Poinsettia watercolor demo

I started this piece last week for a demo at a painter's group...mostly oil painters. They wanted a holiday theme. The demo was only two hours, so I didn't even come close to finishing during the meeting. Took me another fifteen hours to finish it. Guess this will be next year's Christmas card. Watercolor, arches 300# cold press, 14" x 20"

Misssion Accomplished photo in Vermont show

My "Mission Accomplished" photo was juried into the FLOWERS, TREES, BIRDS, BEES: NATURE EXPOSED photo competition at the PhotoPlace Gallery in Middlebury, Vermont. Only 40 images were selected out of over 1200 entries. Exhibition: Jan 4th - 29th. See all the winners at the website: http://www.vtphotoworkplace.com/id97.html

Winner of Desert Symphony Program Cover Art competition

Great show Thursday night at the McCallum Theatre with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performing with the Desert Symphony. My art "California Sunset" was chosen for the cover of the program for the 2010-11 season. Perks.... 6th row seats and back stage passes. A fantastic evening.

Finalist in Blossom competition

"Raindrops on Roses" watercolor, 21" x 29" was selected to be in the Blossom II Art of Flowers exhibition. Approximately 100 paintings were chosen. Show runs from February 1 - April 10 at the Naples Museum of Art in Florida. Winners will be announced at the awards reception on February 9th. First prize is $25,000. There are quite a few $5,000 awards, too. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited.

Caution Wet Paint

I've been busy working on this large floral, "Just Glorious" 48" x 60" oil on canvas. And, I've been working on my article for International Artist Magazine. It's so much more work than you might imagine. I've finally finished it and will be sending off the piece to the magazine this week. Have no idea when they will publish it. The earliest it could be is February of 2011. This portrait of me at work was one of the requirements. That was an undertaking in itself. Setting the 10-second delay on the shutter and running to get in position many times til I got it right.

Diane Morgan - One Life Photos

If you like my photo portfolio please click on the One Life Photos website link below to vote. I could win a trip around the world :-]
Diane Morgan - One Life Photos

Unfinished business. Works in Progress

Here's what happens when you teach a bunch of 3-hour workshops. Works in Progress. Lots of paintings started and not finished.

Last stop for NWS traveling show in 2010

Last chance to see my "Organized Chaos" in the National Watercolor Society award-winning traveling show from the 89th Annual Exhibition is Firehouse Arts Center, Oct 19 – Dec 2, 4444 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton, California 925.931.5355
http://www.nationalwatercolorsociety.org/exhibits/2009-Annual-Show/index.html

Desert Symphony Program Cover Winner

My "California Sunset" was selected as the winner of the Program cover competition.
YAY! Besides the cover I get a free full-page ad in the program worth $3000. Luckily, I spent the whole weekend putting the ad together because they gave me 5 hours notice til it was due. I never was able to convert the PageMaker doc to a pdf as they required so had to recreate the whole ad in Photoshop. So I learned a new skill. Now I know how to combine multiple photos in one jpeg. Noone uses PageMaker anymore. One of these days I'm going to have to upgrade to InDesign. In addition to all this wonderful program stuff there is also the month-long gallery showing. I'm so honored and thrilled. This is the 7.5 x 10" ad.

California Sunset finalist in cover competition

Just received notice that my oil "California Sunset" is one of three finalists in the Desert Symphony's program cover competition, 2010-2011 season. In addition, I have been offered a reception and month-long exhibition of my work at the art gallery at Robert's of Course on El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA

Sunset Snack

Latest painting "Sunset Snack" 24" x 30" Oil on canvas. I have so many ideas I want to paint. There just aren't enough hours in the day, or days in the life.

Raindrops on Roses

Fresh off the easel. Latest watercolor, Raindrops on Roses, 22" x 27" on Arches 300# cold press.

ArtvsOilSpill store featured in The Artists Magazine

The Zazzle store started by watercolorist Paul Jackson to raise money to help in the Gulf oil spill cleanup got a nice write-up in the October issue of the Artists Magazine, page 18. My friend Jane Freeman's t shirt is the number one seller. $6,000 has been raised to date. That means $60,000 in art sales! Other Artcolony artists friends who are involved include Debbie Cannatella, Vernita Bridges Hoyt, Mary Jansen and Cindy Agan. Paul says the store will remain open indefinitely to help wildlife rescue in the Gulf Coast. To purchase items go to http://www.zazzle.com/artvsoilspill+gifts

Liquid Sunshine

Finally, after six weeks of interruptions, I have finished the latest in my bee series. This bee is feasting on the blossoms of a miniature palm tree. I never realized palm trees had flowers. Liquid Sunshine is 24" x 30"w oil on gallery-wrap canvas.

