It was a hot summer day and Isabel’s first time in my watercolor class.  We were painting garden vegetables like zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes.   The garden bounty was laid out on the table in front of all my nervous beginning watercolor students.   After a few painting exercises we do to help them learn to use watercolors and start breathing again, because doing something new can truly be anxiety producing, it was time to let them loose and tackle painting their veggie of choice in a large loose “watercolory” fashion. 

It is during this time in my classes that I put on some music.  It helps soften the tension of a classroom full of strangers who are stressed to the gills trying out watercolors for the first time and at the same time sitting in silence while their inner critic screams and carries on.   I usually choose something instrumental and uplifting – and it is usually classical.

Isabel’s eyes were red and tears were streaming down her cheeks when she asked me to please change the song.  I could not move quick enough.  I skipped to the next song, another student handed her a tissue and another a glass of water.  She was embarrassed about her tears and the distraction she had caused in the class.  She insisted she was alright and everybody get back to their paintings.  I whispered, “I’ve cried in watercolor class before, it’s okay. I hope you’ll stay. The tears make it hard to see but don’t really mess with your painting.  It IS watercolor.”  I was so glad she stayed and kept working on her heirloom tomatoes.  They were really good and she seemed to know what she was doing with watercolors.  Clearly, she wasn’t the beginner she claimed to be. 

It was after class I told her how I had cried in watercolor class once.

I had been painting on my own for about 4 years when I found this amazing watercolor teacher at the local arts organization in San Antonio.  This teacher was amazing and I grew and learned so much under her instruction. It was because of her I started taking my watercolor painting a bit more seriously – trying harder subjects, painting bigger, using better materials, and pretty much painting all the time.  I was having the “learning art” time of my life.  Then one class I brought in a pot of geraniums. I wanted to paint the whole thing – all the ruffled leaves the big red ball like flowers.  It was a big goal and I was feeling confident.  And then about half way through I was overwhelmed.  It was too much and I just started crying.  Now, I am not sure those tears were only because I was struggling with my watercolor painting.  I have struggled with many watercolors before and since and generally I get angry, not sad and in a puddle of tears.  Looking back, I think that painting in so many ways just opened a part of me that I had been working hard to keep tucked away - not to look or even think about, my crumbling marriage.  The enormity of painting that huge pot of geraniums overwhelmed me and I could not figure out how to paint it and I could not figure out how to fix my marriage.  I don’t know how these two enormous challenges found their way to connect in my brain, but they did and here I was, a full-grown adult crying in watercolor class.  It was embarrassing and even thought I was among friends; it didn’t make me feel any better.   My teacher came along side me and helped me see how to break it down, one area at a time in bite size, paintable parts.  Instead of seeing all that I had to paint, I focused on one grouping at a time – a cluster of leaves, one flower, the edge of the pot, and so on.  And, it took a while, more than one class, but I finished the painting.

The painting turned out well.  But not my marriage.  Through the whole divorce process, which was overwhelming, I tackled it one bit at a time.   This lesson learned in my special San Antonio watercolor class, a place that was supposed to be a refuge from the yuckiness of life, ended up showing up there as well.  Many times I see people show up to art class in an effort to escape the pain of whatever is going on.  Some people do escape.  I often do.  But sometimes the pain shows up when you least expect it -when you are creating, and attempting to make something beautiful.

After class, Isabel shared with me that her husband had recently passed.  It was a surprise and sudden loss.  She had been grieving for some time and she told me, she needed to “put a bra on and get out of the house.” The song that was playing in the background was her husband’s favorite.  He was a celloist and played it often.  All this beauty – the music, the art, the creative endeavor and all this pain – the grief of losing someone you loved and a life you once knew, just might come from the same place in our heart.

Isabel is still painting after all these years.  Her work is amazing though she refuses to see it herself no matter how much I insist.  My guess is that Isabelle finds more comfort and joy in the process than she does in the outcome. 

