By the Sea

 Starfish

 Sand Dollars

Shells

Watercolor 101 | Make Your Mark

It's time to get out your brushes and make your mark!
Gather up an assortment of shapes and sizes and mix up a big wash of soupy paint.

Load up your brush with paint and use the whole brush from tip to base and stamp with it.
Each brush will naturally create a different mark due to its unique shape and size.

Practice making strokes with your brush.
Start with the stamping action and then draw your brush in random directions.

Make short strokes, long strokes and swirling strokes.

Create calligraphic lines by change the pressure on your brush.
Start with a light hand and just use the tip of your brush,
then add weight and pressure to change the width of your line.
Lift the pressure off your brush to make a thinner, finer line.

Note the difference in the marks you can make by working with a dry or wet brush.
With a dry brush the bristles splay out and separate, creating a textured mark.
A wet brush will create a more even flowing brush stroke.

Paint simple shapes and forms in both positive and negative.
Try different brushes, layer your brush strokes and add in washes.
I'm sure you will come up with your very own marvelous combinations!
If you have any questions post them below.

Papillon and Peresil

New paintings in my shop today! Take a peek.

It has been a busy week. I can't believe it is Friday again!

I'm still working on two great big bird paintings and hope to finish them soon.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Pairs

I think everything is better in pairs, don't you?

Two new bird paintings in progress and two winners of my fabric giveaway!

I decided it would be even more fun to pick a second winner who will receive

a quarter yard of the Dragonflies printed on cotton-silk.

*****

And now for the winners of my giveaway:

A yard of Grand Frolic goes to:

Michelle Verbeeck

And a quarter yard of Dragonflies goes to:

Erika Barriga

Congratulations!

Studio | Evening Hour

A peek at my side of the studio. Working into the evening hour.

I have to tidy things up for the weekend. It is Friday after all.

Perhaps I should have done that before I took the picture!

p.s. 

You still have until Sunday to enter my fabric giveaway!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Giveaway | Grand Frolic

grand frolic on cotton-silk

dragonflies on cotton-silk

dragonfly stripe, sprig stripe on quilting cotton

frolic, speckles on quilting cotton

grand frolic, dainty blossoms, dragonflies on quilting cotton
***
I'm having a giveaway to celebrate the launch of my Frolic Collection on Spoonflower!
One lucky person will receive a yard of the pattern Grand Frolic printed on a satiny, cotton-silk.
To enter the giveaway, simply leave me a message by Sunday, 9 pm EST.
I will announce the winner on Monday! Good luck!
***
I decided it would be even more fun to pick a second winner who will receive
a quarter yard of the Dragonflies printed on cotton-silk.

***

The lucky winners of my fabric giveaway:

A yard of Grand Frolic goes to:

Michelle Verbeeck

And a quarter yard of Dragonflies goes to:

Erika Barriga

Congratulations!

A Spiffy New Page

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Spiffing up my Etsy shop. A screen shot of my new about page!

Take a peek if you have a chance.

Have a great weekend all!