Lake Michigan Shoreline

Climbed the 126 ft dune, then walked the beach with Sedona for an hour or so, until the sun went down. Incredible color in the dunes / grasses and then the sky put on a show!

climbing area now closed for preservation...

Indiana Dunes State Park.....billowy clouds, filled with moisture, letting loose every few hours between bouts of glorious sunshine slashing across the sky and Lake Michigan............feeling the sands swallow your feet as you make the climb to 126 ft.......then gaze in wonder at the sight you behold as you crest the top!

the climb...

the view along Kemil Beach

Sedona and surfers...

"Studio Light"....45 minute plein air painting.

Kyle Martin was a real joy to have teach the workshop. He was full of knowledge and could paint and talk about it without skipping a beat!!! He was SO willing to share and really cared that the students got it........I managed to get a 45 minute painting...needs some work yet on the right, but I ran out of time and shade!

Kyle Martin Plein Air workshop

As the organizer, I didn't get a whole lot of painting done, as I wanted to make sure the students needs were met first and of course, food was also a priority. (The pack turns wild if you don't feed them.)

Kyle did a demo after having students paint some value paintings to kick off the morning. Just what we needed to shake out those cob webs, along with a cup of coffee, after our pre-workshop gathering/reunion celebration the evening before.

Stay tuned.....More to come.....

Lots of wonderful things happening, now if I can just juggle them all. My studio helper...she already knows how to hold a pose!

It can be difficult choosing which opportunities to take and which ones to pass up...what if??? Chosing the one that brings the most joy is usually a good one. Then there is the financial aspect. Life is but a journey, hoping to make it an enjoyable one....maybe I will meet with you along the way!

Refresher Course question

A fellow artist emailed this question to me;

"I noticed class is full but thought about learning to paint again (hadn't since few years out of high school) . I am 36 now and was remembering how I felt after completing an oil painting....estatic! Can you give me a suggestion how I can get started again like a refresher course mabe. Thank you.Robin "

 

 

Dear Robin............Yes.............just do the work. Show up in your painting area and just paint. Paint anything that evokes a response of emotion from you. Then if you get stuck, search youtube for a video to help you out. Continue...when you get stuck in a rut, figure a way to go take a workshop from someone whose work you admire and feel that you would like to paint in a similar manner. Ask all the questions you can and practice painting the answers. Miles of canvas behind you is the suggestion I hear from every master I admire................must be good advice!

 All the best to you...........Ruth Ann

 

 

Nancy Guzik sharing with me on how she approaches a painting............thanks, Nancy!

Happy accidents!

Happy accidents!

 It was not my first reaction when my friend accidentally broke my turquoise teapot, but when I commented about picking up the pieces, it dawned on me that it would make a good title for a painting. Plus, when we realized her bag had broken and that was the cause of the crash, I wanted her to feel better. Afterall, it was just a teapot!   Thanks, Barb!