Spring and Picasso

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In my classroom, I arrange as much greenery and out-doorsey pictures as possible. 

There are no windows in my classroom. We have computers and desks, carpet and nicely painted walls, but no windows. So I must hang the view I want to see as I teach. My city-kid students are not accustomed to meadows and mountains, cacti, and deer. Pit bulls-- they can tell stories about those.

One of my students remembers a farm in Honduras fondly. Some have traveled widely. Others have never seen much outside of Houston. They all respond to beauty. 

I am not an art teacher.  I teach reading and do reading interventions. I also do inclusion across the curriculum for middle and high school.  

This week, my class analyzed "Bulletproof Picasso" by Train.  To understand the lyrics, we looked up Picasso paintings. These 6th graders were appalled! Their reactions to Picasso were hilarious. 

"Miss, this guy is weird!" 

Beach inspiration

I started painting this while on Spring Break.  We stayed in the Florida Keys, on Islamorada, to be precise.   It's no great secret that beautiful scenery makes plein aire painting possible!  Several issues are not immediately well-known, however. How many mosquitoes will there be?  How about wind?  Is it better to take photos and work in the comfort later? 

I usually work from photos. However, it's great fun to be someplace inspirational and capture, not just the look and the colors, but the exuberant mood, the romantic breeze, the desolate roar of the surf, the edge of the storm.

I hope you can see how the sun sizzled up. It went from cool and mysterious to bright and hot within about 15 minutes. I will never forget that sunrise!

In the same locale, I did this porch scene from a photo.  It was much more of a challenge. Architecture is not my forte. I probably need to draw the lines recommended by experts, making use of vanishing points. But, dang, that's a lot of work! 

Quad

This one went home with a friend.

Spring Bluebonnets

This painting was easy and lots of fun. As usual, I agonized over the cow. Or steer, since it has horns. Obviously, I wasn't raised on a ranch but in the hills of Pennsylvania. I find myself delighted with all the bragging rights inherent in Texas, and enchanted with the scenery. 

Painting on Fence Board

Old fence board makes fun seasonal art. I made A & M snowmen, Christmas trees, and a dozen or more trees. 

I like this so well that I'm making a permanent arrangement, at least until Julie asks me to hand them over! 

Finishing Christmas

I'm finishing some projects. Over New Years, we stayed in Leakey, Texas.  It was so cold, wet, and rainy, that we spent the entire time watching John Wayne movies, football games, and for me, painting.

Prints of Ligonier on the square are available: 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/town-square-at-christmas-beth-waltman.html

The original, 16X20 acrylic work on canvas, can be purchased for $150.  

Please contact through the link. 

I really enjoyed doing this painting.  When I was a child, the "Diamond"--the town square--was decorated for Christmas. White lights twinkled in abundance. A nativity set was always prominently displayed. Just driving around the area, especially when a soft snow drifted down, was a trip through Wonderland! 

     So when I began this, I used Liquitex Basics light blue violet to sketch it in.  Obviously, I need to work more on architecture and perspective.  But the moment of nostalgia caught me, and I worked feverishly until it seemed complete! 

Prints of the Frio River in springtime are available: 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/spring-river-beth-waltman.html

The original, a 12X14 on canvas, can be purchased for $75. Please contact through the link. 

Originally, I had this started as a watercolor. Watercolor just is not my medium.  So yesterday, in the interest of finishing projects, I set out experimenting.  Finally got the amazing blends of colors that showed in the photograph on this day.

Prints of "This Tree, Mom!" are available: 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/this-is-the-one-beth-waltman.html

The original is for sale for $100. Please contact through FineArtAmerica. 

This and That.

 

 I made this one with Yvonne.

We girls got together for a paint night.  

There is something really gratifying about painting with a friend.  You somehow spur each other on to choose, attempt, and complete a work. 

Prints or the original can be purchased at: 

Copper Moon

These desert flowers are a reflection on the unexpected beauty we find in nature. 

Prints or original can be purchases at :

Cactus Flower

When learning to paint, don't be afraid to make mistakes.  Expect that you might even hate some of your work at the start.  At the same time, you'll be amazed how many people say, "Will you paint one just like that for me?" 

Mr. G, the art teacher at my school, gave me lots of helpful getting-started advice.  "You don't have to buy expensive paint to make nice paintings.  Liquitex Basics work just fine."  I have occasionally added a pricier paint, and haven't found it to really outshine the basics, unless I was looking to add a different (thicker) texture. 

My painting goals for 2015:  paint and post pictures at least weekly, sketch almost daily; learn figures and faces; progress with animal drawings. I want to try something outside of my comfort zone monthly--a building, a different color or angle.