Random Thoughts

Lake Placid Show

2012-01-25T07:34:00.006-05:00

This Saturday is the Annual Lake Placid Art League show, held in Sebring, Florida. This is one of my favorite shows because I sign up early and get an indoor spot. No setting up a tent!

I have been slowly working at getting new frames all year. It is fun having so many pieces to choose from now, and to be able to put together a very impressive presentation! The Judge last year let me know after the awards were given that the only hesitation he had in giving me the highest award (Best of Show) was because so many of my paintings were on Gallery Wrap and some of my framed pieces were in need of better frames. Gallery Wrap canvas has a deep edge, and the painting continues on the sides. This gives the art a contemporary look, which I love! But this year I have gone back to a more traditional look, with less paintings done on Gallery Wrap.

It is wonderful to be at a show in the midst of all the festivities, and have so many people to talk to about the meaning behind the paintings. Winning awards and selling paintings are very motivating as well!

It is just all the preparation, expense, set up, and brake down that make me hesitate in joining these shows.

Each time you do a show you put your art at risk. Frames get banged up and scratched from loading and unloading. Rainy days are no fun at all, but windy is worse. I have seen gusts of wind come out of no where and take tents down and destroy the art work. On top of all that, I have had art stolen at two different outdoor festivals. Quite discouraging.

I have also had some back problems off and on over the years. I am always by myself setting up and taking down a show, which I have gotten much better at managing by asking for help with the heavy stuff.

You can see why I am more selective these days: Indoor shows, gallery shows and on-line events are all great ways for me to still get involved without so much trouble.

Anyway, I have been getting ready for this show all year, and I am sure it will be well worth it to meet new people and see old friends.

positive feed back, up-dated

2012-01-15T21:06:00.005-05:00

Fawn,
The painting is absolutely wonderful and as I imagined it to be! You are a brilliant artist Fawn and have become a beautiful blessing in my life. Thank you again for everything.
God Bless,

Jen
New York　

Dear Fawn,
"Sun Dance" just arrived in perfect condition. It's beautiful!
I love it and I know Locke will, as well.
Thanks!

Chris
California

Fawn,
I received the painting ("Hershey") this morning, was so happy to get it. It is BEAUTIFUL!

Patricia
Louisiana

Dear Fawn,
I'm writing to let you know that "Endless Song Too" arrived today and in great condition. I'm very pleased and it's everything you said it would be like. I'm very excited about this next painting too.
Take care,
Mike
South Carolina

Fawn, I got the painting and it is beautiful! Thank you so much.
Rob Allen

Thanks so much for the beautiful painting!!!!! It arrived last Saturday safely and without problems.
Rhonda

Hi, Fawn:
I just want to let you know that your paintings arrived in perfect condition and that I'm delighted with them, as usual!
Thank you so much!
Barbara

Hi Fawn!
We had a beautiful Christmas and trust you did too. I had the lavender paintings framed with double matting, dark purple closest to the paintings, and light lavender for the dominant mat, with a bold rich rounded cherry/mohogany frame. I had them framed together as a themed piece. It sits against our Dove Gray walls beautifully. My hubby was surprised and thrilled and that makes me very happy. Happiest of New Years to you and your family. May The Lord continue to have mercy on us all.......
God bless you,
Ceci

Hi Fawn!
Just a note to let you know the painting arrived today and it is absulutely stunning!!! The colors are fabulous! We will treasure this painting forever! Take care, keep in touch, have a wonderful holiday season!!
Pollie

Hi Fawn,
I received the painting a few days ago and had it framed already. It is BEAUTIFUL and I am so excited to give it to my husband. In fact, it has become difficult not to give it to him early. The oranges look so natural in the painting, like they were always there.
Thank you again for doing the touch-ups and for shipping so very quickly. I will definitely keep your work in mind for future gifts and pieces for our home!
Avian

Hi Fawn,
I got the painting today and it is just as lovely as I knew it would be. You really do potential buyers a favor by offering nice high-resolution images of thepaintings on your site! I will definitely keep an eyeon your site. Thanks for sending the painting so quickly, and have a great summer down there in Florida!
Katherine

Happy New Year!

2012-01-10T09:43:00.006-05:00

Was a tough year last year for most everyone. I was not exempt. I find myself excited about a new year; a fresh start. Like most people, I have been re-evaluating what goals and plans of action I will take for a better outcome.

I am actually slowing down, enjoying things more, and finding ways to make my life less stressful. In the process I am doing things smarter, and becoming more focused.

After more than 5 years, I am no longer with DailyPainters.com, which was a very hard thing to let go of. It was no longer a priority to create a new painting 3 or 4 times a week, and the quality of my work was beginning to suffer. I am moving more toward realism again, which takes too long to finish when adding the extra details.

I am excited, however, about my new gallery site:
http://fawn-mcneill.artistwebsites.com/
I can post as much or as little as I want, and it links to my prints and greeting cards, which makes everything easier for my clients.

I am teaching more classes too, and enjoying this time with my students. Currently I am offering after school classes, adult classes, and even some private lessons. So you can see why it is harder for me to work on my own paintings in my studio.

I pray all our endeavors are blessed from above, and we have a much better year this year!

last year vs this year

2011-09-10T07:09:00.001-04:00

A year ago I was unmotivated, easily depressed, giving up on most things, frustrated with life and most people.....

This year I am making new goals, excited about upcoming shows and events, and staying very busy!

Amazing how things can change when I get off my butt and do the hard work to generate some positive energy and be more disciplined!

Just had to share that. LOL

motivated

2011-07-13T20:07:00.003-04:00

The creative block has definately passed! Thank God for that! I have so many projects, new goals, and most of all: I have finally published my first book! I have tried to write my life's story again and again, but never seem to be able to finish it.... So this book is about the angel paintings, and some of my story is included. See the side bar for the link.

I don't remember ever being so excited about anything. I have even started planning the next book!

Hope you will check it out!

Check out the interview I had with EBSQ Art!

2011-05-06T18:45:00.000-04:00

http://blog.ebsqart.com/2011/05/03/ebsq-blogger-of-the-week-fawn-mcneill/

inspiration

2011-04-14T22:00:00.005-04:00

I have been uninspired for the most part for a very long time. So I am taking inventory, trying to find things that will get me out of this creative block.

A few new foals were born next door to my house, and that kind of sparked some desire to get back into painting. I got some fantastic photos of one of little colt taking his first run around the paddock! perfect lighting, dust flying, and so much energy.....Wish I could have just a fraction of that little fire ball's energy!

Then I did a paintout, plein air paintings out on location, So many cool birds and interesting sights....I just loved it. I think I am back now, have gotten up early to paint, and wanted to work on some older projects too. I hope this dry spell is over now, it has been a few months of struggling to find myself again!

I go tomorrow to bid on some murals, and I have a couple of sales pending, plus I opened a new show in town, so things are looking up that is for sure!

I think the slow economy has gotten to everyone these days, and I finally let it get me down too. That and the fact that my son is in Afghanistan getting bombed while he works on the jets for the US Airforce. That has been very depressing as he and his wife just had their first baby.

So I must take it one day at a time, look for the good and try to get lost in my art again.

motivation

2011-01-19T09:57:00.003-05:00

So hard to find inspiration lately. we have had several hard freezes already this winter, and it is just January! This is the second year in a row that we have had very cold weather in November and December. I live in South-Central Florida, about 2 hours south of Orlando.

We usually get a hard freeze or two in Jan. or Feb., and then that is about it, if we get any freezing weather at all. This winter has been cold, staying in the forties and fifties most mornings, and some mornings in the thirties and even the upper twenties......Needless to say, everything is dead around here!

