Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, blessings to you all

Hi Everyone,  hard to believe it is Christmas time and holidays are here. I just finished  this Masa technique in Watercolor poinsettia watercolor . I started it in my class at Norfolk Botanical Garden . That was last weekend , this weekend was Copper Creations Christmas Open House . I had a good show. Now to shopping for Christmas . 

Sadie by our Christmas  tree. It smells  so good. OUR ornaments are mostly homemade by the children,  l am so thankful. 

Here is my class at NBG. They enjoyed the Masa technique . 
Wishing each of you a blessed Christmas and Holiday sending you love, Diana 

Getting Ready for Class

Almost bedtime, I am reading Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati. I am really enjoying it and I read each night before I go to sleep. Here is a monarch watercolor  I did , this is the subject with wildflowers for my class.

Tomorrow  I will set up the palettes and finish all the planning for Class on Sat. Talk soon. Love, Diana

Drew Davis Wharf, Va.,beginning to paint

Here is Davis Wharf,  Va. Davis Wharf Marine at the time i took the photo it was Melson Marine. A busy place here on Eastern Shore of Va. 

CLASS and Show and Merry Christmas, blessings

 Hi , here is my December CLASS. We did a still life of pine, holly, candles, and decorations.  This is at Norfolk Botanical Garden.  I showed them how to do a mandala to create a snowflake too. It was fun. Renee was so much help and Barbara helped too. I am so tired. Thankful but exhausted and here comes Christmas with so much to get ready... ahhh somehow it will get done. Tell me how you refuel.  I wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a blessed happy New Year. Love to EACH of you,Diana   The last photo  is of Copper Creations Christmas Open House.

Class in the morning

Well I'm  ready for class tomorrow,  I have to pack up in the morning, just put it  all in the car. I am tired. Dear Sadie is laying in my lap, 84 lb of Labrador. I have to leave early so I am hitting the hay soon. Good night and  my love to you.Diana 

Spring

HI everyone,  the show was so nice, lots of people, lots of dear friends, not so many sales but enough for pizza take out for supper and more,so that was good.This was Eastern Shore Heritage Festival  at ESCC.

Beth and I took my paintings down to the Lemon Tree Gallery in Cape Charles, on Monday.  Here is a photo  of Clelia and Mary Ann in the beautiful gallery. This show opens Friday night.

I am teaching  at Norfolk Botanical Garden this Saturday.  Daffodils, Hellebore, and Common Blue butterflies.  All blooming here, I am glad to say. Spring seels to be here. So beautiful.  I drew Crocus  yesterday,  Sadie and me sitting in the grass in the sunshine.  Take care hope spring is popping where you are, my love to you  Diana
The last photo is Elizabeth, Gertraud, and Gary, with Elizabeth 's 2 puppies.from Heritage Festival.  Talk soon!

Chickadee and Dogwood

 Chickadee and Dogwood, 8x10. $99 framed.  Original

Sadie, my precious Labrador, now laying in my lap. 85 lbs. Of love smushing me. I am so thankful  and a tiny bit number. Ha ha

I can't believe  it is February,  where did time go. I have been teaching  a class  at ESO in Belle Haven, Va. Just 2 students but we have been learning  and having  a good time and producing beautiful  watercolors. Four weeks, this one Thursday will be  the last one.  This Saturday  I  will be teaching at Norfolk Botanical Garden, Chickadee  and Dogwood. Like  the one above. Later this month  the first show of the year  Eastern Shore Heritage Festival at Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa, Va.  I have been working on an old tractor  ,I am not sure of the background  yet,

any suggestions?  My love to each of you, Diana 

Frozen watercolors and plenty of snow!

13 inches of snow,  for us that was amazing 

Frozen watercolors 

Hi, last week we had 13 inches of snow here on the Eastern Shore of Va. Living on one of the back roads is pretty but can be very icy. We were snowed in for 3 days. I froze  a few washes, just do your washes then quickly get them outside in 20 degree weather.  Weigh them down so they don't  blow away. Wait overnight and look sometimes there are ice crystals on the paper.  Bring it in gently and let dry completely.  It is so amazing.  Of course then I have to decide what to do with the background.

I have been painting a commission, can't share it with  you . But I am painting, Sadie, our Labrador ate one of my newest brushes,luckily just the handle so I duck taped it back on. Ha ha....

Wishing each of you a Blessed  and Happy New Year, my love to you, Diana

Merry Christmas, Wren Watercolor steps

Here is  the progress of my Carolina Wren and dried hydrangea Watercolor.  I  always draw first. The super dark background  is last and if it is not dark enough  I glaze sometimes a few times.

Hi, I can't believe  Christmas  is close. The last show was good. Next show  is in February, so that is good and break.  My Christmas shopping is almost over, and I finished  the last cookie baking today. Here is our Christmas tree. So many cherished friends and our children  made the wonderful ornaments.  So many memories....Wishing each of you a blessed Christmas Or Holiday

 my love to you, Diana 

Franktown United Methodist Church Fine Art Show Saturday

Sunrise in our backyard. 

Hi, I am tired. Today I have been getting ready for Franktown United Methodist Church Fine Art Show and Bazaar.Sat. from 9:30 to 3pm.  I am trying to get a few small paintings finished for the show as well as everything else that goes with it. I planted 7 small Loblolly Pines. Hope they live in our empty once wooded lots. I am going to walk Sadie now, last night we heard a Screech OWL, so amazing.  Love to you, Diana

Class at ESO, Mandalas....