On one of my morning walks with our dog Buddy he sniffed out a sickly skinny stray cat.  The cat was so desperate he wasn’t even hiding, he even let me pick him up.  But Buddy’s enthusiasm for all living things made it impossible for me to carry the cat back to our place.  I put him back under the bush we found him, took Buddy home, found our cat carrier and returned to take him home and feed him.  I decided I would take him to the Humane Society later that day after he rested and ate a little.  I prayed they would be able to take him because my household could not embrace another cat. I could, but not everyone else I lived with…  

After school, my 11 year old daughter and I went to the Humane Society and had to wait our turn to speak to someone.  While waiting a young man, looking a bit rough and worn for his youth had a frisky mutt sitting beside him while he filled out paper work on a clipboard.  When it was his turn, he told the a staff person at the Humane Society that he recently adopted this dog but lost his job and had to move back in with him mother.  His mother’s dog did not get on with his new dog and he was forced to surrender his new best friend.  There was no judgement in her voice when she said of course they would take him back.  He said he hoped once he got back on his feet he could come back and get him. 

We couldn’t help but overhear this transaction. It was heart breaking on so many levels.  At one point I had to get up and walk across the room to read something, anything on the wall because I was just about to burst into tears.

When another Humane Society worker came out, she recognized the dog and called him by name.  She gave him lots of strokes and kisses and chatted with the soon to be Ex-Owner of the dog.  The dog was taken away and the young man was left on the couch to finish his paper work.

I was so glad my name was called and I didn’t have to sit in the sadness of the situation.  Our stray cat was allowed to join the others and I was thankful that this little skinny guy would get the help he needed. 

I was so impressed with how the Humane Society staff handled both the people and the animals.  Good grief, life can be so volatile and rough.  But mostly I was so impressed with how well this young man handled his situation and made sure his dog would be okay even he wasn’t going to be his anymore.  I feel certain, if I worked at the Humane Society I would be crying all day.  I’m so glad for people who have the skills, personality and gifts to care for animals and people in gracious ways.    

Meet Shuggy, also known as Sugar when she is being a good kitty.  That good kitty version of her name only seems to come out of my mouth when I see her asleep mid-morning after her very early ”feed-me-now” meows, zooms across my sleeping body with her peg legs and other annoying cat behavior.  Honestly, she is the funniest cat I have ever had.  She greets visitors and likes to be around people instead of hiding.  She always smells our dogs’ feet after his walk, likes to lay on freshly made beds and one of her favorite sleeping spots as at the top of my daughter’s head with her nose burrowed deep in her hair.  She’s an all-around happy cat and not moody like most cats I’ve known and loved.  She’s handled our move from a home with a yard to a third-floor apartment with only a small porch better than any of us.  No longer can she roam and hunt in the great outdoors.  She now must settle for attacking ferocious hair ties that are flicked at her.  She certainly is none the worse for all the change in her year and a half life. 

There are many days I sit on our little apartment porch and look at her.  I wish I had her nature.  I wonder if she remembers the days of being outside and running around.  Does she long for a chance to be an outdoor cat again?  Or is it enough to have a family, food and a cozy spot to snooze.  I painted this picture for lots of reasons.  Yes, visually it is pretty- seeing this black and white cat, my Shuggy, on top of one of my Kantha quilts.  But I also love how this moment is one of contentment.  I am reminded of this quote from Walt Whitman,

“Happiness, not in another place but this place...not for another hour, but this hour.”

The Art Process:

I have found over the years of painting that my subject matter has not been solely an aesthetic choice.  Something inside is drawn to the subject beyond the physical beauty of the subject.  Often it’s a feeling I get from the image.  I mean, I do spend hours and in some cases days on a painting so often what draws me to work through it is the feeling I believe the picture should convey.  Sometimes it translates, sometimes it does not, but then again, that is the challenge of painting for the artist.

Some Technical Tips:

I have become a big fan of Shadow Violet.  It is a great shadow color and is fairly transparent which allows other colors to come through.  I used if for painting shadows which includes the folds in the fabric.  I paint some of the shadows as a second layer when the first has dried.  But, I always add darker paint in the shadows while doing the initial layer as well.  I don’t like painting in layers and I think it can take away the texture that is an important part of watercolors.   The threads of the Kantha quilt were drawn in last using a white gel pen.  I used that same gel pen to draw the whiskers and a few hairs of the cat, but very few.  Most of the white of the cat’s fur that you see is the white of the paper.  I think that always look best – leaving the paper white and not adding white pen or pain over watercolor.

