A.W.O.L .

I'm giving myself the permission . I'm sure you can see that I've been away from my blog posting. When I start painting apples, the motivations, inspiration and the get up and go has gone .. no not for good I'm sure. I've always had to be at peace with myself both emotionally and physically to be able to be creative. Right now I'm not. So as my blogging friend Tonilyn says '"Barbra Joan has left the building" for a while anyway. Your comments and encouraging words have kept me going and I thank you for that.

Well I took it as far as I knew how .. what bothered me most was the long petal on the lower right side, I had to scrub it out and rework it.. Thank goodness for good w/c paper. Arches CP 140 lb. When I say I took it as far as I could that means I don't know how to do anymore to it without overdoing. Thats where classes, training, schooling comes in. Something I never did.

A WIP

How many peonies and poppies can I paint? As many as I want to. I'm still working some areas that I'm unhappy with, but it's coming along. I used a 1/2" flat for the petals and Permanent Rose, cerulean blue, new gamboge, a little this and a little that.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Birds Nest

A bird built its nest in this can about a year ago. I saved it (posted a pic on my other blog) and wanted to paint it. The paint gave way to pencil and the nest got lost in the leaves. I got so involved in the leaves and twigs, that I forgot to leave the little dark area where the bird stayed . So now its just a can with leaves and twigs. Make sense?

2nd Shift on Duty

Jenny is guarding the art supplies while I'm recharging the batteries. You know that sign?
Out of My Mind.....back in five minutes..

My business card. I paint and sign each one by hand then cut them apart, information is on the back and no, I don't have THAT much time, I just love doing it! Thats one of my little travel sets with it.

Fine Art America

Been a bit off track lately with a few other projects one of which was setting up a new site that offers my work in prints and cards . Getting that up took a bit of time as you know how technically challenged I can be, it takes me a while to "get it". Check it out from my sidebar at Fine Art America.

The Peony

I find the peony one of the most difficult flowers for me to paint. So many petal layers, lights and darks. I stayed with this one as long as I could.

Ronahs' Birthday Sunflower

Ronah is the photographer who posted a photo of this sunflower on Flickr. After getting her permission to paint it, I found out it was her birthday that same day, so I sent the painting on to her...

One of these days I'll do justice to the poppy, my all time favorite. I paint them a lot thanks to photos from when I lived in Fremont Ca. for a few years. If Florida wasn't so hot I'd have a garden full.. Their petals are like translucent tissue paper.

Paint-Paper-Brushes

Put paint to paper today. I've tried all kinds of paper but Arches 140lb. CP is my favorite. I use mostly Winsor Newton paints, but not against trying others. And about 20 years ago I splurged on Winsor Newton Series 7 brushes, yes they really do last a lifetime, they're still in use although lately I've gotten into really BIG brushes and some flats too.

I've Been MIA

Although watercolor and pencil art are my first passions, I find I have to get away for a few days.. Even so I managed to do this one during the week.. other projects, posting on my other blog (glad I did it) has been keeping me going...

I'm Out There!!!

No matter where I roam with my painting I always come back to flowers, at least for a while. This one is larger than my usual... about 16x20.. and after eighteen years in the closet I decided to hang it today. Everything needs a little air once in a while!!!

I Dared!

My other blog 'Art Hearts Journey' is up and running ... Not without much help from my dear blogging buddy Veronica. She probably has a big headache today. Sorry V. It's not quite finished, and I'll put the frills to it later, but its a blog that I've wanted to do ....its crafty, its personal and it's me just without the paintings (well, almost) . If you'd like to go there just go to the sidebar and click onto Art Hearts Journey or the doll icon. She'll take you there.

Aside from Painting Art

These are some of the ATC's or Artist Trading Cards that I've made. I picked up a square frame at a Thrift store and it was perfect to display them. Besides painting and drawing, I've always had to create something, anything. ! So I've decided to post those 'others' onto another blog. The murals, miniature houses, art journals, quilts, needleworks, weird looking dolls, painted rugs on wooden floors even some of my shabby chic decor .. Not a big deal, mostly just to have a record of some of my thoughts and small acomplishments and sometimes big blunders. This blog will stay right here for my art , and thanks for looking!

