Rose of a Different Color. Oil vs watercolor demo

I finally finished the watercolor version of the rose from last week's class.  The oil is 6" x 8" on canvas.  The watercolor is 10" x 12" on Arches 300# cold press.  I won't be able to do the comparison painting of oil vs watercolor for a couple weeks.  I will only be doing watercolor until mid January. Next week, besides Saturday's watercolor class, I will be doing two demos....one for an art group and another for the grand opening of the local art supply store where my classes are held.  Lots of prep work to do.  Gonna be a busy week.

Paintings available for purchase at http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/2361/Diane-Morgan

"Good as Gold" oil on canvas

6" x 8" oil on gallery-wrap canvas.  Unframed.  Looks good hanging as is, or on a small easel.   SOLD
www.dianemorganpaints.com/collections/11930

"A Lick and a Promise" martini painting

Oil on gallery-wrap canvas.  6" x 8"  www.dianemorganpaints.com

Another workshop at Sun City

Great all-day oil class today at Sun City. We started with a landscape. Then worked on some pears while the landscape dried a little before we proceeded with the next step. What a talented, hard-working and interesting group!  My upcoming class schedule may be seen on my website
http://dianemorganpaints.com/collections/43797

Workshop at Sun City Palm Desert

Had 15 students yesterday in a fun watercolor workshop at Sun City Palm Desert.  They have such a wonderful group of classrooms for all kinds of learning. Even have an in-house restaurant down the hall. I go back in 3 weeks to teach another workshop there in oil.  Artichoke, 11" x 12" watercolor on Arches 300# cold press. http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/2361/Diane-Morgan

You're Invited. An Artist Reception

Over 70 pieces of my work in both oil and watercolor were on display at El Paseo Bank for the reception.  Exhibit continues through November 9th.  And, everything is for sale of course.
www.dianemorganpaints.com

"Cocktail Hour" oil class demo

This was the demo for yesterday's oil class.  Completed in two hours.  I had a new student who wanted to just watch me paint rather than work herself.  We had lots in common so I painted while we chatted and had a great time.  I love getting paid to have fun!  "Cocktail Hour"  8" x 10" on gallery-wrap canvas SOLD
http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/2361/Diane-Morgan

Work in Progress....Fuzzy Dice 2

Haven't worked on this for a few weeks.  Sometimes life just gets in the way.  Hope to be able to work on it more this weekend.  Trying to get many cars painted for a February show.  I'm teaching an oil class this afternoon.  I did a 6" x 8" oil of this car previously.    "Fuzzy Dice 2"  watercolor 18" x 21"  www.dianemorganpaints.com

Fresh off the assembly line. "55 Ford Fairlane" watercolor

I've got a couple shows of my cars coming up in a few months so need to start cranking them out. Finally finished this one this week with 2 others in the works.  Then I want to start doing some oils (I think)  I did a 6" x 8" version of this in oil earlier.  Just had to try it in watercolor.  20" x 14."    Available at http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/2361/Diane-Morgan

"Dinner at Miramonte" watercolor class demo

"Dinner at Miramonte"  watercolor 10" x 13"  on 300# cold press.  Available at  http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/2361/Diane-Morgan 

"Super Fly" watercolor demo

Demo from a watercolor class a couple weeks ago.  Just finished it this morning so didn't get it in done in time for the "bug challenge" on www.ArtColony.blogspot.com My students wanted to learn how to do water drops.  I thought it would be much more fun with a fly in the mix.  How to do water drops is the number one request that I get.  Second is chrome.  "Super Fly" 10-1/2" x 13" watercolor on 300# Arches cold press.