Class at ESO in Belle Haven, Bill and Sandy.

Watercolor of Willis Wharf, I started this in class as a demonstration, They painted it too.

A mandala,  ginkgo leaves, acorns and moons.

Hi , well we made it thru the Hurricane MATTHEW.  Lost 6 trees,oaks mostly,  that is why I had acorns in the mandala. My class at ESO is finished, we had 4 weeks and it was lovely.  I will miss them this coming Tuesday. (our day of class).

The Eastern Shore Art League  is having our annual show. Opening night is Oct.22, Sat. From 5 to7 come if you can. It will be in the Onancock High School  and will continue for one week.

I have a class at Norfolk Botanical Garden on Sat. So it will be a busy day for me but a nice one.

I have been drawing mandalas for fun. It is relaxing. Have you tried it??
 The new brochures are out now for the Artisan Guild Holiday Tour 2016. Don brought  me some today.  I think he is going up and down  the whole ES delivering them. That show is Thanksgiving Weekend. I have 2 shows before that. Holy cow.

Well I had best start dinner. Talk to you soon, love to each of you, Diana

Painting our Trees

My Snowy Woods, 16x 20 , $330

Painting on the porch with Sadie 

Sadie, napping 

Hi Everyone,  I have been painting.  New work in Lemon Tree Gallery in Cape Charles and new work in Red Queen Gallery in Onancock. I ordered 5 new brushes,rounds from Loew Cornell.  I always enjoy  playing with new brushes. I just finished painting the trees, since we had the trees cut I have really wanted to do this.

Sadie is doing fine, she and I saw 3 white tailed deer Thursday night at dusk, they were beautiful.  Sadie ran after them, I followed, she soon gave up. Thank goodness.

I start a new class at ESO in Belle Haven this Tuesday.  Wet in Wet. I am looking forward to this.  Well night ,  I am tired how about you, have a wonderful weekend, love, Diana

Monarch Butterfly Class and Enjoying the Backyard

Hi Everyone, These photos are from my class yesterday at  Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk Va. Monarch and Flowers.  It was a sunny day so we could walk outside and see all the flowers in the Hummingbird Garden  ( right outside our window).
The wind has picked up here, Sadie and I are having  iced Tea  in our backyard.  Yes, she just stuck here nose in my glass. She is our Labrador and as you know always with me at home. Football
season started so John is watching that. I would rather enjoy  the hummingbirds, Spice bush Swallow Tail Butterflies, and few flowers back here.  There goes a yellow Sulfur butterfly!  Take care, love to each of you, Diana

Three new watercolors.

Teaching at AHS National Convention 2017

hi everyone, I have been invited to teach at the American Hemerocallis Society National Convention in Norfolk, Va.

This will be in June of 2017.

I am honored and looking forward to this.  Check it out www.ahs2017convention.org

Click on workshops to see my information. 

Today Hurricane Hermione has passed nearby. We got a good rain and very little wind. Now Wachapreague has had some flooding and I am sure some of our towns near the water. I have been painting some.

Stay safe, love , Diana 

Painting Glads,Sunflowers

Still working  on this...

Hi, so hard to believe  summer is zooming by and August begins tomorrow. I am working on this watercolor of gladiolus and added the butterfly today.it needs  another  short flower on the empty side. The pink phlox are in our backyard and the butterflies really love them. I enjoy watching so much.The sunflowers  are in a field near Quinby, Va. I was up in Wachapreague  (near there) this week. It was such a treat to see them, I took  lots of photos  to paint  later. Wishing  you a wonderful  August, love to you, Diana

Just keep painting

hi, I can't believe it is July already.  A friend of mine and I went to Evas for coffee one day. She has a tiny ,precious farmstead near Harborton, Va.  Her flowers that day were gorgeous, I brought some home, gladiolus were my favorite in the bouquet so I started  this painting. 

I had a show in the Red Queen Gallery. It was a dud,sold only a tiny one,ah well.On to the next show,right.

Sadie is doing great,well she did just try to eat something she wasn't supposed to but that is normal.The kitties are,doing fine too.my flowers are beautiful.  I am trying to root some hydrangea for the empty land.

I hope you are having  a wonderful summer.  Love to you.Diana 

New painting wip and Sadie after surgery

Sadie problems. ..

Hi ,well we have a problem.  Sadie may have torn her other knee. I noticed
It over  Christmas.  We went to the veterinarian today. He wants to test tomorrow so we will know then. He believes she may need another surgery.  She is my constant companion, I don't  want her to be in pain for the rest of her life. I am so thankful  I had a good last few art shows to help pay for what we need to do. Keep us in your prayers dear ones. Thank you.

We have had some extremely cold weather so I froze this blue wash,yes, ice crystals formed. Amazing  what watercolor can do. Also I painted  this little tomato painting,  finished it up this afternoon which helped me not worry as much.  Wishing each of you a well,happy new year.  Love to you, Diana

Holiday trip

Painting ginkgo leaves, just had to paint.  

Jelly Bean the new kitten has found  a new friend. 

 On Monument Ave. In Richmond,  Va. The houses were beautiful decorated amazingly.

Me and our son.

Hi, I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas and holiday. We visited family in Richmond, Va.  On the 26th.  Lovely party and enjoyed seeing everyone.  Clay and I walked down  Monument Ave. That evening so many gorgeous  decorations  I loved it. I took lots of photos. You can tell I am a country girl.wishing everyone a healthy, happy, and blessed New Year, my love to each of you,Diana