Merry Christmas!!!

HI, Wishing each of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and many, many blessings in the coming year. Sending my love, Diana

Too Tired to Paint

HI! I've been busy as you all have getting things ready for Christmas and or your holidays.  Sadie as you can see is trying to relax. Ha ha. Yesterday I called her and she came!! Thru the woods with this bottle in her mouth, over logs, Sadie was a sight to see. She reminded me of an L.L.Bean commercial.. it always seems they have a lab or retriever in their ads. She found a beer bottle someone had thrown in the woods. It was funny and I laughed but at the same time..

 It really upsets me when I see trash laying on the side of the road. There's so much beauty in the trees and leaves and whatever... why do people have to litter and ruin it. Something they don't realize or don't care about is it draws animals to the road where they are prey for whatever vehicle.. zooms by.Sorry.

As I get time I've worked on painting a few Christmas Cards. I'm tired of shopping and hope it's all done. I've got more cookies to bake,wrapping, cleaning and some general cooking to do. My Christmas mug is full of coffee in front of me, to renergize me. I need it. Too tired to even paint.

 love to you all and Merry Christmas,Diana 

Good Show and Sadie and the Fur Coat

Here's a poinsettia watercolor I have done. Yesterday's art show was nice. It was at Copper Creations Studio in Melfa,Va. on the Eastern Shore. I sold a few originals and we had lots of people there until about 1:30 from then until 4 it was mostly just us artists but the morning crowd made all our day so we enjoyed visiting with each other and  snacking on all the goodies. I was wiped out when I got home. Donna and Don are so sweet to invite us all there. So that is my last art show for this year, wow, it's hard to believe Christmas will be here soon. I"ve still got a ton to do, shopping, cooking.. cleaning. I'll be talking to you soon,the first thing  I want to do is fix a cup of coffee and paint a little! love to you,Diana

ps. Did I tell you --Monelle came over last week and she had on a lovely full length faux fur coat with a lovely satin lining.. I draped it on the chair in the living room. I didn't hear anything in the living room as we were in the kitchen so I tiptoed in there. Sadie was laying on the satiny side of Monelles' Fur Coat under neath the Christmas tree getting ready to chew on it. Oh My Gosh. I rescued it in the nick of time!! ha ha.. Sadie is a mess!

Too Much To Do,Just Let Me Paint

Checkerboard Emu, 8x10 at Red Queen Gallery in Onancock now.

ESAL Christmas Party, Gertraud, Ivana and Evangelina

Debra and Monelle and more ESAL

HI, Yesterday I went to the Eastern Shore Yacht and Country Club in Melfa,Va. for lunch.. the location of the ESAL Christmas Party. We brought gifts for a Chinese Exchange after lunch. I took a potted plant I just wrapped with whatever tissue paper I had and reynolds wrap and a silly bow. It was the most popular present there.. it got so many laughs.. I had nestled into the plant 2 beers ( that was the desirable part).. It was a fun time and I enjoyed being with everyone there.  The present I brought home was a large bird --decoration about the size of a basketball. Sadie,our puppy,

thought it was delightful, she leaped around it and barked, until I had to hide it..Here she is with a sock, she's hiding she thinks.

I finished my silly emu watercolor, putting checkerboard in the background and a splatter of red . After the party I drove up to the Red Queen Gallery and left 6 new watercolors for the Second Friday opening this Friday. The Emu is one of the paintings there now.

 Saturday is the Christmas Open House at Copper Creations Studio in Melfa which will be the last Art Show of the year for me.

 Time is flying by and soon with be Christmas. I've got so much to do for it and really would just like to paint and sip coffee with Sadie by my side and the lights of the Christmas Tree on in the background. ah ..well.. maybe later today.

 love to each of you! Diana

Angry Chicken Foot and The Tree is Up,What a Time!!

Angry Chicken Foot,8x10,framed $99

Snowflake,8x10,framed $99.

 Sadie-- and here is the tree.