Cat – any Humane Society

Kantha Quilts – Etsy.  You don’t get to choose your colors or patterns, but that doesn’t bother me.  I love the surprise and I use these quilts in a variety of way – table clothes, chair covers, picnic blankets, bench covers, cat beds….

Watercolor Supplies – I generally order from Dick Blick. This is my list of suggested supplies for beginning watercolor students “Keep It Simple Sweetie”. And here is list of supplies Top Notch Watercolor Art Supply List.  

Amy Woods Watercolors

Original Art Sale

December 5 – Sunday

2 pm to 4 pm

Bowood Farms Event Space

(just behind the main store and café - by the Christmas trees)

4605 Olive Street

St. Louis 63108

It has been 4 years since my last art sale and I have lots of original work that needs to live

somewhere else besides in my studio. 

Varying sizes, prices and subject matter - some framed, but most not.

I will also be selling my 2022 calendars, notecards and a few prints.

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It’s been 4 years since my last art “unload” as I call it. I can’t believe how much I’ve painted! At last count I had over 250 watercolors. Part of me is proud of the amount of work I’ve done. Another part of me is a bit astonished. Why so many paintings? Well, let me explain.

1. Many of my paintings are process paintings as I work to develop material for my watercolor art classes for my students and provide a demonstration during class. As I am a big believer in finishing anything I start, much of the work comes from these classes.

2. There are also quite of few pieces painted for licensing possibilities. For those of you who don’t know, I paint for manufacturers who mass produce my art for national chain stores. Over the past two years I’ve had my art printed on wall hangings for Hobby Lobby, Belk, Home Store and TJ Maxx. It’s pretty cool, but keep in mind I submit a great deal of art to be considered for licensing.

3. My own interests. Seeing something pleasing to my eye and painting because I just love the craft and challenge and trying out new materials and techniques.

All in all, I have lots of work. Most of the art pieces are around 8x10 inches to 9 x 12 inches and unframed. And the best part of all the prices will be pretty affordable for original work. If you are new at collecting art or just want something unique and pretty for your home or to give as a gift, this is for you.

A friend of mine said to me a couple of weeks ago that she was looking forward to seeing my “SHOW”. Let me just make a couple of things clear. This really isn’t a “show”. True, you will get to see lots of naked (unframed) paintings stuck nicely to the beautiful walls of the Bowood Farms event space, but there will be no cheese squares or glasses of wine and no black cocktail dresses and high heels. But feel free to dress as fancy as you like as you look at my watercolors which will include all subject matter from flowers (of course) to koala bears and bowls of lemons. All that being said, I hope you come.

Can’t make it but there’s something you would like? Just contact me.

This is not what I normally choose to paint. But last year around this time I ignored the bright colors on my palette to work in the grays and browns of the midwest winter I lived in. These heavy moody colors were what this image demanded but it also exactly reflected what was going on in my life. My husband had received a bleak diagnosis for colorectal cancer. It seemed like the final knockout blow after a long couple of years of beatings from health, financial and employment struggles. So painting this picture of a wild tree - probably honeysuckle- growing through and around the cement and rebar by an abandoned train track seemed perfect. Besides the fact that my insides were as gray and dark as this picture, this image was from a place I grew up - Youngstown, Ohio. Not many people know much of Youngstown beyond the fact that it was once a thriving steel town, known for it’s mafia element and a couple of boxing champs. Much of its glory seemed to reside in the distant past. But this was my world, my home and I didn’t know it was a depressed and bleak part of the country, because quite simply it wasn’t for me. It wasn’t until years later when I left, did I understand how Youngstown was perceived. And I have to say this painting really is the perfect visual description of a person born in the steel belt - shaped and formed by the industry and challenges of a blue collared working community, but never defeated. In fact, steel and iron CAN be moved by the slow steady growth of a tree. Look at those cracked sidewalks where the roots of large old trees grow underneath and create mountain ranges of sidewalks. Cement doesn’t stand a chance.

