TyQuilts Designs

I am learning so much from Laure Ferlita’s Visit to the beach class, and trying things that I would never have tried before, like this flamingo.

I am taking and imaginary visit to the beach with Laure Ferlita. This is the perfect time of year for this as February is always so cold and snowy and depressing and seems to last forever.

In one of the online art groups I am a member of there was a discussion about using reference photos and how you are using someone else’s artistic vision when you do so (unless of course the photo is one you took yourself)

Happy New Year to all!

The watercolor pencil class I am taking is coming to and end and I am sorry that it is. It has been a wonderful class with lots of encouragement and participation from the students and a supportive teacher who really knows how to teach. Our last lesson was on mixed media. This painting of Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior in MN was done with pan pastel for the sky, pitt pen, watercolor pencils and crayons in a large moleskine watercolor sketchbook. I used a reference photo that I took myself. I have learned a lot in this class and really hope to go on to learn more about watercolors and painting.

Lesson 5 of the watercolor workshop class I am taking with Kate Johnson was on feathers and fur. I finally got so frustrated trying to draw my subjects so I could paint them that I traced the basic shape from my reference photo. I know I need to work on my drawing, but I wanted to be able to work on the principles of the lesson. I am hoping to go back and paint both of these subjects again, starting with doing the sketch myself. I am pleased with the texture I got in Annies Fur, and think the softness of her ear comes through pretty well. We are now on the last lesson of the class and I am sorry to see it end. If you have the opportunity to take one of Kate’s classes, go for it, they are well worth it.

I love Vinca they are so hard to kill. They live through heat and drought and in the worst soil. They also look great and have lots of blooms. When this weeks watercolor pencil workshop assignment was on flowers how could I resist doing this little painting?

More of a painting than a drawing because I need to continue my pieces for the watercolor pencil workshop I am taking. This was done from a copyright free photo I found on morguefile.com

I am having a blast in the class. Some of my classmates are doing amazing things with just three pencils.. Not me.

When I first read the this weeks lesson for the watercolor pencil workshop I am taking with Kate Johnson, I had a moment (okay many moments) of pure panic. I have never painted before.. Why did I think I can do this?? With a self pep talk, and Kate very kindly talking me down I took a breath and…. today worked up the courage to actually put pencil and water to paper. This was my result.

This year I am continuing my quest to expand my creativity, taking art and photography classes to help me gain skills and perspective that will improve my quilt design and enrich my life. As a result, there will be less quilting featured in this blog for the next few months as I am taking a watercolor pencils workshop with Kate Johnson and will be posting my homework and results here. I am working on a couple of quilted gifts that I will post after the recipients have received them.

I went out for supplies today and created this journal page as the first page of the moleskine folio watercolor sketchbook that I will be using for my class work. I love the new bigger size.

Let the fun begin!