HI, I just put the finishing touches on my new "Angry Chicken Foot". The foot pose is new..each one of them has been different. I was thinking yesterday that an angry chicken was good to work on.  Here,too is the little giraffe with the snowflake. I darkened the snowflake with Thalo blue and some iridescent blue from Da Vinci so you can see it better.  This one is on 300 pound Winsor Newton cold press. I usually use 140 but I had this little piece. I prefer the 140 although this is luxurious to work on. What kind of paper do you prefer?? I love Hot Press too. It seems to develop more back washes and its perfect for plein aire landscapes..

I got the Christmas Tree. Me, by myself, into the car it went and back home. I struggled it out of the car and Sadie leaped on it. It was all tied up. Which really blew my mind as usually I pick this one then that one then oh that one.. until I decide.. but I got it from a large store and it was only $18 and all were wrapped.. So I  chose a fat bundle, I usually like fat and short trees,I tried it,and amazingly it looks good. ha ha.. Sadie and I put it up,we got it in the tree stand. I leaned it on a rocking chair. Then I got in the floor,put each leg on the side of the tree stand and put my head under the tree ,balancing the tree on my head as I screwed the knobs to hold the tree into the tree stand. Well.. of course Sadie had her head under there with me.. and I got laughing so Hard. After I got it all screwed into the stand,I laid back on the floor and started laughing again as I had a small piece of the tree in my hand, like I was holding a flower.. well you get the picture. Sadie was laying next to me eating a tree branch looking very puzzled.. So after I could stop laughing I got up, we got the lights on. I had to pull them from her as she was trying to eat them,too.. I'm not putting many ornaments on it.. I really don't want to have to take her to the vet over Christmas.. So It's up. Have you got yours?? Any thing silly happen as you were putting it up. ha ha..

Love to you,Diana

Giraffe with Snowflake Watercolor

HI, I've started painting a little giraffe catching a snowflake on his purple tongue. I used irridescent paint for the snowflake. It's hovering over his tongue. Here is Sadie, after a long walk in the nursery I'd hoped she would nap for a long time.. no such luck..she's up and ready to go again.. Painting will be on hold.. I'll be out in the sunshine with her.  Ha ha.. What are  you painting today?? love,Diana

End Of Month of Blogging Each Day

HI, Well the art show at the Smiling Dolphin is over. It was lovely, lots of friends who are artists and plenty of cookies, a fabulous cheese and onion hot dip.. by Patsy.. wow.. I only sold one little painting but that was good. No fees.. Jenny generously let the artists set up  free.  John and Clay helped me take it all down,pack up and bring it home. Here is a picture of Sadie and a card I keep on my art table. I love Thich Nhat Hanh. His books are wonderful. He tries to teach the reader to enjoy and focus on the present moment. Try his books for a peaceful treat.

 Wishing you a wonderful rest of weekend. and today was and is my last day posting for the month of November. Tell me truely--do you think blogging is good to do each day for a month?? Did you get tired of it??I was afraid it was boring at times. .. let me know. I'm kind of glad to be done.. it is a challenge to blog each day for a month.. love to each of you,Diana

More Family and Turkey, It was good!

Sadie as a baby.. adorable!

Here I am..

Well the day after Thanksgiving was full of my sister's family, Terry, Grover(her husband) and Emma( their daughter. Son Jonathan couldn't come as he is with his fiance.. wow.. We all gathered at Mama and Daddy's for lunch of Turkey,salad... and lots of pie. It was a nice day. I'm zonked. Sadie, the dear had me leaping logs and chasing her down in the woods while the men were in the house.  Ok I didn't leap. I can't do much leaping anymore but I did get to see new parts of the woods.. Finally we got back home safe and sound. I fixed leftovers. The men had not missed us. Ha!! Supper is over. I did get to paint for awhile I finished a little landscape of Willis Wharf and framed it. I will take that to the show tomorrow. Wish me luck.. love to each of you, take care, Diana

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

HI Everyone,Wishing you a Beautiful Happy Thanksgiving!! or a Beautiful Day if you live somewhere else.. The turkey here is almost done. Still got more cooking to do. We're having roasted turkey, mashed white potatoes, sweet potatoes, giblet gravy, homemade dressing,baked pumpkin,string bean casserole, turnip greens,corn bread( my great grandmother's recipe) and my first attempt at cheesecake!  Mama,Daddy,our son Clay, and my husband John will be here,me too. Happy Thanksgiving.. I can't seem to add a photo.. wishing you love,Diana

DON"T EAT THAT!

