Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Red Anemones and Stripes




















 Red Anemones and Stripes

8x6in watercolor on Strathmore board  SOLD



During a round trip drive of two hours
I painted in the car while hubby drove.

















I have to have some serious dental work,
and due to the enormous estimate in the US,
I am traveling to Juarez, Mexico, to have it done.
The dentist is not only a great dentist but
she is also fun and generous . Because of the length
of time we had to be there she took us to lunch
at this wonderful seafood place.
Bright, spotless and colorful.
Every chair and
tablecloth was a different color.




A handy stand was
brought to our table
for the purses









Each lady
was presented
with a rose.


The waiter
brought
the credit card
machine to the
table - smart move
as it provides
a feeling of
card
security







AND THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS!

48 comments:

  1. I adore the painting, the stripes just pull you right in! I love seeing your work space set up in the car, very clever.
    Who ever thought dental work could be a fun experience! I love the colorful chairs and rose. You can never be too careful with your credit card information, the restaurant should get 5 stars for all their hospitality! I hope you are feeling better!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Celia...glad you liked the stripes, but let me tell you...every bump in the road softened them up! I had a paper towel busy dabbing.
      And I still have several more Mondays to go.
      I love your pansy and lemon painting very much.

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  2. oh my goodness, where do I start? First, wow...maybe I will start painting in the car, what a beautiful painting! Second, how did a horrible trip to the dentist turn into a wonderful adventure? Third, how on earth do you make watercolour look like oil paint? Fourth, how did you get so clever? :)

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    1. Hi Leesa - thanks for the neat comment. I have been working to try and make my watercolors and oils look similar so glad you think they do.
      Amazing job on the dog. Looked great to me even though it is not one of your favorites.

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  3. I am making a similar trek myself today to have my teeth cleaned. Sometimes you are just putting the time in:)

    Beautiful painting too and time well spent in the car:)

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    1. thanks Libby - you have some really neat paintings going.

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  4. I am so glad you found a good dentist that you are happy with in Mexico, Julie. I cannot believe how expensive it is in the U.S. for medical care, even with the "affordable care act." Not so affordable when you are living on unemployment!

    Love these beautiful flowers!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sherry - you are so right. Affordable is relative.
      I have several more visits yet to go.
      Keeping my fingers crossed the perfect job offer will happen soon.

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  5. What a dental celebration! I love your watercolor paintings best of all. They seem more calm to me, quiet my bless my spirit in a way I so enjoy. Love you!

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    1. Thanks Carol. Glad you like my watercolors. I like all your work.

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  6. Your dentist took you to lunch?! That is so great! What a lovely place too!

    Your watercolor painting looks like a oil since the colors are so deep and rich. So gorgeous...not surprised it's sold.

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    1. Hi Lisa - I think it is hard to tell on the computer but unless watercolor is done as a vignette, it can be mistaken for quite a few types of paintings. I am trying to get a similat look between oil and watercolor though.
      I love your latest painting and all the texture in it.

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  7. I forgot to say I hope your mouth is recovering!

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  8. Gorgeous painting and I hope you have a speedy recovery!!

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    Replies
    1. thanks Kim. I enjoyed your post on the sealers for watercolors. Beautiful painting too.

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  9. haha, I'm not surprised that I'm not the only one wowed by this post! I was pondering how on earth did you paint in a moving vehicle?!?! Then amazed by yet another watercolor that I swear is as rich as an oil painting...then the dental story..oh my !!!! and the restaurant....(every bit of which was cool, cool, cool.....). What an adventure! Hope the teeth situation heals up fast (and my head stops spinning from this wild adventure!!!) yowsa!! You never cease to amaze me!!! :-)

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    Replies
    1. I always paint on trips in the car. Oil and watercolor. It passes the time like nothing else.
      My set-up for the car starts with one of those trays with a cushion attached underneath. It really adds stability. The bumps add a bit of excitement and a few mutters when really bad.
      Your spring flowers have such an uplifting effect. Thanks.

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  10. Regarding your trip, you sure turned a - into a +!! Hope all went well.
    Wonderful painting, Julie!

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    1. Hi Dean - thanks so much. It did gi well but several more to go. Soft food only this week
      Love your painting of the young girl...and toys.

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  11. Heavens! Painting in the car? I have to wonder if this is an April Fool's joke! The road would have to be smooth as silk! A lovely, clever, reasonably priced dentist who took you to lunch seems nearly impossible as well. I am just grinning, real or fictional, the painting is enchanting!

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    Replies
    1. Laughing at the April Fool joke. Trust me - it is real.
      I paint in the van a lot on any trip an hour or more. It is always freeway driving and really smooth most of the time.. My set-up is really handy and if there is a bump then I dab any paint in the wrong place - off!
      Thanks for the fun comment and I was impressed with your 10 minute sketches.
      I like the imperfections because I am an impressionist.

