Busy Month ahead and Bad Weather

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

hi, I didn't go to class on Saturday. I postponed it until next Saturday, Oct. 10th. I'm glad. The weather here has been messy all weekend. Flooding.. on the seaside of the Eastern Shore. Photos of Wachapreague are disasterous.Wind, rain in super abundance...here are photos of some of the CBBT on other trips I have taken. We were blessed Hurricane Joquain did not hit here but went out to sea.

ESAL, Eastern Shore Art League is having our member show for the month of Oct. The Opening will be next Friday night Oct. 9th from 5-8pm. Goodies, artists, art, and the public is invited. I have 2 paintings in this show.

Class Oct. 10 at Norfolk Botanical Garden, Herons in Watercolor

Ker Art Festival and Maritime Exhibit, Oct. 16th  5-7pm , Opening night $15 , Food , Wine, Ker Place, Onancock,Va..
                                                                Oct. 17th from 10am-3pm maybe 4 ( need to check that)
                                                                Show continues for the day!!

ESO  Belle Haven,Va. Herons in Watercolor Oct. 22 Thursday

FIDO class at NBG < I"ll be teaching Oct.31

It's going to be a busy month.. but I'll just have to take it one thing at a time.. I need to paint some today. I haven't in a couple of days.

 have a great weekend, tell me what you are painting. love to you and everyone stay safe in this bad weather. Diana

Art Opening and Show Continues Thru September

Me on the tram, the day I brought the paintings. It was a lovely tour of the garden. I enjoyed it so much!  

The Baker Hall at Norfolk Botanical Garden

Some of the 49 paintings and my dear friend Beth, she helped so much.

Some more of my paintings and my dear friend Renee , she helped so much too!

The Art Opening was lovely, Everyone was so helpful getting it set up. I couldn't have done it without, Beth, Renee, Mama, Dallas, Daniel, Courtney, Bob,David. Ann Henry. Thank you all so much and Connie who hung the paintings and is in charge of the show. Thank you. The show continues thru the month of September. I personally would go early, the Butterfly House is open until Sept. 20th. and I'd go see that as well. You know I love butterflies and nature so much. There are my original paintings of the Japanese Gardens, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Sunflowers, Fresh Veggies, Day lilies, Owls, Tree Frogs,Orchids,Herons,and so much more in this show.

I sold a total of 5 paintings so far. I'm pleased. Hope to sell some more. It was so much work. I truly painted my heart out and have put everything in my heart into the show.  49 original watercolors..My hope is that people will see the beauty of that wonderful place, Norfolk Botanical Garden and God's beauty, too, thru my art.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. Thanks so much for supporting my work, love,Diana

ps. Next Saturday I will be teaching "Owls in Watercolor" there from 10am-3pm , NBG, All are invited to join us. Supplies included bring your lunch or try the wraps at the Cafe.

Beautiful students and beautiful flowers!

Raina with her completed watercolor. She did Great!!

Yesterday at Norfolk Botanical Garden, I had 11 ladies in my class.We studied hummingbirds and peonies. Gorgeous peonies. The azaleas were blooming, what a wonderful day. Everyone did a great job painting and we had a fun time together. Thank you all so much!

I've been painting on a watercolor of peonies today that I started yesterday. Just made some coffee, another beautiful spring day!! Happy Sunday.

 love to each of you,Diana

 ps. Sadie,my lab,has been by my side, our kitty, Cupcake has been delighted to find a few windows open so she could get closer to the hummingbirds!!

Kune Kune Piglet!

Well I lost that post. Ah well. I can't get the photo up yet but am pleased I changed the Painting in my studio. Look at that.  It's next to the post. It is a  Kune Kune Piglet from Perennial Roots www.perennialroots.com . This is a farm in Accomack,Va. North of us on the Eastern Shore of Va. They are very nice people.


My art show this weekend was so so. People and friends were great but only 2 little sales. I was hoping for more but that's the way it goes sometimes. We did treat ourselves to pizza last night, I was wiped out. 


Please check out my Facebook page and like it if you will. Photos are there. This will get fixed.


We got our new dryer. The delivery man could not go under the house to install the hose so I did. Ha ha.. I did it and it works!!!


Talk to you Soon and love to each of you,Diana

Copper Creations Christmas Open House This Saturday!! Dec. 13.

Copper Creations in Melfa,Va. is having their Christmas Open House here are some of my new originals for the show!! .