Not too big of a deal, I know, but for me, as an artist, it has been very hard to get back to painting. I haven't been out in the field much, I haven't been taking nature walks, I haven't even wanted to sneak out of bed early like usual, to get a jump on the day with painting a new idea, or finishing up the details on one I have resolved.....

Not sure what happened to my passion for it all, but I am trying to find things to get me motivated again. A trip to the gallery in town, ordering some new supplies, attending some charity functions and donating to the cause.....

Please let me know if you have some suggestions!

Copyrights and originals

2010-03-21T20:11:00.005-04:00

When you create something, (like a song, a story, a photograph, or a painting), it is copyrighted by law. People cannot legally use your creation without your permission. But of course many people break this law.

Artists often think they can paint from published images if they just change the colors or move things around. And for the most part they can get away with this. But if you are truly an artist why would you want to?

For me the creating of art includes my own experiences. Taking my sketchbook and paints out in the field, studying from nature, and taking lots of pictures of the wildlife and animals I come across are at the very heart of my paintings. They become expressions of things I have seen for myself, and memories that I want to capture in my paintings.

This makes my paintings more valuable and each one has a story to go with it. I can share these stories with those who are interested, and I can take pride in my work, knowing I did not copy things from someone else. This makes my work truly unique and original.

Students learn from other's images, and that is acceptable, but when you start selling your work you are no longer considered an amateur artist, and this becomes completely unacceptable. Go the extra mile, take your own pictures, study the anatomy of your subjects, practice drawing to gain better skills, create your own ideas! Then find a way to let your clients know what went into the making of your art! This makes your work much more valuable.

Good to be so busy

2010-03-12T06:38:00.003-05:00

Started teaching more art classes last fall, and haven't slowed down! Now I start a new part time job at an art gallery, framing, painting, teaching.....just love it.

I am working on more serious paintings too, which are larger and take longer than my little daily paintings, but I have a publisher, and he wants me to do more wildlife.....

So many around me are struggling, and I am so very blessed.

My husband, Robert, has overcome so many health issues, and now has a shunt in his head, which has given him back his Independence. He drives again, goes fishing some times, and can take care of himself again. So that has given me back my life too....

I am so grateful!!!!!!!!!

Daily Paintings

2009-09-18T08:11:00.003-04:00

I am struggling with my daily routine. I have always gotten up early to steal a few hours for myself. Even as a teenager. I love my prayer time, then exercise or take a walk, then do a painting........ But lately I choose to sleep! It is a good relaxed, stress free sleep too. Never have enjoyed it before. I tell myself "I am just a peace," and "it is good to rest," but I wonder if it isn't just laziness too.

So I am trying to only sleep in for an hour or so, and still get up at least an hour early, but that hasn't been working, I just don't want to get up! Then I never get the chance to have my quite time and I get grumpy through the day.

I think what I miss the most is my Daily Paintings. They are suffering! I am not doing the quality or amount of work I did so regularly. But I am doing commissions, which I love! If I post my work consistently at DailyPainters.com, I gain such a great following, and when I don't post often, then I lose many of those who had been following my progress.

I love all the new features at DP too. (http://www.dailypainters.com) You can change the preferences to a mosaic layout, which enlarges many of the smaller paintings. You can also change the background to black or white.

So I have to get myself back into shape and see where it takes me. No promises, but I do think I am more aware of it all, so some changes are certainly on the way!

Commissions

2009-07-24T16:01:00.005-04:00

Not too long ago, I was struggling with the economy, like everybody. Art sales were slow, and art classes not filling up. I was thinking about going back to work at the public schools, at least subbing until a teaching position opened up.....

But Robert doesn't want me too go back to work, and I really feel like I am suppose to stick with selling my paintings on-line. So I prayed and asked the Lord to send the right people my way, to bless my paintings and help me learn to market and sell things better.

As I prayed I felt like God was asking me to not sell certain paintings. (Like my little angel paintings.) Then, when I started to put a few paintings on ebay at lower prices, I felt it strongly in my spirit that that was not the way to go. So I prayed again and asked God to help me understand, because it made no sense to me. It seemed like His leading was not a very good strategy at all!

"Lord Jesus, I really need to make some money if I am going to be able to pay my bills and order art supplies!" was my cry, but who am I to question the Almighty? So I was obedient to how I felt He was leading me. On some of my paintings I wrote "contact me for availability" instead of the normal price with a "Buy Now" button.

The very next day, after changing some of my sales to 'Not for sale', or 'contact me for availability' I had an inquiry about an angel painting. Normally I would have sold a small one for a hundred dollars, and that would have been the end of it. But once again I felt like God said "that painting is for me, I don't want you to sell it!" I was thrilled that my Father in heaven likes my paintings, and I was beginning to understand that they have great value to Him. I responded to my new client in a way that I never had before. I simply told him that I would love to paint a similar painting for him in a different size!

This lead to several new commissioned paintings. Now I get new inquiries almost every day! I have never been this busy! I love being able to stay home and work in my studio, and I love my job! What a great blessing!

I am working on 3 to 4 paintings at a time, working on one while another one dries. I also have some large works that have been ordered. I just keep thinking that I could have missed the whole thing! I would be selling a few small ones for very little, in hopes of getting people to see the more expensive pieces -- paying more fees to try to make a few sales...... I also would have sold the little angel painting, and that would have been the end of it.

I am so thankful, and so amazed at Father God's grace and goodness. Who am I that He would hear my prayers? Even in our selfishness and complaining, He still loves us and helps us!

Positive feedback from satisfied customers

2009-06-17T22:39:00.007-04:00

Dear Fawn,
I'm writing to let you know that "Endless Song Too" arrived today and in great condition. I'm very pleased and it's everything you said it would be like.
I'm very excited about this next painting too.
Take care,
Mike

Fawn,
I got the painting and it is beautiful! Thank you so much.
Rob Allen

Thanks so much for the beautiful painting!!!!! It arrived last Saturday safely and without problems.
Rhonda

Hi, Fawn:
I just want to let you know that your paintings arrived in perfect condition and that I'm delighted with them, as usual!

Thank you so much!
Barbara

Hi Fawn!
We had a beautiful Christmas and trust you did too. I had the lavender paintings framed with double matting, dark purple closest to the paintings, and light lavender for the dominant mat, with a bold rich rounded cherry/mohogany frame. I had them framed together as a themed piece. It sits against our Dove Gray walls beautifully. My hubby was surprised and thrilled and that makes me very happy.
Happiest of New Years to you and your family. May The Lord continue to have mercy on us all.......God bless you,
Ceci

Hi Fawn!
Just a note to let you know the painting arrived today and it is absulutely stunning!!! The colors are fabulous! We will treasure this painting forever!
Take care, keep in touch, have a wonderful holiday season!!
Pollie

Hi Fawn,
I received the painting a few days ago and had it framed already. It is BEAUTIFUL and I am so excited to give it to my husband. In fact, it has become difficult not to give it to him early. The oranges look so natural in the painting, like they were always there.
Thank you again for doing the touch-ups and for shipping so very quickly. I will definitely keep your work in mind for future gifts and pieces for our home!
Avian

Hi Fawn,
I got the painting today and it is just as lovely as I knew it would be. You really do potential buyers a favor by offering nice high-resolution images of thepaintings on your site!
I will definitely keep an eyeon your site. Thanks for sending the painting so quickly, and have a great summer down there in Florida!
--Katherine

Grace happens too

2009-05-04T22:43:00.005-04:00

So my sister has been upset with me, my car is not running, and my days are filled with painting porches and signs instead of my daily paintings to post for sale.......

