The lace is almost done! I have some shadows to put in as the still life develops. I would have had the whole thing finished if I hadn't had to mow today for 4 hours (5 1/2 acres) and that is with 2 of us mowing on different mowers. But I don't want to rush this and the silver gravy boat will have a lot of reflections and then roses take time, too. So keep watching for the finished painting. Oh, and I wanted to tell you about something I saw for the first time in all my years---two rainbows circling around the sun, like a target. It was awesome. And of course I didn't have my camera because I was on the mower. I've never seen anything so pretty---makes me think of the verses in the Bible about God setting his bow in a cloud to show a covenant between God and the earth, and the bow would be a reminder that God would not destroy the earth again with water. (Genesis 9:13-17) I always think of that when I see a rainbow. Click on the lace to see the details.

Today I am painting lace. I have started a watercolor of a silver gravy boat full of roses and the background has white lace over purple cloth. The white is the paper (you don't normally use white paint in watercolors, but let the paper show through for the white), so I am painting the little purple spots and the lace is formed by the white of the paper. It takes a bit of time, but I love doing it!I probably won't finish it by tomorrow, but if not, I will show you the progress made. Stay tuned! Click on it to better see the sketch and how I am painting it.

"The Gate House"

18 x 24 egg tempera on hardboard, framed $500

This large painting really focuses on sunlight playing through the trees on the water. It has alot of detail, which is fun to do with egg tempera. Lots of layering goes into egg tempera paintings, so they are quite a lot of work. I want to get back into doing some large paintings---they can take days and days, so as I work on one, I will have to do some quick studies to post, too. Click on it to see details.

Something different!

Sketch from my sketch book---not for sale---collection of the artist.

You can see the line up the middle where the sides of the book meet. When in Northern Ireland, one of the ladies in our painting holiday workshop worked exclusively in her sketch book. It was impressive the amount of work she did to later use in her studio. When I got home, I bought a nice sketch book from Dick Blick and have been doing every few days a fast pencil drawing, embellishing it with thin washes of watercolor and then working it over quickly with a Micron 01 pen that doesn't bleed through to the next page. It is so fun and I am doing these very quickly with no stress. I have ideas for later more elaborate paintings plus I am learning to be looser in my applications. I have always kept sketch books, but scattered here and there in various little notebooks, etc. that you can never find when you need them, so I am determined to use only this one and keep it handy when I travel, etc. If you are an artist, I suggest you try keeping a sketch book yourself. Very liberating and fun! Click on drawing to see details.

"Bowl of Cherries"

6 x 6 Acrylic on hardboard $45

Yum! Have a cherry. Wouldn't this little painting be pretty in a kitchen next to a real bowl of cherries! Just sit it on a little easel, in a special spot. Then later, get a painting of an orange or apples to go by other fruit displays. What an idea! I still think these little 6 by 6 paintings are great to get one collecting art. The background is not quite as dark as it looks here. It is a deep green, complimentary to the deep red cherries. Click on it to see details.

5 x 7 Watercolor Greeting Cards $6.00 each

Here are two more examples of my greeting cards. I mentioned some categories yesterday and forgot to mention countryish scenes such as the quilt on the porch. If you want to order several, I can just pick out a variety to send and it is only $1.50 postage, even for more than one! Hope you like them. Click on them for a detailed view. The quilt on the porch is SOLD. However, I have others you may like. Watch for more posts.

Something New! I now have handpainted greeting cards with envelopes. These 5 x 7 cards are on heavy watercolor paper and are done with a wash of color, then detailed with a micron pen that is archival ink that will not fade or run. These little works of art can be framed and make great gifts in themselves. They are blank for your own greeting. They are $6.00 each plus $1.50 postage (includes shipping envelope).

You can specify florals, landscapes, cats or dog portrait, beach scenes or "my pick". I will send out original cards---no two are alike and sorry, but you can't specify certain things---just the category! If you order more than one card, shipping is still only $1.50 for multiples. What a bargain! I sold cards in my antique shop and several people "collected" and framed them in little frames, hanging them in a grouping. There's you another great idea! I will post photos of more of them later. Click on card to see details.

"Still Life with Begonia"

9 x 12 acrylic on hardboard $125

Yesterday I had 4 light bulbs burn out in my studio, so I went to Home Depot to get some and saw this Begonia. I just love the reds in the leaves so thought I would have to get it and do a painting with it in the painting. I used a chenille piece on bottom and in the container holding the Begonia is a tatted piece. I had the granite ware from the antique shop. I thought the chenille would be really hard to do, but it really wasn't and it looks fluffy like chenille. I used a lot of different colors in the undercoat. This was really fun to do and I think it turned out nicely, too. click on it to see the details of the tatting and chenille.

"Bromeliad"

6 x 6 acrylic on hardboard $40

Bromeliads are so pretty and exotic, having that attractive inflorescence. They do well here, especially under trees. Painting this was fun, trying to get the various colors--I will have to say that in person this painting looks quite a bit more vibrant. Click on it to see details better. SOLD

"Favorite House"

18 x 24 acrylic painting on stretched canvas$400

This is one of my favorite style homes with dormers and porches nestled among tress and flowers. Actually my own house is similar. I painted this from photos, adding and subtracting as needed and loved the contrast of values and the touches of bright color in the azaleas. I think this type of home evokes memories of quieter and more relaxing days in the country. Hope it gives you that feeling, too!