A Tribute To Georgia O'Keefe

I've always admired Georgia O'Keefe. Not only for her large flower paintings but as a woman she crossed all lines in both her art and personal life. I have a book .. Georgia O'Keefe Art and Letters. (1987) One of the letters she wrote to a dear friend said in part "I don't see why we ever think of what others think of what we do-no matter who they are-isn't it enough to just express ourselves ?" There is a film coming up this month (TV) and I'll be sure to catch it. Although I've painted and posted many a poppy, (my banner on this blog) neither of these are poppies and both were done years ago.

Tina Marie -

A pencil portrait of my daughter done from a photo taken a while ago. She's an excellent artist and very creative.

The 'Gallery Wall'

I suppose all artists have at least one wall where you hang your work so you can see how it looks from a distance and other vital statistics, (like..... , is this any good?). I've been known to take mine down, unframe and do 'something else' to it . Of course with me I have 'gallery walls', 'gallery hallways' even gallery floors, you get the idea. I have a lot of 'stuff' . Thats my security cat Mary Louise on duty. She takes the morning shift.

Is It Real?

I wondered why I had so many comments on the drawing of the "Eye' (below) after I posted it on Flickr. It was picked to be on 'Explore ' of which I never knew about. I'm guessing it's a page where they post what they think is 'interesting'. Some people commented on what a "wonderful photo" it is.... No , No, not a photo,... a photo of my drawing! But thank you anyway.

The Answer

This week has been one that I don't want to do too much thinking or analyzing , not good at that anyway. Life is going to come at you whether you want it or not. When that happens to me, this is my best medicine. And I have that obsession with drawing and painting eyes. So that's exactly what I've done !

Watercolor 11x14

A WIP and the finished piece .Same subject posted earlier in pencil . I love working with both mediums, so I did one of each. Why Not ? I don't own a tube of black. All my near blacks are made with either paynes gray or a blue ( ultramarine, indigo, plus Burnt Sienna) I'll sometimes add a touch of sap green, or if I want a reddish cast, alizaron crimson. Collar bones need softening . Yes!

'Gracie'

This is my latest pencil work. Thanks to Stephen Baird an amazing photographer you can find at http://nikonsniper.blogspot.com/. He joined my blog this week and when I saw his photos I asked his permission to do some in pencil and watercolor. He travels and gets to record all the wonders of different people, places and things. Stephen, thank you for your generosity. This was done using my Staedtler drawing pencils on smooth Bristol paper about 11"14". I use diagonal, vertical and crosshatch lines, and my trusty kneaded eraser.

UPDATE:: I picked a few of Steves photos to recreate, this one I couldn't wait to do, it was five hours work , I enjoyed every single minute, and after I posted it found out that its his granddaughter. Well hello Gracie. I hope you like your picture. !

Pencil / Graphite

Yesterday my mind was going from one thing to another, watercolor? flower?, landscape?., accomplishing nothing, I wound up posting a small watercolor that I did eons ago and don't even like that much. So what did I do? I did what always makes me feel better, thank you very much. And thats to draw. Last night picked up my Staedtler Drawing Pencils, smooth Bristol paper, trusty kneaded eraser and away I go.!

Along The Pacific Coast Highway

While I'm working on a some new things thought I'd post this one. What a sight. It loses something in the translation, trust me, you gotta be there.! Right now my creative brain is jumping all over. Flowers? no, seascape? no, landscapes, hmmmm maybe!

To Russ O'Brien

Today I want to thank Russ O'Brien , an amazing artist that I just reconnected with online. Russ gave art lessons at a craft store in So. Florida early '80's, and although acrylic wasn't my medium, I did learn many things from him. He was an inspiration and mentor . Later on he did a painting of Christa McAuliffe the astronaut who tragically lost her life in the Challenger accident. Copies of his painting hang in many schools to this day. Years later when I was asked to teach a watercolor class to the seniors in my community, I remembered and tried to model my class the way he did it .. tons of fun. Thank you Russ for all you've done.

