FALL FIELD

FALL FIELD
Originally uploaded by linfrye

Arches 140# CP
9" x 12"

We're off! I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving! I'll be away from the computer for the next week - but I'll check in and post as I can.

Thank you all for your kind comments this week -

I sincerely hope that you stay well, enjoy the holiday, and remember all those graces for which we are every thankful ...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING .....!!

Fall Tree Branch - Crop - GET WELL- GUY!

Fall Tree Branch - Crop - GET WELL- GUY!
Originally uploaded by linfrye

Daily Practice
Journal
Crop Version

This painting is dedicated to my dear friend, Guy, not only because his photo inspired it, but more so in hopes that he feel smuch better today!

Thank you, Guy, once more for allowing me to use one of your images!! (See www.flickr.com/photos/10422334@N08/4113926411/in/photostream).

I posted both versions of this because I wasn't sure which I liked better. What appealed to me was that rich golden, sienna color of the leaves ... and my own reluctance to see fall finish. Here in NC, there are still patches of bright leaves scattered among the woodlands - yes, more leaves on the ground than on the trees. But their brightness against the blue, clear sky is such a joy to me -- I really don't want the season to end!

It's a chore-filled day today as we ready for our short trip. I'll be taking in all the woodland colors I can ... and I'll be carrying those colors behind my eyes. This season, and this particular year of it, has really spoken to me. Wonder why this year especially?

Hope your day is filled with joyous color and the smell of fall's bounty!

Fall Tree Branch - Get Well!

Fall Tree Branch - Get Well!
Originally uploaded by linfrye

Daily Practice
Journal

This painting is dedicated to my dear friend, Guy, not only because his photo inspired it, but more so in hopes that he feels much better today!

Thank you, Guy, once more for allowing me to use one of your images!! (See www.flickr.com/photos/10422334@N08/4113926411/in/photostr....

Morning Light - Guy Mayster

Morning Light - Guy Mayster
Originally uploaded by linfrye

Daily Practice
Journal

There is such a difference in painting from a computer screen, real life, and a printed photo. And being back to working in my smaller journal, limited light, space and time, all are clearly event in how I find myself painting.

I fell in love with a photo from my dear friend, Guy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10422334@N08/4108459287/in/photostream/ who has kindly given me permission to use it for my painting). I printed out a copy so I could paint it last night after work when I got to the B&B. The printed copy lacked all of Guy's incredible pink highlights, and, not memorizing that particular point, I painted an interpretation of his work from the copy I had. In checking my computer this morning, I noted this what a vast difference in tone and highlight.

I suppose what I"m trying to point out (and REMEMBER!!! LOL) is that these differences exist and can affect one's work or interpretation of it. And last night's experience is merely another case in point. Since I will be traveling by car for several days next week, I'll be relying on photographs to practice my painting... and yesterday's 'lesson' will be a reminder to do more than rely on the photograph alone.

Thank you once more, Guy, for your generous permission to use your photograph for my painting inspiration. While this interpretation doesn't come close to the beauty you captured in your image, I do hope you like it nonetheless.

It's been raining here again. Our grounds are so sodden that students are unable to work outdoors to complete some of their semester projects.

Still, I found my desk under all that paper yesterday -- and literally rejoiced!!

I hope your day is grand!

Fall Pond

Fall Pond
Originally uploaded by linfrye

9" x 12"
Arches 140#CP

Getting a chance to practice what I've learned last week has been exceptionally difficult with my return to work. Between meetings, changes, classes, late night events, and moving toward a new semester, registration, final exams and final projects, I feel like the pace of life has been on warp speed. Add to this leaving this weekend to drive to Florida to help my mom pack up her home as she prepares a move across several states. I suppose all this activity is better than being bored! LOL But it does make it difficult to get in the practice and application I'm longing to do while techniques and demonstrations are freshest in my mind.

This was painted over the weekend as I attempted to continue practicing what I learned in Sterling Edward's class by using his large, flat, bristle brushes. I must admit that using flat brushes is unusual for me -- I began painting watercolor with rounds and seem to gravitate toward them despite the subject. So I'm still learning how flats are used, how best to use them -- and now, how to use bristle brushes to the best of their capabilities. I do love how they easily create distant tree shapes -- far easier than with rounds!

Back to the workshops -- Judy and I took two additional classes. For me, I didn't have any painting success with either - though they were enjoyable. I took a 3 hour class from Tom Lynch - and try as I could to wrap my mind around first washes and cutting in to create the image, I just could not do that with any type of success. I have his books and wanted to participate in this workshop to try to overcome this particular block, but I do believe fatigue and the hurried pace of the workshop just didn't work for me.

My last workshop, a full day with Lian Zehn (http://lianspainting.com/) was an experience just to be there! Watching him pour paint, swish the brush ever so lightly to achieve such luminescent results, watching the ease and joy with which he painted -- was something I was so grateful to see! I purchased his DVDs and book just so he could sign his work -- and his signature included a original miniature painting! WOWZA! I have so much to learn here - -so much to admire! And probably the rest of my life to even come close to learning! But Wow!

The entire week was absolutely amazing -- and yes, very tiring. I think my strategy next year will be to try to take the hardest, longest workshops FIRST while I'm freshest ....

Anyway, I'm dashing to yet another meeting ... hope your day is wonderful. And once more, my deepest and most humble thanks for your incredible kind words yesterday. You're the BEST!

