Delivering artwork today to the Washington Street Artists' Cooperative for our upcoming Holiday Art Bazaar!  Our reception is Saturday, December 8th from 5-7:30 pm.  Exhibit will be on display all throughout December!

This is a combination of Karlyn Holman's techniques for flowers and Laurie Goldstein-Warren's technique for backgrounds!  I think it really makes the flower pop!!!  Leaves could use improvement and that will come with time.  Overall, I'm pleased with this one and encouraged to do more, as always!!!  Thanks to two AWESOME TEACHERS!!!!!

So, upon recommendations of Laurie Goldstein-Warren, I bit the bullet and invested in a Canon Rebel T3i.  I began taking photos as young girl with Kodak Instamatic!  I then upgraded to some 35mm cameras that weren't very sophisticated, but did require focusing!  10 years ago I got into digital "point and shoot" cameras and reluctantly gave up the film.  Love the instant gratification of not having to wait to develop pictures, and have certainly saved a fortune by not printing photos I would never keep! 

So, this SLR is a whole new world!  I watched the DVD that came with the camera 5 times by myself and then once with my tech-savvy husband who helped simplify things so that it made sense to me!  I sort of understand the depth of field/appeture number needs to be lower if I want to focus on object in front, and larger if I want the entire picture to be in focus.  And I sort of understand the TV needs to be smaller if objects are moving really, really fast like race cars and slower if not moving so fast like crowds walking.  And the exposure comp/AEB is to avoid over exposure if subject is in direct sunlight or to increase exposure if subject is in the shade with back lighting.  And that's about as far as my little brain will go today!!!

We took the camera to Harpers Ferry and took some photos of "street scenes" and tried out the big zoom lense on the beautiful horizon.  I was hoping to get photos of people dressed in historic costumes providing tours, but they weren't working.  Next time - and by then I will have more practice.

I know this process will make me a better artist and is well worth the time this is taking.  Lord give me patience!!!!

Have a great day!!!

I just can't thank this teacher enough!  Laurie Goldstein-Warren...love the palette and love the techniques!!!  So much more depth - and so much more color!!!  Gone are my faded washed out paintings!!!  I'm wainting on delivery of new camera with zoom lense to capture close-ups of people and try her techniques on them!!!

Several artists from Washington Street Artists Guild were invited to display our artwork on the walls of the newly remodelled JCDA!  They invited us to their Opening Reception.  Lovely event and looking forward to participating in more of these types of opportunities!

We had a lovely turn out, and as you can see....a good time was had by all!  We are open today from 9 am to 6 pm.  You still have time to shop locally for Christmas and this is the perfect place to do just that!!! 

Here are some photos of our exhibit being held in the War Memorial Building - downtown Shepherdstown, WV!  We are open today 9am - 8pm and tomorrow 9am - 6pm.  Come meet all the artists at our reception today 3pm - 5pm!  It's a wonderful show and amazing variety!  Shop local for Christmas!  :-)

I finally "get" the concept of values!  Laurie Humble used to tease me that just because I change colors doesn't mean I change values!  Laurie Goldstein-Warren brought it to life!!!

I'm having so much fun using Laurie Goldstein-Warren's limited palette and techniques.  These are for the upcoming Holiday Show at the Charles Town Artists Co-op December 8th thru the 31st! 

Fantastic turnout to support the family of this incredible woman.  The outpouring of love for this woman was wonderful.  She has done more for the art community than any person before or after her.  She will be dearly missed and her legends will live on!