After spending weeks drawing and working through the details of the picture and transferring it to a large 24 inch by 30 inch piece of watercolor paper, I could see that all those little branches were signs of a plant still alive but dormant in the winter months. This tree was alive even though it looked dead. Dead as the cement and as old as the rusted rebar and train tracks. But it was alive and spring would come. Soon no steel or cement would even be visible. By the time I finished this painting I was able to see and even grow into the strength I knew that was deep inside me in order to face whatever results the biopsy presented. I am from Youngstown afterall.

To me this painting reminds of the raw unglamorous strength it takes to live and grow. I’m very proud of this watercolor. Proud that I grew up in Youngstown in all of its plain ol’ midwest glory - full of rich deep color and texture.

More details about this watercolor here.

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Recently I spent a day looking through my sketchbooks, I noticed there was a specific time period where I liked the watercolors I produced the most.  Ironically, it was also one of the hardest times in my life.   Nearly 20 years ago, my life took a hard right turn when my 7 year marriage came to an abrupt end.  Just before this marriage ended my art was just starting to sell.  I had participated in my first art show and every painting I submitted sold!  I had a great group of artists in my life and we took classes and painted together a great deal.  I was starting to see myself more than a hobby artist and feeling confident in my skills in watercolors and even considering going to art school. But, with the end of that marriage, I had to tuck those hopes and plans away.  I moved away from that person and the town we lived to start a new life in a new city.   I took my paints, but packed much of my artist ambition away as I focused on finding work, friends and a dentist in Los Angeles.  For the first year or so I didn’t have much of a life beyond work.  I often took my sketchbooks and paints to explore that crazy sunny city.

There were lots of tears that came with mourning the end of an old life and the uncertainly about myself and future.  The only thing that helped me get out of my head, even for a few hours, was to go and paint.  And quite frankly there were some days I just needed not to cry and I was vain enough to not cry in public. I left my small North Hollywood apartment to paint in gardens, on the coast, in my neighborhood, and in parks.  I painted because it was one thing I knew I was good at.  In those days I didn’t paint out of a drive to become a better artist, but because it was a place of comfort.  Watercolors was this little beacon reminding me of who I was in spite of all the turmoil around me.  Lots of things fell away, but I still had this.  It was really good therapy – whether I meant it to be or not.   And it always calmed my anxious heart if even for a bit.

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Of course there are many times I have spent painting in a great mood and it’s a lovely experience.  But painting when you aren’t “yippy skippy” can then become both a way to care for yourself AND work on your art.  By spending time in your sketchbook, you are telling yourself in a very physical way,

“ I have value no matter how I feel and what I learn through this, what I create, what happens IS important!” 

It’s not about creating a masterpiece, it’s about being there, painting in spite of the inner bitch and the bad circumstances. In the act of showing up, opening your sketchbook and dipping your brush in paint, you are breaking through those negative moments and opening yourself up to something new in and giving it room to come out on paper.

The Power of the Sketchbook

Some of my best work I’ve done has been in the pages of my sketchbooks.  After 25 years of painting and as many sketchbooks, I still absolutely love looking through them because I can really see how I’ve grown as a watercolor artist.

Here are just a few of the reasons I love learning/painting/playing in sketchbooks.

1.      For my eyes only.  No pressure.

2.      You can explore and try new subject matter and new ways to use watercolors.  You can be an abstract artist on one page and then do a very detailed ink drawing on the next.  You don’t have to stick to one style, you can do any and everything you want and often many of these “play” watercolors are the seeds for larger work.

3.     Besides collecting actual images, collect poems, words, quotes, song lyrics that inspire your work and vision as an artist. It is in these “paying attention” moments you really learns to SEE.

4.      You can’t tear out the pages, and well, you shouldn’t because they all matter – even what you see as a really bad mistake usually are moment of tremendous growth. 