"Dinner at Miramonte" watercolor in progress

This was the demo from class this morning.  Normally I would have done the background in the upper left first, but my students wanted to concentrate on learning to paint a wine glass. 2-1/2 hours isn't much time. I show the photo to point out how distorted a photograph can be.  It's so important to correct the shapes, which aren't always correct in a photo. Also, to edit the composition as needed. "Dinner at Miramonte" watercolor 12" x 14" work-in-progress

"With Wild Abandon" watercolor demo

For me this was loose and crazy.  For some it might be considered tight and detailed.  I had fun just splashing away.  Class demo.  Watercolor 12" x 13"  Available at  http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/2361/Diane-Morgan

El Paseo Bank art show

This is the promo card for my current solo show at El Paseo bank. They will hold an artist's reception October 10th.  I have 20 paintings on display.  Because of last week's feature article in the Desert Star I got a call this week offering me a three-month show at one of our main public libraries next season. I can show 30-40 pieces...as many as the walls can hold. They get 1200-1500 patrons through a day.  They check out 214 books an hour.  They have many cultural events at the library every week and publish a monthly program booklet.  I get to be on the cover.  Lots of good promo happening...now for that to translate to sales :-)

"Variation on a Pear" watercolor

8" x 10" watercolor on 300# Arches.   Available at
http://www.dailypainters.com/paintings/tag/artist_id:2361/available:Y

Desert Star Weekly feature article

So thrilled to be featured in one of our local publications. The printed edition is available at 698 locations in Southern California. Here's the link to the article http://desertstarweekly.com/2012/07/26/diane-morgan-master-of-watercolors-and-oils/

Been busy with classes and a new solo show in Palm Desert

Here are four watercolor demos from classes of the last couple weeks.  "Cupcake Rose"  "Onion Shadows" "Haute Summer Nights" and "Golden Pear"  The large oil "Just Glorious" is one of 20 pieces on display at a new solo show at El Paseo Bank in Palm Desert.  Here I am with the manager, Scott and the Indian Wells Arts Festival owner, Dianne Funk who arranged the show.  The show runs through October.   The bank is a sponsor of our big "Concours D'Elegance" annual car show and will have a show at the bank of all my car paintings in February.  I'm going to be busy painting more cars.  The gallery in the mountains in Idyllwild has sold quite a few of my car prints so spent last week getting another 30 pieces matted and delivered for them.
The local paper also ran a story this week about my International Artist magazine article. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120705/LIFESTYLES0104/207040367/Indian-Wells-artist-profiled-magazine Another paper is coming over next week to interview me.  I've never been interviewed in person...only just submitted written answers.  Hope I don't say something stupid!

International Artist magazine feature article

Was elated this week to find a box on my doorstep filled with the June/July issue of International Artist. They had contacted me two years ago to publish an article about me. When it never appeared I figured they had changed their mind.  What a surprise to see my work, both oil and watercolor, featured in a 10-page article in this issue. They even used my "Raindrops on Roses" on the index page.   What a week this has been.  Two sales, new students, painting at Saks and now this. Life is good!

Painting at Saks for Mother's Day

For Mother's Day Saks hired me to paint little designs on perfumes bottles the day before Mother's Day. Anyone who purchases perfume at Saks the entire week can bring it in today and have a custom design painted on the bottle.  I created a few suggestions on glass and framed it so people could get ideas in case they didn't know what they wanted.  I had to find a way to paint that would be dry immediately.  I found these great acrylic pens.  They are like a felt tip pen, but filled with acrylic paint. Not easy to blend, so the designs are more quick-draw, sketch-like. They are not permanent, but will at least be fun temporarily. It was a fun afternoon.

"Mighty Oak in Training" watercolor class demo

"Mighty Oak in Training" demo from yesterday's watercolor class  8" x 10" on Arches 300# cold press.   May's schedule of classes is posted on my website  http://dianemorganpaints.com/collections/43797 

  (It's okay to bring acrylics to the oil class)

"Trumpet Taster" watercolor class demo

Another demo from one of last week's classes. Of course, not finished in two hours. Watercolor on Arches hot press 10" x 15". Hot press is a challenge. Someone recommended it saying I would love it. NOT! I'm constantly getting blossoms and the paint seems to sit on top. Can't wait till it's all gone.  Available at www.dianemorganpaints.com

"Cactus Bee" watercolor demo for class

This was the demo for one of this week's classes at Venus Studios Art Space.  We were joined by a new student, a 16-year-old guy.  He was so interested and eager to learn.  I love it when that happens!  Watercolor on Arches 10-1/2 x 13" Available at www.DailyPainters.com

