Meet Terry Ludwig!

Here is the 2nd installment of my Terry Ludwig workshop experience. Each morning Terry would do a demonstration painting for us. He emphasized using thumbnail sketches and deciding where our focal point would be. He like to joke and said he brought a bag of 'focal points' with him because he knew we couldn't find ours! He also showed us how we could blend effectively with out making mud. One trick he used was to blend with a piece of pipe insulation. He also used his little finger also known as the 'number 4 finger'. We laughed so much at this workshop that my sides hurt! If Holly can ever get her idea for a synthetic skin blender off the ground...that would be great. I know you are laughing right now girls!

Back from Terry Ludwig's Workshop!

'It's All About Value' 9 x 12

It was a WONDERFUL weekend! Great friends, beautiful scenery, lots of laughs and painting and learning from a fantastic teacher...Terry Ludwig! Who could ask for anything more? I want to give a full report but I have so much to talk about! It will probably take a week of posting to cover it all. First let me say thank you..to Terry for making the workshop fun and sharing his knowledge with us. To Marsha for organizing everything and just being the great teacher and person she is. To Jayne, Holly and Sherry....thank you all for being great friends...I know we will have many more fun painting experiences together. I'll start my report with explaining the painting I chose to post first. We had to paint inside today due to weather....The dreaded still life!!! After Terry did his demo painting, we decided to set up our own still life of a can of paint brushes. Not too bad I thought..lots of color and it might even be fun. Then Terry threw a wrench into that plan when he said we could only chose a few pastels of different values and not to worry about color!!! That is HARD! But I was there to learn after all. I chose about 7 blue and purple pastels and got to work. I struggled with it but in the end Terry said I 'done good!' It was a good example of painting with a limited palette. So out of all my paintings from this weekend...this one will have the most meaning because it was the hardest for me! Stay tuned for more!

Great Blue Heron

I have to stop painting now and pack up for the Terry Ludwig workshop! I just did this small one of the heron to see if I would like to do it larger. We leave in the morning for Blue Ridge and we are very excited! We are staying in a cabin right on the Toccoa River. We hope to get some painting time in on Thursday just to get warmed up. I will be away from the computer but look for a full report when I return! For those of you who follow my always changing travel plans.....We will be taking a cruise in October rather than the trip to Maine. I am hoping to do that trip next summer when I will have more time to explore! And no quick cruise in June....that didn't work out but we will be going to Dollywood! That's OK because we have to pass through the Smoky Mountain National Park...lots of great painting opportunities!

The Bahamas are Calling!

'Graham's Harbor View'

It is possible that I may be taking a 3 night cruise to the Bahamas in June...so I am in the mood for some turquoise water! My friend Cindy and I want to take our daughters on a weekend getaway and what a better way to get away than taking a cruise! We are working out the details but I am excited already! It's always great to be able to get some more reference photos and maybe even paint!

Plein Air Practice for Terry Ludwig's Workshop

It was a beautiful day in Georgia so Jayne, Sherry and I got together to practice plein air painting at Jayne's house. Of course we had to visit and eat so we didn't get started painting until 2:30. It was a good thing we practiced...I still need to work on setting up my new easel like I know what I am doing! I decided to paint the neighbor's big tree. It has so much character and is really deserving of a big painting if you could get the right viewpoint. Jayne was working on the same tree and it was coming along nicely. Then I decided to paint the Bluebird house and the Smoke tree (I think that's what she said it was) There are bluebirds nesting in this box and while we were painting, the male came and asked Jayne for some worms....she put some in a dish and we had the treat of watching them feed! I can see why Jayne can spend all day watching the wildlife in her yard! It was a good warm-up for the workshop. I can't wait to go!

The Pelicans are Finished

'Just Us Pelicans' 18 x 24

I had a chance to work on the pelicans this afternoon and I am finished for now. Of course, I may see things that need to be fixed but I was starting to fiddle with it so I had to stop. It's hard to know when you are truly finished. My goal for this painting was to paint some funny pelicans with personality. I wanted to capture the late afternoon light on the birds as they relax with one another. I feel like I met that goal for myself. I hope they make you smile too!

Pelican Update

Here's a quick update....I worked on the water and will most likely leave it as it is. Now I am working on the pelicans. I want to be sure to leave them colorful and 'lit' from the sun yet refine the details. I will post an update later today.

