Barbara's Painting

My intermediate class just finished a still life painting of a silver tea pot with a glass bowl of cherries. This is Barbara and her finished piece. This is special because Barbara actually polished the silver piece for me that we used as the reference for this painting. Great job on your painting, Barbara! And thanks so much for making the silver look like new!!!

More classes are beginning in February. You can visit my website to see the list, register and view the supplies list.

We have been working hard to get our new teaching studio ready and so I haven't had a lot of time to work on lessons for this blog. I have been taking progress photos of some pieces we've been working on in class, so I hope to have some new lessons up soon. Stay tuned! Thanks for visiting.

You can see pictures of the new studio by visiting our Art and Antiques Studio Facebook page. The teaching studio is called Courtyard Studio, but we are affiliated with the Art and Antiques Studio and Gallery next door. Visit our Facebook Page and become a FAN!

Morning Glories by my Students

This photo shows the wonderful Morning Glories that my Level One students painted recently. I think they did a great job!!!

They are learning how to work with their water to pigment ratio and how to control soft and crisp edges in watercolor. It is fun to build the illusion of three dimensional shapes with varying edges and values.
New classes are starting up in February in both watercolor and drawing. You can visit my website to learn more:  http://watercolorworksart.com/Classes.htm.

Indiatlantic Art Festival

My husband, Ken, and I participated in the Indiatlantic Art Festival this past weekend. Saturday was chilly and Sunday was windy, but we had a wonderful time!

We talked with lots of people about watercolor painting, upcoming classes and I worked on two paintings during the show.

Here you can see the Coconuts painting I was working on during the show on Saturday and early Sunday morning.

Below are just a few guests looking at the artwork I had on display in the booth.

New classes are starting up in February, and I have a Beginner's Watercolor Workshop on Saturday January 30th. Please visit my website for more details and registration options.

Watercolor Works by Debbie Johnson - Website

Painting Pets with My Students

December was a fun time in my Level Two watercolor class! Everyone wanted to paint their pets, so we embarked (no pun intented!!!) on a little adventure to paint pets. Each student owns a different breed, so we worked on the many ways to create smooth, curly and fluffy fur.

This piece is one I did of Daisy and Jill, as a demonstration piece for the class. I hope I captured their personalities!

I have some new watercolor classes starting up in February and I will also be doing a Thursday morning drawing class. If you are in the Melbourne, Florida area and are interested, please visit my website for more details.

http://watercolorworksart.com/Classes

Susanna Spann and Antique Glass Exhibition

The Art and Antique Studio and Gallery is featuring "Treasured Memories", the work of award winning artist Susanna Spann along with a gorgeous selection of antique glass from their antique specialist, Debbie McElwain. The opening reception is Friday, January 8, 2010, from 5:30 to 8:30 at the gallery which is located at 1419 Highland Ave., in the Eau Gallie Arts District (EGAD) in Melbourne, Florida.

As a member of this cooperative gallery, I can tell you I have seen the show this week and it is wonderful. The show will be up through the month of January. Don't miss it!

You will also see gallery members work displayed and several consignment artists who produce pottery, jewelry, hand-carved gourds, art quilts and more.

You can find us on Facebook and become a Fan.

Cactus Flower Lesson 14

Ta-da! The final piece. I used another glaze of Prussian on the shadow at lower left just to help make the warm flower pop.

You can paint along with this lesson! Many of my students like to print the daily lessons, then go to my etsy shop and click on the Online Lesson icon to order the photo references and drawing ($5), which come in an email and can be printed from your computer.

If you enjoyed this lesson, please let me know. I will try to post another lesson soon.

If you are interested in purchasing this piece, please email me at: debbie@watercolorworksart.com

Cactus Flower Lesson 13

Almost done with this painting.

I have worked glazes around the painting in blues (French Ultramarine Blue and Prussian Blue) and some glazes with Burnt Sienna, others with Hooker's Green and Sap Green. Whenever I add a glaze I tend not to cover the entire area. Instead I cover part of the area then soften the edge with water so that each glaze adds a unique depth to the painting. I added some New Gamboge to the top left green area to lighten it, warm it up and bring it forward more from the shadows.

I have used a Fritch Scrubber brush to gently soften some edges that are not in the focal point area and on the shadow edges of the leaves. To further develop the cactus flower heads I used Perylene Maroon in the deepest shadow areas under the flower heads. I think this piece is really taking shape!