"La Tortue" watercolor demo for class and April challenge

This is my demo from Thursday's class. "La Torture" watercolor 10" x 14. " I hadn't planned it, but it also works for the April water challenge by a great group of artists at www.artcolony.blogspot.com  The scene is from a fishing village in Punte del Este, Uruguay.  La Tortue is French for turtle, though my students were certain it meant torture.  As we know...water is not easy to paint.  I've added a Sunday class to the schedule, and there is still space for tomorrow's class if y'all can hop on over. April's schedule can be seen at http://dianemorganpaints.com/collections/43797

Indian Wells Arts Festival April 6-8

Beautiful show with 200 artists at the Indian Wells Arts Festival at the Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA.  My watercolor "Eggs in the Garden" is the promo art for the Sunday Eggs in the Garden Brunch.  Perfect weather for a perfect weekend.
www.dianemorganpaints.com

Little Ava....budding artist

Ava's art. As I was loading my car yesterday getting ready for Indian Wells Arts Festival my neighbor and her little 3-1/2 yr old granddaughter stopped by to look at my art. Ava wants to be an artist and loved my lady bug paintings. An hour later the doorbell rang and its was Ava bringing me a gift of one of her drawings. She wanted the artist she met to have one of her pieces of art. How cute is that !

Chosen Artist of the Month by TheArtList

I've been chosen as the Artist of the Month by TheArtList.  "Raindrops on Roses" is the main image shown with 5 other paintings both watercolor and oil featured.  You can see the art and read their interview of me at http://www.theartlist.com/aom_04_12.html 

"Strawberries and Chardonnay" Saturday's watercolor class demo

Had four new students Saturday morning.  It's pretty much impossible to finish a painting in 2-1/2 hours starting from scratch, but we all gave it the good old college try.  I was determined not to add another unfinished painting to my pile, so finished it in the evening...four hours total.  9" x 11" on 140# Arches. www.dianemorganpaints.com

"Iguazu Falls" watercolor workshop

The Rancho Casa Blanca ladies asked for a seascape workshop for this week.  When they saw the photo they said,  "Oh, this is way too hard."   Well.....they did great!  They worked for 5 hours without a peep and all agreed that if it isn't difficult they aren't learning anything.  Great attitude. The 4th lady from the left, in burgundy, is 92 and still painting away.  Her husband helps her bring her supplies to class.  "Iguazu Falls"(Argentina) 21 x 14" watercolor on Arches 300# cold press.  Available at www.dailypainters.com

Battle of the Brushes.....oil vs water

Which painting will win the battle....the oil or the watercolor?   Oil is still a work-in-progress.

WIP oil demo at Eldorado Polo Club

Painted today at the Eldorado Polo Club matches.  My gallery is a sponsor so we had a front row table for lunch.  The gallery had a large display for several of the artists' work as a promo to get people to come to the gallery.  It was fun to be able to watch the matches while painting.  I made pretty good progress in about 4 hours.  Not sure how many, or if, I'm going to add the tree silhouettes as shown in the reference photo.  Just going to let the painting percolate for a few days and see what it says to me.  "Eldorado Sunset" oil on canvas, 20" x 16"

A DailyPainters' fan adds my "Happy Doughnut" (top) to her doughnut collection

A buyer in Maine who collects doughnut paintings couldn't resist my "Happy Doughnut" oil 6" x 8" (top with pink sprinkles) for her collection.   Thank you, Andrea!

Just sold through DailyPainters gallery

Just sold to a new collector in Asheville, North Carolina through DailyPainters online gallery http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/2361/Diane-Morgan  This was not my usual style.  It was very fast and loose. Painted wet-in-wet.

Watercolor Class demo........"The Icing on the Cake"

Great class tonight.  Everyone worked so hard.  Just when you think it's going to be easy....it never is.  So much fun to work it out together and laugh a lot.    WIP  watercolor 12" x 9"  

"Daisy Delight" bee photo

See more of my bee photos at my new blog www.ABeeADay.blogspot.com  

"Surface Tension" watercolor SOLD

SOLD today at the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society show at The River in Rancho Mirage, CA (Borders bookstore space) Thank you Scott!