"White Cat in the Window"

5 x 7 acrylic painting on hardboard $45

I saw this window in Greyabbey, N. Ireland and loved the bright blue painted around it. I added the flowers and the cat in the window. I loved the bricks around the window, too. I was playing with color in this one---fun to paint it!

I hope you are not looking at the world from the comfort of being "inside". Life is short and we all need to get outside our comfort zone and do all those things we want to do! I'm trying and having lots of fun doing them! SOLD

"Persian--Old Blue Eyes"

6 x 6 acrylic painting on hardboard $45

I think my favorite cats are Persians even if they do shed hair everywhere! This fellow is right up there with Frank when it comes to blue eyes! I love painting fur; sometimes those kinds of deliberate strokes just calm my nerves while some people might find it tedious. But I enjoyed doing this painting and hope you like it! Click on it to see details. SOLD

"Kelli's Garden"

5 x7 watercolor $40

My daughter, Kelli, is quite a gardener, and I always take photos of her garden while in N. Ireland. This little painting is from a photo taken a few years ago---her garden is always changing, she adds different flowers, etc. This summer she had gorgeous petunias and sunflowers, and she had put out cabbages in pots, which did really well and were so pretty. This painting could have been called "Study in Greens" as it really was!

"Afternoon Tea at Greyabbey"

8 1/2 x 11 1/2 watercolor $85

Here is another painting from photos I took at Greyabbey, County Down, N. Ireland. I added the flower cart from another photo and added the sleeping cat. This was the cutest little courtyard of shops and cafes, etc. The flowers were just beautiful--flowers seem more vibrant and do better in colder climates, I think, than Florida. Right now almost all my flowers have died of too much heat except the tropical things like Hibiscus. It is too hot to get outside and weed, anyway! Don't forget to click on this painting to see the details.

"Sunny Porch"

5 3/4 x 8 watercolor pencil drawing $35

Today I took a break and went to the coast with a friend shopping! We had so much fun trying on clothes and looking in houseware stores! But that caused me to not get my painting finished today, so this is a watercolor pencil drawing I did in the sketch book. Watercolor pencils are fun to do and easy to carry if you are traveling and don't want to pack a lot of art supplies.I haven't used them much, but you can blend colors somewhat and you can do the drawing rather quickly. Hope to have the painting finished tomorrow---another Irish one, this time a tea room.

"Irish Coffee Shop"

8 1/2 x 11 watercolor $85

While in N. Ireland, we went to Greyabbey and there is a gorgeous courtyard with shops on either side, huge amounts of beautiful flowers and plants, so this is the coffee shop there. I took photos galore, as there is subject matter for a huge amount of paintings. The bike was from a photo I took in Donaghadee in front of a florist, so I combined parts of different photos. I am trying to get more value and contrast in my watercolors and more pure and non-muddy colors. I think this one was successful and love the play of shadows and the colors in the flowers. Click on it to see details. Notice the lace curtains. Your comments are welcomed! By the way, I know alot of you haven't signed up as a follower. Take a minute to do so---it is easy! Thanks!

"Apple Blossom Cottage"

18 x 24 acrylic painting, framed in solid oak frame $400

Here is still another cottage! I have had this painting awhile, but thought I would put it on, as I am painting and haven't quite finished the new one. This is framed in a beautiful oak frame that really compliments the colors in the painting.

It is 102 on my back porch in the shade! I cannot believe the heat we have had all summer. The heat index today is supposed to be from 107-110. Just have to stay in and enjoy the air conditioning! Click on my paintings to see details.

"The Hill Cottage"

8 1/2 x 11 watercolors $65

I'm in the cottage mode, it seems! As "progress" is made in Ireland, many of the quaint little thatch roofed cottages are being torn down. What a shame! But some people are buying them and fixing them up, living in them.

I thought this little watercolor turned out well. I got some nice value and shadows in and the colors are nice.

"The Thatched Cottage Row"

16 x 20 Acrylic painting, framed $450

One of my favorite things in Ireland is seeing a row of thatched cottages. This was a fun painting to do and I like the warmth of the cottages with the dark trees behind them and the water in front. This painting is mainly from my imagination, with bits of real things I've seen thrown in. It is framed in an antique gold frame that compliments it well. Click on it to see details.

"Irish Row Houses"

watercolor on Arches paper $75

We were about 1/2 mile from Donaghadee at the Commons Recreation Ground and this was looking toward the houses, rather than into the park at the beach. These colorful Victorian apartments caught my eye, so I opted to paint them. I was trying to use various colors of green, too, as our instructor was telling us about making lots of green colors with our basic blues and yellows. It was fun, but not my favorite painting! However, everyone has different tastes and some of my painting mates really loved this. This is the last one to show you from the painting holiday in Northern Ireland. Now I am back in the studio in hot Florida sorting through almost 200 photos I took there! I will be doing some more Irish paintings---I have so many lovely scenes and some outstanding florals. There were beautiful flowers and plantings everywhere, too, and I have a photo of a lovely tea room garden. Here's to Northern Ireland----love it!

