"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! 

New Olympic Sport - Watercolor Demo

I submit art demo-ing as a new Olympic Sport.  It requires lots of stamina, agility and quick movement.
This was my demo for the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society annual show this weekend.  I completed this landscape in about 45 minutes.  I did have a pre-painted version of the clouds ready for when I reached that stage, so I could paint in the trees without having to wait for the clouds to dry.

"In All its Glory"  13 x 19" watercolor on 300# Arches hot press.  ( I ran out of cold press which is what I normally use.  Was a little worried how the hot press would handle, but it worked out okay)

"Surface Tension"

This is my entry in the March BoldBrush painting competition. If you like it please go to the BoldBrush website and click "like" to vote. Here's the link: http://faso.com/boldbrush/painting/30595 Thanks.  "Surface Tension" full sheet 22" x 30" watercolor on Arches cold press.

"Cherry Kiss" Demo for Thursday evening watercolor class

This was the demo for class Thursday night. The lesson was to have fun with a background and drop lots of different colors in while the paper was still wet and let them run together.  My first background wash turned out great, but dumb me...and I told my students never to do this....I went back and tried to change a little area I didn't like.  Of course I totally messed up the wash.  So, worked on the cherries in class and then redid the background this morning.   "Cherry Kiss" 9" x 11" on Arches 300# cold press.

"Surface Tension" watercolor work-in-progress

Day two of what I hope isn't too many more.  Must be finished by February 29th for a show... and that doesn't give me any time to have it professionally photographed.  Wish I had started sooner!  I'm going to slip it into a mat and frame I already have.  "Surface Tension" watercolor full-sheet 22" x 30" Arches cold press.

Watercolor Class demo....plumeria

Taught 4 classes this week.  Thursday evening, Friday morning and afternoon, and Saturday morning.  First day was the red apples, second plumeria and Saturday was pears.  It is so gratifying when a student has a breakthrough.  One gal was just laughing and giggling as she was able to do something she had never done before.  I love teaching.  Never thought I would.  I had to laugh.  Everyone asked...How do I paint white?  They couldn't imagine how they were going to do it without white paint. They were amazed to learn how many colors there really are in something that looks only white that they hadn't seen.    I mentioned on Facebook that Tom Lynch stopped by my class.  I said that he smiled when I asked if he wanted to take the class.  He was smiling, but actually it was more like he laughed :-} He was there checking out the space for a future class of his. What a thrill for my students to get to meet him.

Caution Wet Paint. Today's class demo

Today's lesson for my class was to attempt a simple plain wash for a background, use frisket to create spots on the apples,  blend colors wet-in-wet right on the paper, and let the background (shadow) and object meld together rather than having a cut-out look of an apple just separate from the background.  Work-in-progress. Watercolor on Arches 300# cold press  15" x 11"  Oh, and how fortuitous.  It's red!  Tomorrow is plumeria. Saturday is pears.

Great watercolor students at Venus Studios Art Space

It was a beautiful day and a couple husbands couldn't understand why someone would rather paint than play golf :-}  It was a great class.  Everyone worked really hard.  They're all coming back for more. In fact several of them have signed up for three out of the four classes next week.  It's gonna be a busy week.  I teach 4-6  classes every week at Venus Studios Art Space: 74050 Alessandro, Palm Desert, CA.  The schedule is on my website http://dianemorganpaints.com/collections/43797

New Gallery for me up in the mountains in Idyllwild, CA

My watercolors, small oils and giclee prints are now available at Artspresso Gallery, in Idyllwild, that lovely little mile-high art town in the mountains up Hwy 74.  Owned by well-known artist Gerry High and Celeste Cuomo it's a must-visit on any trip to Idyllwild.  54380 North Circle Drive, Idyllwild, CA.  Phone 951-659-6162   This is "Silver Platter Pears" watercolor 11" x 16" one of several of my watercolors in the gallery.

NPR story on Antoine de Bougainville

Just got a request from NPR to use my "Bougainvillea Blossoms" for a story about botanist Louis Antoine de Bougainville on their blog.  My image must have come up in a Google search.  I'm very happy to contribute to NPR in any way I can.  This 6" x 8" oil on canvas is available on my website.  Maybe this will stir up some interest in it. http://dianemorganpaints.com/dataviewer.asp?keyvalue=3066&subkeyvalue=195447&page=WorksZoom

Watercolor Demo at Venus Studios new Art Space for classes

Had fun doing a watercolor demo this morning at the local art supply store's new space for workshops.  My Coachella Valley Watercolor group came out in full force which made it really fun for me.  We went to lunch after, then came back to watch Frank Eber paint.  He is a master, and what a nice man. What a treat to watch him work.  He is in town for a two-day workshop on Monday and Tuesday.  Wish I had time to take it.  My classes start Friday in the new space.  I have classes scheduled for Thurs, Fri  and Sat starting next week and running through March so far.  Will schedule through the summer if there is continued interest. Schedule of classes available on my website http://www.dianemorganpaints.com