I got kind of down for a few days, and then my kids kind of disappointed me. So I am planning nothing for mothers day, and I guess I was feeling unloved. Robert let it get to him too, my downward swing. I felt bad about that because he has been doing so well now.

So today I began to thank my Father God for all the good things and started feeling better. Then I asked Him to help us get through this rough financial time, to have the money to fix the car, and finish some of the major projects around the house. This evening I got over $500.00 in the mail, for art related endeavors, and will be able to get my car up and going again!

I took the time to finish a couple of paintings too, and now I am looking forward to what good things are on the way next!

Life is good

2009-02-17T21:23:00.004-05:00

Nothing like walking through death valley for months to make you see how wonderful things really are. Every little thing is a big thing now. A smile, a walk for only half the distance you thought you could go, but we got out and walked! Or a message on your phone from a voice of someone you love. The voice of someone who couldn't even use the phone.

Robert is full of wonder and everything is something to talk about. He says, "what has gotten into me? I just keep rambling on. I say, "please keep rambling!" After months of silence, now I hear every word and understand the deeper meaning behind it all. He is just so expressive now! Everything is beautiful to him, everything is funny, everything is appreciated so deeply. He feels so intensely, hurt as well as pleasure. Hot and cold too. Used to, he was not affected by very much.

It all amazes me. Like reliving when we first met, and the world was such a happy place. I know, it will get old and it will fade, most likely, but I am enjoying every minute of this part of our recovery!!!!!

We have had a cold, a cough all night kind of cold. We have never been sick at the same time before, and we have never had a cold that we didn't just shake off. This cold is really tough to get rid of. More than a week now, and Robert holds his head and hollers when he coughs. He says it feels like he is blowing the top of his head off! I can't imagine how much it must hurt to sneeze or cough with a shunt in your head. My head hurts these days, especially after a coughing spell. I wish I could take it from him.

But in spite of all that he is still in a good frame of mind, still not back to depression and heartache. I pray that is gone for good!

Freezing in Florida!

2009-01-22T09:42:00.003-05:00

Yesterday morning I looked out my kitchen window, and to my surprise there were 4 men in a small boat huddled up with fishing poles in hand on the canal. It was 30 degrees out! I got my binoculars to see what kind of brains it took to go out at sunrise in freezing weather! These guys had on big heavy coats, winter hats, gloves, leg warmers . . . I laughed. I thought " it must be pretty bad at home or these guys have no common sense at all." The fish live out there all day, you do not have to go early in the morning to catch them. We catch them at noon, or late in the afternoon . . . These poor guys, 4 of them, not one or two as you might commonly see, 4 freezing guys hunched over with coffee thermoses and fishing poles (and no room to move around), sat out there in one spot for five hours! Most fishermen keep moving, they go up and down the sides of the canal and keep finding new places to catch fish. I never saw them pull up anything! Every time I looked out the window I just laughed again. You know they went home to tell a miserable tale!

We have had cold spells, once it even got in the lower twenties, ice and all! It was Christmas eve and Christmas day and everyone hoped for snow. The power company had to shut down every hour for 20 minutes or so to keep up with the demand for heat. That was back in 1989!

This past October, yes I said October, we had the first round of frost warnings, and again in November, for most of the month off and on it was in the forties most mornings. Sometimes the thirties. The week before Thanksgiving we had frost and freeze warnings again. It warmed up some for Christmas and New Years, This past week it has been in the forties most mornings. Now it is very cold, upper twenties this morning, thirty degrees yesterday morning and tomorrow it is to be in the upper thirties! For Florida this is just way colder for way longer than usual.

Not complaining, just wondering what happened to the global warming I keep hearing about???!!!!

Painting Violets, step by step

2009-01-10T15:24:00.014-05:00

Prep:
Prime a small piece of hardboard, at least two coats then sand lightly with fine sandpaper. Or use a primed canvas and sand it lightly with fine sand paper to make it smooth. Take pictures at different angles of the flowers you want to paint.

The sun was coming through the window on these violets in my kitchen. It made vibrant colors and strong shadows, so I thought it would make a nice painting. I put the image on my computer, zoomed it in and cropped it to this format.

Draw some rough thumbnails on scrap paper to get compositon ideas. I placed the flowers a little off center for a stronger composition. The photos had the flowers too centered which makes the painting less interesting in most cases.

I am using acrylic paints.

(Click on the images to see a close up)

Step 1: Rough in basic shapes with a medium to large flat brush. Use water to make the paint thin and easy to apply.

Step 2: Decide on a background. The photo was pale orange and white and the leaves did not show up well, so I went with blue. I also strengthened some of the colors in the leaves.

Step 3: Make corrections. I changed one of the leaves in the background and put some base color on the violets. I used redviolet, purple and ultramarine blue with white to get varying shades of colors.

Step 4: Lay in thick paint. I used thick amounts of color, first in the back ground, then on the leaves.

Step 5: Add details. I start using a small brush when I add details, but I am still using thick paint.

My attention here is on the violets. I want them to stand out the most and be the focal point.

Hint: Take a break when you think you're done, look at some other things and come back with a fresh eye. Turn the painting upside down, or look at it in a mirror to see the overall color balance.

Almost finished, but I need to fix the leaves on the right and the one just below the bottom flower. I also want to finish up the flowers with more details. After the corrections are made, I use a very small brush to add a few extra details and sign my name.

I put important information on the back (copyright, full name, date, medium used, etc . . . ) and keep the front with a small signiture using a color that goes with the painting.

Here is the finished painting:

"Violets"

6 x 6 inches

Acrylic on hardboard

By Fawn McNeill Barr

For more instruction about painting, go to http://www.artexample.com/

Happy painting!

Doctor's report

2009-01-10T13:51:00.010-05:00

Robert had a good series of scans, the shunt is working and the headaches are easing off. The Doctor told him he could wait until he is fully recovered to begin any radiation therapy or radio surgery. The tumor in his inner ear is very small and non-cancerous, and is growing very slowly.
In the meantime he is trying to get his strength back and keep food down. He has lost more than 13 pounds the last three weeks, because the headaches make him nauseous.

The shunt was put in November 21st, 2008. It has a valve that regulates the pressure in his brain. If the ventricles in the brain swell to much the valve opens and the excess fluids drain through a small tube that runs under the skin from the top of his head down into his abdomen, where his body absorbs the fluid. The valve makes a bulge under his skin on his head, and the tube runs through a small hole they drilled in his skull and through his brain into the ventricles.

It is all very amazing to me!

The ventricles usually drain fluids away through small channels in the back of the head. The tumor in his inner ear is close to this area and next to the brain. It can cause swelling that shuts of the normal draining process. This causes the ventricles to fill with excess fluids and the brain swells too. It shuts down the nervous system.

In the week before the surgery, Robert lost the use of his legs, his bodily functions, and his ability to communicate. I thought the brain damage would be permanent, and I am so glad I was wrong! He is making a full recovery! He does have tremors in his hands, which started about a year ago, but were very mild. now they are much more prevalent. No one seems to know why.

Some headaches are expected from the shunt surgery, (after all they drilled a hole in his head!) but these usually don't last so long and get better not worse. The other factor is that when they do surgery they tip your head way back and put a tube down your throat. Robert has an old injury to his neck that is really hurting now, and the headaches run up from the back of his head to the shunt area, then spread out.

The Doctor said they will probably come and go, but they should get better now, And his chiropractor has been helping with the neck injury.