Two Pelicans ...work in progress

I just started this one today. It's another big one for me....18x24. I saw this photo in the wet canvas image library and couldn't resist. I've done the first layer so far. I first tried to do a watercolor underpainting but for some strange reason the paper smelled like dirty socks! I couldn't stand it so I started over on a new piece of paper. I am thinking about a name for this...maybe 'Just Us Pelicans'. Stay tuned for more!

Marsha Savage Southeast Plein Air Pastels!

As many of my readers know, Terry Ludwig pastels are my favorite. I have every set he offers except the greens and the turquoises. When my teacher, Marsha Savage, announced last lear that she was working with Terry to produce a Southeast Plein Air set....we were thrilled. Well they finally arrived and just in time for the workshop with Terry Ludwig next week! The colors are wonderful...just like Marsha's paintings are...and I just can't wait to use them! I really believe this set fills a much needed hole in pastels sets...there seems to be plenty of Southwest sets...but nothing that captures the unique colors of the Southeast. For more information on Terry Ludwig pastels check out his website at www.terryludwig.com. Be sure to visit Marsha's website at www.marshsavage.com to see her beautiful work. I plan to do a painting just using this set and of course I will post it when I finish!

Experimenting with Suede Matboard

A few weeks ago Marsha gave us some samples of Suede mat board for us to try. I know that Holly does beautiful work on it and I have been wanting to try it myself. I did this sample beach dune scene this afternoon to see if I like it. I'm not sure if I do. It's always strange to work on a new paper...you have to figure out how much pastel it will hold. I tried to have a light touch so I could get more layers. I'll try it again tonight at pastel class.

On the Easel

Here's my latest work in progress....Lake Eufala at Florence Marina State Park, Georgia. I took the reference photo on my recent painting trip with Holly and Jayne. It was late afternoon and we had just arrived at the park and we were anxious to go exploring. We came to this area of moss draped trees and knew it was a photo op! It was so quiet and peaceful....a light breeze rustled through the trees and the moss was lit by the late afternoon sun. I got as far as the first layer on this painting. I may not get to it until later this week. I have to find another 'running' water picture for class tomorrow and I am itching to paint a bird...or a shell ...I can't decide!

Painting Palm Trees

'Palm Reflections' 9 x 12

I am counting down to the Terry Ludwig workshop and I really should be painting in my yard to practice Georgia trees.......but I couldn't resist painting these palm trees. I'll consider this a warm-up exercise. Tomorrow I am working in my yard planting sunflowers and daisies. Hopefully I will have my own flowers to paint this summer.

Easter Eggs

I made the local news! 30 years ago that is! When I was 13, I entered the local newspaper's Egg decorating contest. You had to color or decorate a paper egg. I remember that I did two versions and I couldn't decide which one to submit. Well I never thought I had a chance to win so I submitted them both with one in my sister's name. Imagine my surprise when we opened the paper on Easter to see the headline 'Sisters tie for 1st Place' I thought I'd never live that one down!

Dreaming of Magens Bay

'Boats for Rent' Magen's Bay, St. Thomas USVI

My sister asked me to help her find an all inclusive vacation to the Caribbean ...which naturally got me in a tropical mood! Oh to be on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean floating in that warm turquoise water. For this painting I did an alcohol wash underpainting and took liberties with my reference photo. I didn't put the crowds of people in the scene because I remember being so taken with the scenery that I didn't notice how crowded the beach really was!

Three Kisses

'Three Kisses' 5x7

I was asked why I was painting so many sweets.... the answer is I am trying to make a habit of painting more from life and the candy is convenient and easy to set up. I was in Target over the weekend and I saw the Hershey Kisses and thought they would be a good treat to paint...and eat!

Rivers are roads that move and carry us whither we wish to go.

Les rivieres sont des chemins qui marchant et qui portent ou l'on veut aller.

- Blaise Pascal, Pensees (VII, 38)

Last night at pastel class our assignment was to paint moving water. I didn't bring any photos of moving water to paint from although now I remember I have a few from a trip I took last Fall to see the waterfalls around Clayton, Georgia so I will have to dig those out! I ended up painting from one of Marsha's photos. She said it is a stream around Blue Ridge Georgia and that it is now surrounded by a subdivision so there is no access to see it. Here is my effort. It is 9x12 on art spectrum paper. Next week we will be painting moving water again. I really enjoyed it!

