I just recently received my SWAP painting in the mail...It was very exciting to get that package that I had patiently (maybe not so patiently) anticipated for some time. I had no idea who had my name and was absolutely elated when I saw Jana's return address on the outside of the package. This lovely painting was painted by my cyber friend Jana in Missouri. I have admired her work for some time and never thought that I would have one of her paintings. She is so good! My painting has yet to reach it's intended recipient. I am praying that it has not been lost in the mail. The SWAP (Sharing With Artist Partners) group is such a great group and my thanks goes out to Rhonda Carpenter for all her work as moderator of this group. It has to be a lot of work. Jana paints glass so beautifully! Thanks Jana!

There was a time when I could draw without pain...before arthritis attacked my hands and made it impossible to hold a pencil for any length of time. I was photographing some of my older works this evening, and decided to post this graphite drawing of a Louisiana sculptor, Clyde Connell. I did this work in February of 1990, and consider it probably my favorite drawing. I was quite taken with her beautiful face which expresses such character and contentment. What was really amazing about this beautiful woman, was that she did sculptures of monumental size! So interesting! This is graphite on illustration board and is 16" X 20".

Complementary Still Life

I have been working on a painting in yellows and violets (complementary colors - thus the name of the painting) and was testing my colors on this piece of watercolor paper. The more I looked at it the more I could see flowers in the mixtures. Thus, this afternoon I couldn't resist making it into a painting. I TRIED to keep it loose since that is what I have been working on, but it sure is HARD! The painting is 7" x 11" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper. LOL

I received this award from Vicki G. @ http://vickigreene.blogspot.com/
Thanks Vicki. Now all I have to do is name 7 things that I love and pass the award on to 7 blogs that I love. Here goes...

1. I dearly love my husband, 3 children and I absolutely adore my grandchildren.

2. I love my brothers and extended family and my very dear friends, especially my Thursday painting buddies.

3. I love painting - especially watercolor about which I am obsessive and passionate.

4. I love teaching art and helping others discover the wonderful act of creating art.

5. I love mountains, rivers and lakes and I have a very soft spot for my old hometown, Cleveland, on beautiful Lake Erie.

6. I love Spring - the wonderful season of rebirth and signs of summer to come.

7. I love whipped cream puffs with real whipped cream and caramel frosting.

Now for 7 of my favorite blogs...

1. www.myrnawacknov.blogspot.com Creativity Journey is always inspirational and exciting.

2. www.susanabbot.blogspot.com A Painters Year is a wonderful visual record of an artist's artistic journey. Her work is awesome.

3. www.differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com One photo painted by many is very interesting when you see how different people interpret the same subject.

4. www.sandymaudlin.blogspot.com Sandy Maudlin's Art Journey is always interesting - especially, for me, her work on yupo and watercolor batik.

5. www.paintingsbypoppy Wonderful soft watercolors

6. www.thatartistwoman.blogspot.com This blog is wonderful for people who teach art to children - filled with wonderful, creative ideas.

7. www.donnabe.blogspot.com Donna's work is always inspirational, loose, soupy and creative - always interesting.

I had some fun on the internet. I visited www.zefrank.com/scribbler which allows you to do creations through scribbling. It is so much fun. Just thought I would share my creation with you all. Interesting? Sort of ugly:) Eh? Sort of like a Picasso on steroids!

"The Blind Egyptian"

"The Blind Egyptian" was painted on a 1/4 sheet of Arches hot-pressed w/c paper. It is a monochromatic study painted for the February Watercolor Workshop project which was to do a painting in monotone or sepia. I decided to do my painting in shades of blue-violet. The source photograph was found in the Wet Canvas reference library of photos.

Moab, Utah

I painted this scene from Moab, Utah from a photograph taken by Susan Roper. Her photos are just beautiful. This was painted on 8"x10" Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper. It was painted for the February challenge on Idrawandpaint web site, which was mountains, lakes or rivers.