On top of all this Robert has had shingles since September! I have never seen a more miserable thing happen to a person. After the blisters go away the nerves inside his body get easily agitated and he said he feels like someone has hooked him up to an electrical current. If I hit a bump in the car and don't slow way down, he grabs his chest and moans.

So I keep asking God, how much can one person bear? Why does he have to suffer so much? Well, my mother sent this book to me, called "The Shack," and there it is!!!! The answers to so many questions. It opened up my mind to new ideas and new understandings. I thought maybe Robert was so hard headed and so stubborn, that God had to let all these things happen to teach him a lesson. I am sure he will be forever changed and learn many things from all this, but my understanding now is that our own choices, our own independence that we value and declare to God so often (that we can do things on our own) can cause us to reap the painful consequences.

I have truly been challenged to the very core of my faith. I am selfish and demanding, and very impatient. I am so wrong to think that God wants us to suffer. Father God is faithful in spite of it all. He may answer "No" sometimes, and even worse, "wait." Yet so many times he does answer "yes" too!!!!

Robert update

2008-12-29T20:32:00.004-05:00

My husband, Robert, did very well the first two weeks after his major surgery. He was doing physical therapy, and regaining his balance and his strength. then he began to get severe headaches, the 'sick at your stomach' kind.

He has battled them for two weeks now, and we went back to Shands Hospital for more tests. The shunt is doing it's job and is not the cause of the headaches. They are coming from the back if his head and his neck. His docter said an adjustment would not hurt anything and would be worth a try.

He has been given pain medication, which in turn just makes him sick at his stomach . . .
So he has lost over ten pounds, and is still having terrible pain.

Today we saw a chiropractor, who is into holistic medicine. I think we can see light at the end of the tunnel! Robert ate almost half of his dinner, and later had a little pie. He kept it down, and only took half of his pain medicne . . .

Maybe we can get to the root of the problem, instead of just treating the symptoms.

Happy New Year!!!!

Thanksgiving for surgery

2008-11-27T14:03:00.006-05:00

So very much to be thankful for:
No more wheel chair for Robert-- he is using a walker now.
He no longer sits in silence, he reads the paper and talks on the phone.
His hands no longer shake and he can do most things for himself again.
He tells jokes and laughs at those that are told to him.

What a miracle!

Turned out that the bigger problem was excess fluid putting pressure on his brain, so much so that he lost mobility and dexterity, not to mention speech and normal thought processes. The last week before the neurosurgeon put the shunt in his head to drain the excess fluids, I thought I had lost him forever. Last Friday was the surgery, and we came home Tues. just two days ago.

Today is Thanksgiving day, and I have not been so grateful for anything in my whole life as I have for this. To watch someone so strong become so helpless, and to watch them fade away and become so vacant . . .there are no words to describe the agony and helplessness I felt.

And now to watch him come back to life, back to his personality, back to finding hope to go on . . . Wow. God is good, and I thank him over and over for using the doctors to save my husband.

Now we have to see what can be done about this little tumor in his ear . . . I am sure only more good things are on the way.

radiation?

2008-10-24T20:09:00.004-04:00

So we saw the surgeon about an acoustic neuroma that Robert has in his inner ear, it is pressing on his brain and we must do something.

The surgeon does not want to take it out, Robert is diabetic, and has just gotten over pneumonia.
He is referring us to a Neurosurgeon that does Gamma knife surgery. (please excuse my spelling! so many new words, and I have a hard enough time with everyday words!) Anyway, it is not like regular radiation, very precise rays converge at the tumor to kill it.

Risks are high no matter what we do, so we are getting more tests run and talking to more doctors. Robert has to decide on something, and he doesn't want to do anything. They tell us that is not an option, as blindness and paralysis is next.

I believe God is greater than all this, and no matter what Robert decides to do he will be fine. God can shrink tumors, and He can dissolve them too. Already the neuropathy in Robert's feet is fading away, they said that wasn't possible too! But he is ticklish now in his feet! Just a few weeks ago the doctors ran tests and he had no feeling on the bottom of his feet! I believe it is the first of many things God will do. He is letting me know he hears our prayers and He cares. Can't tell you how much hope it gives me!

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts!

Robert

2008-10-04T20:40:00.005-04:00

Life is so up and down these days. I have to keep living. Everything says that nothing matters anymore. Some days my husband, Robert, gives up the fight and just wants to go on to heaven.

He has been diagnosed with a small tumor in his inner ear, pressing on the brain. It is not cancerous, Thank God, but his balance is off these days, hard for him to walk straight now. Next month we see a surgeon to find out if they will be able to remove it.

The headaches are worse, and he sleeps a lot now, at least in the day. The nights are long, sleep comes in small doses. It is as if time has stopped for us. Schedules do not matter, food doesn't get eaten, even favorite dishes are stared and poked at.

I am selfish. I hang on, I know he is in pain, but I can't let him give up, I can't let go of hope that he will get better. I counter every hopeless suggestion with God's word and truth, I will not let him speak death . . .

Am I wrong? Is death merciful? At least for him I am sure it is. I am too selfish. I cannot go there. I freak out just thinking about it. So I pray for healing, I search for remedies, I sit with him for long empty hours. We wait.

Next month we will see.

I try to live, I try to paint my pictures, I try to smile and say the right things. I try to find reasons to laugh, to get him to laugh. I miss his laugh.

Sometimes I just sit and stare at my canvas, I can't think straight, I can't focus. I know it is there for me. Painting has always been my way to cope, my escape. But for now I have to force myself to create something, anything. I just don't see that anything matters anymore. I know better, but some days I can't get there.

The Sabbath

2008-09-24T16:10:00.010-04:00

The Sabbath means a day of rest. Saturday or Sunday for most, but if you take your day off in the middle of week that is good too, as long as you give yourself a day of rest! Our Creator knew we needed that or we would get to run down.

There is another kind of rest too, it is spiritual. The Almighty does not intend for us to try so hard to be perfect, or to keep up with man's rules of religion. These things appear good, but really keep us from really getting close God by keeping us too busy and distracted.

Jesus came to set us free from rules and burdens. We can trust him to lead us, teach us, and work in our lives, and we can pray anywhere -- anytime. He is already pleased with us, we are already accepted, and he made a way for us to be close to The Father. He forgives us and He makes us righteous in God's eyes. Too many religions tell us what we have to do to be accepted by God, they are way off base. Jesus says to believe in Him because we are accepted by God! He does the work in us, through us, and for us. He gives us rest.

I am part of a non-denominational church, so we don't have a bunch of rules. Everyone is welcome to join, no membership. We spend a lot of time praying and singing, we study the Bible, and we help each other through the rough times. It is truly a place of peace and rest! Those who have been hurt by religious people (like me) can find hope again. The Holy Spirit shows up and heals people of sickness and diseases, and God touches the broken hearted. It is amazing to see so many miracles so often!

Isn't that what Jesus commanded his people to do? Heal the sick, preach the good news, and cast out devils? Most religions are not doing that! If they aren't, then maybe they are off base in their teachings!

I have been thinking a lot about peace and rest. It is hard to not stress out these days, hard to trust God when your life is falling apart. I have watched my husband turn away from God's truth, and watched him struggle just to breath. We have been back and forth to the hospital. I know God will touch him and strengthen him, if he will ask. I know Our Father wants good things for us. We don't have to die from disease and illness. He will call our name when it is time to go. So why is it so hard for us to seek God? Why do we turn away so easily? Me included. I am trying to read His Word more, and trying to let go of all the "what if"s. It is a process, we don't change overnight!

