan to remember this day! So here are Monelle in turquoise, Marty in white and Susan with the flowered blouse on. I am in pink. All dear friends. We will miss you Susan!! Monelle was a sweetheart and sent Daisy a piece of Canadian bacon. She loved it!talk to you soon, Have a wonderful weekend! Diana

ps I had cheesecake, since I'm on a diet.

Poisonous Wild Mushrooms

This morning I went for a bike ride. I knew with all the rain mushrooms would be springing up everywhere. I took my plastic bag to bring some home, to paint of course. I found these amazing yellow ones with red on top-- I just looked them up they may be amanita muscaria which are poisonous and hallucinogenic
.Oh boy.. I've been handling them and rearranging them.. ah.. well I just put them in the painting and have buried them in the backyard. Wait a minute --did I just plant them. oh my.. ha ha.. Well this painting should have a story if I don't keel over in the middle of it. Just kidding. I guess I'd better look up the rest of the mushrooms. Be careful out there!! talk to you soon,Diana

YIPPEE!

YIPPEE! I won Best in Show 2d at the Mason Avenue Art Walk, Cape Charles Tomato Festival,today!!!! I got the news about an hour ago. I went to the show this am,it started to sprinkle rain.. but stopped. Later it started in pretty good and water was puddling on the tent top as well as across the road where we were. I had to leave early because of all the rain ( I had asked earlier and Joan said of course) and you know dealing with watercolor paintings- you can't get them wet! So J. came down and helped me pack up and we got home and wiped all the paintings down and put them in clean towels and wrappings for the next show.

AND Joan called,she is coordinator and organizer of the show, to tell me I WON!! I'm so excited. (yes I've won awards before but it means so very much to me..) The judges were professors and dean of Old Dominion University in Norfolk,Va. I'm very honored and happy. thank you thank you. I'm going to go rest and smile the rest of the evening. Happy weekend,Diana

Armando Suarez won 3d Best in Show! He makes amazing Horse shoe Nail Jewelry!! Congratulations Armando!

Rainy Blues..

HI! What a gorgeous orchid!I love it.It truly is magnificent. Thank you!!!

It's on my art table.A tad bit messy I know.. I'm painting this little Eastern Shore Mini. I've moved the boat in the painting and added a couple of lob lollies to the foreground.I've been painting this afternoon with my Daisy.

The show at Edward Jones was fun and I picked up my racks and work from there today. I have a show tomorrow.The Mason Ave.Art Walk in the Cape Charles Tomato Festival. The reason for the title of this post is it's raining, well, it's really pouring. Now, this is a blessing but tomorrow's show is outdoors and there is no rain date.. SO.. if it's too messy.. well I'm just hoping it will suddenly stop raining and on with the show. We'll see in the am. Hope it stops!!or at least skips the show times. Ha ha.. take care and have a wonderful weekend.Diana

Happy Birthday ,Pa!

Yes today is Daddy's birthday. I just went by and saw him and Mama. Happy Birthday, Daddy! :) Here is a photo of him in his front yard and a photo of a Mushroom Painting I did years ago and won a ribbon and prize for at the ESAL Show. I have kept this painting. I went out to Edward Jones in Exmore to set up for their Art Opening tomorrow night at 5. I have 19 originals there. I got to see Pat and Ed Kuhn, Rose Ellen Taylor, Karen Pruitt and more artist there. It was nice visiting with them as we set up. Take care everyone, talk to you soon. What am I working on now? a small ES Mini of Belle Haven. I painted this morning. I don't want a day to go by that I can't paint. I love it. Diana

Monarch,Acorn, and, It's Raining Pine Cones

Well, I just finished this monarch painting. I had to put the acorn in it. I have been picking them up out of the yard for days. They are so cute. I do see I need more white dots on the bottom left hand side of the butterfly. All the other white dots were painted around but I guess I went over the missing ones with my black paint mixture. I'll add them tomorrow.( yes with white paint-- only in emergencies do I use this! :) The monarch takes me the longest because of so many dots. I draw them, then paint around them. I don't like misket. I've used it before and the paper turns orange/yellow.. or pulls off terribly. Anyway it's more difficult not to use it!

