#2 in our Studio Snooping Series

This week I will show you Shirley's Art Studio.

I think we learn a lot by seeing others work spaces.  Even though we always think our own spaces could be better and wonder how anyone could even want to see it.  Something we see could trigger an idea for our own spaces.  She was reluctant but she came through.

Here is Shirley's Art studio and what she has to say:

Here are two photos of my studio.

The first shows my taboret, an old printer stand on wheels that my sister bought at a garage sale for $5.00. The corner is the perfect place for the flat files that I have not purchased yet. The small table with paint and light on it is for Ashley. I forgot to mention my Ott-lites. Couldn't paint without them.

The second picture is self explanatory, I think. What I didn't take was the bookcase full of magazines and three ring binders or the closet full of supplies.  The floor is carpeted so it is covered with thick painter's drop cloths. Two deep on part of it. Makes a cushy floor and I don't have to worry about ruining anything.

I can't see how this will be helpful to anyone but might make people appreciate that I can turn out anything in this mess.

Thanks Shirley.  My space is just as messy, if not more.

I like your shelving in the corner and all the light you have.  I need to get all of my computer, scanner and stuff situated like you do.  

Shirley has told us that when there is something she is wanting for her studio or painting, she puts it on a wish list and her kids go in together and get her something for her birthday or Christmas that they know she really wants instead of guessing.  Good idea.  Christmas is just around the corner.  We better start making our wish list.  

If anyone has any good ideas or cool things you have in your studios or painting corners you would like to share, let us know.  We'd love to read your comments.

If you haven't come out to paint with us because you have hesitations about painting with other people around you may want to reconsider.  Its not so much a time to create a master piece every time we come together and paint on Thursdays.  Its more a give and take day.  We always give our opinions. Like Linney says" Here's my advice, I'm not using it!"  And Yes, you may need some thick skin sometimes.  We do honestly critique each other if asked, not to pick apart someone's work  but because we want to see each other do their very best.  We all learn so much from one another.  Here's what Vickie had to say and some photos of her work she sent me.

"I would like to thank you and all the other artists for the constant support and encouragement that you give me.  That's why I like to go on Thurs.  I definitely get more painting done at home, but being around all of you wonderful artists is a great help to me.  Plus, I love to see what everyone else is working on.  Its fun to see these works of art "evolve"  Vickie Voelz.

Watercolor

Watercolor

Pastel

 Great Work Vickie!!!  You are a quick study and have really made some progress in your work. It looks terrific.

I try to take pictures of all of your work as it is in progress but sometimes you may finish it at home and we never see the finished piece.  If you would, send me photos of them and I'll make sure they get on here so everyone can enjoy them.

Don't forget to start getting your artwork ready for our show on Nov 7th.  It will be here before you know it.  For some of you that have not entered our show before, it must be framed unless it is on gallery wrapped canvas.  No saw tooth hangers on the back, it must have wire across the back ready to hang.  

God Bless everyone.

"Where We Work"

This will be our first post of revealing our work spaces to you.  This whole series will be to share our ideas for storage, work areas, set ups and any other clever ideas we have come up with.  We want as many people to participate.  You don't have to be a regular Thursday Painter to send us your comments, ideas or pictures for that matter.  We want to hear from you.  I will post pictures and comments as I get them in.   It may not be every post.  I'll change it up every now and then more than likely.

A lot of people think that you have to have a big studio to be a legitimate artist.  NOT TRUE!  It's nice if you have that.  Even if you have the extra room, that may not be the way you work best.  Some of us work best being right in the middle of what's going on.  Not locked away in a secluded space.

Here is Vickie's photos of her set up.

We are already jealous of your Flat file Vickie.  I think this works great.  It looks like a nice piece of furniture and yet functions right where you need it.

"As you can see, its all together.  Two drawing tables, one easel, two sets of lights.  One chair and one stool."

Thanks so much Vickie for letting us into your world.  We still need to come out and paint the horses.

Send me your photos of your work area.  We'd love to see them.  I'll be looking for them.  Try to keep it to 5 because that's the limit of photos I can post in one blog.

Until next time.

This week Shirley set up another still life.  We just use a piece of foam core and score it in a couple of places to fold it.  Don't cut it all the way through.  This works perfectly as a still life back ground or if you want to add some interest, drape a piece of fabric along the back wall.  I'm sure there are better set ups to block out some of the light and control it better, but this works good for something portable and light weight.

Here is Shirley's painting of the still life.  Sorry its blurry.  Shirley I cut you out of this picture intentionally because I didn't want you to hate me forever.  Can't quite describe the look that was on your face???

This is Vickie's masterpiece.  Here she has sketched it out on watercolor paper and then masked off the areas to keep them white.

