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.

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

Sadie's Day and Watercolor Class

Hi, Sadie's had company most of the day. Dana came over, Beth, Monelle and Debra, she got a basket of toys and yummies and more toys, kisses and loves and played with so now she is sleeping under my art table. I'm zonked too but I'm packing up for tomorrows class.We'll be painting tulips and daffodils.. and pouring watercolor. John will take care of her while I go. I'll miss her.  Have a great weekend. Love, Diana

Class and Kittens

Hi, Class today. Last night I got J. to take my photo as I was painting. This morning I was up early at 5, getting packed up. I had four eyes glued on my every move. Yes, the 2 kittens were in and watching me. Clay named them Taco and Ruxon. They will stay in tonight and he's going to take them home tomorrow. We have acorns,balls of yarn, and spools around the living room to entertain them. ;) Adorable. I got packed up and was on my way by 8am. We only had 2 students, we worked on washes and textures and all things watercolor. Trisha painted a lily pond from a garden and Carolyn painted the Garden with the hydranea bushes. I demonstrated negative painting and also  started the NBG with the hydranea. I'm zonked. The men got dinner from EL Maguey in Exmore, wonderful Mexican food. Delightful ! talk to you tomorrow. Diana

Day Lily Watercolor Class this Sat.

Hi! I've just sent off my email for my class at Norfolk Botanical Garden this Saturday. The information is on the right side of the blog. This painting,Day Lily, doesn't have the masa paper on it-- but I'll be preparing a sheet for each student to have when they walk in as well as teach them how to apply the paper in class. It takes awhile to dry as you know if you've used it. It's so very beautiful. It will be a fun class. The gardens supply us with flowers picked that morning and they are gorgeous!! And the classroom overlooks the hummingbird garden,so you know I'm in heaven!

This lily is from Sterrett's Gardens a small garden a few miles from us. I love to go look at their gardens but end up ooohing and aaahing so very much! :)

One class I had with Masa Paper,I taught them how to prepare the paper and told them to put it outside to dry in the sun. One lady came to class the next time and said she put her paper on the front steps and it blew away.. She never found it! HA HA..

Hope you are having a great weekend.. talk to you soon,Diana
I've posted on craig's list for a puppy.

Norfolk Botanical Garden Class & Wildflower

Hi, Here is a little painting I did at the beach from 2 little wildflowers I picked there. I believe it's Painted Lady.. it was everywhere. Then we had a wonderful tomato that Pete brought and so I had to paint it.

Yesterday I went to the Norfolk Botanical Garden. I had never been. It was amazing. Everywhere I looked was a gorgeous landscape to paint.. so many gorgeous plants and well needless to say I was just in awe of the beauty. I went to see my classroom and meet with the director about my upcoming class in August. We will be painting some flowers cut from the garden just for us! and the room looks onto a lovely landscape so that is another possiblity for painting. It's going to be fabulous. If you live near Norfolk,Virginia Beach or the Eastern Shore it would be a great time to learn watercolor or enhance your painting and enjoy all that beauty! August 13, on a Saturday from 10am-3pm. Supplies included and so is a box lunch. Cost is $105 or $85 for members of the garden. Call 1-757-441-5830 to register.I've got the website connected to the side where the classes are so you can look and see. Here are a few pictures from yesterday.. and I only saw a small part of the gardens. well I guess I'll go start a little painting. talk to you soon, Diana