I know God's timing is perfect and he will take care of every detail. He has always provided. I think we are here to prove that even in the midst of trouble we will choose to love and serve God. I think it hurt Him deeply when his angels turned away from him, and he wants us to make that choice now, not later. I don't have scripture for that, it is just my thoughts rambling on.

Your comments are welcome!

Click here to see my painting "The Sabbath."

summer's end

2008-09-16T10:05:00.003-04:00

Wow, it has been months since I posted anything here.

We went to Montana to see my family at the end of May, then had a lot of company through the entire summer, on top of teaching summer art camps for kids!

Oh, and I also took on some commission work, and sold quite a few paintings. Which was a good thing!

At the end of summer my husband got very ill (he had pneumonia). We have been at the hospital twice.

So now I am trying to catch my breath and see if I can get back to normal living, whatever that is.

I am seeing a whole new side to my husband: he does not blame God as so many would when life takes a hard turn, and he is almost looking forward to the after life. This is not something he has ever talked about, so it kind of intrigued me when he started asking questions. We are talking about such things much more now, but not in the negative way he used to give up and want to die. (I wouldn't entertain such thoughts.) Now it is more about his appreciation for life and those that care. He is finding healing in his spirit I think, and God's strength in this time of physical weakness.

As you can well imagine, I have not placed too much importance on my art work these days. It is there for me as a release from all this stress, and no longer the stress maker to get a painting done and posted every day. If I don't finish one, well, I just don't mind. Other things are more important right now.

So there is my last few months in a nut shell, and I am so thankful things are getting better around here!

Bell

2008-03-31T20:00:00.004-04:00

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God's child (John 1:12)

I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )

I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17 )

I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)

I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)

I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)

I am the salt & light of the earth ( Matt.5:13-14)

I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)

I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)

I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant ( Phil.3:20)

I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)

I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5:17-21)

I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)

I cannot be separated from the love of God( Rom.8:35-39)

I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)

I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )

I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)

I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)

I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 ). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship(Eph. 2:10 )

I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil 1: 5)

I have been redeemed and forgiven(Col.1:14).I have been adopted as God's child(Eph 1:5)

I belong to God

Do you know

who you are!?

Keep this bell ringing...pass it on

"The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.."

Numbers 6:24-26

Murals

2008-03-22T07:51:00.002-04:00

Quite a huge change from doing small Daily Paintings. Using my whole body, up and down ladders, reaching bending stooping . . . wonderfully sore muscles that say I am really accomplishing a lot!

Kids rooms are great. Horses and bunnies, with flowers and butterflies in a pink room . . . What little girl wouldn't love that?

Now a sunset on a beach with a net for volleyball . . . For a teenage girl. I love the bright bold colors she chose.

Mud holes, hogs, a tractor, and an air plane! The little boy's mural is in the preliminary stage. I even went to the county fair and took pictures of the John Deer tractors! Too much fun.

The girls are painting a mural in their school room. I am helping them get things to go together. But I don't think it will take them long to get it all done.

Sweet Dreams, poem #3

2008-02-10T19:07:00.000-05:00

This poem goes with a painting I did. Cick here to see it.

Sweet Dreams

So many horrors to tell
So many tragic events

My young life is full of terrors day and night

They have lost their power now
Fear no longer grips
His fingers have been severed
By bloody brow and whips

A flower beckons me to its sway
Its fragrance embraces me all night
I walk into the center
Healing sleep wins the fight

By Fawn McNeill Barr

Lost Smile, poem #2

2008-02-04T08:13:00.000-05:00

Lost Smile

i am lowly
i am week

You are lovely
You are strong

i am rotten through and through
There is no hope at all

You tell me I am pure now
You have cleansed my all

I smile when I look to you
I know your words are true

Then i see my own hands again
as i lose sight of You

i cannot find that smile
when i do not look to You

By Fawn McNeill Barr

For That One, Poem #1

2008-02-02T09:59:00.000-05:00

I am not big on poetry, and not great at spelling or grammer, but every now and then a poem gets started in my head and I write it down. So I thought maybe I would start posting some of them here.

Feel free to let me know what you think!

This is the first one I have written in a long time:

#1.

For That One

Riddles and rhymes are not my thing
I have to know
I have to understand.

When sharing the depths of eternal things
I want you to know
I want you to understand.

I struggle with the pen
Yet words must be declared
For that one soul to hear
For that one soul to understand.

My paintings sing without saying a word
They tell of these things I need to share
For that one to know
For that one to understand.

The brush gives me no struggle
It speaks clearly of eternal things
Things my soul knows
Things it understands.

By Fawn McNeill Barr

The good life.

2008-01-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

Life is good. Most days I get up early and paint before the world wakes up. By 8:30 a.m. I have had a wonderful 3 hours to myself and start cooking breakfast. I love breakfast. After spending the past ten years of my life in the fast lane, and grabbing a piece of toast on the way out the door, I have decided that cooking eggs and homemade biscuits is a wonderful thing! My husband loves it too.

I have time to run errands, work on posting paintings, clean house, do the laundry, cook supper, and paint more pictures . . . I have never had time to keep up with things before, and now I feel like I have a life again. The stress is gone, the feeling of accomplishment is great. Simple living, this is the good life.

I Thank God every day!

Color Tips

2007-12-31T16:59:00.001-05:00

Mixing your own colors gives you a greater range of values and a unique variety of personal preference in your work. It is a good idea to play around with your colors and learn how to make new ones. This will give you a sensitivity to color sense. I like to use canvas paper and make charts. I will put three colors near each other and mix them into each other, then add white to the outer edges to see the tints. I label the colors before I go on to new combinations.

If you use three good true primary colors like Cadmium Yellow Light, Napthal crimson, and Thalo Blue you can mix many wonderful colors. But your blue and red to make purple will not be vibrant because Thalo Blue leans a little to the green side on the color wheel. (When red and green are mixed they neutralize each other because they have opposite characteristics. That is why they are called contrasting or complimentary colors.) So you will end up with a dark dull purplish color instead of a vibrant purple. This can be a good thing if it is what you desire.

With the above palette you can get orange, but not as brilliant as if you use Cadmium Red Medium (or Cad Red Light) mixed into your yellow. But even then Cadmium Yellow Light leans to the green side a little. So you can see the need for Cadmium Yellow Medium. This leans more to the red side and makes a stronger more vibrant orange.

It is hard to find perfect primary colors. they always lean to one side or the other on the color wheel. To solve this problem I use a split primary palette.

For my blues I like Ultramarine Blue (a true blue that leans to the red side of the color wheel a little) and Thalo Blue (which leans to the green side).

Reds: Napthal Crimson (leans slightly toward purple) and Cadmium Red Medium (leans toward orange),

Yellows: Cadmium Yellow Light (leans to the green side), and Cadmium Yellow Medium (leans to the orange side).

Buy a color wheel and put it in a plastic sleeve and place your colors on it it to see where they fall. When you are finished you can wipe the sleeve off or throw it away and use a new one next time.

If I want to make a bright green I will use Thalo Blue mixed with yellow. Thalo is powerful and makes amazing greens. On the other side, when Thalo Blue is mixed with Napthal Crimson it makes almost a black color. If I want a violet that is not muddy I will use the Ultramarine Blue and the Napthal Crimson. If I want a mauve I will mix the Ultramarine with the Cadmium Red instead. Of course using whites for tints gives you all kinds of values to choose from.

I don't really need Burnt Umber because I can mix up an orange and add a little Ultramarine Blue and have a nice range of browns. But I love this warm brown and often use it for dulling my greens or mixing with blue and white for a nice gray.