HI Everyone, I'm still working on the little rose painting. I hope to have it finished by Saturday. That is when Copper Creations Christmas Open House is. I've got baking to do for it. I always make a Fresh Apple Cake, some cookies, and some cornbread. Donna Drew has 2 kinds of soup, and every other artist brings food too, so come and munch and buy some art if you are nearby. Just to see you will be a treat. 10am-4pm Dec. 13.

My dear Sadie, our Lab is napping finally today. Its been rainy and cold outside so I played ball for awhile but not long enough. She has been trying to get my attention all morning. So far she's eaten a Halloween sock, a small bottle of powdered iridescent paint, and 2 plackers, the tooth pick/cleaners. I've pried them out of her mouth and she didn't swallow much. Thank goodness. I want to work on my rose painting.

Our Christmas tree is up and fat and short. I love it. But I don't know how much else I'll decorate, I have 2 more shows and am trying to paint as much as I can. Pictured above is the 5 new watercolors I have for this show, but I have to frame them. Anyway it's a blessing to have so many things coming up.  Hope to talk to you soon, love to each of you,Diana

Next show is Eastville Inn , Artwork there on Dec.14, Opening Dec. 20, 6-8pm, One Woman Show. Diana Davis.  I'll be painting a demo there too!!

ESAL Member Show Paintings

Here they are! I finished the owl last night at 9pm.( the framing too)  I've got to start earlier and make up my mind on subject matter very early! I'm so glad to have them finished. Today I have to go to Cape Charles and deliver them. I'm delivering Monelle's work and Gertraud too. Then to the grocery store.

As you can see I changed owls and leaves, totally started over. It's a barn owl in an old barn window with a vine and a floating leaf. The vine is from the lines of the pour inspired from my backyard's trumpet vine. I heard the Great Horned Owl in the backyard last night, the night before Sadie met a Screech Owl back there. She ran to the house. ha, ha.. Talk to you soon, Love,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

Rhododendron Watercolor Beginnings and Wishing you A HAPPY MOTHER's Day!

Hi, I'm still working on the pig painting. I got a little time this am and some this afternoon too. I'm cleaning too. Thought you'd like to see a rhododendron I started in Norfolk the other day. I'll work on that more after the pig. The pig is a commission. I've missed painting while chasing my little pup. But she's brought a lot of joy,and if I grab my sketchbook as we head out the door I can sketch. I'll get in the rhythm of puppy/painting... I have to paint. Truly I'm in a bad mood if I don't and feel I've lost something. There's an emptiness inside me.So I'm wishing each of you a Happy Mother's Day. Love to each of you,Diana

Sadie Smiles: Here's Sadie asleep at Monelle's feet at an art lesson. Isn't she sweet? Monelle is too. :)
(something that made me smile today because of the puppy Sadie)

Hectic Time

Here's the pig painting I'm working on. Today we sat on the porch and painted. The weather was warm and lovely. The other morning I heard a screech owl, a whippourwill, a pileated woodpecker and wild turkeys!!  I took Sadie to the vet yesterday, more shots.. she is doing fine. I had to go take some new paintings to Red Queen Gallery today which was good. I'll try to post more.. it's been hectic here as  you can imagine :) . love to you, Diana

Potato Masher Imprint in Watercolor and Zen Puppy

Hi, We've spent most of the day outside. It's warm and sunny, so nice! I took my paint out and sat on the steps and Sadie played as I painted a little. Working on this little blue cow. Remember the potato masher.. here is the imprint as her nose!! Ha ha.. I couldn't help it.. It just seemed to fit the cow.  I've still got so many to frame for the show but that's ok, and with Sadie,it seems it's do it at  nap time or never.(It's nap time now.) I have to watch her or she gets into things. I will tell you she is very Zen. Yes... really, :). We have a very large wind chime hanging from a pine tree in my flower garden, she heard it chime for the first time today, sat down and listened..ears perked up. Later she did the same.. it was adorable.

Tiger Swallowtail Watercolor and Sick Puppy (fine now!)

I'm tired. We had a problem. Sadie was sick. Yesterday afternoon after I wrote you, she was hyper.. not napping, whining and crying and running, she did not slow down.. I called Kendra, and she helped and I called the dr. He said give her a benadryl.. she had had a shot yesterday and a worm pill at the vets.Our Poor puppy was miserable. so was I. Needless to say I slept( well sorta) next to her and she slept fitfully, Today she is doing fine. now she's sleeping on the job. I've been painting this butterfly and she naps beside me. So thankful that is over and she is fine!!!..  I love to paint butterflies and to see them to me is almost magical.. their beauty so ethereal. Talk to  you soon. Love,Diana

Loose People in Watercolor and Wild Kingdom in the Backyard

Just a quick note. I've been trying loose exercises from Jean Haines first book today. These are on scrap paper. Loose people. It's fun. I admire her work so very much. When you do their exercises it seems to click for me, I can understand what they are doing better--The man with the watering pot is from a magazine. Always fun to try new things in painting

. Here is a photo from my backyard just now. The fox came and the stray mother cat came both friendly to each other. It's like Wild Kingdom out there.