Golden Gate

I think I'm in my 'landscape period' right now. The photo I took and the painting are posted on Flickr also, and if you click on my Flickr badge at the right it'll take you there. Some years ago I moved from 'flat' Florida to the S. Francisco area and all I can say is if you've never taken the drive on the Pacific Coast Highway to at least Big Sur your missing a sight that took my breath away . I eventually did move back to Florida and will paint a few more from my photos. Enjoy!

California Patchwork

A painting from the photo above that I took while living just outside of San Francisco late '80's. There are acres and acres of flower farms that look like giant patchwork quilts.

So it's Personal

I posted my studio awhile back but never told you about that hutch on top of that white table. It's a seperate piece . A few years ago, it was sitting in a storage room at our friends' house in Biloxi MS. We were visitng them, they didn't want it, sooo being the dumpster diver that I am, thought it would be good to store some art supplies, took it home, painted it and there it is. Just 2 months after that visit, Hurricane Katrina went on her rampage there and took their beautiful home and left not one thing. Lucky Little Hutch huh?

The Old Standby Pear in Pastels

The urge to do something in pastels has been lurking, sitting on my shoulder ... So after I realized I had given a budding artist my pastel pencils about 10 years ago (what was I thinking)? I had to order a set from Dick Blick and it was like Christmas last week ... never, never give away any art supplies. I'm a little rusty with them but working with pastels agian made me feel like I'd been re-aquainted with some old friends.

Pots and Posies

For lack of a better title, because the flowers are just in my imagination, color splashed on top of pots. Terra cotta pots are easy to paint. Wet in wet technique. Burnt sienna, drop it in, and the shadow side is indigo blue. Thats a color that I always have on my palette.

The Birds are Coming!

I try to paint or draw something almost every day not because I have to just because I want to. This was a pretty quick one . It's from a photo by John Heffernan on Flickr and have his permission to paint from his photos. He's traveled most of the world , has thousands of photos and I intend to paint every single one. Just kidding!

An ACEO..what's that you ask? Well read on!!

ACEO stands for Artist Cards Editions/Originals. They're only 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and these are originals not prints. At least not yet! I like working very small (sometimes) and still love drawing, colored pencil and pastels, so doing these satisfies that part of the creative urge. I'll be putting some on my Etsy site because someone can still own a piece of original art and since they're small they're very inexpensive. They can be matted and put in a small frame. Ok! so now you know the ACEO story! Aren't you glad you asked??

Landscape

A landscape from a photo by John Heffernan . I obtained permission from him after seeing his collection on Flickr and was amazed at the number and hundreds of subjects that he's photographed. This is the first one I've done and even though I'm not much of a landscape painter I enjoyed doing it and hope to do more. Thanks John, I don't get out of Florida too often!

Pencil ... My Other Obsession

Three drawings of pencil and colored pencil. One was done just this week and the other two are older. I'm not sure if my skills have improved or even changed but thats not important to me as it's the process of working on them that I most enjoy. Drawing comes easier, but watercolor is the challenge that I refuse to give up.

Summertime!

No I haven't been this busy!

I rarely do a still life and this was years ago. 1992. It's also a lot larger than the pieces I do now. This is the second of the same subject, someone came along and wanted the first one, so I painted it again, this one for myself. . Since today is first day of summer I commemorate that by posting yet another floral. Happy Summer to all my blogging friends!

An Orchid from Nancy

This beautiful little orchid painting was sent to me (via snail mail) from Nancy my artist friend . We exchanged art pieces after a meeting 2 weeks ago. She is also starting an Art Swap where we will be exchanging a small piece of art with someone else. She has all the info on her website, and its very simple .. nothing complicated or you know I wouldn't do it.!! Click on the link to her (the title of this post) and join in the fun..

Todays Painting

I always feel like I've accomplished something when I've at least painted something for the day. So this was it. I have three African violet plants and they do pretty good for me. I like the looseness of this one and think I'll put it into the Etsy Shop ... As you already know all of my originals are for sale . Friends from Biloxi are coming in this afternoon , so painting is done for the day.