Joshua Tree Bee accepted in Oil Painters of America Exhibition

Joshua Tree Bee, 24 x 30" oil on canvas was accepted in the 2010 OPA Western Regional exhibition. The show runs from Oct 9 - Nov 10 at the Mountain Trails Gallery in Jackson Hole WY. I'm on cloud 10. I was a little worried because I had entered both the lady bug and the bee in two competitions. Lady's Day got in the Paint the Parks and this one got in OPA. I don't know what I would have done if both competitions had wanted the same painting. What luck! In addition to these great events, I sold a large watercolor that a lady had seen way back in January, I sold 5 minis on eBay and I picked up a greeting card account. Our local National Monument Visitors Center is carrying an assortment of 15 of my images depicting local scenes, which include watercolors, oils and photographs. It is not consignment. They buy them outright. Make that cloud 11.

Artistic Touch 4 fine art book now available

This is the latest book in the Artistic Touch series by Chris Unwin. The book is 9 x 12" 172 pages, with 164 full-color plates. My "Heaven is a '57" watercolor is a full-page image on page 44. The book lists for $35. I'm offering at $29 including shipping and a personalized autograph by me. The book may be purchased on my website

OvationTV seeking Nude Art for September show

Three minute sketch with live model. OvationTV is featuring the human form in September. Upload your nude images by August 9th for a chance to be showcased on air during The Body by OvationTV event. To enter join The Community at http://www.ovationtv.com/

More Small Oils on eBay today

I've listed another group of my mini oils.
"Vampire Repellent" 6" x 8" oil on gallery-wrap canvas.
SOLD



"Strawberry Cheesecake"

Mini Oils on eBay auction

Just listed some mini oils on eBay starting as low as $9. It was fun last time, so thought I try it again. I you like one it could be a real bargain. Will be listing more throughout the weekend. SOLD

Watercolor Workshop at the Gallery

Most of my students had never painted with watercolor before. They did fantastic. We had fun learning and laughing. I have scheduled four new classes for August....the 4th and 18th... 1:30-5:00 and 5:30-9:00PM
Go to www.IncredibleArtist.com for more info

"Lady's Day" makes Paint the Parks Top 100

Woohoo! Just found out that my painting "Lady's Day" 24x30" oil on canvas made the Top 100 of the 2010 Paint the Parks competition. I have 2 watercolors on tour with their sister competition PaintAmerica Top100. Paint the Parks art may be seen at PaintAmerica.org
My PaintAmerica Top100 watercolors may be seen here

Happy 4th of July Semper Fi

This is a portrait I did of my dear friend Rick. He never had his picture taken in uniform when he served, so he sent me a current photo of him in uniform and the b&w headshot from the high school yearbook to put his young head on the body :-}
Watercolor, 20"x 27" on 300# cold-press

International Artist magazine ranks as favorite magazine

Artist and author, Katherine Tyrell publishes the very informative
http://www.makingamark.blogspot.com/ Her most recent article relates that International Artist ranked as the favorite magazine in her survey. Well YAY! because.... International Artist just contacted me to write an 8-page feature story about me. Now, I'm even more excited.

Finalist in Watercolor magazine Cover Competition

"Bird in Paradise" was selected as one of only nine finalists in the 2010 Watercolor magazine cover competition. My work is featured on page 27 of the Summer issue on newsstands now. This art was the poster art for the 2009 Indian Wells Arts Festival and the original is currently on display in the State Capitol as part of the Senate's Eighth Annual California Contemporary Art Collection.

Top Down Day

Saw this wonderful 1970 Cadillac DeVille convertible while walking in my neighborhood the other day. I just had to capture the wonderful colors and reflections.
"Top Down Day" 21"h x 16"w on Arches 300# cold press.

Lady's Day

My final entry for Paint the Parks. "Lady's Day," Oil on Canvas, 24" x 30." Entries must be postmarked June 2nd. I have two whole days to spare!

Joshua Tree Bee

One down; one to go. I'm trying to finish another by next Monday. I've been up til 2AM for the last 3 nights finishing this one. Started the second and hope to complete in time for a May 31st competition deadline. "Joshua Tree Bee," oil on canvas, 24" x 30"

Love in the Afternoon

This is one of several pieces I'm working on for all the competitions that have May and June deadlines. Deadlines sure are great motivators. This was an amazing shot I was lucky enough to capture on one of my sunset walks. Watercolor, 14" x 18" on Arches 300# cold press

This one's for Dana

Dana Cooper posted some Palm Trees the other day which reminded me that I had some that were almost identical....great minds think alike. You may see Dana's on her blog
Mine may be purchased through my website DianeMorganPaints.com

Need your vote in National Geographic competition

If you like my bug photos please vote for one of my images in the National Geographic photo competition, insect category. Email address is required and you can only vote once. Thank you. http://www.greatoutdoorscontest.com/bin/Rate?searchphotographer=diane+morgan&search=photographer#