Watercolor Warm-ups...

"Pink Tulips 3" (how original....sigh)
7 x 5
Watercolor and pencil on paper

I learned to do these small warm-up paintings at a Robert Burridge workshop. It's such a smart idea.... I have at least 3 going at once (usually more) so when the one I'm working on is wet and needs to dry...there is a dry one in the ready position... You can try out ideas that you wouldn't necessarily try on a larger sheet... a no risk method, that's very freeing.

On a completely different subject...

"Go right through for MSU, watch the points keep grow-ing....
Spartan teams are bound to win they're fighting with a vim!
Rah Rah Rah!"

Go Michigan State and Tom Izzo....
I can hardly wait to watch the game!

Which came first...the title or the painting?

All sorts of paintings drying in front of my little electric stove... there are more, but I didn't want to zoom out too far. I've been less than tidy with my work habits. :)

My cyber friend, and a wonderful artist, Peggy Stermer Cox asked me a great question yesterday...
Do I get my idea for a painting first, or do I do the painting then title it?

I answered her comment this morning...but I was thinking a bit more about it today.

With my "Take the High Road"series, it's been both, but most often, I just start with a blank sheet of paper or canvas and start playing with colors and ideas. I honestly do have 4 to 10 paintings going at once (depending on size). I start thinking of situations in which I could choose to "take the high road" and then sort of illustrate it in different ways. If I come up with something that i think is a good idea and composition, I'll write the title on the back of the painting or on a sticky note. Then I attempt to complete the thought with paint.

Another process I have is doodling in my sketch book with thumbnail sketches....writing down ideas...or things I want to explore. I've also started cutting out from magazines great color combinations that I want to play with. This is a great reference to go to when I have a "what should I do next" blank mind.

Robert Burridge's workshop was so helpful to me in this respect. His advice about intent was monumental . He says "The goal. The point. The reason. Your intentions. It is your initial impulse for the core of a meaningful painting."

A Painting Accepted into Arizona Edges Show!

"Break Through" 11 x 8 ~ Acrylic on Paper

I was thrilled to find out that "Break Through" was accepted into the Arizona Edges juried competition. I entered on a whim, after I read about it in Robert Burridge's Artsy Fartsy Newsletter. :) This is the first out of state show I've entered....so I am doing a great big happy dance!

In One Ear.....

"In One Ear" 7 x 5 ~ Acrylic and ink on collage paper~

I am the lone woman in a family of four. ..(even the dog is male) Enough said. :)

This paper (the support) is the result of using citrasolve (found in health food stores) and National Geographic magazines....You never know what you're gonna get. The solvent melts the ink in the magazine...and when you pull apart the pages....yippee skippee! Just another example of what I learned in the Bob Burridge workshop. :)

Small paintings in progress....

I've adopted Bob Burridge's habit of doing small warm-up paintings each morning...
limiting color and or subject matter..... experimenting... playing... slapping paint around. They are all 5 x 7 size.... and by doing 6 each day (at least starting) I should have a slew of them before my open studio in November....
Can you guess which one will be called "bite me" when it's done? hehehehe

Robert Burridge Workshop....wow!

"Light as a Feather" by Robert Burridge


If you ever have the opportunity to take a workshop from Bob Burridge, DO IT!!! I have never learned so much in 5 days. His "Abstract Acrylic Painting and Collage" workshop, at Dillman's Resort was chock full of techniques, encouragement, inspiration and his wacky humor.

For me, the juice of this workshop was learning to develop a series of work that comes from your soul...A series that's broad enough to last you a while....but narrow enough in it's intent to unite all of the pieces. A big "ah-ha" realization.

Another "big" idea for me, was the small warm-up paintings he suggests you do before you tackle your larger, more complicated works in progress....Actually, now that I'm reflecting on it...there were a ton more "big" ideas that I got from Bob's class! At the very least....pop over to his website and subscribe to his "ArtsyFartsy" newsletter...You'll be glad you did.

Below are 2 paintings that I completed during the workshop....Yup....this is the beginnings of my new series....stay tuned to see and hear more about it!


"The Grass is Greener" 10 x 11 Acrylic (above) (sold)

"Star Climber" 10 x 11 Acrylic (below) (sold)

Quote of the Day:

"To play it safe is not to play." – Robert Altman