 Art supply suggestions

Let me first off start by saying, use what you have. Don’t put off working in a sketchbook because you think you need all the supplies to make a great book of art. Talk about pressure! More important than the supplies is the time you spend playing and painting in your sketchbook. That being said, here are a few of my favorite items. (BTW, no one is paying me for plugging these, there are just my tried and true.)

Sketchbook: The best watercolor sketchbooks are Handbook and Moleskin with paper specifically for watercolors. (I even think the Handbook drawing paper is very good.) Choose a book that can lay flat because of it’s binding or it’s spiral bound. If you have one that doesn’t, clip it.  Don’t pick one that is too small either. 

A portable watercolor palette - Make your own from tubes of paint you have or buy one like this Winsor Newton Travel one I’ve used for years and have refilled the cake colors myself because I’ve had it for so long.

One or two brushes: Round watercolor brushes #4 and #8

Pencil and micron pen  I like sepia toned pens and not black for notes and some outlining.  Sometimes the black is seen first and not the paint.  And for me it’s not my style preference.

Reference to Pinterest or Instagram” I paint from images that are not watercolors. Want to paint a rose? Look at a real rose first or a picture of a real rose.  Don’t paint from another watercolor’s artist painting of a rose. Then you end of comparing your work to someone else and well that’s not fair to yourself and learning process.  You need to find and learn to be you and sometimes that takes a bit of time and effort.

I hope this helps you give yourself and your art a try.

Let me know!

For years I’ve been working day jobs while watercolor painting nights and on weekends. Using my vacation time to take workshops and visit museums and of course paint. Whenever I traveled for work, which was quite a bit in the years before I married and had my daughter, my paints where as important as my make-up bag. It seems like painting has been squished and squeezed into every spare pocket of time. Of all the things I’ve pursued in my life art has not just stuck with me, it has just become a way of life. Sure, I’ve had a million ways to earn an income. I’ve waited tables, been an assistant to so many people, sold everything from pharmaceuticals to shoes, arranged flowers, transcribed market research groups, answered phones(so many phones) was an officer manager at the Watergate, worked for a talent agent in Los Angeles, craft services on a “B” movie set, grad school, children’s ministry, you name it I’ve probably worked there . I’ve been a hard worker and have represented so many employers well. Now it’s time to represent myself and my work with the same diligence and effort. I am thankful for all these jobs, what they’ve taught me, the people I’ve met and the friends I have as a result. Working is never a bad thing even if it’s not what you really want to do.

I’ve dreamed of this time in my life for a long time. For some reason, I always imagined that my transition to full time artist would feel a bit more like finally landing after a rough, choppy and turbulent flight. Instead, I feel like I’m taking off, I’m flying the plane - a bit scared, very excited and in awe of what I will see in the air with goggles on and scarf fluttering behind me. I’m off….

The takeoff isn’t all because of me. It’s a result of every person who has purchased a watercolor from me, taken a class, commissioned me to paint their home, their dog, their wedding bouquet to even giving me a red heart or comment when I posted my work on social media platforms. All of that has been my lift and I’m thankful for so many people who have made this possible for me.

Can I do it? How will I do it? Will I be successful? What is success?

Yes! Step by step and inch by inch. That’s how I’ve learned to paint in watercolors, how I teach it and how I tackle my own art. You break it down, you paint one are at a time, in the same way you eat an elephant, one bite at a time.

I’ve been teaching entry level workshops at the beautiful Bowood Farms - Nursery, Garden ,Homestore & Cafe. It’s quite the setting. They have a beautiful space for teaching watercolors. In fact, they offer many classes and I have take a few myself (sashiko embroidery and calligraphy so far). I always enjoy learning something new.

It’s been so exciting to introduce people to the world of watercolors. It never gets old and it’s always thrilling to see someone get excited about watercolors. So often people come into class with all of these ideas about what it mean to be create, paint or even paint in watercolors specifically. Most of them aren’t very positive, let alone true. I can’t tell you how many times I hear that watercolors is the hardest of all the art forms. I hear it over and over. I think they all art forms have their challenges. And fortunately for me I’ve only ever painted in watercolor. So everything else seems hard to me!!! What this means is that before we even hold the brush I spend a little time kicking down these mental blocks. Once our minds are erased of all those negative thoughts and ideas, it really can free a person up to dive in so we can get to the fun, exciting task of creating with water and paint.

