Category Archives: Training

Mississippi Workshop – Part II. Water & Wildlife.

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It would be impossible to retrace our workshop footsteps and recount all of our painting triumphs and pratfalls, so I’ll just say:  WATER and WILDLIFE!   We spent every day painting by beautiful waters ~~ the old Ocean Springs harbor, the gentle marshes of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the sparkling Ocean Springs beaches and the marshy streams meandering down to the shore.  Here are a few shots of the waters we enjoyed.

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And as for the wildlife, there was a feast for the eyes ~~ from bombardier pelicans, sunning alligators, eel-gulping herons, osprey, crab and who knows what else.  And I guess we have to count as ‘wildlife’ the daring youngsters, male and female, who paddle boarded within feet of the alligator after he decided to take a dip in the harbor.

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Remembering Our Recent Workshop on Mississippi Gulf Coast – Part 1

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In writing my last post, I realized I hadn’t described our recent workshop in any detail.  It was great ~~ a delightful mix of ‘7 Palettes‘ painting buddies and Kathy Stowe, another Maryland-based friend; two of my sisters (Ceci & Susan); and three other Coast-based artists — Marylyn Gibson, Sherry Carlson and Curtis Jaunsen.  And of course our most excellent instructor, Marc Hanson.

Marc and Terry Miura are two of my most favorite landscape painters (not to take anything away from our outstanding MD-based artists).  Painting ‘rock stars’ in my book.  I’ve taken workshops with each of them and our 7Ps group sponsored a workshop with Terry not long ago.  It was fun to learn that they both trained at the same school in California!  Must be something in the water (or the OMG) out there!

Here are the beautiful demos that Marc did during our four day workshop.  I bought ‘On Canal by Old OS Harbor’ as a memento of the wonderful experience.

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Touching Up an Oldie-but-Goodie ~~ a Favorite Painting from a Long Ago Workshop

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Some years ago I took a workshop from nationally known artist Carolyn Anderson.  One of our tasks was to paint an interpretation based on one of her stash of photos that she uses for inspiration.  I selected the one I liked and did a nice start, I thought.  I’ve always liked that old painting and decided to finish it up last week.  It only took a few minutes.  Ahhhhh.  That felt good! Here it is and below that, its state before the touch-up, as well as the reference photo.

The ‘7 Palettes’ Kicked Off a Summer-long Exhibit Yesterday!

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Yesterday, some friends and I, who collaborate on all things art as The 7 Palettes,  opened a new exhibit in Bethesda, Maryland.  Our art — some 40+ pieces — will be displayed for three months at Maplewood Park Place on Old Georgetown Road.  Come see our pretties, please — any day between now and August 24, from 10 to 4 daily.   And congratulations to Sara Becker, whose large abstract painting sold during the Opening Reception!!  Way to go, Sara!

 

One study down and ninety-nine to go!

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At our recent workshop, Marc Hanson suggested we do a quick painting a day for 100 days and we would see a big improvement in our skills.  Number small panels 1 to 100 and put each away as it’s finished,  When you’re done with all of them, line ’em up in order and you’ll be surprised at what you’ve learned and how much better you’ve become.  And start the next 100.

I’ve started the process.  ‘Quasi-daily’ painting also ought to produce good change, right??

Here’s #1 — based on a reference photo I took on a hot summer day by the Potomac River bridge (new +  old fragments) at Shepherdstown, WV.  In the noonday sun, folks were swimming and kayaking on the still water and walking their dogs in the rocky shallows.  My hubby and I were enjoying the cool shadowed woods along the bank.  Heaven.  The painting is too busy — should have simplified more, but it does ‘bring me back’!

Study #1, Potomac at Shepherdstown. Oil on Paper. 8×10. 2018.

The reference.

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Striking while the iPad ‘iron’ was hot! More unanticipated PR!

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Pink Rooster features Maureen’s iPad Painting on its Facebook banner.

When I sent Marc his thank you drawing, I also sent another iPad thank you to Linda Rosetti, delightful owner of the charming Pink Rooster in Ocean Springs, MS.  Ms Rosetti had hosted the workshop participants and Marc one evening after our plein air session for the day.  Wild hair, paint-spattered clothes, sunburns and all.

In a surprise equivalent to Marc’s Instagram posting, Linda posted my image as the banner photo for the Rooster’s Facebook page.  Again, the ‘likes’ were a heart-warming follow-on. Thanks, Linda!!

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It’s Giving Tuesday! Give to the OHR to Give ART to Children!

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 It’s Giving Tuesday!  I’ve given to the Ohr and hope you will too!

For those who haven’t heard of this relatively new movement, it’s a day focused on charitable giving, coinciding with the season of thanksgiving.  One of my main charities is Biloxi, Mississippi’s Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, which Dad supported with the sweat of his brow (and, yes, coins) for more than a decade.  The Ohr provides an array of arts-focused education to children, as well as adults in the community.  And its exhibits and architecture uniquely enrich the Gulf Coast.  Please consider contributing today!  Thanks!

 

 

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Irrational Exuberance ~~ Painted Mushrooms? Or Toadstools?

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OK.  So, the leeks turned out well, aaaannnndddd ~~~~ I got sassy & decided to paint some portobello mushrooms the next day.

Bad idea!  There’s not much ‘there’ there.  Dull colors & shapes, arranged (by me) in an overly simplistic composition.  Certain artists could make a good painting out of such drab components (Morandi?), but my first effort at ‘shrooms falls short.

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Painting Leeks at Home in the Aftermath of Artin Workshop!

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I was so pumped up after Wendy Artin’s workshop that, after a day of R&R, I pulled out my paints and a couple of elderly leeks from the fridge and painted another watercolor in the manner we had been practicing during the workshop.  Here it is.

Leeks at Home. Watercolor on Paper.

I was tickled that it turned out nicely.  Maybe I’ll have to do more!