"Lighthouse at Donaghadee Harbour"
11 x 14 watercolor on Arches paper $140

Please ignore the black spot in the sky on the left! I had my camera looked at, and because I twice have spilled water on it, it seems to have moisture inside, so I just bought a new one and it is charging at the moment. Should be ready to go tomorrow!
It was a cold and rather dreary day at Donaghadee (pronounced like Donna Kah 'Dee) Harbour and misting rain most of the day. Grahame did his demonstration and we all huddled around; then most of the class sat outside almost in the spot he did to do their painting. He left the sky white and used shadows on the lighthouse to make its form. I opted to sit in the car for shelter---I was painting away in the back seat and Kelli was working in the front seat! I decided to take artistic liscense and put pink in the sky, which set the mood for my whole painting. I rather liked the way it turned out--the colors are soft and pretty. Hope you like it, too.

"Ballyvester Beach, Northern Ireland" $125

11 x 14 watercolor on Arches paper

It was a cloudy day off and on, but we braved the weather and painted on the beach. The stone on the left is a memorial to someone, maybe a seaman. The beach has lots of rocks and sea weed as well as wildflowers and plants.

The photos below are of our painting group. We were all freezing, as you can tell, as we watched Grahame Booth demonstrate a painting technique. Bob is on the left and Kelli is on the top row, 2nd one in the white hat. Mark is in front by my empty chair. He is working away!

We went to a bag piper's international contest which was very interesting, but unfortunately finally got rained out. Or at least, we got rained out! The little cottage was discovered by Kelli and me as we walked down a country lane near out rental cottage. I love the thatched roof and the bicycle adds a nice touch. I will probably paint from this photo later. Kelli is standing in front of the manor house that the owner of our rental cottage lives in---just gorgeous. The vines will soon be bright scarlet, as Fall comes. They are starting to turn color now. Ireland is so pretty.

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Painting Holiday in County Down along the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland.

Each day began with a demonstration by our instructor, Grahame Booth. He has a web site, so just Google in his name to learn more about him.

This painting pictured here was done by my son-in-law, Mark Boyles, who is doing very well indeed for a person just beginning to paint. He and my daughter Kelli, my husband Bob,and I all took this workshop class and enjoyed it very much. Bob didn't paint but enjoyed watching the others.

It was lovely along the coast and subjects for painting were many and diverse,

It was my birthday month, too, so we did a lot of celebrating--Kelli called it an "Eat Fest". We were on a quest to see if we could find N. Ireland's best dessert called Pavlova. Believe me, we sampled many Pavlovas and all were delicious.

Our last meal before coming back to the U.S. was at Greyabbey, Co. Down at Pebbles Restaurant.We had the most delectable salmon there cooked to perfection and presented beautifully. I met the chef, Jason Camduff, who is head chef at Mount Stewart, as well. A brilliant chef! If you go to that area, be sure to stop by Pebbles! Their pavlova was first class, as well!

Keep scrolling down to see Kelli's painting and another of mine and read some more about our holiday.

We paint in Northern Ireland

This is my daughter, Kelli Boyles' painting. She had a simple technique that is quite appealing. I can see her paintings being used on cards, fabric, etc. She has an element of design that is so interesting.

We all had such a good time painting and met many interesting people. Each artist there had his or her own technique and it was amazing to see the difference in each painting.

" Cottage by the Sea"

10 x 14 watercolor on Arches paper $120

This was painted plein air in County Down, N. Ireland. There were two very old cottages open to the public and our painting group painted there all day, enjoying an ever-changing sky and actually a very pleasant cool and dry day! The wall at the bottom presented a problem as it was made of rocks but I opted to make it just a textured wall using a dry brush technique, avoiding a bit of confusion by all the rocks.

There were 20 artists in our group. Grahame Booth , our instructor, would demonstrate and do a quick painting before we began to paint. Here is a picture of him demonstrating and giving us some very good information.

"The Moat"

11 x 12 1/2 watercolor on Arches paper $75.00

Hi everyone,

I'm back from 10 days in Northern Ireland where I was painting with a group under the instruction of Grahame Booth. I was visiting my daughter, Kelli and my son-in-law, Mark---they were painting, too. We had a grand time! This is a watercolor from the first day of painting, and I have to say it was difficult for me to be loose and free with the watercolors, rather than painting in my normal way with lots of detail, done rather slowly. But I learned a lot even on the first day, especially about using tone, or as we say in America, value.

Actually this painting is a little better and brighter in real life, as my photography here was not the greatest. (I must get a new camera!!) In the next few days I will be telling you a good deal about this holiday and putting some photos on of the beautiful scenery as well as Grahame's demonstrations and Kelli and Mark's paintings, as well as other paintings I did. Also I will be telling you about our little "Eat Fest" as we traveled around and about a wonderful chef I met. So keep looking. For now, it is the first day back and the mowing has to be done