My pumpkin watercolor on masa paper. It's framed and now in the Red Queen Gallery in Onancock,Va.

Sadie, the puppy..

HI! It's been a busy day as I'm sure yours has been. I'm exhausted. It doesn't take much. I've made 76 chocolate chip cookies for Smiling Dolphin Open House on Saturday. I thought if I got it out of the way it would be good. No, I won't take them all. I made a cheesecake for dessert tomorrow. My first one ha ha.. I hope it is ok.. I put the plastic covered top of the store bought crust on and left the label in there so that stuck to the top of the cheesecake.. Ha ha.. I sometimes feel like Lucy on I Love Lucy. Remember that show.

 Sadie has been bad today. I awoke to her and John standing next to the bed.. Him hollaring DON"T EAT THAT.. and I reached over pried open her jaws and found part of a disposable Bic Razor in her mouth.. It was the blade part. No she didn't eat it but it was close.. oh my gosh.. He was following her in there and trying to get it out of her mouth.. It's raining here and windy and cold so we've been inside most of the day. She needs exercise..

I just heard our son is on his way home. Wish our daughter could come but she's having a big sale after Thanksgiving at the store.

I did throw a little water and color on a scrap of paper just to play a little this morning.. but other than that I've been cleaning.. and straightening.. and cooking. no painting.. maybe some sketching later tonight. I hope you each have a Happy Thanksgiving.. and if you live somewhere else may you have a wonderful love filled day. Love to each of you! Diana

Here's a Glimpse of Smiling Dolphin Open House Sat.

My lovely watercolors at Smiling Dolphin in Nassawadox,Va.

more of my watercolors there

Karen Pruitt's Lovely watercolors and acrylics at Smiling Dolphin!

Some of Jenny Floyd and Patsy Stiths' work.

HI ! I just finished setting up my watercolors at the Smiling Dolphin. I have 21 originals there. Karen Pruitt is next to me up stairs. Her work is lovely in watercolors and acrylic. Jenny Floyds paintings and birdbath/garden art are waiting for the show too. Saturday from noon..to 5.. Lots of wonderful artists and artwork.. hope if  you are near Nassawadox you stop in!!!  I'm home going to clean so Sadie, the puppy is plucking her mattress in the living room.. I may need Christmas Carols and Coffee!! Love to each of you,Diana

Frog and Being Together!

HI, I got the rest of my Thanksgiving shopping done, walked Sadie, and framed a little. Will get the rest of the framing done tomorrow am,then go set it up at Smiling Dolphin. Here is an old photo of Sadie as a baby with Rudy as her protector. She was afraid that night and ran to the cat for protection. A frog watercolor I did awhile back. I used the pour to shape the leaves and vines.and then negatively painted around them!. very simple but I liked it.. and it was so much fun. Talk to you tomorrow. Love,Diana

Freeze Your Watercolor Washes!!!

HI! I finished the monarch butterfly, I've put it in it's mat and 3 others. I'll frame them tomorrow.. I'm putting it off can you tell? ha ha.. It's cold here 35 now at 5pm.. If the temperature goes into the 20's remember to try the frozen washes!! They are so beautiful.  You lay clear water on your paper.. then add color, just make it medium to dark so the crystals will show up.  Then put this on your porch,door step.. outside. Wait at least 2 hours and bring it in. Can you see the ice crystals.. It's amazing!! Allow this to dry ---no hair dryers.. and you have a great new idea for a background.. I love to do this. Hope you will try it and let me know how you did!!! Here are a couple of sketches I did the other night while John was watching tv.. notice he's asleep... ha ha.. and of course Sadie.. She is tired now.She's been very active in the house because I don't want to stand outside for any length of time.   So it's time to find photos and eat them off the refrigerator, things from the bookshelf that she can reach, that's my girl.
Stay warm and love to you,Diana

Monarch Watercolor Continues and Smiling Dolphin Open House

Hi, I just got in from a romp in the woods. Sounds delightful ,doesn't it? Sadie the rascal,our lab puppy lead me thru some lovely brambles.. thorns.. I had her leash on her. I've got scratches on my wrists.and legs.. good grief... I had gloves on and a bright red coat. It's hunting season here(one of the reasons for Red)..Sounds like War sometimes.. ah well enough grumbling.. sorry.. Here's the monarch with a little more done. I am comparing as I paint to ensure both wings are the same size. I've still got more to do.

