The End of Nablopomo!

HI, I have started this commission. The original painting, I did at least 20 years ago. She wants me to paint one like it for family members. So I've gotten the drawing on paper and then taken a bike ride this afternoon. The trees smelled almost spicy. It's so gorgeous outside.

Do you know what today is?? The Last day of November,the last day of my pledge to write each day in November(NaBlopomo=National Blog Posting Month)!!! WOW where are the balloons.. Do we get cake?? :) ok I'm just kidding... well maybe not about the cake. I will be back and I've enjoyed it.. it's been harder than I realized. take care.. love ,Diana

Chickadee watercolor and Christmas Tree

HI, I've put the little chickadee in my Maple leaf painting today and framed one painting. Here's our Christmas tree. It's short and easy to handle :).(You know I was the one who put it up and the one who will take it down.) The sun is starting to go down so that lovely pink sky is it's background. I usually have my art table under these windows but had to move it to over here. It faces a wall,but it's only for a month.I like it so much better over there..I'm trying not to grumble too much. What have you been painting or creating today? talk to you soon, love,Diana

Display at The Hermitage

Heron ,16x20,$350.

Hi, today was exchange painting day at the Hermitage in Onancock,Va. The Hermitage is a home for retired or ill older people. It's upscale. The Eastern Shore Art League has a display there in the spacious hall. Sooo today I took in this painting and a painting of a Model T. I was going to show you but can't put my hands on the photo now. We each get to display 2 pieces and we've had quite a few sales. So that's good. It also is very much appreciated by the people who live there. Afterwards I slipped up to Amy Kay's,my cousin's, and picked up a couple of paintings I had up there,visited with her for a few minutes and decided I was close to Walmart so might as well get the grocery shopping done. I'm home unpacked and sipping coffee. It will kick in about 8pm. Ha ha.. I didn't get any painting done. I'm just too tired now. I will tomorrow. I'm looking forward to just being home and painting! Have you gotten much painting done since Thanksgiving?? talk to you tomorrow. love,Diana

Wet Berries

HI, Here is a wet in wet berry little wash I did this morning. I need to do more washes to develop more wet in wet techniques.

Rudy is out now, no one is near her. She will not use the litter box. Wish I could just keep her in that would solve the kitty problem. For now we are watching her closely while she is out. I'm going to look into that program Maria.  talk to you all soon, Diana

Peach Iris Painting ,Errands, Poor Rudy

Peach Iris,16x10,framed $300.

HI , Rudy, our 17 year old kitty was attacked again tonight by the feral male cat. She is ok, just so frightened she was sitting in her water bowl in the kitchen. Any advice would be welcome!

I've been up and down the shore today running errands with paintings. We're having hamburgers tonight, the turkey is gone! I'm glad although I really could use some more cranberry sauce. talk to you tomorrow. Diana

A Heron Watercolor and Leftovers.

Heron Spirit Two,16x20 $350.

Hi, I'm wiped out. How about you? My son's gone home. Leftovers and eggs for supper. It's cold so curling up in a recliner is the only way to go!.. Here's one of my herons. I 'll have more to tell you tomorrow. Rest up. love,Diana

Relaxing and Painting

Well I painted a little on my rooster today. It feels so good to paint. Relaxing. I'm still over stuffed. :) and I told the men I'm kinda tired of feasting .. Turkey chili might be good for tomorrow. What are you doing with your leftover turkey and have you gotten to paint any. Take care, love,Diana

This is what you get when you eat too much...

This is the way I feel right now. Today consisted of going to Mama's to eat with my sister and her family. After 2 days of feasts I feel a little like this dear one. Puffy. But my feet are dry. Love to you,Diana

Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Thanksgiving Day! The turkey's still in the oven,the kitchen is upside down with pans and all, but our son,Clay just got home. Laura can't come(my daughter). Mama and Daddy are coming . Clay brought me Starbucks Christmas blend. I love it. I'm going to go make a cup to revitalize. Wishing you a great day with love and family and friends.You all are blessings to me,I've enjoyed getting to know you!! Love  to you,Diana

Pie and Maalox and a Pour

Hi,I've decided to paint another "Mad Chicken" after talking to Ed Kuhn and Donna Drew. Ed carves beautiful fish and paints them and Donna and Don Drew make beautiful copper creations. Every Christmas Donna and Don have a Christmas Open House at their studio in Melfa Va. It's very cozy inside and they've asked me and Ed and Pat,his wife, to join them for quite a few years, a few other artists too, It's small and so  cozy with the warmth of the wood stove and loaded with their art and our art, as well as enough food to feed an army. It will be Dec.15th on a Saturday. You are all invited! So when I stopped cleaning I chose a pour that I will turn into my angry chicken!That's all the art I've had time to do today.