We've had a strange thing going on in our backyard. For days it's been raining pine cone pieces. Green ones. We have 2 30-40foot pines in the middle of the yard and squirrels are up there eating these pine cones. What they are doing is peeling them like an artichoke. Once in awhile a clump of pine needles falls. The trees are lob lollies. I know they are eating seeds.. but if you know more please fill me in. Thanks! talk to you soon, Diana

Sketching in Waiting Room

This week I spent some time in a waiting room. I couldn't read. The words didn't want to make sense sooo I sketched. Sometimes it felt like I scribbled but it passed the time and all is well. Have a great weekend! talk to you soon, Diana
Next week I have 2 art shows.. Mason Ave. Art Walk in Cape Charles,Va.at the Tomato Festival and Edward Jones Art Opening in Exmore.

Quick Rooster Watercolor

Hi! The show was wonderful, lots of people,lots of friends, Smith Island Cake, and Sales. Yesterday I went down to The Stage Door Gallery for their painting exchange. I took 3 new paintings there. I asked my mother to go with me and we had a nice time. On the way back up the road we stopped at Appleseed Nursery and bought some freshly picked gourds and pumpkins. Here are a few we bought. They are so cute. I know I've got to paint them! Today I had some errands so I did a quick rooster painting. I sometimes think when we paint something fast we capture the essence of it. I had to put a few more checkerboard squares in this one. No more for awhile,I promise. take care and talk to you soon, Enjoy the smell of the leaves and that sweetness in the evening. It's a gorgeous autumn. Diana

Tired, but ready for Harborfest Tomorrow!

Well, it's bedtime. I'm zonked, just like Daisy. She is snoring. I've got my 12 new paintings framed. Everything is packed up,J. and I'll get up early and pack the car, then to Harborfest, in Onancock,Va. Wish me luck and have a great weekend. If you are nearby stop in,take care, Diana

I'd Rather Be Painting!

I've been framing! I rushed down to the Smiling Dolphin in Nassawadox,Va. and got a few supplies( some plastic for wrapping paintings and 2 frames,oh and I found 3 of the watercolor brushes that hold water like Kate Johnson talks about using! I'm looking forward to trying them.) Then to the grocery store. Back home and I've been framing ever since. Now I've framed for many years and still don't like to do it! I finished these 3 pieces. I just have a few more pieces to frame.. I'd rather be painting of course! So now I'm going to try to finish painting the Rooster.talk to you soon. Diana

More Rooster

HI, well guess what I did yesterday, yes, I painted little squares, and more little squares! I did the tail first because I'm still thinking about the neck area.. I'd like to leave some of that white with drips in it. I'll keep moving that way today and see what I decide. So far I love him. What do you think? talk to you soon, more coffee and back to painting! Diana

ps Don't forget I still have about 6 paintings to frame before Saturday!Onancock Harborfest Art Show/Open Market I always do this.. :)

Checkerboard Chicken!

HI! Yesterday I drew a rooster on my poured paper. I decided to make him checkerboard so this morning after breakfast I started painting him! I mix my own black by mixing sepia and ultramarine blue, so that gives each black square a different hue.. which is nice. I'm going to find lots of chicken photos and decide what color he will be. I want it bright!Take care, talk to you soon,Diana

ps When I walked into the kitchen, there sat Rudy.. I think she was trying to tell me something. What a Cat!

Finished Hummer with Nasturtiums

HI, Just finished this one for the Onancock Harborfest show! Have a wonderful weekend,Diana
J's grilling burgers and kielbasas with lots of onions and mustard for supper!

Plein Aire Hummingbird Watercolor!

HI, I've enjoyed this afternoon on my porch. I drew this hummingbird yesterday with nasturtiums from a photo but decided to take it outside this afternoon and try to paint a hummer from life! HA!

I took my sketchbook and scribbled some notes on the hummingbirds and made 2 pages of fast sketches. I really believe they were teasing me,round me, up, and down, but do you think the little rascals would hold still.. Well, I did add some details to this females chest feathers that I had never noticed before. Beautiful, amazing birds. I've laid in a dark wash on the left side of the painting. This I glazed 4 times to get the dark using a mixture of sepia,ultramarine blue,and viridian green. The last glazing is drying now,it may not be dark enough and I see some edges I need to cut into with my brush. I haven't decided what to do with the other side of the painting.. should I go dark or lighter..?

Well,for now, it's look in the freezer and find something for dinner. Take care and have a wonderful weekend! Talk to you soon,Diana

ps. I touched up under the wave in the water scene and have framed it. I had to readjust it after I hung it up on the wall because I realized the water(horizon) was dipping on the left side. ... oh boy, anyway,I fixed it- just straightened up the painting in the mat! ha ha! Happy Weekend!