Next weekend,on Saturday I'll be showing my work at the Smiling Dolphin in Nassawadox,Va. Jenny Floyd owns this adorable framing shop and gallery which is upstairs. She also sells art supplies one of only 2 places on the Eastern Shore you can buy them. I've got to go on Monday or Tuesday and set up my work. I hope to finish and frame the butterfly and the others in the 2nd photo. That's what I sent to my email list inviting them to the show, hope to see them there.

Are you cooking Thanksgiving Dinner?? I am.Tell me what you've been doing.. love to you,Diana

Monarch Watercolor

HI, I started a Monarch Butterfly watercolor. You know, I only saw 2 of them this year. Isn't that strange? We normal have so many going thru on their journey. I was disappointed.. I thought I'd paint one. The colors don't show up quite right here, ah well.. Here's Sadie she's just woken up. She had a wonderful walk with her leash and me attached into the nursery this morning. We got to the center of the nursery and turned near the ginko trees.. I picked up a couple of leaves and I was delighted to see our friend,John S. biking by on the road when we returned. We both enjoyed seeing him.  Here is our road --our house is in the yard to the right and the nursery is to the left. I was trying to show you the gorgeous colors in the trees! Hope you have a nice weekend!! Love,Diana

Watercolors in the Sky

HI! It has been one of those days I haven't gotten much painted. I did just sit down and put the colors in the sky now on watercolor paper.. A quickie sunset.  It was fun watching the colors bleed together. I used Cad. Yellow Dark, Opera Pink, and Ultramarine blue, then a grey I mixed from Ultramarine blue and Sepia and a touch of Cad. Orange and Yellow Dark mixed right over the clouds as the sun was peeking thru.. Then for the silhouette of the trees, Viridian, Ultramarine and Sepia for the dark of the pines and Cad Yellow Dark and Yellow Ochre for the oaks( I think?) grey trunks and Sepia trunks.. anyway.. Sadie is napping.. Ohh.. she took me on a run today....I'm not going to think about it .. we are going to train on the leash..Have a great evening. Talk to you tomorrow.. I hope I'm not boring you to pieces!! Just 9 Days to go to finish the month. love,Diana

Herons in Blue,Almost there

Here we go. I've worked again on my herons today. I like the abstract blues wandering thru so I think I'm almost done. What do you think?? I want the herons

to stand out but not be overdone. I"m going to look at it for a few days and decide. The blues here are ultramarine blue and thalo blue. Those are the only blues I use.  What blues do you like?? Talk to you tomorrow... Sadie, the puppy is sulking, she just got her flea med. put on her back..love to each of you,Diana

Heron Watercolor continues,A Smoother Day!

Heron Watercolor In Progress

Diana at Art Table,with Sadie

Hi! I worked on my heron watercolor a little more today.Today was so much smoother than yesterday. That is me at my art table, you knew- I love bright colors, and Sadie was just getting out of my lap. We have a lot of old country rockers that were in the family, that one beside me was in John's family. I have one that was my great -great grandfathers from Wachapreague,Va. I love them.. they creak nicely when I rock!

  I hope I get to paint much more tomorrow. I need to for my peace of mind.

 John had brought 2 huge bags of turnip greens and kale for me to cook for Thanksgiving.. I did all that this afternoon.When Sadie went out today we stayed in the backyard, to keep her safe..and will be there as much as possible.Monelle came over. She is painting a lovely surprise for someones Christmas.

 Tell me what you are painting or creating today. Love to you,Diana

Beginning of Watercolor and Sadie ran after a Tractor Trailer Truck!!

HI, I started another Heron painting today. I drew 2 herons onto my pour of blues and have started adding the color..but I didn't get much done because...

