"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! 

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