Just about drained. Muse is gone.

Here is my latest watercolor.  I think I am out of steam, muse, inspiration,  you name it. Just about drained. Love to you all, Diana

Watercolor Workshop on Butterflies..They did Beautifully!

Butterfly Class at NBG

Marion painting in class.

HI! We had a nice class  yesterday. We all painted tiger swallow tail butterflies and coneflowers and or rubeckia ( blackeyed susans)To me, and I didn't tell them til after class, butterflies are one of the hardest and  most challenging things I paint, and they did it beautifully! A few of the ladies had left before I remembered to take a photo.. we had 8 total.  It was a fun day ,wonderful students and great results!!!

As we were leaving the rain started in, and it was pouring with strong winds as I got to Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to travel home. Some travellers were pulling over on the emergency stopping areas.. I just kept going slowly,gripping the wheel.. and here's a photo as I'm coming off of the 17 mile bridge tunnel.  Glad to be home!
Have a wonderful Sunday, Love,Diana

Wild Things and Tree Frog

Wild Things, 8x10",original watercolor,cost is $99 framed.

Hi, I finished this painting last night of a Short Tailed Black Swallowtail and Red Admiral. We have had both in the backyard, especially the swallowtail butterflies. They adore the tall phlox. The Devils Walking Stick, a wild tree,is now blooming and the hummingbirds and butterflies love that large mass of white blooms on top of this tree.

Today I ate lunch in the porch and hummingbirds were everywhere,I've made some more feed for them and will get some sugar when I go to the grocery store this week.One grazed the top of my head as I read.. ha ha.. Are you seeing extra hummingbird activity at your home?  

Talk to you soon,Diana 

I had to add the froggie photo, he is in the hydranea bush by the back porch.. I'll have to paint him. How adorable!

Butterfly House at NBG ,Class,Family

HI, Well I'm ready to put my feet up and rest! Ha ha.. Yesterday was my class over to Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It was so much fun. I had 3 students, Deb,Carol, and Dory and we studied waterbirds.I did a demonstration of drawing and painting a heron on a pour. It was a full day of painting and fun.

 After class I walked over to the butterfly house, it was awesome. So many butterflies and  the chrysalis(some actually looked like jade with gold markings) were gorgeous. The flowers were so amazing, too, in there, as well as walking back to the car.The photos above I took inside the Butterfly House!

 My son and his girlfriend came for the weekend. We ate out last night, thank goodness, I was so tired.  Classes and shows always take a lot of energy for me. I enjoy them and have a great time -- but when I'm finished it's rest up time! :)  The kids have just gone back. I miss them already!

 I did sketch a bee balm from my flowers this am.  I may paint some bee balm, love all the hot pink petals. Talk to you soon, enjoy the rest of your weekend, and stay as cool as you can. It's steamy here! Diana

I love to hear from you, thank you for your comments!