The poetry of earth is never dead.

by John Keats

Even though I've waited through many a long winter.  It's can be so hard to remember that spring, flowers and green, ALWAYS come.  

Always.

Today I'll buy some flowers to help me remember that even though everything looks brown and dead, it is not.  Perhaps the best metaphor there is for the meaning of hope is spring when the winter is heaviest.  

Happy month of love to you all.  One simple kind act can change a person's day.  Let's all do our part. 

February... ugh.  

If you live in the Midwest, this time of year is just hard.  There are lots of cold grey days with little sunshine.  I'm always surprised to how much the weather affects my mood.  I know lots of people have a really hard time during the winter months before spring.  February has historically been a pretty hard month for me.  It was in this month my first marriage collapsed, but it was also in this same month I met and fell in love with my current (and "bestest") husband.  We all have stories and maybe some sad ones.  I just think they are even sadder if they take place in the month of February.  I also remember that February was the hardest month for me to learn to spell correctly.  It's weird what you remember...

Mostly,  I just wish I didn't feel like sleeping all the time.  

 On one hand I'm really thankful for whoever started the Valentine theme because there is no other month that could use a shot of red, pink and sprinkles all over it.  And I love red and pink!   And, I love them together.  But on the other hand February has Valentine's Day and that can be a bit irritating with the pressure to have, find or be in love.  I am choosing to celebrate ALL the different kinds of love in my life.  I'm glad to have a husband and romantic love.  But boy am I thankful for all the other types of love out there.  Let's celebrate it, think and focus on it and perhaps these grey days won't weigh so heavy.  

So this month I will be blogging on things that fill my heart with love and joy.  This is so needed   right now.  My life is so far from perfect and the grey days have me heavier than usual.  So know, I'm trying to focus my own mind and heart on anything other than the grey, cold and dreariness.  

A week before school started and one of my friend sent me a text "You should do ABC cards, I can't find anything on Etsy I want."  And sometimes that's just where inspiration to make something comes from.  Of course I thought it would go much faster than it did.  For example I had originally done an "A' for acorn.  But because this was a Pre-K 4 class and this teacher is both excellent and precise, all the vowels had to be the "short kind" so that meant I had to scrap acorn, iris and United State for apple, insect and umbrella.  Then the 'S'  needed to be a straight "s" sound so shell was out and I painted snail.  But I have to admit I later wished I had painted a sloth.  Aren't those the most fascinating animals ever???? They are my new favorite animal to pretend to be.  Sometime we play sloth dinner and needless to say it's funny and lasts maybe 2 minutes.  You should try.  But but but, I digress, So as you can see creating ABC cards wasn't just going to be pretty art hanging in the classroom but it was going to be functional.  I think that this is the most functional and hopefully helpful bunch of watercolors I've ever done.  (I really need to sit and think of the weight of that ... okay, done.)

I thought about using a font but I decided that my own neat handwriting would work and it's more like how kids write anyway.  Seeing a font is just so stiff and stuffy next to these nature inspired.

Hope you like them.  I posted them on my Etsy shop here.  The size is 8/12" x 11" per card and I also have the in 5x7 inches as well.   

My favorites are the owl, eggs and vegetables.  You?

So I have this friend who is sharp, talented, stylish and I feel like I can call wise.  (And that's not a word I would use to describe just anyone.)  So when she said I should do the Strange Folk Festival in Lafayette Square Park, almost in passing, I took her seriously and I signed up for the first art fair/craft show I've done in years.  My little girl is getting older and at age 4 she isn't as demanding and I felt like I could tackle this.  Then, I had friends who just jumped on board to help.  And I have to say if it weren't for them this show would not have happened for me.  I had a graphic designer guru layout my cards and calendars and help me style my booth.  Then, friends from Kansas City drove down to help me set up and man my booth during the two days of the show and they were the best company ever.  Girlfriends came and carefully packaged my cards in cellophane so I looked professional and put together even though I felt like I was not going to "fool" anyone.  This was hard work.  But I loved every minute of it and I have to say, I was encouraged and felt like a million bucks even before the event opened on Saturday morning.  I did it.  I set a big goal, I  accomplished almost everything on my lists and with the help, prayers and hands of so many people - it was great.

