Dreama Tolle Perry Workshop...

I had the pleasure of taking a 5-day workshop with awesome artist Dreama Tolle Perry in mid-June. The preceding 6 weeks had been very stressful for me, with the loss of my brother on May 6 and lots of travel.  I typically get fairly stressed during workshops by trying to absorb all that I can and by trying to produce "keepers" while simultaneously trying new styles and colors and methods.  If the traumas of the last 6 months have taught me nothing else, it is that we need to enjoy every moment and not worry about things that are just not important in the grand scheme of things.

 

Therefore I entered into this workshop experience with a new set of goals....to place less pressure on myself to "produce", to enjoy it more, and to appreciate being an artist and getting to hang out with other artists for 5 days.  I didn't set out to learn to paint like Dreama, she paints like her, I need to paint like me.  But my main goal was to learn how she achieves her gorgeous colors.  I feel like I achieved these goals.  I am still working on adapting her style and palette into my own version, but I REALLY enjoyed this workshop and got a LOT out of it.

 

This is an 8x8 "musical" painting.  We set up the canvas and we rotated from easel to easel and painted a bit on each other's painting as we went.  I knew Dreama did this at her workshops and I could not fathom what we could learn from such a haphazard process.  Boy was I wrong!  It was very evident from the start that I would need to assess the painting quickly and do what I could to get the most bang for the buck.... focus on what needed attention the most.  It also made me let go of any control or any plans I had for a definite outcome.  I approached each time at each easel with an immediacy that I need to direct to my own work at home.  Dreama advocates taking lots of breaks (which I am all for lol).  So when I come back to my work I can achieve a fresher look by thinking what needs fixing the most.  Do it and move on.  I reworked and adjusted the musical painting enough that I feel like it is my own now and I feel like valuable lessons were learned along the way.  Who knew?

 

 

 

Boats....oil painting

Fishing boats...something so restful about boats parked at a dock. You can hear the birds and smell that fishy smell.

Hail State....Mississippi State Tailgating oil painting...

A certain school in Mississippi gets a lot of attention for its outstanding tailgating, but MSU does a might fine job as well.  Hail State!

And I don't want to let the day go by without mentioning that this is my middle son's birthday!  Happy birthday D-man.  Thanks for all you do to help me with my art business.  I'm proud of you sweetie!

Wine, wine and more wine....oil paintings

These are more of the wine paintings that I did this spring.  I did a lot.... one, because I am in five shows or festivals and they always sell, and two, because I am a wino.

Fruits and Vegetable Oil Paintings...

My first mandarin orange painting was on a turquoise-y background and I loved it.  I wanted to try it on a more neutral background and I like this one, too.

Olives...on a toothpick....does that make you think of a martini.  Me too.  and I don't even drink them.

These are my first attempt at cherry tomatoes.  Such cute little orbs, if they weren't so red you could mistake them for cherries themselves, which is why they got their name, now that I think about it. lol

Kitchen Art....still lifes with tabasco, tmoatoes, etc.

SOLD

I recently sold the top painting to a sweet young couple in Shreveport.  Their mother is a client and now they are too.

I set up the still life of the next one and painted it from real life.  I absolutely love it.  The olive oil is one that we got on our trip to Italy.  This is another one that has to be seen in person to be appreciated. 

I never get tired of painting Tabasco.  I love all the different colors of red that go together to make it come alive.

This is a stack of cups that I actually (I asked permission first) stacked myself at a cute little coffee shop in Tupelo.  I took several shots of different compositions so expect to see more eventually.

Oil paintings....creatures and critters...Heron, Redfish, Crabs, Shrimp

SOLD

SOLD

These are some of the creature paintings I have done this spring.  The heron was a daily visitor during our vacation on Dauphin Island last summer.  He was quite a friendly fellow and posed on numerous occasions. 
The redfish was caught by us on our deep sea fishing trip during the same vacation.  He is sort of a combination of the real thing and my own vision of him. 
The crabs are known as "The Crabby Couple II"....the original crabby couple live in Shreveport and they really aren't so crabby.
The shrimp is part of an ongoing series of square paintings of shrimp, crabs, oysters and crawfish.  Cousins of this guy are scattered around all over the southeast.

Wine me dine me.....wine oil paintings

NFS

I previously did a smaller "study" version of the wine bottle with oranges.  I really liked it so I did a larger version and love it as well.

But the second painting, the one marked "Not for Sale" has been added to my private collection.  I decided I cannot part with it for now.  My husband and I just love the way my artist friend Martin Welch has his home decorated.  He has lots of his own art as well as that of others featured throughout his home, high and low, covering most all available space and it is stunning!  My husband suggested that I start collecting a little more of my own art along the way.  This is going to be one of three anchor pieces on my dining room "wine wall".  You should see it in person....it is just so happy.

Musical Instruments...clarinet, sax, and bass...

 

The gallery that features my work on Royal St. in New Orleans suggested that I do some "musical" pieces in anticipation of Jazz Fest which draws a huge crowd of music lovers from all over the world.

I will have to say it is the first, but not the last time I have done a bass and a clarinet. 

Floral,...Oil paintings....

SOLD

These are florals that I have done for the spring.  I used to have some bittersweet branches in my room when I was a teenager and I love the way the berries look on the bare branches.  I also am in love with the black and white check motif....it never gets old.  The close-ups are of photos of flowers taken by me and my daughter-in-law on each of our separate trips to Hawaii.