I have also begun to use Dioxazine Purple. It is dark and when White is added to it it is very vibrant. Even more so than I can make with primaries leaning toward purple. Dioxazine Purple is also great for dark shadows, add a little of it to green for deep dark shadows, or add a little orange for warm shadows.

Here is an example of these colors and how they can be used to make new colors:

Ultramarine Blue with burnt umber and white are at the top left. Thalo Blue top middle. Cad yellow light is next to Thalo blue. Ultramarine Blue is just below the Cad Yellow Light.

Napthol Crimson and Thalo Blue make the dark area just above the red on the left bottom. Cad Red Medium and Cad Yellow Medium make the orange on the right. Some of the complements are mixed in the middle with white all around.

(Cadmiums come in hues, which are even more brilliant than the regular cadmiums. I also use them because they are less expensive and less of a risk to the artist and the environment.)

Here are some more ideas for mixing your own colors: Try Alizerine Crimson as one of your reds: Prussian blue is a nice dark blue to try out; Hansa Yellow is a good yellow also; If you don't like mixing your own greens, add permanent green deep to your palette, just be careful not to paint with it straight from the tube too often as it can take over! Mix other colors into it for variations. Black can be beautiful in your paintings, especially if you use it with other colors. use it sparingly until you are confident with it.

Feel free to email me if this is not making sense! smile. I will try to help if I can.

slow down

2007-11-25T08:07:00.000-05:00

Learned a lot about my self yesterday. Went to a plein air workshop in Gainsville, and discovered that I am in need of far more instruction than I thought! The one thing that stands out in my mind the most is that I rush through things to much.

For the last ten years of my life I have gotten used to saying "I don't have enough time." This is because I had teenagers when I went back to college. The homework and the long commute were unbelievable. Then after I got my degree in fine art, I started teaching at the public schools -- while I was taking extra courses to get my state certification. It is exhausting to just think about!

The job at the high school became all consuming, with grading and planning and teacher meetings . . . My husband was sick too, in and out of the hospital.
So I quit my job and started painting and marketing my work full time.

Deep breath here.

So now I am in high gear all the time, and that has become normal for me.

Another deep breath.

Wow. I don't have to paint a hundred miles a minute, and I need to slow down and think things through. I have been planning things out when I work in the studio, but when I am on location I feel like I have to just paint what I see and do it very fast! No wonder I would go home and think, "boy that one sure needs something!" LOL.

Have to rush off, time to cook breakfast! smile.

Busy

2007-11-05T09:17:00.000-05:00

I have been getting up earlier, hoping to have a couple hours uninterupted . . . seems like everything needs to be done all at once. Life just gets too busy!

I Have a photo shoot today, I will be featured in a magazine with one of my paintings! Saturday I have an art show out of town, so I need to get ready for that, and then the following Saturday I have a charity event, and a workshop!

I do love it though, my art is selling and winning a few awards, and this is just the first year I have started back full time at it. God is good all the time, even when I can't see the fruits and rewards. It just encourages me so much when I can!

Acrylic Painting Tips

2007-10-15T14:29:00.001-04:00

Here are some good Acrylic Painting Tips:

1. Don't use retarders at all, as they change the chemical binding of the paint and sometimes never dry properly.

2. If working on location, set up in the shade or use an umbrella, and keep a very small (cosmetic size) mister bottle of water handy. You want a fine mist. Mist your palette regularly so the paints don't dry out. I have used the same palette for two consecutive paintings with out any problem of the paint drying out.

3. Put out a nickel size blob or more, and mix colors on the painting as you go. Premixing can dry out the paint. If you need to premix, add a little water to the mix, and scrape the mixed color into a pile, don't leave it spread out. I use Liquitex heavy body paints as they seem to hold their consistency longer and have true vibrant colors.

4. Rinse your brush often or add a little water to the brush, dabbing it on a rag so as not to flood the paint. Use as large of a brush as possible for the entire painting. My small brushes come out at the very end.

5. While on location, I keep a plastic jar of water half full to rest my brushes in after I have used them, so the paint won't dry on them. Water does not have to be kept clean, the paint settles to the bottom of the jar, so it doesn't hurt to keep using the same water. (I like to bring an extra jar to pour dirty water in at the end, don't pour it out at the site.) I do start a new painting with clean water, however, for pure clean skies. When in the studio, I keep a shallow water container next to a larger one. After cleaning my brushes out in the larger container, I rest my small brushes in the shallow container with a little water in it, so the bristles do not get bent standing on their heads.

6. Work quickly. Don't fuss with detail, save them for last. I lay everything in very thin and wet to get started. Then I can make adjustments easily. I like to work one section at a time. Example: get the whole sky in, then get the middle distance, etc . . . I work small when on location, so it goes very quickly.

7. Try different palettes. I like the styrofoam meat trays, they have a lower edge than the fruit trays and can be easily painted white. Let the white paint dry before using, and you have a nice light weight palette! Use an extra one as a cover. I also like an inverted Rubbermaid oblong container. The lid can be used as a palette, and the container can be used to seal up the paint. ( At home I use a very large Rubbermade oblong container and set my meat tray palette inside of it , mist with water and seal it up until tomorrow!)

The best part about using acrylics is that if it is not going well I can just work on a different section of the painting and let the previous one dry. Then I can come back and change what I didn't like. You can paint over mistakes as many times as you need to with acrylics. But if you are doing it En Plein Air, try not to change it too much, or you will loose the effect of capturing the moment.

The next best part is my that paintings dry before I load them in the car and they do not get smudged or smeared. Smile.

CALL TO ARTISTS

2007-10-14T06:26:00.000-04:00

Last Feb. Okeechobee held it's first Fine Art's Festival. It went over very well, with lots of categories and lots of cash awards as well as purchase awards. Here is the contact information if you might be interested in joining us:

http://www.mainstreetokeechobee.com

Bridgette Waldau
Studio of Graphic Design
111 NE 2nd Street
Okeechobee, FL 34972
863-467-7300

Plein air painting

2007-10-03T10:04:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was one of those days that I could not make up my mind. It had rained off and on all night, and the weather report called for more rain -40% chance! I had planned on going out to work en plein air (on location) over in Fort Pierce. We meet once a week. They had more rain over there than we had inland. Do I drive 50 minutes over there and try to work on a painting knowing I will probably get wet?

"No", I decided, "Gas, time, and my health are at stake." So I got out the things I needed to cook breakfast for my husband. I wasn't hungry, and I should have already been on the road, and he was planning on going out for his breakfast . . . "I don't have to cook," I thought. So I put it all away again.

"Yes," I thought, "I need to go even if I get wet! It will get me out of the house, I'll get to see my friends, and I may end up with a nice painting, or not. But I want to try."

So off I went, a little later than usual, but the sky cleared up some, and the flooded park was an amazing sight. It did not take me long to see something I wanted to paint. I felt so good, had so much fun and stayed until past noon! I did two paintings, one very nice, and one I have to touch up.

I did get wet a little as it sprinkled twice, which left run marks on the painting, but that will be easily fixed. I am proud of myself, just getting out there and not letting my excuses stop me.

We have sure needed this rain.

I think the drought is finally over! Smile.

My dove

2007-09-24T10:56:00.000-04:00

People often ask me why I put the symbol of a bird before my name on my paintings. It is actually a dove, which is symbolic for God's Holy Spirit. I believe that when we follow Christ Jesus the Holy Spirit comes into our lives to empower us to live in this harsh world.