 This is my arrangement for the table so far. I picked some bright leaves.

 And my Pie.. Gran used to make French Apple Pie. So I decided I wanted to and tried it. I had the apples cooking on the stove and ran to the computer to discover you don't cook the apples--ooops , then I called Ann Henry my sister in law.. She gave me some directions and I made the crust from scratch.. There might be a few holes I tried to fill them in. ha ha. and now I'm going back to make glaze.. just confection sugar and cream right? We'll hope so. I promise this will not be a cooking blog although it might be a funny one.

 But my recipe for Sweet Potato Wheat Biscuits is: About 1 and 1/2 cups of mashed sweet potatoes ( Yams), 2 cups of wheat flour ( you may use white if you like),1 tsp of salt, 3 tsp of baking powder, 2/3 cups of milk,1/3cup of canola oil and sugar -4 tablespoons or more. mix all together, and roll out and cut. Bake at 400 degrees until brown on bottom and light brown on top. Sherry, this is for you! 

A funny Daisy story about Thanksgiving,when she was a little yellow lab puppy. She liked to grab things and run and hide under the bed. Well I had just put my roasted turkey on the kitchen counter and yes she was tall enough to reach.. oh no. John yelled.. Daisy's got something.. So we all -- the kids too--- started running. Me, of course to the kitchen ,with a "Not MY TURKEY",,,,, ha ha.. no it wasn't my turkey, she had snatched a Bic disposable razor from the bathroom.. and was chomping it up under the bed. We reached her in time--- thank goodness.... and that is why I cry when I open the Maalox chewable pill bottle , it was for Daisy, our vet recommended we keep it for her. She only liked the orange ones.:)

 I'll talk to you tomorrow. Have a great Thanksgiving, Love to you,Diana

Owl Changes and Menu

"Screech Owl",8x10,original watercolor,$99.

HI, I framed my Screech Owl and I made some changes. I went over the background with a deep dark black. My mixture for black is Ultramarine blue plus Sepia. I can control if I want it to be a cooler black.. add more blue or a warmer black add more Sepia. I just felt like all the orange around him fought with his detail. I've hung him on my gallery wall in my kitchen. I can enjoy him until the next show.

I'm zonked tonight. I've been cleaning for Thanksgiving.I put away my glass for framing,washed the bay window in the dining room,put up the clean curtain. I cleaned up my art table(not my painting table)  in the kitchen and organized my papers to make more room on it. I can keep them flat and up high so no Rudy walks on it. This is Rudy, she's 17 and unfortunately got beat up by  a feral cat the other night. She's ok. She mainly was sore,but has now developed a fear of going outside. It's difficult being a spoiled cat. :)

Still wishing for a puppy,but will wait. Tomorrow morning I go to the grocery store. We're having my parents and my son over for Thanksgiving. Menu so far is
                                            1. Roasted Turkey
                                            2. mashed potatoes
                                            3. baked pumpkin
                                            4. turnip greens
                                            5. giblet gravy
                                            6, homemade dressing
                                            7. cranberry sauce out of the can.. I love it!
                                            8.string bean casserole
                                            9.sweet potato biscuits with wheat flour
                                            10.french apple pie
whew.I'm making everything from scratch.. but the cranberry sauce I'm tired already.but we'll have tons of leftovers! ha ha. talk to you tomorrow. Diana -- tell me what you are having for Thanksgiving dinner.. and what you've been painting or sketching!

How to Capture Ice Crystals in Watercolor!l

Hi, This is ice crystals captured in watercolor. To do this: lay down a clear water wash then drop color into it. Don't make it too pale. You need to see the ice crystals. When you've done this... take it outdoors and place it on a table or wherever something won't walk on it. The temperature needs to be around 24degrees,at least below freezing. Give it a good hour or more,over night is good, and bring it in. If you see ice crystals gently place it onto the top of your clothes dryer to dry.(Have a load of clothes drying now.-- if your dryer warms up on top.. perfect. If not oh well.. Leave the watercolor wash to dry. Hopefully you will capture ice crystals as I did in this painting. It doesn't always work.. but when it does it's amazing!!!Try it and let me know how it works for you. As you see you incorporate it into your painting then... so very lovely.. So much FUN!love,Diana

Sick and Turtle Visits

HI, I haven't even lifted a paintbrush today. I've had some kind of virus. I was up most of the night,backache,stomachache and headache. So all day I've been taking it easy,watching silly movies and resting. I'm having rice for dinner. Here's a photo of a turtle that walked thru our backyard a few days ago. You know how I love to see nature. talk to you soon, love,Diana

ps. yes I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner. I'll take my turkey out of the freezer tomorrow. How about you?