Then the show happened.  I had no idea what to expect.  I mean this was a festival called "Strange Folk Festival"  and my thoughts were there were going to be a bunch of young people who thought my art was sweet, and well, dare I say, old fashioned.  But I was so pleasantly surprised.  The demographic of people who bought my art wasn't what I would have expected. And boy was that encouraging to realize.  And, if I think about it, I've been a bit locked up in my studio for the past four years paintings with out any feedback.  So it was good to see and hear who liked it.  

Did I mention it was 90 hellish degrees for those two days.  I drank lots and well I just felt like a hot, wet but happy mess.  The people at this show were super kind inspite of the heat.  I talked to so many people and not just about my art - their art too.  I love talking to kids, so that's always fun.  And then when my little Daisy was there she liked to be by my side and she did lots of drawings herself.  I let her display them, but allowed her to give them to whomever she wanted.  She kept hugging me.  I guess she was proud of her mama.  

After Sunday I was worn out, I had used up all my words and then some.  I stood both days because there were just so many people to chat with.  Plus there seemed to be so many people who bought my work and said nice things to boot.  I had decided before hand, I was just going to be happy with breaking even.  If I paid for my booth and ALL the expenses that being part of a show incurred I would be pleased as punch, tickled pink, happy as a clam.... you get.  And I did just that and then some.  Thanks St. Louis for loving and encouraging me with both your words and purchases.  I needed that!  

Summer is my absolute, most favorite time to be a watercolor artist.  The light, flowers,  greenery – all the natural world is beautiful to explore, see, study and paint.   I will teach and encourage a small group of "budding" artists to watercolor paint plein air (outside) and with still life using flowers, greenery, rocks, basically anything they find in my garden that intrigues them.   They each will have a watercolor sketchbook that I will provided to use both on their lesson days and to take home with them and continue the practice of observing, drawing and watercolor painting.  At the end of their summer lessons, they will have a body of work in their sketchbooks to be proud of and that will encourage them to keep working on their art all year long.

This is a small classroom setting – only 6 students.  Some may think individual lessons are primo and but I personally have found that I have grown the most as an artist learning watercolors with other artists.  We will learn everything from how to observe a subject matter to using pencil, brush and paint to represent objects accurately.  All along I encourage my art students to try new things, be okay with mistakes, and to trust that the creative process is more about learning than creating a final piece of art.  I have been told over the years that painting in watercolors is hard because you don't have much control.  But I've found that the surprises that come from this relative lack of control are what makes watercolor so beautiful and exciting.  

Long before there was Pinterest and Facebook, I was collecting quotes.  Quotes that I hoped would change me.  I think I've been collecting quotes since 1990.  I have this fabric covered journal I made and I would write quotes from books or cards that I liked in order to inspire me.  This quote collecting was manageable and fun.  Now there's Pinterest, and I must say I'm overloaded with quotes.  Heck, I'm overloaded with everything.  I love beautiful art, pictures of great home decor, fun things to make and most of all quotes that should inspire change and hope and... well, change.  But like everything else, I just seem to collect these things but don't seem to do much about them.  Sometimes, I'm even drained by what I think I should be doing or being.  And I'm left with the question, "Am I really being inspired by all that I see on the internet or am I just collecting, comparing, adding more to the pressures of my life?"

It's such a tricky question.  I don't know that there's an overall absolute correct answer.  But I do know for me, now more than ever, I need to practice some self-discipline.  And, I would have to say, Self-Discipline (dunt dunt DAH) is not something I've ever had to really practice.  I've come pretty far by handful of smarts, good metabolism and just plain luck (or so it seems.)