Sadie  ran into the road and chased a tractor trailer truck  and disappeared. I was running after her.. although I will admit the moment she took out after that truck I froze and can't say How I got running but I did.. I was terrified..Nowhere.. I didn't see her anywhere..oh my gosh.. I thought she was hurt and crumpled somewhere. I jumped into the car..as I was backing out of the driveway she ran from the nursery across the road into our yard. I hooked her to her leash and Scolded, and yes-- with a few taps to the backside. and Yelled.. poor baby but she has to understand she can't go into the road.. She's fine..she was tired and I washed her face and neck.. but she is fine. Beth, our dear friend came over and gave us hugs.. but we are fine.

Too much excitement for me. She has never done anything like this before.. I was with her..   I took her out on the leash later.. she hated it but I felt much better.

love to each of you and hope you had a calm day.. Diana

Sunday Painting

HI, Wow I'm tired. I've just finished the little landscape and decided to play around with this coneflower. I love negative painting. I think I like the flower best. Leftovers for supper.. Clay's been gone for awhile,so he should be close to home. My daughter,Laura, just called from Illinois and said they had to go into the basement because of a tornado watch.. That's scarey!! But she said they are fine, thank goodness. Be safe and have a relaxing Sunday night. Love to you,Diana

Little Landscape and Wow Look at That Sky!!

Hi, we've had a busy day. Clay,my son,is home. While he and John worked out I worked on this little landscape that I had started as a demo on Thursday. Tonight as the sun was setting I was outside walking Sadie in the woods.. I had to take a photo the colors in the sky are gorgeous.. Have a great weekend! Talk to you tomorrow.love,Diana

A Little Barn Owl Watercolor

HI, This is one of my little owl watercolors. It's an 8x10. I do love the owls. I haven't heard one lately at night here.  I didn't get to paint today. Our son is coming home this weekend. I've been cleaning and making chicken salad...I'm furious with Sadie, the yellow lab.. she ran into the road this afternoon and would not come to me. I could not catch her ...She is ok. I may not let her out until she is old now. ha ha.. just kidding.. but yes I'm still mad.  Hope you all have a great weekend. I'd better go put sheets on the bed! love to  you,Diana

Their Kitchen Wall

HI, I now need new batteries in my camera,so this is not a new photo. Here is a photo of one of my customers walls.. She sent it to me. They have 5 of my paintings there. Wow.. I'm so honored and pleased.Which ones? The bottle of wine (I'm in the reflection on the bottle),the tomatoes underneath that...they are from their garden,the eggplant next to it, then way up top the lime green tomato and under the chef,the checkerboard cherries.

Class went well, a small group. Very nice ladies, we painted landscapes. Afterwards I stopped by my parents home to see my sister,Terry, she had come over from Richmond,Va.to spend the day.  Home to check on Sadie and Rudy, the kitty.I let them out as I was unpacking and the cat disappeared into the woods,then Sadie did. They paraded out,first Rudy, then Sadie in the back with a buzzard wing hanging from her mouth.... wonderful..good grief.. I got all but one feather.. and she swallowed that.

I'm so tired. Going to go lay down. love to  each of you! Diana

Packing and Bad you know who...

I've been packing up and doing my lesson plan for tomorrow. I'm teaching at ESO in Belle Haven,Va. I've got 2 sketches of landscapes both of Willis Wharf.. a little fishing village and all packed up. Sadie has been especially bad today... John's hollaring for me to come quick.. she's plucking the stuffing out of her bed... Fun.. no... Not much to tell you today.. love,Diana

Persimmons and Froggie in watercolor.

HI, Here are 2 Persimmon watercolors. The top one I did last year and the bottom I did last month,when I was looking for persimmons in the yard. I used Opera, my new pink.. very jazzy as my grandmother would say!, and Cad. Yellow Medium for the little tops I used Daniel Smiths' Lunar Black and Da Vinci Sepia. Lunar Black is granulated and so much fun..

The weather here has turned cold,we may actually have snow furries. I hope so. Sadie has never seen snow!! She's been very energetic today,and I've wanted to stay inside where it's warm. Stay warm tonight.

 love to you,Diana

 ps. It's my sister's birthday so I'll call her and sing Happy Birthday to her. My singing has only been loved or liked by one living creature. that was Dusty, Gran's dog! She liked anything!!!