Happy New Year to you, and thank you for reading this first blog of 2020! I hope you had a good Christmas. I received an early Christmas gift from the Florida Watercolor Society (FWS). I was chosen to participate in their 2020 Online Show! The show will be available online in mid-January. My painting, “Yellow Peppers”, was chosen for the show. I used a photograph of fresh peppers that I took at a local grocery store for reference. The free form abstract design of the peppers caught my attention, and I thought it might make an interesting picture. The challenge was painting the yellow peppers and showing them individually. I planned the palette using Hansa Yellow, a light yellow, Aureolin, a warmer yellow, and orange. The background is a dark ultramarine blue which is a compliment of the yellows, and sap green for the stems. Remember yellow and blue make green so it looks very natural. The grey of the container the peppers were next to adds a contrast to the rest of the picture. A little known fact: if you mixed all the colors used in the picture they would be grey! The finishing touch is the use of the pen and ink to embellish the forms of the peppers to make them stand out. Now, here is the rest of my news I wanted to share with you.
“Yellow Peppers” Watercolor on Paper Painting available for sale at the Hub or online, Price: $300, Also available as a card for $4.
- First Saturday, January 4th. I will be at the Hub from 10 to 2. I am working on a series of figures and faces. My Hub display wall for January will have a few of these. Check out my “Leopard Tea Party”.
- Talk Art: Saturday, January 11th, from 1pm to 2 pm. I will talk about “The Color of Watercolor” The talk will cover some basic information about the various colors. This includes understanding what the properties of the paints are and the importance of reading the labels on each one. It is helpful to have this knowledge when you buy them. I will have some handouts to take home to read.
- Artists’ Workshop December Newsletter highlights the Community Art Gallery at Trinity Lutheran Church with photos of artwork. artistsworkshopinc.com
- Evy Okerstrom 2020 Calendars are still available at the Hub and on this website. They are $15 each at the Hub and I charge $16 on the website to cover sales tax. No charge to mail them.
“Yellow Peppers” was chosen by the Florida Watercolor Society to be in their 2020 Online Show.
February 2020: Save the Dates: (1.) Sunday February 9th at Trinity Lutheran Church, 9:15 am to 10: 15 am The Adult Forum Series: I will talk about “Love and Art”, and have some cards to work on for Valentine’s Day. (2.) Saturday, February 15th: A Workshop with Evy Okerstrom at the Hub on Canal: “Pen and Ink with Watercolor Wash”. This is a stress free day long (10 to 4) workshop. I have prepared all the drawings for you to practice on. You will go home with a picture. The cost is $70 and if you need supplies I will supply them for you for $30. You can sign up at the Hub or the Hub website. My class size is a max of 10. Email me at ero814@yahoo.com with any questions.
Thank you again and here is my thought for today: “Listen. I wish I could tell you it gets better. But, it doesn’t get better. You get better! …… Joan Rivers
“Leopard Tea Party” Watercolor on Paper Painting available for sale at the Hub or online, Price: $125, Also available as a card for $4.