A Rose - Four Years of Blogging

A Rose - Four Years of Blogging
Originally uploaded by linfrye

Today marks four years of daily blogging AND painting. Four and half years ago I decided if I were EVER going to learn to draw and paint, I'd better get started.

There were 3 things my family told me NEVER to do: give directions (still applicable), sing (oh my, VERY applicable), and draw. But how I really wanted to keep one of those watercolor nature journals I loved!

On my bookshelf were all those wonderfully illustrated and written books about nature journaling - especially those by Cathy Johnson. "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" was a book I had owned since the 1970s!!!! And I still had not opened. But after passing my 50th birthday milestone, I figured if I were EVER going to draw, I'd had better make the plunge.

And so, 4 1/2 years ago, I picked up Betty's book and not only read it, but began the exercises, one by one. Never having art lessons either as a child or as an adult made for a lot of intimidation. I was always writing, but drawing? Nope! So I studied the book, faithfully did the exercises, and when I got to the 'turn the image upside down the spaces' exercise - and my attempt RESEMBLED the drawing -- I finally had a glimmer of hope that I could possibly learn to do this. And the passion was lit....

I kept drawing on and off for a few months; took Cathy Johnson's wonderful on-line classes - watercolor, sketching and more. And, encouraged by my friends on Flickr --- I began keeping a daily journal on line and sketching every day, no matter what. Though there are some gaps in my posting - like when I was overseas or away from home, I always sketched -- something.

And so today marks four years of doing so. Folks ask me if I ever got tired or bored or just too busy -- and I say -- 'yes' ... but having so many years behind me and far fewer in front of me before I leave this good earth -- the only way I believed I could improve my work was to devote a lot of time practicing.

I'm not nearly where I would like to be with drawing or painting - or writing for that matter. But I'll continue picking up the pencil, wetting the brushes, and learning as much as I can.

That "P" word -- PRACTICE -- well, from experience, I can only say -- it takes that -- often, frequently - and consistently.

But it also takes YOU, my Flickr friends - who have been encouraging me for these many years. And I offer this gentle rose in thanks for all you have helped me through - with your encouragement, kindness, generosity and suggestions.

My heartfelt thanks for being there with me - along this most intriguing and exciting journey!

Here's to another year! Wet Brushes -- Get Painting!

Forest Floor - A Workshop with Linda Kemp

Forest Floor - A Workshop with Linda Kemp
Originally uploaded by linfrye

From serene playfulness to puzzle-pieces - all in a day! We had a three-hour session with Linda Kemp on negative painting --- FUN! But far more tightly focused. Linda is an incredible instructor - organized, paced with building blocks of information, playfulness with a more left-brained approach, and a rich understanding and sharing of shapes. We did several practice pieces and I finished this one at home. Negative painting is far more difficult than it seems at first - at least to produce a pleasing and integrated design. My friend, Bev Morgan, is a master of this method and while I've always admired her work, I am really in AWE now!

We came home to collapse, again, and have squeezed in 2 more workshops - for me, neither as successful painting wise - I think the go-go-go-go-go of the last few weeks and intensity of this week has caught up with me.

Judy leaves early this morning. It's 4:39 am right now, and we leave in an hour. I've an intense, stressful week ahead - but these workshops have given me a chance to take my mind in another direction, and will provide the much needed inspiration and 'go-to' place when things get over-the-top.

I teach all day today so I must apologize if I don't get to catch up until later this week. I do hope your week is fabulous and restful!

Poppies - A workshop with Jeanne Carbonetti

Poppies - A workshop with Jeanne Carbonetti
Originally uploaded by linfrye

Half Sheet
Arches 140# CP

In real life, there is a bit more purple in this piece, but photographing the painting late last night under artificial lights just wouldn't give me the proper colors no matter how many adjustments I tried to make. It comes close, but the real painting is far more red/purple.

This delightful workshop with Jeanne Carbonetti (The Tao of Watercolor) was great fun. It was a playful time - and yet, just like Jeanne herself, the entire three hours was filled with serenity and calm. The workshops, tradeshow, crowds and excitement tend to be a bit on the exuberant and tense side, so this workshop was a wonderful change of pace. And even though the workshop was calming, it was ever so playful ....

I am thrilled beyond measure for being able to post anything I've painted during a workshop. Typically, and I cannot say this enough, I spill my paint, paint backwards, add the wrong colors, do EVERYTHING BACKWARDS (and a lot of that happened yesterday! LOL) - but these three workshops seemed to be a real gift - not just in information - but in my being able to focus and learn, and more than anything - have FUN!

Jeanne's methods, playful, bright, centered, a bit dreamy, calming - all appealed to me in her semi-abstract, representational approach to a subject. We used a photo of a vase of poppies for a 'jumping off point, LOTS of paint and our imaginations -- letting the painting 'speak' to us as to what it needed and the direction we should take. I rarely paint this large or this bright - but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience - very freeing, indeed.

The sun has finally come out and the weather warmed up a bit. After our morning workshop yesterday, we were a bit too tired to do much sight-seeing, so Judy and I came home to rest, reorganize our materials, prepare for an early flight on Monday (for Judy) and work (for me). C fixed us a scrumptious dinner, and we were able to paint a bit before collapsing.

We've a full day again today - we'll be throwing and pouring paint and generally having a great time.

I've tried to focus my workshops on the direction I hope to go with my work. It will take a while to reinforce these ideas and finally make some of them my own. I can't wait to get started!

Have a great Sunday!