  Puppy News. We go get her on next Thursday ,April 11th. I can't wait!! Tell me what you've been doing or who has visited lately, love, Diana

Roses Watercolor

HI, Well He just left. While he and his Dad were working out both days I worked on my roses watercolor.It's finished. The colors are really brighter than the photo shows.My roses are red, but I  enjoyed making them different colors--- and up to the top left you can see the ice crystals.. over the blue rose. We had snow  yesterday and a little today. The temperature is going up and things are melting fast. One thing about the ES of Va. we can have almost all temperatures and weather in one day!! :) I sure hope we have enough left overs for supper!! Have a great Sunday. Love,Diana

Puppy News--- Kendra is putting Sarah(the yellow mother to be lab) bed in order for the birthing. A small plastic blue pool will be the whelping bed in her home. Sarah is doing well, getting larger and larger but doing fine.. Now we wait.. !!!!

www.shorefinelabs.com

Company is Coming!

Hi! My son's coming home tonight for the weekend. We're looking forward to it. I started fixing chicken salad for supper .. and discovered after I had it all chopped up that I was out of celery.. so off to the grocery store I went.  I ended up picking up more groceries, of course. :)  Cleaned  and got his bed ready.

 While I had breakfast I started sketching roses, I've put a little negative painting around 2 of them.  I want at least one more maybe 2 roses to complete the painting.I'll go paint while I wait.. Clay called. He's on his way. I hope you have a great weekend!!

Talk to you soon, love,Diana

Watercolor of Orchids

One of those days,full of errands and a dentist appointment,I did get to paint later in the day. Finished my dishes,just now, and there was a very large possum wandering thru the backyard.  Silly thing. He was cute! I've added the large orchid to the bottom of the watercolor-- yes,I'm back to talking about the painting.Ha Ha..well Maria, a friend of mine gave me some photos of her orchids(and her permission to paint them) last week, and I thought they were gorgeous.This one is one of hers. We'll see after I finish this flower where or if I add leaves. I will..pretty sure.

Talk to you tomorrow.. Hope you get lots of love tomorrow and give lots of love(Remember it is Valentine's Day.)  Have a wonderful one!

..love to you,Diana

Amaryllis and Sunset

HI, Here's what I've gotten done today. Yes, that was me(in the multicolored pink hat), standing in my front yard looking at that magnificent sunset!! So amazing. What did you do today? Love,Diana

E R Visit..

One of those days.. I woke to John standing over me. Your Dad is going by ambulance to the Hospital. Leap. Well sorta.. for me.. stopped and picked up Mama. She didn't ride with the ambulance. He'd taken too many pills. 9 last night.--oh my gosh.. he wasn't trying to hurt himself... He's ok. They checked him over and sent him home. So much of the day was spent down there with my sketchbook. I drew him.. not the best but hey I had a pencil in my hand and it kept me busy.. So that's been my day. This afternoon I've cleaned and listened to soft music..(so I didn't think about what could have happened) How's yours been?? Love to you,Diana

Copper Creations Christmas Open House Tomorrow!

HI! I'm packing up for the show tomorrow.--the Last Show before Christmas for me--- I've made an apple cake, chocolate chip cookies and homemade corn bread(which is crumbling blasted!-it will still be good.), Donna is making her gumbo and soup and coffee and so much more. I'm still trying to finish one little landscape I had started. Show is from 10am-4pm. If you are near please stop by. Drive up the highway to Melfa and there will be a sign on the highway turn left there and another left you'll see the cars! talk to you soon, Love,Diana

House Portrait and Robbery

HI, I've got a house portrait commission to do for Christmas. I've spent 3 hours so far drawing. Not finished by a long shot and I need to tighten my lines. I enjoy it. I put the curtains on and the flowers,once I put the dog in the front yard. :) Can't show you all the photo although you can peek in the corner. I love smelling the Christmas tree as I draw. I've had the Christmas carols blaring, Josh Groban's Christmas Album. What Christmas carols do you listen to or music?

We had some Bad news. Yesterday our neighbors house was broken into. Someone went in during the day and stole their TV and more and went thru their things.. we're in the country... this is hard to believe. We're all so thankful they weren't home and they are ok..

Talk to you soon, take care and I'm sorry to say...but lock your doors..love,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