The Wonderful World of Blogging!

Through blogging I met Nancy from http://adventureswithpaint.blogspot.com We discovered that we live about an hour apart here in hot muggy, soggy Fl orida. We made a plan to meet last Wed. in Dade City, a quaint little town 20 min. from me, but a lot further for Nancy. We had a wonderful day ,walked around visiting some antique shops, had lunch at an interesting in-town restaurant (with real tableclothes and napkins )No paper plates for us that day! We came across an interesting art studio where a lady sits in the window and paints. Fun!! We have a lot in common , she's a Scorpio like me and we had our share of laughing too. I look forward to seeing her again. Thanks Nancy it was a good day for me.

The Pink Poppy

The Poppy lady is at it again... what really got me was the color of this one. It's almost a shell pink, so delicate. I had to use Holbeins Opera, which is a color that really needs to stand alone.. It's more water than pigment because its such a strong color.

This Is Who?

This little girl was sitting in a sandbox and someone took her picture a long time ago. The little girl is me... I painted it from a black and white photo a few years back...Well, those were days.!

My Eye OCD

I really don't know what it is with my eye obsession. I've always drawn and painted eyes. People and animals. No face just eyes. Even when I do faces, I' never want to finish with eyes. This one was done in watercolor I don't know when but just came across it, ( in one of those hiding places)

What's going on here?

Working on a small study of a landscape this a.m. and decided to take a couple pics of the table where I work. This is an inexpensive paper pad thats landscape size and perfect for playing . I do like working in front of a window and there's a lot of light in the morning. Only problem its on the east side, sometimes a little too much sun.

The Marina .. Sausalito, Ca.

Sold

I thought I had posted this one, maybe its on my Flickr. I did have it on my Etsy and its just been sold. This was one that I did right after moving back to Florida from the San Francisco area. Its the Marina in Sausalito and I hope my painting did it justice because it was truly a beautiful place.

Coconuts in the Keys

While visiting friends in the Keys, I was sitting right under this coconut tree..

I took a picture of it from that angle, and when I painted it that's all I painted.. no tree, just the coconuts. Go ahead,.... walk on the wild side, sit under a coconut tree. !!

Pieces of the Past

The last couple of days I've been getting my studio a bit organized, and out of the closet comes big envelopes, pads, storage type files, and other assorted places that you put your cast -off paintings and drawings when you just cannot look at them another minute. I have hundreds of those. All sizes, all subjects, pastels, pen and ink, watercolor, pencil, colored pencil, all not very good, but I couldn't bear to trash. I mean what happens if when you die somebody comes along and realizes what a great painter you were, and then they discover all these pieces. I could see the headlines now.... "Another painting by Barbra Joan just discovered." So I took a couple pictures, and I'm sharing!

The Poppy

The Poppy is my all time favorite flower, the petals look like translucent tissue paper, the colors are amazing and I love painting them. In the south (Fl.) they don't do well I suppose because of the heat. When I lived for a few years in northern Ca. I'd see them all the time, even growing wild ... Beautiful! I've cropped this painting to just the one bloom.

Tropical Orchids

I took a picture of this orchid plant hanging in the next yard while I was in South Florida. I think I fussed with it too much, but that's my MO ! And if I'm painting, I'm happy!!

I'm Baaaack!!

I know that most of you didn't even know that I was gone, but I made a trip to see my cousin in Pompano Bch. It's a 3 hour drive south from where I live . I was able to see a friend , Bonnie that I hadn't seen for about 15 years. We 'd lost touch, and she found me through the internet. So that and a trip to my favorite art store in Ft. Lauderdale and of course seeing my cousin was well worth the drive. Angie 'The Worlds Most Perfect Dog" came with me of course. Nice to get away, and nice to get home.

Tea Cups 11"x15" - SOLD-

This is a watercolor that I loved painting and after enjoying it for many years I've decided to sell it. It can be found on my Etsy along with some others.

The Rose

This watercolor was done many years ago, just a simple rose and one of the first of many flowers to come. Enjoy!