It was so much fun arranging all our Christmas decorations in our new home!  Hanging the ornaments is always my favorite walk down memory lane, as we try to buy ornaments at places we visit!  All of the Christmas red in our living room with red fireplace look like they should be up all year long!  Not according to Jim, however!  :-) 

Enjoy all the Christmas festivities this year with your families and friends!!

I am just thrilled to be one of the newest "Signature Members" of the WV Watercolor Society!! 

To earn this designation, here is what one must do:  "Signature Members: Juried Members who have been granted the  privilege of using the West Virginia Watercolor Society initials (WVWS) in  conjunction with their signatures by the Membership Jury. To earn Signature  status, a candidate must have work accepted in two juried WVWS shows in a  six-year period, and submit four additional paintings images (other than slides  of paintings that have been juried into past WVWS exhibits), for review by the  Membership Status Jury.  Signature Status may also be granted to any watercolor  artist who is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the  National Watercolor Society, or whose work has been accepted in any AWS, NWS, or  Watercolor USA exhibit."

I have 3 main teachers to thank for this.  Anna Hogbin, who I studied with the longest and she went to great measures to help me grow, always giving me encouragement.  Lynn Ferris, with her degrees in art, former commercial artist, and member of National Watercolor Society taught me about using light and shadows to make a strong composition.  And Laurie Goldstein-Warren who finally got the concept of values thru my head and get me to the next level.  Thank you, Ladies, from the bottom of my heart!!

Here are the 4 paintings that I submitted.  The jurors liked "Caboose Camping - Durbin, WV VI the best.