Kyle Martin aka "kmart" Workshop

12x16 oil on Panel  

Just a quick post and some pics from this weekend's workshop with Kyle. (to view his blog and artwork click HERE) We couldn't have asked for better weather or company for this plein air workshop. Kyle was an outstanding teacher with a lot of energy (more than me if that is possible...) We're already planning our second painting event with him hopefully this fall on Kelley's Island in Ohio.  This workshop was held in Lima Ohio at the studio of Ruth Ann Sturgill and all but 2 of the attendees were "alumni" from Carol Marine's workshop last year so we had a great time catching up on the "good ol days" and making new friends that fit right in to our eccentric little group.  I'll write more tomorrow about what I learned, but I can tell you this: I will be using a lot of sunscreen and bug spray this summer.....stay tuned.

Catching up and Planning Ahead

I'm trying to plan ahead for an upcoming show I have at the end of July by framing some of my completed glass works and looking into how to display my 40 or so 6x6 paintings from this past winter......I have a painting workshop this weekend so I am excited to get back into painting again and leave the glass on the back burner for a bit......

Today's Efforts

 Both of these are about 4.5 x 5.5 inches fused glass.....

This one is approx 4.5x6.5

My Latest Obsession

Here are a few of my creations from my latest glass obsession.  I'm trying to paint in between but I'm just having so much fun with this glass I can't stop.  Photos simply do not do glass art justice.

New Paint New Problems

So I bought some paint for an upcoming workshop and needed some more white so I thought I would try the brand suggested by the instructor.  (the price was the same as most other brands so I figured I'd give it a whirl) Yikes!  this white paint is so slippery and loose it just mixes with the underpainting.  This is definately a work in progress but I think it needs to dry a bit  before I can do anymore.

Full Bloom

8x10 oil on panel

Well, I'm out of glass until I can order more so I am forced to go back to painting.  Not that I'm complaining, I missed it but the glass paintings are so much fun.  I'm planning a road trip with my glass friend Kelly to get some glass and frames in a couple weeks so I'm going to be painting for a few weeks.  I'm also attending a 2 day plein air workshop with several of the friends I made at Carol Marine's workshop in December, it will be like a mini- reunion!  So today, I decided to try my first real attempt at plein air in my yard.  Artists friends, please give me some constructive criticism so I can learn more about this difficult method of painting! It seems like something (or everything) is not quite right and I can't place it.....

Sand Painting

This new technique I'm currently experimenting with reminds me of sand paintings.  The glass frit is as fine as beach sand and the only way to manipulate it is through sifting and pushing it around on the glass.  The trick is not to sneeze or be anywhere that there might be the slightest movement of air.  Here are two I' currently working on, one is my mom when she was little, and the other is in honor of the fallen soldiers for Memorial Day.

Iris Trio

8x10 oil on panel click here to bid

Whenever I don't finish a painting in one sitting, it never turns out and I struggle with it.  I came back to this 3 days in a row and finally decided to put down the brush and start something new....I WILL master the irises though, they are my favorite flower!

Sunny Days and Blooms

6x6 oil on Panel 

Bidding Starts at $40 click HERE to bid

It's 88 and sunny here in Ohio, just 5 days after 40 degree temps but I'm not complaining!  The irises are blooming so I have a feeling you will see several Iris paintings in the near future, and I just planted some Dahlias, sunflowers, and poppies! Anenomes tomorrow!...I'm on a flower roll I think......This is the last of the photo refs from the workshop, I think I can safely take my own now....

3 In One Blow!

6x6 oil on panel $50

To buy click here

6x6 oil on panel $50

To Buy click here

6x6 oil on panel Bidding starts at $40

To Bid click HERE 

It seems like forever since I've painted when it's actually only been two weeks, but my head hasn't been in it since my boy left for boot camp, and now that it's over I'm BACK!  I have lots of catching up to do as I have several outdoor shows this summer and fall.  I decided to pick up where I left of after Dreama's workshop.  Our final exercise was musical easels and I decided that when I got home from the workshop I would try it out on my own using some of the photos she provided for the exercise.  I did each painting about 5 or so minutes at a time and then moved on to the next one rotating until they were all complete!  It was fun, and it helped to keep me from overworking each one.   I took a break between each pass of the three and was able to see where I needed corrections.....Now I have 3 little lovelies waiting for a new home.  Perfect Mother's Day gift!   Here's my son and I after his Pass in Review, he is now on his way to Pensacola, FL for more training.