Sometimes God just does something totally unexpected. And that is exactly what happened to me last Thursday. Yes - I'm doing the backward ketchup posting again!
Most of us in my Thursday art class are working with oils. We do have one lone ranger who works in acrylics. She does beautiful work in them too. Our teacher prefers to work in acrylics as well. He says he doesn't have the patience to work in oils and acrylics dry fast. (which is true considering it takes an oil painting six months to dry before you apply varnish)
Every week Chris does a small demonstration for us to introduce us to new art products, tools, or to give us some technique tips. The class enjoys them and we've all learned alot. Last Thursday, Chris brought in some of the plein air paintings (fancy way of saying outdoor painting) that he had done in watercolors while in Europe. First let me say that Chris is an architect and his ability to draw buildings in perspective is awesome. He had a the tiniest little watercolor kit I've ever seen (easily packed). He said he would stop and quickly sketch the building in pencil, and then go over the drawing in waterproof marker. Then we would whip out his paints and finish the painting. Let's say that these were good enough to either make postcards or put in a book - seriously! Anyway - we all "ooh-ed and ahhed" over his beautiful pictures.
I was holding one of his pictures when it hit me like a ton of bricks. The technique he used was what I had used in high school! When I decided to try and paint again I had immediately thought of watercolors - that's where I had had my success years ago. However, when I bought the watercolors and paper - I couldn't remember how to go about doing what I had done before. I even went out and bought a couple of books on the subject - nothing helped. And that is why I decided to try oils.
But while seeing Chris's work, the light bulb went off! I got SO excited. I came home and rattled off a picture that I can't show you (cause Santa's on the way), the picture of the barn on my Christmas page, another one I can't show you (teasing you here), and last night I did the one that you see on this post - btw you can enlarge it for a better look by clicking on the pic. Not only did I remember the techniques, I also had the realization that I had learned so much about color through oils in the past year. I had Pandora serenading me in the background and I was one happy camper. Pandora by the way plays an awesome list of holiday music with Bing, Sinatra, et al with NO interruptions - for free).
There is something about this picture that blesses me. Hubby says it looks like an angel - so did Chris. It is really a fisherman throwing out the net. All I can think of when I look at it is - what have you caught lately?
Which reminds me of something that happened the other day in Wally World. (Walmart) I was going down the aisle and this elderly lady was coming toward me. She was obviously shopping for herself. There wasn't much in the cart. But she was dressed nicely. Her white curly hair was coiffed, and she had on a winter dressy cardigan sweater with a fur collar. And I hesitated.... and then I took the plunge. I walked up to her and told her how pretty she was in her outfit and so ready for the holidays. She looked startled at first - and then - she then she blessed me with a girlish smile.
I went fishing and I caught a smile - and it blessed me. What have you caught lately?
I have to convince myself that I will continue in my art. But right now.... it ain't gonna happen. There is too much going on to even attempt to paint or draw. I went over to my teacher's studio to tell her it's a done deal for now but missed her. It's a phone call and/or email I really didn't want to make - but something that had to be done.
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