Wednesday's watercolor workshop

Had a great workshop yesterday with 14 students at Rancho Casa Blanca. It's a great group of gals that meets every month to paint and bring in different instructors each month.  They are real workers.  They worked all day with hardly a peep.  I presented two demos.  One of an acorn and leaves and a lemon.  Most of them worked on both. And, dang....I forgot to take a photo of their finished pieces!  I spent more time walking around and helping so didn't finish my two pieces.  Work in progress  "Lemon Scent"  watercolor 12" x 12"

Watercolor classes now forming

I've just been invited to teach classes at a great new space right in the heart of town (Palm Desert, CA)  The only locally owned art supply store has just leased a whole new space just for classes.  The owner is having an Art Expo next weekend to kick it off with lots of product give-aways and demos.  She has asked me to demo, and I will be right before or after Frank Eber!  Woohoo!   I've scheduled classes for almost every Friday and Saturday for the next 3 months and sent out an email blast.  Hoping to get lots of new and returning students.  This will be fun!  Here's the link to the store's website  http://www.venusstudiosartsupply.com/art-classes.html

St. George's BDA watercolor

Bermuda has always been one of my favorite places to vacation.  The beautiful beaches, the wonderfully colored houses and the frogs singing at night make it such a romantic retreat. This scene is one of the back streets in the town of St. George's, Bermuda's oldest community.  Watercolor 12" x 16" SOLD

Splash 13 Best of Watercolor book available for pre-order

Amazon now has Splash 13 available for pre-order.  http://www.amazon.com/Splash-13-Alternative-Approaches-Watercolor/dp/1440310351/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321481095&sr=1-2

I'm so thrilled to be included with my "Raindrops on Roses" 

And, no surprise, my friend Jane Freeman is in it too!  The list of artists reads like a who's who of watercolors. A few names you might recognize...Thomas Schaller, John Salminen, Ted Nuttall, Judi Betts, Prafull Sawant, Soon Y. Warren.  Like Sonny Bono when he said,  "I can't believe I'm a Congressman."  I say, "I can't believe I'm in the book!"  What an honor.  Can't wait to get my copy.  "Raindrops on Roses" is available for $3900.  It is currently in the traveling exhibition of the Blossom: Art of the Flowers competition. To purchase email skb@blossomartcompetition.com 

To see it in the Blossom virtual gallery go to: http://www.skbmuseum.com/BlossomGallery/blossom10/gallery13.html

Eric Weigardt demo

Our Coachella Valley Watercolor Society brought Eric Weigardt in for a 5-day workshop this week. We had him do a one-hour demo at our monthly Monday evening meeting last night.  Amazing that he does a value sketch, draws and finishes an entire full-sheet painting in one hour.  He says, "The less you show the more the viewer sees." Good advice!  He also said he used to do more tight and detailed work, but now he's having way more fun.

"Stop and Smell the Details" photo

I found this gorgeous rose today.  So many wonderful color variations and intricacies.  Can't wait to paint this!

"Licking Roses"

Licking Roses......what a pleasant pastime for such a beautiful day.  Photo shot in normal daylight. I hope soon to get back to more bee paintings!

"Drawn and Quartered" watercolor

Another piece worked from a real model rather than a photo.  I'm really enjoying the process. Watercolor on Arches 300# hot press paper.  I usually work on cold press paper which has more texture. Trying a new paper. Whoa!  It's a slick as ice.  Almost like working on Yupo. Colors lift very easily, but they really slide around...almost as if the paper is coated.  Maybe there is a slight coating. Watercolor 8" x 6"  Available at www.dailypainters.com

Simple Pleasures Apple 1 watercolor from life

To stir things up a bit I threw an apple on my work table and painted it from life.  Felt good to work from a three-dimensional model rather than a photo. This is more an exercise in trying to quickly capture the essence of something rather than worrying about creating a masterpiece.  Feels good!   Hope to do more of this, maybe even some plein air.  You never know what the new year might bring. Watercolor 6" x 7"  Available at www.DailyPainters.com

"Raindrops on Roses" moves to Florida next week

This is the last week of the Blossom Art of the Flowers show in Chicago.  The Garfield Park Conservatory show ends Dec 31st.  The traveling Blossom show then goes to Bradenton, Florida for the Jan 18 - Feb 20  show at the Art Center Manatee.   "Raindrops on Roses" watercolor 22" x 27" framed $3900 available through Blossom Art of the Flower organization
Jan 18- Feb 20, 2012 Art Center Manatee, Bradenton, FL
March 19-May20, 2012 Greenacres Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
June10 - July 22, 2012 Museum of the Gulf Coast, Port Arthur, TX
For purchase information contact:
skb@blossomartcompetition.com
website:  http://www.blossomartcompetition.com/

"Sky Ornaments" Christmas Card

Original sold but cards are available. Inside...

"Wishing you Peace, Health, Happiness and 

an Incredible New Year"

quantity

One card $4.00 USD             3 cards $10.00 USD             5 cards $15.00 USD