Now more than ever I need to self discipline - which means self train and guide towards things and thinking that is best for me especially as I raise a little girl.  I think the biggest and hardest thing for me to come to terms with is just how visiting all my favorite sites like Pinterest, artist sites and blogs is really affecting my own creativity.  Sometimes (lately ALL the time) I just feel terribly discouraged and frustrated as an artist.  Like, my work is not enough.  I'm not as good as so and so.  Why can't I be more like....   And then I find I become this weepy, whiny weirdo.  EWWW!   Yes, comparison is the thief of my joy.  And I am weak.  Limiting my time on the world wide web of wonderful things probably is a good start for me to practice the fine art of self- discipline.  I hope to regain a stronger sense of self and new creativity.  There is nothing worse than ending a day wishing I had done more because I've spent too much time on-line believing everyone is passing me by.  I'm hoping that self-discipline in this one area of my life will grow in others too. 

I so dearly want to end my day and close my eyes in peace, not with my mind racing around thinking I should have done more.  That's been an awful was to live.  I can only do so much.  You can only do so much.  Let's trust that we are enough for today and we have done enough.

The baby blue jay didn’t look like much of a baby to me.  He was as big as his mother, but his feathers were fluffy and he looked scared to death perched on the branch of a rather pathetic looking rose mallow bush.  According to my husband he didn’t move from his branch the entire time he mowed the backyard, which was probably about 20 minutes.  When we all moved it for a closer look, the little jay took flight.  Apparently we gave him the last bit of motivation he needed to take flight.  He flew so slowly I could see his wings move and if I had wanted to, I feel as if I could have reached up and caught him like you would a lightening bug. 

We were all surprised and relieved that he made it to his next perch.  His momma was carrying on the whole time.  Those blue jays can be quite noisy if they want.  So when we all went outside to eat and Baby Kitty dashed out between our legs, I figured I let my 15 year old clawless cat couldn’t do a thing but get heckled by a blue jay.

Kitty heard the blue jay right away.  I could tell by how her ears perked up and then laid flat.  She just sauntered to the exact place where the baby jay was catching his breath and probably trying to gain courage for his next short flight.   And my aging, clawless, fluff ball of a cat is as arrogant and sassy as her hair is long.  I imagined her mumbling under her kitty breath at the annoying bird in her Mexican American accent (born in San Antonio),   “Joo want some of this?  Good for nothing stinkin’ birds! Ai ya ya”

While I was cleaning up after lunch I heard some truly serious jay squawking and I looked out of the window to see Kitty pawing vigorously at something, I’ll assume the baby jay, in the ivy.  I dashed out the door and scared the jays and kitty back to peace. How it the world did that jay get from the branch which was at least 6 feet from the ground to my the fluff balls claws?  I will never know.  Apparently I underestimated my cat

Baby and mama jay are fine.  Kitty sauntered but with a gloat back in to the house.

I painted this little painting for my dad as his father’s day card.  Like a good blue jay he has done all he can to help us soar and protect us from fluffy mean cats.

How did this happen?

My little Little who stands so tall turned two last week.

I remember bathing her in the sink, wasn't that just last June?

I know there are a million two year olds and a two million parents who post pictures of their little ones on InstaBook and FaceGram and any place on the World Wide Web.  Let me be another of those annoying people just for the day ( or maybe a few more).  I just can't believe we were blessed with a child who, well, came from us! Yikes

So let me tell you about Daisy Doodles

She sleeps through the night!!

Loves Baby Kitty and tries to hug her several times a day even though there is always a slight chance she will get a swat or a bite.  

She is learning her ABC song and loves the letter X.  

She likes to eat "two nuts" - though it's more like 8.  

She would go to the zoo everyday if she had her way.  "Mamma Elephant, baby Elephant and big poopoo." She has touched the iguana, the tortoise, the rabbit and the guinea pig.  But we were both afraid to touch the sting ray. EWWWW.  And she says EWWWW too, probably because I say it.

 She also says "Right Now."  Because apparently I say that a lot, as in a lot,  a lot!.  

She sings about Jesus and likes to write in her Jesus book, like her Momma.  

She dances and twirls to music and loves the Pharrel Williams song "Happy."  But then, don't we all.  

And when you ask her how old she is, she says, "Daisy".  I like that answer.  Next time someone asks me how old I am I'm going to say, "Daisy!!!"

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