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!!

Next class...

Here's the painting for the next class on November 19th. My lovely assistant...(otherwise known as my lovely daughter) will still be on her honeymoon, so hopefully things will go smoothly! I've still got a few openings, so just let me know if you want to sign up.

Also, great class on Saturday! Bummer that I didn't take any photos (again), but I may have had a few students who did. I'll see if I can get copies to post here. That was a different kind of mountain scene but you guys did awesome! Happy painting!

Work in Progress

Well, I know I haven't posted in a while...so busy! I wanted to thank everyone for another great class last week. I forgot to take photos again...was having too much fun I guess!! Anyway, thought I would post one of my paintings with some work in progress shots. I love this little teacup. It's so fancy!! LOL!

Happy Painting everyone!

Dramatic Seascape Class...

Great job everyone this week with Dramatic Sky Seascapes. Cecil B. Demille would be proud!!! Those skies were amazing! Thanks again and looking forward to the class on October 22nd!!!

Gesso...

I had a student ask me a very good question via email the other day. She said she went to clean the gesso off her brushes and the thinner didn't really clean it off. So, thought I would address this. When cleaning your brushes that you use to gesso, or prime your canvas, clean them with a brush cleaner or softsoap and water. If you're using acrylic gesso, you would clean those brushes just like you would acrylic or watercolor paint. I also recommend putting a bit of conditioner on your brush after cleaning. When you're using your Bob Ross brushes (with oil paint), clean them with clean thinner. There is a Bob Ross brush cleaner (see the photo) and I mostly only use it for the script liner brush...after I clean it with thinner. It's got a conditioner built into it. The problem with cleaning the brushes we use in class with water, is they can sort of "spread" out. It would be ok to clean the filbert and fan brushes with soap and water, but be sure to condition them afterwards. The 1 inch landscape and 2 inch blenders should really be cleaned with CLEAN thinner. As always, let me know if you have any questions! Happy Painting!!

Next painting for October 8th...

Rough week. I lost a dear friend and the funeral was this weekend. The highlight of my weekend was Saturday's class. I of course forgot to take photos! I had a great time and as usual you guys did some wonderful paintings.

Here's the painting for October the 8th. I love these simple seascapes with lots of color! Morning class is booked, but I've still got a couple openings in the afternoon class. As always I take a wait list, because I do get cancellations. I'm excited to work on this with everyone! Happy painting!