Just a Little Chickadee and Puppy News.

HI, This afternoon we went up to Onancock for a while. I took the bottom photo there at the wharf. I haven't done much painting today so I started this little chickadee. I've wet part of the top,dropped in thalo blue, and added kosher and ice cream salt . This will make little star shapes of snow. He looks cold and I feel it,too.

Puppy news. It's sad again. The dog,Molly was supposed to be pregnant but she wasn't ... so no puppies(we waited and waited). I was so very disappointed. So I've called someone else and they are trying to get their dog pregnant.. not in heat yet,when they do , they'll save me a yellow one. It's going to be a while. But when the puppies are born I'll get to go visit them until they can leave their mother and they are close enough,that will be great. I'm trying to be positive about it. I wanted you to know.

So tell me what you are painting. talk tomorrow.Diana

Now We Can Eat Them!

"Two Peppers with Basil" 8x10, $99,framed.

Hi. It's cold today. I just finished my peppers and walked out to the end of the driveway to take a photo of the leaves. Love the colors and it smells like autumn leaves out there.I may make myself walk a little. Did you notice I said Make Myself..ah well.

 Hope you get to paint this weekend! Tell me what you are sketching or painting..anything will do. :)

 Love to you,Diana-

-we're have a salad for supper with the peppers in it..

Pepper Watercolor and My Fav Palette

HI, today has been full of errands. I got home late and knew I wanted to start something new to paint. J. had bought me 6 gorgeous peppers and so I drew them. Drew the checkerboard and the shadow of the peppers. Now, you see that leaf there. That is pretend basil. Yes, the frost has got mine and so I'm just going to paint it as I remember.

These peppers are delicious,we had 2 on salads earlier this week.

 This is my palette. It's a John Pike Palette. I love it and would go out and buy a new one if this one broke. I've had it over 25 years.. It's like the timex watch.. it keeps on ticking.. well you know what I mean. :) Glad J.'s late tonite, I can paint more! talk to you tomorrow.Diana

ps. I  was wrong no puppies..

BOLD Owl

8x10, Screech Owl, framed original, $99.

 

IS it too Bold?? I was looking at the yellow and deep orange leaves in the front yard. and Poof.. there it goes. It was on the paper. I also tried out a Mop Brush. Haven't used one before. I wet the background then put the color on. First wash was the first one you see,but as that dried it looked flat.. so I put another wash/glaze with the bold colors, then punched up the owl with a few dashes of black and the quinacrodone burnt orange. Now I could go all black,if it is too bold which would tone it down. I'm going to prop it up and look at it. I may grey the face a little more.Sip some coffee then I'll see. Talk to you soon. Diana

More on Owl

HI, I've worked on the little owl some today.It needs a dark background and more dabbing on the chest feathers.I'm thinking about putting a fall background with oranges and browns in the darker colors.It's a Screech Owl. We have them in the backyard regularly. Their call is so eery. If you didn't know what it was it would give you goose bumps. Have you heard one??

 Just got an email from John Shire sending me Sarah Groshong's Apple Cranberry dish for Thanksgiving. I had it years ago at an ESAL(Eastern Shore Art League- Christmas Dinner.We used to have the dinners at members homes but we got too big for that. It was fun to see our artist friends decorations and visit together at different friends each year.

I'll go check on supper. Talk to you later. Did you paint today? Diana

Another Owl Painting

Here's another owl. I sketched it last night and just painted the eyes. I've made some coffee and am sipping that as I paint. I have much more to paint on him but it's a beginning.I've washed 5 windows today and made a pot of white beans for supper. The sky outside just turned a dark blue with yellow streaks as the sun is going down,against the bright yellow and orange leaves it's gorgeous. I went for a bike ride and walk . The oak leaf next to the owl came from a scraggly tree but the color is amazing. Such a lovely day, I hope you had one too. love to you,Diana

My Owl Finished

Great Horned Owl, Original watercolor by Diana Davis, 8x10, framed $99.

Here's my owl from class. I finished it today. I had to adjust the eyes a little and darken the beak just a pinch. He's finished. I really enjoyed demonstrating painting him at class. I love to paint owls.

 Tomorrow is my sister 's birthday. So she and her husband came over to the shore for the afternoon. Daddy and Mama took us all out to the Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague for lunch to celebrate. It was so lovely sitting there looking at the marsh and boats come in. They've just left- headed home. Happy Birthday Terry.

 Wishing you all a happy weekend.  I was hoping to hear from the puppies. They were supposed to be born this weekend. No word. Yet.. Will let you know. Talk to you tomorrow,Diana

Owls in Watercolor, My Class!

