Enjoying Florida!

Ok, so if you're wondering if I paint every day...well not on this day!!! I prepped some canvas at von Liebig then we headed out on our bicycles. (My helmet hair isn't too bad!!) Southern Florida is beautiful this time of year, and it so cool to be able to do this in mid-January. Happy Painting!

** Also, I'm having trouble posting replies to comments...don't know if it's on my end or Bloggers. Thanks everyone!

Easels...

Many of you have asked what easel's I use in my class at Hobby Lobby in Kentucky. Here's a photo of it. It's a simple metal easel that retails for about $24.99. If you purchase it from Hobby Lobby, I recommend that you use one of those wonderful 40% off coupons. It's nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. Brand name is Master's Choice and it comes in a green and white box. I also use this easel at home in Florida because it takes up so little space and collapses down so small.

When you first decide to get outfitted to paint, you need to evaluate where your workstation will be. If you're going to be painting in your living space and have to put your easel/paints/brushes away, then you don't want some big huge easel that you'll have to cart over to a closet every time you're done with it. You'll end up painting less. If you can leave your workstation up all the time, then get you a nice large floor easel and setup your workstation as nice as you can afford to. In Kentucky, I have a nice studio set up with three easels and a long worktable. Here in Florida, I use this metal easel and a picnic table. I'm making art either way. Happy Painting!!!

I've got a new phone....

And....it has a camera on it. Hopefully that will mean I'll take it out and take photos during the classes. That being said, here are a couple of Florida's fine ladies working on their paintings from this past Thursday. Aren't they amazing! After getting a late start and past the fire alarms...(yep they went off during class)...everyone came back and did beautiful paintings. Great job!!

Hello von Liebig Art Center!!!!

Well, my first class is this Thursday at the von Liebig Art Center for 2012. I'm so excited to start painting with the folks here in Florida.

Also, I've posted the new Hobby Lobby class dates on my website for 2012 for my wonderful Kentucky students. I'll be sending out an email in April when I start taking signups.

Here's my webpage: www.happytreesstudio.com

Happy Painting!!!!

Wedding...

As many of you know I was swamped this past fall and one of the reasons was my beautiful daughter's wedding. Since I didn't get a chance to post any photos then, thought I would show her off now. I love this shot of her and I. Oh, and check out her bouquet! She made those for her and her bridesmaids out of buttons. So cool! She doesn't like to admit it, but she has an artist in her!!!!

I hope to be posting the class dates for 2012 here soon! Happy Painting!!

Happy New Year!!!

Well, we're here in sunny Florida and right now I can hear fireworks going off all around us. There are many celebrations all around town tonite. We'll be staying in and ringing in the new year with some SLEEP! (Much needed sleep after our drive down!!)

I wanted to say thank you to all of you who came and painted with me this year. I wish I could put into words what a joy it is to teach these classes! Thank you all! I've attached a couple of photos from my last class of the year (Thank you Debi for taking them!!).

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

I'm still around!!!!

Wow! How the time has been passing! I'm still kicking and just finished my last class of the here here in KY at Hobby Lobby. I had one of the students take some photos for me and I'll post them as soon as I get them from her. In the meantime, here's a couple more from a previous class. (Yes, that's me in the dorky lab coat. If I don't wear it, I'm covered in paint when I get home!!)

Everyone, I just want to say thank you for a great year in Kentucky and I'm looking forward to painting with some Florida folks next. My students make all of this worthwhile and you really mean the world to me. Happy Painting!!