Spring on Woodberry Lane

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" Robin Williams

I just love the colors of Spring here in Georgia! It almost looks unreal...all the pinks, purples and yellows mixed with the greens of the new leaves. Years ago I saw a picture of a home with a grove of cherry trees. It was breathtaking. So we planted four Yoshino Cherry trees..or should I say 'sticks'! This spring they finally looked like I had envisioned and it was worth the wait! The photo above shows my Cherry Tree Grove at it's peak. The top photo shows our azaleas in full bloom. They are a wonderful shade of purply pink and they are just loaded with blooms this year. If I ever decide to do a painting of my home...I will be sure to paint the Spring flowers!

Back in the Dust

'Morning Glow' 9x12

The strangest thing happened this weekend. For some reason I couldn't get the song 'Too Close for Comfort' out of my head....and it just so happened that it was playing in my head at 4:00 am when a tornado hit 1/4 mile from my house! That is too close for comfort! We were without power all day Saturday and so I didn't get any painting done until this morning. I tried to take a photo that I already painted and change the time of day to sunrise. Not sure if I was successful. I am sure that with more plein air practice It will be easier! Tonight I have pastel class and I just might bring some candy to paint for my Sweet series. Stay tuned!

Snowy Egret on Sanibel

'Looking for Breakfast' 9x12

Here is the finished Egret. One of the reasons I love Sanibel is because of the wildlife. I came across this egret looking for his breakfast while I was on an early morning walk on the beach. That same morning I saw a group of ibis' and a heron.

Snowy Egret Work in Progress

No, your eyes are fine...this egret really is soft and blurry looking. But I am not finished! This is only my first layer of hard pastels. My paintings seem to go through this 'blurry' stage. I like to start out by first blocking in the dark areas and the lightest areas. I like to make this first layer colorful. I've put some purple, pinks, blues and yellows in the bird. I don't use any white even though it is a white bird. Next I will go back with my soft pastels and refine the bird. I will probably leave the water very close to how it is now....just a suggestion of the surf. This painting is 9x12 on green art spectrum paper. It is from my own photo from my photography days. I wanted to paint larger but I am running out of paper! Stay tuned for the next installment.

A Sweet Series

Chocolate Cupcake..No Sprinkles' 6 x 9

I have started on my goal to paint more from life with a new series.... My Favorite Sweets! Here is a chocolate cupcake that my daughter Caitlin baked yesterday. We forgot the sprinkles! This morning I had the cupcake on the plate waiting to bring it down to my studio when my husband took a big bite. It actually made a more interesting painting so I couldn't get mad! I have more ideas for the series...cookies and milk, a bowl of taffy, a piece of cake....mmmmm this will be fun!

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What I Learned in Class

Last night at pastel class Marsha brought in some roses and a glass bowl for us to paint from life. Now we really don't love painting still life and we REALLY don't like to paint roses! So this was a challenging exercise. At the end of class Marsha asked me what I had learned...well one thing I've learned is that I need to paint from life more! I have to make it a goal to paint a still life or go outside and paint at least once a week! I also learned to take my time before I start the painting and make a thumbnail sketch instead of diving right in. And I forgot to squint!! There is so much to remember and practice makes perfect after all! (or at least makes you a better painter!)

Beach Path Revisited

Beach Path with Flowers 9x12 Pastel

Last night I was reading Design & Composition by Margot Schultzke.(Excellent book!) There was a bit in there where Albert Handell talks about how he often takes the same scene and paints it many times...changing things each time. I thought...what a great thing! I have many scenes and places that I love and how wonderful it would be to paint them over again yet in a different way! So I went through my stack of reference photos and this beach path called to me. I painted this before but I didn't notice the Queen Anne's Lace the first time. I think I like this version better

More Small Paintings

Yes, I've gone from large to tiny! I was doing spring cleaning in my studio and came across some small frames that I'd put away. I thought it might be fun to do some tiny paintings for them. These range from 5 x 7 to 2.5 x 3.5. The smallest frames I found at Big Lots for only 50 cents each. Of course I bought them all but never did anything with them! It was a nice break but now I want to do another big one. I really would like to try a night scene with lights. I think I have an idea....just need to go through my stack of reference photos!