HI, Here's my class today. We studied owls, Great Horned Owls. They did a magnificent job,don't you think!! It's Ron, Dory,and Bobby. We did wash studies, drew our owls and painted them, painted leaves, sweet gum and holly,. and tried our hand at 20 minute landscapes. It was a full day and tons of fun.

 J. went with me and shopped at Sam's, Barnes and Noble's, (we don't have them on the Eastern Shore). When we got home with El Maguey dinner again -- love their taco salads!--, we had 3 cats and a possum waiting for dinner.

 Here's the sunset heading home,this is over Shield's Bridge in Belle Haven,Va.

 Have a great weekend, love to you,Diana

Two Piggies

HI, Here is my Two Piggies. I 've been doing errands and running around all day. I love this painting. Hope it makes you smile. Tomorrow I have class at Norfolk Botanical Garden. I'm teaching a watercolor workshop on Owls! That will be fun. Talk to you later,Love,Diana

Ps. The Craddockville United Methodist Bazaar is tomorrow too from 9am-1pm. They'll have tons of great home cooking and one of my originals on the auction table. Stop by if you are on the ES.

Painting a Garden Scene

Here it is... the painting I am working on now. 

 I've finally got the photos from the camera downloaded. Hope it goes more smoothly next time I try to download them..

 This painting is going to take awhile. As you can see from the photo, it has a ton of hydrangeas. I hope my student gets hers finished too.She was half way thru when we finished the class. It's such a beautiful place.Inspiration is everywhere.

 The sun is shining here and looks so pretty today. I'm going for a short walk ,then back to painting. talk to you soon,

 take care,Diana

Pretty Photo of Eastern Shore

HI, This is in my parents backyard. Beautiful, isn't it? They didn't have this land when we were little girls, my sister and I. We grew up in the little town of Exmore,Va. This is  your more typical  Eastern Shore scene and lovely.

Well today I've spent my time watching a silly movie,sipping Pepsi and eating saltine crackers when I could eat. I had a stomach virus. My class at ESO was cancelled. We didn't have enough students. So actually it was good with me feeling sick,that we didn't have it. I would not have wanted to give anyone anything.  I'm feeling better. I'll just rest for the remainder of the day and be fine by tomorrow.. I like happy movies. Have you seen "Bridesmaids", funny and puppies in it too.  :) take care, talk to you tomorrow. love,Diana

Maple Leaf Watercolor

This is a very simple maple leaf I did. I still can't get the camera to cooperate. I'm still working on the scene from the garden. I love painting leaves. We have so many beautiful ones. In our yard we have oak,maple,sassafras,hickory, American Holy,loblolly(long needle) pines, short needle pines, and tons that I don't know the names of. I drew this leaf and it's shadow, then simply wet the leaf and dropped in color. Using my pencil I drew the veins on the leaf. So much color, and so fall. Hope I can get the blasted camera working for tomorrow. talk to you soon, Diana

Heron Watercolor,Day 5

Well, I don't think you've seen this. I was painting and took photos but can't seem to download the photos on the computer now. Machines don't always do what I want them to do. It could be I don't know enough about them. ha ha. Well, I was painting a scene I started at Class Saturday. It's of a gazebo with hydranea bushes surrounding it. So pretty. You'll see it eventually. I may have to go delete 712 photos first but I'll work it out.  But this is one of my herons, I adore herons. Usually see one as we go over a tiny bridge (Shields Bridge) heading into Exmore. Keep painting. and I'll talk to you tomorrow. Take care,Diana

Owls,Come Hither...

HI,well here is an owl  watercolor, I did awhile ago. It's my very favorite owl I've painted. I love owls and now they can return to my backyard. The little kittens and Clay are almost home. He called just a few moments ago and said they were asleep in the cat carrier on his backseat. Good. I did enjoy them and am so glad he'll enjoy them. I've cleaned up the dishes from lunch, sent off some art information on the computer. I'm zonked and have only doodled in my sketchbook. Tomorrow I promise I'll post something new. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. No, I'm not going to watch football now.love to you,Diana

Class and Kittens

Hi, Class today. Last night I got J. to take my photo as I was painting. This morning I was up early at 5, getting packed up. I had four eyes glued on my every move. Yes, the 2 kittens were in and watching me. Clay named them Taco and Ruxon. They will stay in tonight and he's going to take them home tomorrow. We have acorns,balls of yarn, and spools around the living room to entertain them. ;) Adorable. I got packed up and was on my way by 8am. We only had 2 students, we worked on washes and textures and all things watercolor. Trisha painted a lily pond from a garden and Carolyn painted the Garden with the hydranea bushes. I demonstrated negative painting and also  started the NBG with the hydranea. I'm zonked. The men got dinner from EL Maguey in Exmore, wonderful Mexican food. Delightful ! talk to you tomorrow. Diana