Day Lily Watercolor

Hi, I think the computer may blow up. It's roaring so loud. I'll do this quickly. I've painted a day lily on Masa paper on 140lb cold press Arches watercolor paper. The flower was so lovely in my front yard I had to pick it before Sadie ate it. She has been a rascal today. Oh my. Thank goodness she is asleep now. I've used Cad red,Cad yellow deep and light,permanent rose,opera,and thindago violet. Hope each of you have a wonderful weekend. Love to you,Diana

Raining Painting of Wachapreague,Va

Watercolor of Wachapreague,Va. Still in progress. My mother grew up in this little waterside village.

More to be done but enjoyed using the palette knife for texture on this old metal building.

Sadie,relaxing under the table while I'm working. Such a wonderful foot warmer!

Hi,this afternoon, I've been painting a small Eastern Shore mini landscape of Wachapreague,Va. This is the little town my mother grew up in. Her family were watermen. They worked on the water and fished and crabbed. My dad's family were farmers. I have so many fond memories of JackaMom, my grandparents in Wachapreague. John and I lived in my great grandparents house next door to Mom,( my grandfather Jack had passed away by that time, I still miss both of them.) my mother's mother the first year we got married. Main Street Wachapreague,it was such a wonderful time there. This little metal building was on the waterfront near where the Island House Restaurant is now. As you can see Sadie has had a nap while the clouds come in and it looks like some rain  here and I painted. I hope so, my flowers need some.

Last night I cut my finger badly. John and I thought we were going to end up at the ER but thankfully the bleeding stopped after he helped me bandage and put pressure on it. It's sore but has only bled a little today. What a time. I'm so glad it was on my left hand,so I could paint-- I'm right handed. Talk to you soon. love,Diana

New Painting

Hydrangeas and Hummingbird, framed 16x20, $300.

Here's part of my flower patch, these are Bee Balm which the hummingbirds love.

Sadie found a bug by the back door. Living in the woods we have all kinds!

Here's my new painting.I've propped it up to look at it for a few days before I frame it. The hydrangeas took a long time to paint but I enjoyed them so much. I decided on a hummingbird as we have so many now zooming around. I have 3 feeders out,one by the front steps and 2 by the back porch. Sadie doesn't seem to mind them,thank goodness. Now the lizards and frogs she loves to chase and hop with. I have had a few stray sunflowers come up in the garden and she broke one last night so I'm going to have to paint it today. A small yellow with green center sunflower, it will be a delight! Better go get my dishes done then on to the painting. Tell me what  you are doing today! love to each of you,Diana

A Swirled Lollipop for an Art Lesson, so Cute!

Jackson and me painting this morning.

Here's Jackson again, I'm showing him how to do watercolors.

My Hydrangea's still working on..

HI, Well this morning I got a treat. I went over to my friend Beth's house and visited with her and her grandchildren, Jackson, and Addie, and her son Bret. I took my watercolors with some extra paints to make Jackson a palette(the egg crate) and we sat on her beautiful porch overlooking the creek and painted. He did about 4 paintings quickly and was done but had a good time. He even offered me his swirled lollipop if I gave him a lesson. Ha ha.. but I told him no, this one was on me. Adorable children,so very sweet. I enjoyed it so much. Beth gave me a bunch of her blue hydrangeas to bring home so I 've been using them this afternoon to continue to paint this hydrangea watercolor.

 I've decided to add a bloom off center to the left and then I'll decide from there.. to add a luna moth, hummingbird, or swallowtail butterfly. Sadie,my lab, has enjoyed the weather and stayed by my side with her head on my foot,as I've painted. How could I paint without her? Love to each of you and have a great weekend, Love,Diana

Hydrangeas in Watercolor

HI, I sketched this hydrangea this weekend and have started to paint it this morning. I love the colors. I want to hold on to the looseness of the background in the flowers. We'll see. We have this bush in our yard. I love hydrangeas and have 8 in the backyard some I rooted myself. They do grow really well in the woods,thank goodness. So many things require so much sun and don't do well here.

Here's Sadie, she has something in her mouth. She's hiding under my art table and of course I'm right there ready to pry it out --whatever it is.. Oh no.. Have a great Monday. love,Diana

Happy Father's Day!

HI, Here is a photo from our Paint Out at Bob and Sara Lentz's home near Pungoteague,Va. This was a gathering of the Eastern Shore Art League, we all brought a dish and shared and Bob and Sara had chicken. I took my Fresh Apple Cake. We all painted inside,as it was a very rainy day but their yard is right on the water nestled in Loblolly Pines,with flowers everywhere. I was so disappointed my camera batteries died but I did enjoy painting one of his Japanese iris and had a fantastic lunch with friends. Pictured above from left to right,Willie, Adelaide, Me, Monelle, Dottie and Mary. Basil, their beagle wandered around and visited with us. ha ha. Wishing  you all a Happy Father's Day! Love to you,Diana

My newest hummingbird. I did add a few green leaves in the right hand bottom.

NBG Class-Painting Magnolias in Watercolor

My Magnolia Class at Norfolk Botanical Garden

More of the class, they all did a wonderful job on their painting!

Japanese Iris, these were outside the education building door. I must paint them! They were so delicate!

HI, yesterday was my class at Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk,Va. We painted Southern Magnolia. They were huge and so fragrant. Gorgeous flowers. We did some wash exercises,showing techniques,contour drawings of the flowers,and I did a demo of  how to paint a hummingbird in watercolor and more. Everyone did a great job with their drawing and painting their Magnolias. We ate lunch outside,it was such a lovely day. So many gorgeous flowers,Bee Balm, Foxglove, Johnny Jump Ups,Iris, Red Hot Pokers.. ,it's such a lovely place. Do you have a Botanical Garden near you??

I hope you have a great weekend.. Love to you,Diana

Errand Day and Hot Press Waiting...

Hi, today has been run errands day. I've got lots of groceries in and got the car back from the shop. Sadie ,our lab, is ready to paint or at least rest her nose on my foot while I do. She has run around the backyard with the clothes basket in her mouth after I hung the clothes on the line. My energy seems to have gone. I have straightened up my art table and got out some hot press. Perhaps I'll play with the wet in wet for a few minutes while I brew some coffee. Love to each of you, tell me what you've been doing. Love,Diana  Ps It was my birthday yesterday. It's probably chocolate overload.. ha ha..