My paintings are a testament to the Father's love and goodness, which far out weigh the hardships. It is by His hand that I am am able to accomplish anything at all. I tend to make bad choices, and head in the wrong direction over and over again. But He is gracious. (I just learned that that means he is prone do doing favors for us. He likes to help us and do good things for us.) Psalms 145.

The dove is my way of giving God credit for all he does in me and through me.

9-11

2007-09-11T10:21:00.000-04:00

Before I go into my selfish thoughts I must say that this is such a sad day. Say lots of prayers for the families. My heart goes out to them.

It is my birthday. It is always too sad to celebrate it today. So we will try to go out this weekend I suppose.

I used to look for some wonderful thing to happen on my birthday. An oddly placed flower in full bloom, or a rainbow in a sunny sky . . . Always something would happen that seemed to be from heaven. I always thanked God for the special thought that he had sent my way.

After the trade centers went down I stopped looking. I stopped celebrating, I stopped feeling very special at all. I know I still am special to my heavenly Father, but I just don't feel it on my birthday any more. I know He says we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and he loves us far more than we could think or imagine. But, knowing and feeling are not the same. So today I must trust Him and believe Him, even though I can't feel Him.

He knew that though, and yesterday something wonderful and special happened out of the blue -- and I did thank God for the special thought for my birthday!

Higher Purpose

2007-09-05T11:49:00.000-04:00

We are created for a higher purpose, not for the chasing after of physical desires. The heavens war over us, for our soul. It is our choice, and ours alone, who will win each battle we face. The powers of this world seek our destruction. As we bite the apple, and believe its lies, we sink farther into the wants and desires of our bodies. With self control and denial, we find freedom from its bondage.
This is not out of reach as many say. Our creator waits for the slightest prayer, hears our hearts desire for truth and helps us to find it. He provides all we need to live out His higher purpose.

Author unknown.

One of those days

2007-08-26T18:52:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you just have to laugh so you don't scream! For two days I could not get anything done that I started, and yesterday it really got to me. So I took a break from it all, took a shower and watched TV for a change!

Today was a little better, didn't stress, just took it as it came. I didn't let things steal my peace.

I had to remind myself that I cannot try to be like someone else, and if someone isn't happy with me or my work, then that is their problem. If I am doing the best I can then that is all I can do! I have to let the rest go. So today I forgave myself, relaxed, enjoyed friends and family and tomorrow, well, I will try to be true to myself and to the Lord.

Free painting lesson

2007-08-11T20:45:00.000-04:00

"Out Fishing" Step 1

(click on images for larger view)

Step 2

1. The first 2 steps are very fast and fun! They are laid in with thin paint. It is thick enough for good coverage, and worked one section at a time. Starting at the top, use lots of white, some ultramarine blue, and a touch of phthalocyanine blue. Add some water to make the paint workable. The top of the sky is darker. Leave the land unpainted for now. The water is the same as the sky, just less white.

2.Make your horizon line above or below half way for a stronger composition.Use dark blues, greens, reds,and/or purple instead of black, for the dark section. I used dioxizine purple and green deep permanent. then use some bright greens by adding cadmium yellow medium or a touch of orange. The trees are laid in with burnt umber and white with a touch of Orange. some ultramarine blue and white are added for grayish reflected light on the off side of the light source. Always choose one side or the other for a strong light source, as this will make your job easier!

Step 3. I went back and added clouds with thick paint. This is optional. I changed the bent palms reflection, and added clouds in the water. Some foliage is also added to the trees and reflections. Remember that water is like a mirror, it is not the same as shadows. everything in the water pulls straight down, shadows can lay to the side. I could have left the painting like this. Just touch up a few spots and call it done. I like the strong contrast here.

Step 4. I decided to push the land back into the distance, so I added highlights and lost some of the strong shadows, which I may put back in later. Everything gets highlights and thick paint. Again I work one section at a time to get that wet in wet look.

Once again I could be finished here, but I want to show you that you can keep it simple or add more to it. I really lay in the water thick: I love lots of brush strokes and movement.
The great blue heron is added after I sketch a few from reference pictures. These birds can appear a grayish blue, or brownish or even very white with gray markings. be sure to find something with the colors that go with your painting, and keep the light source coming from the correct side. it should be consistent on everything in your painting!

Step 5. I added some vines to the bent palm tree, and the foliage in front of the heron last. Don't forget to sign your name small and with a color that goes with your painting. You do not want to have it take away from the art work. Put all information that is important to you on the back! (Your full name, the date, the title, etc . . .)

Click here to see my daily paintings for a better photo.

PS: I use Liquitex professional paints, they are thick, and they have strong colors and good coverage. You can use any brand that you like.

Remember you can move trees around, change colors or add more birds in your painting.
If you try one like this, I would love to see it! or if you have a question feel free to ask . . .

Happy Painting!

my pony

2007-08-04T11:49:00.001-04:00

Just thinking about when I was a teenager and I had a pony that I rode all over the place. He did not have a nice name (Rawhide), he was not very handsome, nor could he do anything special. But, he loved me. He did not let others ride him much, and even bit them at times. He was not easy to ride or to control. He listened to my leading, however, and I could get him to do almost anything I asked. He even crossed hard to get through places for me. We had a great time together.

I broke him at the beach, thinking it wouldn't hurt to land in the water . . . He didn't buck or fuss at all. So I took him to the shore and when I got back on he took a few steps. All of a sudden he took off bucking! Once I was on the ground he just stood there staring at me. He didn't run away as I thought, he just came up to me and nudged me with his head. So I got back on, and that was the end of it! I rode him a while and then lead him home.

He became my best friend. In contrast to people, he didn't lie, didn't betray me, always forgave me if I did something wrong to him, and he trusted me. I told him all of my heartaches and spent many hours just sitting on him and laying my head on his neck. I found healing in his friendship.

In the spring of my senior year in high school, we were in a car accident that took his life and almost took mine. For many years I could not forgive myself. Now I am thankful for the memories, and wish I could tell him 'thank you'.

Boards

2007-07-24T08:15:00.000-04:00

I went to the Home Depot to get a large board to cut down and prime for painting on. Thought I would save some money. My quality canvas boards cost about 35 bucks for ten, if they are already primed and ready to paint on.

The man that was working said he could cut them down for me and it wouldn't cost too much. So I said sure. I needed 8 x 10 or 9 x 12 inches. As he was cutting, every board came out to a different size. not even close to either of the sizes I stated. I was getting frustrated thinking I would have to pay for it and not have one the correct size. When he was finished I informed him that I could not use those, they had to be 8 x 10, or 9 x 12 inches, or at least very close.

He informed me that he did not have a saw that could cut precisely and said " you should have told me they had to be a certain size, you said it could just be close." I informed him politely that I had told him the size I needed and he didn't even get close to either size!

He began to try again on a new board. Now I am calculating the 14 dollars for each large board twice! and they still had to be sanded and primed. So much for saving money!
He got two rows correct and one long piece that was too short to even make the 8 inches. I told him that was fine, could he just get as many 8 by 10 boards out of the first two rows . . . He did.

Then he told me that you have to take into account that the blade takes away part of the board, so out of a 24 inch side you can not get three equal rows of 8 inches.

I was a little ticked by now, and I said, "You work here, not me, you should have known that. I have never cut things with a saw!"

I ended up with 9 - 8 x 10 inch boards or close enough to be able to frame them. I was very upset at this point and asked him how much I owed him as he wrote up a ticket.

All it said was $2.01, so I thought it would be $2 for each board, and I was OK with that. The lady at the register charged me $2.o1 for all of the boards. I asked her if it wasn't for each board, and she said no, it is for all of them. Then I told her that could not be correct. She said that if I didn't get the board whole and it didn't turn out right, then I wouldn't be charged for it.