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  12. Very wonderful watercolour floral painting !!!
    Nice Spring-time in Art-world !!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. Spring makes us aware of the emerging beauty from the barren ground, doesn't it? I love your delicate painting of spring growth.

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  13. Quite a treat going yo your dentist , I might consider changing mine :-) Your painting is fabulous Julie, and what I really admire is the fact that you fill the space in your paintings without them ever looking cluttered. That is an art in itself !

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    1. I really appreciate a comment like this because I struggle to capture a feeling of space in my work as well as filling the space. Not always easy so thank you, Jane.
      You have a lovely eye flow in your flower still life too. Your colors are always fresh and harmonious.

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  14. Dental work of any kind makes me shiver. Hope all is well and you are perky again. The paintings lovely as usual and what a bonus to see the added photo's. Thanks Julie.

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    1. Thanks Blanche. I HATE dental work too. I was raised with the British National
      Health dental system and it left me with genuine fear of pain...and a slow grinding drill!
      What a fun idea to paint a landscape like you have and THEN decide on a focal area. Looking foreword to seeing what you choose.

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  15. Well if you really have to go to the dentist then that's the way to do it, sounds like a good day! Can't believe you did that picture whilst in the car!! It's a really beautiful watercolour!!

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    1. Nice to see you back after your operation, Kevin. Your own personal Saint was good enough to let us all know you had come through the surgery okay. Very thoughtful of her.
      Painting in the car is easier in some ways because you can blame a bump in the road for an error but in the safety of the studio you can only blame yourself!

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  16. A very beautiful day to share ... and your watercolor on board looks GREAT ! I did not practice painting on board...I will try this too!

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    1. Hello, dear friend. I like Strathmore Illustration (5ply) board. It takes quite a lot of abuse. I know you must have the equivalent there.
      With your beautiful way with watercolor I can imagine you would like using it.
      Your posts on using the wax have been fabulous. You write so well.

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  17. Good heavens...you painted that in the car? It's another beauty - incredible! Hope you're enjoying a speedy recovery - always nice to be on the other side of medical/dental procedures.

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    1. Hi Sue - glad you like it. I like your new painting very much and I love to see how your fracturing technique has developed.

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  18. Your paintings are exquisite Julie. Your watercolours have a rich quality I have not seen before. Perhaps it is that you use board or possibly that it is your natural style that comes out regardless of the medium. Your daffs were exceptional both oil and watercolour. Thanks for dropping by much appreciated by this very humble artist in comparison to your tremendous talent.

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    1. I think the reason they may look rich is because I layer. I start off with very light values and keep adding to get the richness. My goal is to have my watercolor an oil paintings to have a similar appearance so you can see it is a Julie painting.
      You have a lovely glow and flow to your watercolors. I adored your chili one especially.

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  19. OMGoodness, Julie! This is amazing..it looks like an oil painting and congratulations on selling this piece. LUNCH WITH THE DENTIST!! I've never heard of this before! what a treat!! My dentist barely knows my name..lol And painting in the car is proof that you are a great Artist !!

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    1. You made me laugh - thanks Hilda dear.
      I really did a job on my teeth. The stress I have been going through made me unknowingly clench my teeth, resulting in lots of damage - all on one side. I could not afford the dentist here and nearly had a heart attack at the quoted estimate. Going to Mexico will have saved me over 6 thousand buckeroos!

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  20. Oh my, this dentistry in Mexico is fascinating. Can you tell us what you had done?? How in the world do you find a dentist in Mexico...especially one this nice?? I love your painting--it is so festive!

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    1. hi Celeste - if you read the reply to Hilda just above you it will fill in some blanks. The dentist came highly recommended by a doctor friend who has gone to her for 21 years.
      Thanks for liking the painting. I like the stripes the best.

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  21. Lucky you having that option and then having so much fun with the trip!! Thanks for the info on the waxes--very interesting. As always I love this painting like all that you do.

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  22. Julie - first of all hooray about your dental work...Hope you are doing fine. Then you are so amazing painting while hubby drives - this is beautiful too. How do you do it? I am afraid I would have more paint on me than the paper (LOL) - Guess that shows hubby must be a great driver...no hard stops!! Take care friend and have a lovely day.

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  23. your flowers are sooo beautiful!!!

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  24. A masterpiece! Very motivating to hear that this was done on the move! It rpoves a point that where there is a will there is a way. That dental clinic looks so cheerful.

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  25. Painted during a round trip drive for 2 hours?...
    Oh, my God!
    Such a wonderful work!!!
    I am speechless...

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  26. I am simply amazed that you painted this beauty while your husband was driving the car! Kudos to you, Julie! Hope your dental issues are all solved - it seems as if you made the best of the situation!

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie