Peony Painting Beginnings

Drawn and started painting, I still will change it perhaps adding a hummingbird.

Sadie,playing in the snow.

HI, Well we got snow night before last. About 4 inches,not too bad really but I'm ready for daffodils and yes I have 3 crocus blooming. For me I'm always so tickled there is a flower growing in the yard!!

This was before the snow. The crocus are now covered.

  I've started a new painting. Finally decided on peonies, you can see it above. I'm going to add something,either a bird or a butterfly to the top right. I love these colors. Cadmium Yellow Deep,Red Rose Deep,Opera.. We're having another Spring Show at Red Queen Gallery for the ESAL(Eastern Shore Art League), 2 pieces per member and they must be never before seen.. translation never before seen which means 2 brand new watercolors for me.With the snow it is a perfect day to paint.

 Sadie,our dear not a puppy anymore, is napping now at my feet. She's been out chasing birds away from my snow day bird cake. Yesterday I made a cake for the birds(just a stale box mix) --I seem to never have birdseed.. so they get all kinds of goodies like peanut butter sandwiches or leftover cereal..  Sadie had a taste of the cake and decided she would have the rest but it's high up the tree in the bird feeder.(I hope)  The colors of the female cardinal inspired this painting and I may add one to the painting I'll see. She has been hanging around today,so have Juncos,Titmice,Chickadees and other Cardinals.

I hope you are warm and cozy today -- what have you been doing??. love to you,Diana 

Pears in Watercolor

Whimsy Pears, 8x10 framed, $99.

Coming across Shields Bridge near Belle Haven,Va.

HI, this morning I've been finishing my pears. Sipping my coffee and painting is so relaxing. Sadie is napping in her crate and doing great. Still a little stiff when she moves but I'm so happy she's doing fine. This photo is from Shield's bridge. It's about 20 feet long and we have to cross it coming from Belle Haven to get home. Always so beautiful there.

I want to start another painting. I've got class I hope tomorrow. Still waiting for the final word, do we have enough.. so I'll be getting ready. The class is on iris, I'll call around to the florist and see if they have any.

Have a wonderful weekend, and stay warm.
 Love to you,Diana

ps what are you doing this weekend??

Snow Day--Yep, We are Snowed in!

Sadie biting her frozen pool.

Snow Day. WOW.. we got probably 4 inches and today it's been cold near 20 degrees. On the ES we don't get much snow and if we do it's gone by the next day. However this is supposed to stay around for a few days. Sadie,the puppy, was so excited she galloped and ran and just had the best time.(Of course we had 5 gloves and she ate one. None match.. this is creative Right??!! ha ha please don't ask about the sock matching.)Poor Rudy,our kitty went out once and I told John that's it.. she stays in

Here is my art table this morning. I've painted watercolors of  snow all day, played with the blues, some negative painting... and had a good time.

The last photo is of our front yard. Hope you all are staying warm and dry and have your electricity.

 love to each of you. Are you in the snow too?? Diana

My Class at ESO in Belle Haven has been postponed due to the Snow. Check the listing on the right for classes..it will be next Thursday. Thanks so much!!

Blue Crab Watercolor Finished

HI, I finished the crab today. I wanted to keep as much pour as possible in the body but it was too light so I added the mixture of viridian green, burnt umber and cad. yellow medium (my version of Sap Green). I like to mix my colors, Do you?? Wishing you a happy weekend!! love to you,Diana

Ps. How do you like to eat crabs? I love soft crabs fried,crab cakes...This is the crab that we can catch here on the Eastern Shore. We used to go string crabbing --tie a chicken neck on a long string with a weight on it and throw it into the bay,sit on the dock near the line--our feet dangling off the dock, and hold the line until we felt the tiny tug.. Hollar(Yell loudly--even though the person is sitting right next to you!!) for someone to get the crab net and slowly pull it up as they dip the crab and place in a bucket to be steamed as soon as we had enough!! It was a delightful day, I still like to go string crabbing. Have you ever been??

Eastern Shore Mini Landscape in Watercolor

This is the Onancock mini landscape. I want to add a little more blue to the water in the distance and sign it. I wet the sky and added the blue then added a few of the wispy trees including the ones in the background.. the greens and yellows diffused together. Leaving the trunks to do dry with some leaves dabbed in over those trees. My favorite leaves are from the vine growing up the pine in the foreground.

 I just heard from Kendra, the puppies started on mush today and are going to the vet now.  I get to meet them next Friday! I'm so excited!I hope you have a wonderful weekend. love,Diana ( I may paint some checkerboard radishes..then we can eat them in the salad!)

Here is an 8x10 I've done of a tall ship. We've got a special event in June coming to Onancock,Va. and Cape Charles. An art show will be held then as well as special tall ships coming,with tours and exhibits.. so I thought today I'd work on a little watercolor --painting on the porch(missing my Daisy). I still have to use my scrubber to clean up some sail lines..love the scrubber for little jobs! Hope you all have a nice weekend.Talk to you soon,Diana

Eggplant and Ratatoiulle

Hi, I just framed this little eggplant watercolor for the Pignic Art Show tomorrow. I love the color of eggplants. I use ultramarine blue and permanent rose to make my deep purple and I threw in a brush full of cad.red medium and thalo blue. I love thalo. Just a very simple painting but it makes me happy. I then made ratatouille for me for dinner, J. doesn't like it. Eggplant, tomatoes,onions, peppers, garlic, all stewed down and luscious. take care and see you tomorrow/talk soon! Diana

Cherry Tomatoes and Walking Meditation

Hi, I finished my "Cherry Tomatoes". Just now. I used negative painting and especially like the left hand side of the painting where the vines are together and going up.This is my tomato plant and my tomatoes and some of Mamie's'. I did the little pear painting earlier this week as a demo for a student.

Well this week I've gone to the blueberry farm in Hacksneck.Va. and picked blueberries and Asian pears. They are delicious and lovely too I couldn't help but notice the plums at the farm are gorgeous, deep blues and purples.. but they aren't ripe yet.. so no picking. On the way home we stopped and had iced coffee at The Bear and Cub Coffee Shop in Pungoteague.

Here is a Walking Meditation.. I thought you might like.
Take deep slow breaths and read while walking slowly. It's beautiful.. you can do while walking the dogs or just on your own, look at God's beauty around you as you walk--Enjoy..

Walk and Touch Peace every moment
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Bring the Earth your love and happiness.
The Earth will be safe
When we feel safe in ourselves.

Thich Nhat Hanh (author) -- Kiss the Earth

talk soon! Diana

Stage Door Gallery at ArtsEnter Show

This painting is "Linger Here". I drove down to Stage Door Gallery in Cape Charles,Va. today and they are showing this painting and 2 other originals of mine in the upcoming show. This Saturday it opens. John Nyberg is the featured artist. His work is abstract.He has a beautiful garden with sunflowers and zinnas about 2 miles from here. Well I'd best get back to cleaning off the art table. Ugh.. They say organization makes you more peaceful and productive. What do you think?? talk to you later, Diana

Shells on Yupo

HI, today I spent getting ready for the show on Saturday.. the 17th Street Art Festival in Va. Beach,Va.I finished painting this painting of sea shells on yupo. Yupo paper is fun but definitely different. The paper doesn't absorb the paint like traditional watercolor paper does and it glides on and sometimes moves after painting.. until it's dry. I framed 6 paintings too.Framing is not my favorite thing to do-- I have 2 more to frame tomorrow and some art errands. We're going to pack the car after supper tomorrow night. I think it may storm tonight dear Dusty is very upset. Oh we had a 5 foot black snake in the porch yesterday.He didn't bother the dogs or cat. Take care, hope you can come to the show Saturday.. Did I mention the Dairy Queen is right next to the show and the cheesecake blizzards are fabulous. The artwork is fabulous too!!!. Talk soon,Diana

Homegrown Tomato Watercolor

HI, I painted this while sitting outside today. The weather was perfect. I did grow the basil but the tomatoes I didn't. They were grown right down the road from here near Pungoteague, a place called Puddin'Hill. So far I have one green tomato in my flower patch which if it doesn't ripen soon will end up fried and very delicious and that is fine with me! talk to you later, Have a Happy Fourth of July Weekend! Diana

Peaches and Plumber ,Oh MY!

Well, this has been a morning. We had a leak in the bathroom at 4am. Luckily my husband discovered it before it became a nightmare. So we have the plumber coming this morning. So it is hurry up and wait and wait.... Here is a new peach painting I did in a class I taught yesterday as a demonstration. Just something fun and different. Divide the paper into 1/4inch squares and use different colors to paint the peach.. remembering the shadows and variations in color. It does take a lot of time, however and patience, I still need to do some touch ups. The butterfly is one I did in the hospital when Gran had her last surgery. I haven't finished it yet. I paint while I wait it helps me not focus on the big thing just the small painting. I still miss her everyday. I always will. The iris is one I quickly did after getting my new brush. Talk to you after the plumber leaves if he gets here. Diana

Hard Day But Riding Along

This is my painting of a Model T. Today has been rough but we are getting through. I rode my bike in the morning on a long country road and that was so nice. The corn has grown in the fields so the tassles are up now and the smell of it is so sweet, the shadows on the road of the nearby loblollies were a lovely ultramarine blue and the breeze was nice. Stay cool. Talk later,Diana

For Bucky

Hi, One of my son's best friends from college, Bucky Anderson, a young soldier in the army, was killed in Afghanistan this week.He had only been in Afghanistan for 3 months. Bucky was a nice young man.Our hearts, love and prayers go out to his family and friends.This is a photo of a painting I did awhile back but I know Bucky liked the beach and so this one is dedicated to his memory and family with love.
The second painting is my finished Lilies.take care, Diana

Petals starting to fall-- Lilies

Hi, I'm working on a new lily painting. I need to work quickly.The petals are falling! Although I do have photos to use, if I can I prefer to work from life in flowers.. anyway-- I may put another lily in the bottom,-- I'll see how it goes.. I wanted to paint a watercolor with a few of the beautiful lilies from my friends yard. Some of my lilies are blooming now, I planted a bushel basket of orange daylilies on the ditch bank 20 years ago and they are so graceful and beautiful, They are blooming now.So here is the beginning of this new lily painting. Soon the Sterretts Daylily Garden here on the Eastern Shore will be open. They have an acre and a half of gorgeous daylilies-- yes they sell them . Talk soon, Diana Oh yes, I'm so excited, I've got a new brush coming!! Should get it this week.

Ivana's Lily

HI, Here is Ivana's Lily. I just finished painting this little painting of one of her lilies.. Monday afternoon she gave me this large bouquet of lilies from her garden. I had to paint them but started small with just one, I know I've got to paint the whole bunch. but now have a photo to go by-- they don't last very long. Amazing beauty! Talk to you soon, Diana

Art on the Farm at Barrier Island Center

This Saturday, May 29th from 10am to 4pm is the Art on the Farm Art Show at the Barrier Island Center in Machipongo,Va. I will be showing my beautiful watercolors there.Some of the finest art in the mid-Atlantic, plus a treasure trove of regional specialties from wine to native plants and flowers. Hope you can come. Pictured is my gallery wall in my home. I will have these paintings there and continue to get ready for the show. take care and see you Saturday! Diana

Try this brush!

HI, I tried Nancy's brush this week. It is an Isabey Squirrel Quill #8 and it was so much fun. If you can try one, do a quick sketch, this is of a wine bottle of Holly Grove Vineyards , Franktown,Va. I quickly sketched it and then slathered on the paint. and I love it. I'd love to do a few bottles like this, I have a brush the same size just not an expensive one and it works. I don't get the same glide across the paper or the smoothness as I do with this brush but same effect. Now my favorite brush of all times is my 1/2 inch flat sable . Just by the way I hold the brush it can do so many things! There is Daisy, I went to the plant swap at The Bear and The Cub Coffee Shoppe in Pungoteague,Va. Saturday morning. It was so much fun. These are my new plants before I got them in the ground.They have great coffee, such a warm and inviting place to browse and see the yarn,art,... I had the Oyster Roast Bold coffee, which is rich and delightful. Well I'm rambling, I better get painting, the Art in the Farm - art show on May 29th--at the Barrier Island Center is coming up in a couple of weekends...talk soon,Diana

Stargazer Lilies

HI, Well today was beautiful. The weather was perfect and after I ran some errands I took my painting outside,set up a table, pulled up my porch rocker and painted. Daisy and Dusty joined me and laided at my feet. I finished my stargazer lily, now I hope to frame it tomorrow for the Garden Art Show on Sunday. It was a lovely day. Hope you have a great weekend. Talk soon,Diana

Wren and Whos

Hi, every spring I want to paint a wren. This is my new Wren and Tomato.. The Carolina Wrens are so mischievous. Last year I had hung my wash on the clothesline. The clothes were still damp that night when I brought them in and so I put them in the dryer. The next morning my husband opened the dryer and said what in the world is in here!!! The little wren had made a nest in his blue jean shorts pocket. Thank goodness nothing but nesting material... haha.. it was all inside the dryer with all the other clothes.. and the dear little nest in the pocket. Living here we also get owls flying through the backyard. So here are 2 babies and of course in the corner of the photo- a hummer with day lily. I use Winsor& Newton Iridescent Watercolor Medium.. just use a tiny amount in a glaze at the end of your painting on my hummingbirds. I will be showing my watercolors this Sunday May 16th at Berkley Ashby's home in Belle Haven,Va. at a small Garden Art Show. from 2-5pm. to benefit Epworth Methodist Church Building Fund. This afternoon is my free afternoon-- I really need it-- and I've had a bike ride and am working on my stargazer painting. Dusty is very upset , it is raining. For a farm dog she gets really nervous in the rain. Hope we get more than a few drops. Talk to you Soon. Diana