I just love this picture.  It is going to be wonderful!  It better be in our Fall Show.  I expect to see it there!

Vickie is practicing on the leaves before she puts them in.

Vickie, if you happen to finish it at home make sure you bring it so I can photograph it and post it.

O.k. Next blog I promise to have some photos of one of our studios.  Who will it be???

We're back.  Here's Carol working on another one of her famous girls.  Who is it this time?  Could this be Linney? Sally with a pony tail?  Or maybe this is Carol's daughter?  Who knows.  One time she told me that I was hanging in her bedroom.  Of course I had the most strange confused look on my face because that sounds kinda kinky.  Come to find out she was talking about one of her latest paintings that ended up looking like me.  I think she starts a painting and then chooses to make it look like one of us.  

Liz we keep telling you that this is going to be gorgeous!!!  Believe us.  

This is a painting she is doing from a picture of her mother when she was but a young thang.  She's beautiful.  Now we know where Liz gets her looks and long skinny body.

Linney is back from cruising around the UK.  Poor thing had to go on a cruise and suffer through it.  We should all be so lucky.  (Just messin with ya)  This is her new creation in the works.

Here is Shirley's rendition of one of the donkeys at the Bunkhouse, Dena Wenmoh's ranch http://denawenmohs.com  (your welcome Dena for the link).  We love coming to see you to recharge our batteries.  Everyone knows Shirley needs it every now and then.  She's got a lot on her plate.  But she's committed to painting and very rarely misses our Thursday therapy.
 

Shirley is going to drive herself crazy with this Jamaican drummer dude.  But it's looking terrific!

  

Send me your pictures of your art studios or closets or corners where ever you work.  We want pictures of your set up, what works for you so we can all steal ideas from you:-))  I'll probably start putting those in the next blog or the next.  Be looking for them.

Later

Well we didn't fall off the face of the earth.  We have been SOOOOOO busy painting away and planning for our up coming 2 Art shows.

Here are a few updates on our work.

Here is one of Vickie's.  She's using pastels this time.  She has a very nice start to it.  Not sure how far she has gotten on it by now but I do remember her mentioning that she was trying to figure out what to do with the foreground in the painting.  Any ideas??? Let us hear from you.

Painting on Thursdays helps us with our discipline in our weekly painting but there's more to it than that.  Each of us are always picking up pointers and tips on how to do other mediums we are not familiar with.  We learn so much!  Here Anne is showing Judy some watercolor techniques.  By the way, congratulations  Anne on your recent sales!

Vickie is going to conquer that horse yet.  Ride em cow girl you can do it!

This however is what we all do best.  Our weekly visit to Luby's where we update each other on the insane crazy things that are going on in our lives.  Here recently, there was a guy that was sitting near us.  Someone noticed that he was laughing at our stories we were telling each other and our comments.  Another elderly couple got tickled at him laughing at us.  The elderly lady came up to us later and told us about them watching us.  Her husband is in a wheel chair and that was the first time she has seen him smile in a long time.  Sometimes we probably get a little too loud there at Luby's but at least this day we added a little sunshine to a few lives.

O.K. Judy, put down the brush and put away the paint.  The fumes are getting to you.

I've got an idea for future blogs.  I'm trying to get everyone to send me pictures of their work areas at home.  Whether it be a small table in the corner or a big studio.  I know I love seeing where people work.  I think others would as well.   You never know what might spark an idea.  I've already got some pictures coming in.  I'll share them with you soon.

That's all for today.

ciao ( I'm practicing for one day when I eventually go to Italy to paint my heart out)

TGSHS (Thank God School Has Started)  

Summer went quick but very busy for me at least.  We didn't slack off on our painting though.

Shirley is still recovering from her foot surgery.  She can actually walk around without her "boot".  She has really taken a liking to her plein air painting box.  I wonder if she will ever paint big again???  I don't think we'll be able to get her away from it.

This week Liz got to join us.  Its nice to see her smiling face again.  She's working on a piece that is going to be gorgeous.  I'm sure of it.  You don't give yourself enough credit Liz.

Linney has now changed her background on this piece.  Who knows what she'll do next with it.  We're always amazed at what she pulls out of her bag to use on her paintings.  I truly think she is the only person I know that owns just about every painting medium known to man.  It's wonderful Linney.

Well, here I am trying to do a still life. I'm not happy with it.  After I got home I noticed that my easel must not have been level when I was painting it.  It's all leaning to the right.  I think I'll just paint over it and go at it again. 

I'll bring all the stuff to do a still life again soon but I feel a new painting coming on.  I've got some ideas swirling in my head.  The question is, will life let me do it? We'll see.

Until next time,

God Bless