I felt like a heel.

Now I am priming and sanding my boards and more than happy to pay the $35.00 for ten ready to paint on canvas boards!

Say a prayer

2007-07-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

Just need to take a minute to slow down. A friend of mine has an 18 year old son who was in a car accident. He and his 17 year old friend are in the trauma unit in Delray Beach. They are not doing well at all. I have gone down there a couple of times, and will probably go some more. Looks like weeks before they will get to go home. One has a fractured neck, and the other has crushed legs. Both boys have been undergoing serious surgeries.

I have never felt so useless and helpless. You think you will go and be supportive and pray with them and somehow make a difference. But really, I am nothing. I have no words to give that can do anything. I realized Sunday that even though I am powerless, God is not. Nothing I do or say will make any difference, but just being there, just asking God for his touch, well, it may. It is only by His mercy these boys are even alive. The car was completely totalled. My heart breaks for the mothers.

The older boy was driving, his friend has the broken neck. Yes, they had been drinking. Sadly, they will pay for it for the rest of their lives. I just hope they will use this tragedy for eternal good. I pray God will do miracles for them.

Contests

2007-07-02T14:38:00.000-04:00

I have been trying to post some new art work, but the blogger isn't working right today, so I will wait until later.
I am excited about some art contests that are coming up. I rarely win anything, but that's OK, because every time I enter something if it doesn't place I still sell it! once I sold a piece for $800.00 after it was rejected! The $800.00 was more than I would have won, so I was very happy. You can see the painting of "OH Brother" at EBSQ Art.

New History

2007-07-01T05:01:00.000-04:00

It has occurred to me that I am painting history. The drought of 2007, the worst in recorded history for this area, is being included in my plien air paintings. I am doing a series of Nubbin's Slough right now, and it really shows how low Lake Okeechobee is! Just a tittle, like "Nubbin's Shore" is odd, because Nubbin's Slough never had a shore before! It was just a pile of rocks and then the water came up on the rocks. Now people walk out for a quarter of a mile to get to the edge of the water.

Mowing the lake

2007-06-29T06:55:00.000-04:00

(Click on the image to enlarge)

This is so odd. the second largest fresh-water lake in the US, Lake Okeechobee, has grass and weeds growing for so long now that they are actually mowing it where the water used to be!

In the distance you can see bulldosers dump trucks and front-end loaders dredging up the sludge and the muck that has been coming down from the Kissimmee River for hundreds of years. They hope the lake will be cleaner and healthier when the water levels rise.

Here is a link to a painting I did in January, just before the drought, you can see the water came up close to the cypress tree.

http://fawnspaintings.blogspot.com/2007/05/last-december-plein-air.html

Not to Worry

2007-06-23T12:14:00.000-04:00

I have been told they are not going to start building anything on Eagle Bay. They are just cleaning out the muck and settlement so the water will be clean when it fills back up.

All of the dirt here was a marsh, plus it went off to the right.

Wiped out

2007-06-23T12:12:00.000-04:00

I went down to Eagle Bay today. This is a marsh of shallow water and all kinds of wildlife. The last time I went it was dry with grass growing everywhere, no water at all. Today I cried a few tears as I looked at what man has done. They have bull dosed the whole place! We are talking achres of wetlands completely wiped out! Machines, and piles of dirt are everywhere you look.

Click here to see Eagle Bay before the drought.

A New Challenge

2007-06-14T10:17:00.000-04:00

2,000 Paintings in 30 Days – the Daily Painting Challenge at DailyPainters.com Online art gallery members to produce 2,000 original paintings in 30 days, from June 15 – July 15

Erie, CO May 23, 2007 -- The artists of the Daily Painters Gallery have been busy. Since September 2006, they've posted over 10,000 original paintings to their online gallery at DailyPainters.com. From June 15 to July 15, 2007, they will be attempting a new group record: 2,000 paintings in 30 days. The members of DailyPainters.com represent a growing movement in the art world, known as 'daily painting' or 'painting-a-day'. These artists strive to produce one small painting every day, or nearly so, and post them for sale on their online gallery. Even with all of their other commitments -- art fairs, gallery commitments, commission paintings, full-time jobs, and other demands of everyday life, these artists love their daily painting routine. It's a great way to stay fresh and stay focused, and it's fun, even if it is a lot of hard work. And, art collectors can't get enough of it.

The Daily Painters Gallery is a great place for art collectors, decorators, and homeowners to find affordable original art and discover new painters. Visitors can browse the latest paintings, browse by artist, search by category, and visit the artists' blogs. And, visitors can subscribe to daily email updates to get the latest art in their inbox every morning. Because the paintings are sold directly by the artists, prices are more affordable than your local gallery, with many paintings starting under $100. With over 10,000 paintings in one easy to use website, finding that one-of-a-kind piece for your home has never been so fun.

DailyPainters.com was founded in 2006 by artist Micah Condon and has since grown to include over 120 artists. DailyPainters.com artists have been featured in The New York Times, USA Weekend Magazine, The Boston Globe, Art Business News, Domino Magazine, The Washington Express, Wired Magazine, and more.

http://www.dailypainters.com/

Summer art

2007-06-11T15:51:00.001-04:00

I had my first kids summer art class today. It has been a few years since I have had a studio to teach in. It was great. I remembered what teaching is really about, and the excitement of working with minds that want to explore new ideas! We had fun, and I felt inspired again.

After teaching at the high school I was beginning to wonder why I ever liked teaching before. It is very hard to teach art to those who don't want to be there! I had some good students too, but I spent so much time with behavior problems and grading issues. Teenagers are not the most agreeable people in the world.

Now I am letting my students choose their own projects and work at their own speed. What a wonderful way to help someone create something! Smile.

Here are some pictures of my studio. I can sit four at the table comfortably, and I have three more stations around the room.

sleepless

2007-06-10T05:27:00.000-04:00

Been up for over an hour. Usually I can get right back to sleep, but I am excited about so many different things. Starting kids summer classes (small groups at my studio), working on some murals, and of course my Daily Paintings. I keep finding new ideas to try and learning new approaches.

Trying to finish a small painting everyday is a sure way to get some much needed practice! One attempt raises new questions and then I will have three more ideas to work through. Right now I have started a fourth palette knife painting. This one is turning out excellent, at least for me. I learned more from the struggles of the last one than I have in months!

Hope you have a worshipful Sunday!

Nothing

2007-06-06T09:09:00.000-04:00

For the first time in my life I have no pets, and no kids at home. I have quit teaching at the public school, and I plan to do nothing! Nothing except paint pictures and sell my art. But that isn't at all how it is going. I am cleaning out things, re-arranging things, cooking more for my husband, running all kinds of errands, and finding constant interruptions to my creativity.

I am excited about the many new opportunities that await me. I want to do nothing -- except what I believe God is leading me to do. I am so tired of trying so hard to do everything my way and then asking him to bless it. I am learning that if I just slow down and ask first, then things work out in unbelievable ways!

I feel like I am suppose to write a book. I am not skilled in this area, but I am going to try. I have so many remarkable things in my life to write about: I moved almost every year; I was held hostage when I was just four years old, and I was a foster child as a teenager. The most remarkable thing is that I am OK. Sometimes that is questionable, but for the most part I am happily married and live a well rounded life. I give Thanks to God for the people he has put in my life that have helped me to heal emotionally. I am sure there is more healing to come too!

So I guess this will be a place for me to just talk about what is on my mind or what I am struggling through. Maybe I'll post some of my poems too.

Have a great Day!