Wine and Books

 On Friday I painted and and framed 3 watercolors I studied from a lovely book on how to paint watercolors (the first photo). My intention was to sell my studies only at the Coffee Society giving credit to the author. However, my critiquing gallery here at home thought I'd do better if I drew and painted my own. I think they were right (what do you think)?  So I took the paintings out of the frames and painted the first one again today. I'm calling it, Wine and Books.  Now I can make cards and prints from it too. Even though my originals from the book were ok, they didn't have much of me in them. But as you can see, this first one has my tablecloth and chair in it and even my first "signed book"! Tomorrow I'll paint the other two. Happy 4th of July everyone!

Vineyard in the Tuscan Hills

Introducing my latest watercolor painting: Vineyard in the Tuscan Hills. These days I look forward to painting vineyards. I really hope I can visit Tuscany (and Provence) one day. If painting a place from there makes my heart soar, just think what going there will be like! I can't wait!

Birthday Party Painting Time!

Getting artsy with the walls. I had help rehanging my paintings all over my walls (instead of storing them in the garage) after our open studios. They may not make it out to the marketplace after this! Then Bethany and I drew and painted a vine around them to settle them in!

 Grandpa and Evelyn at Grandpa's Birthday.

 What a fun Double Birthday Party we had for Rich and Jonathan. We left the paintings out for anyone who wanted to be creative on the day. 
Jonathan celebrated his birthday with Evelyn and Beth. What a great time to remember.

My Website Using Weebly

I now have a new website with Weebly.com! Same web address, different web provider. I recommend it for ease of use and a great price. I can now sell my art and gifts on my website so I'll be adding them as soon as I can. Visit it at my web address: http://www.celioarts.com/. See you over there soon! CC

Ukrainian egg decorating

Ukranian Egg Decoration Festival

Last Sunday a group of us painted Ukranian Egg Decorations. What fun it was to paint with four of my favorite ladies (my three daughters and my wonderful sister in law). This was the first time for Bethany, Aletheia, Katherine and me so Corinne did an excellent demonstration for us with the kistkas, dyes, pattern books, candles and bees wax. My thanks to Dave for taking the great pictures. I found a series of good you tube demos of the process and included them on my next post. You may just find a brand new art form you'll love!

Wiki Gallery and the Pacific International Quilt Festival XIX

Just got a neat request the other day to link to Wiki Gallery (http://www.wikigallery.org) and one of their sponsors , 1st Art Gallery (http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Camille-Pissarro/Camille-Pissarro-oil-paintings.html)
Take a look at both for some great art and art history!

Bethany and I saw more great art at the 2010 Pacific International Quilt Festival XIX. A quilt competition held in Santa Clara, CA. last year. Her Graphic Design class took a field trip and I got to drive the 5 students and her teacher. They all designed the T-Shirts they're wearing! Mrs Sweet, their talented teacher, is the creator of the quilt with the people in the car.

Swans and Tulips

Swans and Tulips... need I say more? Glory to God for making such wonderful creations!

Windmills and Tulips

This month I had a request from a store, asking if I had any Spring flower prints on canvas they could sell on consignment. I thought I could paint for them and for the gallery at the same time and thus: Spring flowers, tulips, windmills, swans... this was my train of thought for what I decided to hang in the gallery this March. I finished two of the paintings but not the third so I guess I'll hang the swans in the gallery next month. I have a show in Santa Cruz tomorrow that I have to pack for, but I really want to get back to painting the swans (finished 6 but 9 more to go...) And by the way, the store decided they didn't want the Spring flowers after all, but now I have three paintings I'm glad to have brought into the world because of their request.

Stage Panels for 42nd Street School Musical

Wednesday and Thursday of this week I painted for hours and almost finished the panels for the school musical, 42nd street. I put "sparkle dust" on the dancers' dress and shirt (and onto the wall sconces) by shaking some onto the palm of my hand and blowing it onto the wet paint. Most of it went into the air and onto the ground (you can see some on the floor under the lady dancer) but the part that stuck looks real snazzy.

Painting projects day

Look at the colorful environment I get to paint in at Michaels. I had a prepared lesson plan for the demo, but see the silk tulips on the table next to me? I ditched the lesson plan and painted the tulips instead! The painting needs more work, but thought you'd like to see it.

Here's the update I promised you. While I demonstrated at Michaels, two parents at the high school painted the bars of the gates today. Thank you!!

Set for 42nd street

I'm helping out with the high school musical my daughter is in by painting some of the background sets. Each of these four panels is 8'x4'. Another mom and I traced the collage onto transparencies and then projected them onto the black cardboard panels. Then we traced again onto the panels with chalk. Today some of the parents will start painting in the gates while I'll be at Michaels doing another painting demonstration. I'll take pictures as we go. It's fun to work on a large scale.

Butterfly in the Springtime

I can't wait for springtime so I'm hurrying it along by painting butterflies again! I've also been busy teaching a watercolor class to five ladies, doing acrylic demonstrations at Michaels, and painting a background set for my daughter's high school musical. More to come on these projects... stay tuned.

Vineyard in Napa Valley

Ah, vineyards. I love the orderliness of their clean, straight lines that stretch on till you can't see them any more. I love how the vines change color with each of the seasons. I appreciate all the planning and hard work it takes to produce those grapes and the delicious things that come from them. When I was painting this I was also reminded that Jesus said He is the Vine and we are the Branches and if we abide in Him, we'll bear much fruit. So as I reflected on this truth I remembered that no matter what happens in my life (good or bad in my eyes) it's all going to help to produce good fruit when and since I abide in Him.
Here I've painted a large, 24x36 acrylic painting of a vineyard in Napa Valley in the fall. I got my inspiration from a photo of the Castello di Amorosa Vineyard taken by Rick Klau. The original painting is now hanging in Gallery Saratoga for the month of January. If you live in the area come on by to see it!