A Country Barn and the Joys of teaching

COUNTRY BARN

Watercolor 8x10

Purchase Info

A few weeks ago we painted barns in my weekly watercolor classes. I have always loved to teach and have taught math, engineering, art facilitating and now painting classes for the last twelve years. It is a wonderful feeling to share your knowledge and be able to encourage artistic expression in others. It has also strengthened my own creative skills and helped me to focus on how I approach my own art as I am sharing with students.

I often hear alot of negativity from students about their own work and try to remind them that we should all enjoy the process, the creative journey, and not get so hung up on the final product - after all, it is just a piece of paper!

Pink Glory - Spring Flowers

PINK GLORY

Watercolor 8x10

Purchase Info

I began Pink Glory by wetting the paper and quickly painting colors for the flowers, background and leaves. I used my fan brush to spatter color, suggesting other flowers in the garden. When everything was dry I defined the bacground aroudn the flowers and enhanced the petals. Is your garden ready for spring?

A Spring Window, Lace Curtains and a Few Flowers

SPRING WINDOW

Watercolor 8x10

Purchase Info

In my weekly watercolor classes we used windows as our focus, one of my favorite subjects to teach and paint. You can have so much fun with the texture of the stone, brick or stucco walls. Of course you need colorful shutters and charming lace curtains with a pot of flowers sitting on the window sill. A little greenery to frame the painting and you are done!

Sold at Auction - Summer Tide

SUMMER TIDE

Watercolor 8x10

SOLD

I really enjoyed painting this beach scene. I don't ususally paint alot of boats so it was a good challenge for me - makes me wish I was at the beach with a boat of my own. Summer Tide was sold thru an Art Auction on Daily Paintworks and is on its way to my hometown of Ft. Worth, Texas.

A Winter Day and the Art Biz Blog by Alyson B. Stanfield

WINTER DAY

Watercolor 8x10

Purchase Info

Well, it is not exactly winter here in Colorado, in fact yesterday was a beautiful spring day in the low 80's with no wind and we could finally enjoy sitting out on our front porch.

If any of you out there are also blogging, selling your art, looking for a way to start promoting your paintings -  the Art Biz Blog by Alyson B. Stanfield is a great place to get ideas, information and to connect with other bloggers. She lives in Denver, CO and offers online classes, in person workshops and tons of info on her blog - a wonderful resource for this crazy world of art promotion! You can check it out here.

Crashing Waves - SOLD at Auction

SEA SOUNDS

Watercolor 8x10

SOLD

This painitng was a demo for a class on painting white water, not an easy thing to do in watercolor where you need to think ahead and save the white of the paper. I masked out the birds, spattered paint to help suggest the water spray and used negative painting on the rocks to define some of the waves. I must confess that when all was said and done I did use a tiny little bit of white acrylic to add more to the water spray - sometimes as hard as you try to plan ahead you just need a little help at the end!

The Beauty of a Single Rose

SOLITARY BEAUTY

Watercolor 11x15

Purchase Info

It is often a challenge to paint roses but they are sucha beautiful flower that I often find myself giving it a try - the key is to pay attention to the lights and darks.

This painting is being offered at a low starting price in an art auction on the Daily Paintworks website - to see all my paintings available thru auction click here

Watercolor Collage Workshop - Day Lilies

DAY LILIES

Watercolor Collage

I will be teaching a Watercolor Collage Workshop on Sat Apr 28, 9:30 - 3:30 in Colorado Springs, CO. Stretch your creativity by combining watercolor with collage and stamping to create a fun, textured painting of day lilies or flower of your choice. For more information go to my website or email me at MarthaKisling@msn.com. Hope you can join us for a fun and creative day!

Southern Flowers

HANGING BEAUTIES

Watercolor 11x15

Purchase Info

I began this painting with wet paper and tried to get in as much of the flower shapes and leaves as I could, using strong paint and very little water. When everything dried, I used negative painting in the background to fully define the flowers and add definition to the petals. Makes me miss those southern gardens!

Why Blog

SPRING IRIS

Watercolor 8x10

Purchase Info

I began this blog almost two years ago and am often asked why I decided to enter the blogging world. I wanted a place to share my art, show what it means to me, explain my creative process, connect with other artists and art lovers, sell my paintings and encourage artistic expression with others. I try to share a little of my personal life but not over do it and to stay positive and not make it a place to vent. There are all kinds of blogs out there covering every subject under the sun and written by an unlimited variety of people. I have enjoyed every minute of it and appreciate everyone who takes the time to join me on my creative journey - thank you so much!

Sailing The Open Seas

SAILING

Watercolor 8x10

Purchase Info

Wouldn't you love to be on the open water skimming across the waves? I've always thought it would be fun to really learn to sail but as a family we always used a motor boat so that the kids coule water ski, knee board and tube - maybe someday!

Deer Taking A Rest

RESTFUL

Watercolor 8x10

Purchase Info

I don't normally paint many animals but when I do I always enjoy it, especially when it is a sweet deer taking a little rest. I added spatters in several colors to the forground to add texture.

Three Paintings Auctioned Off to Washington

SINGLE ROSE

Watercolor 8x10 - SOLD

Three of my painitng were recently purchased by Lorri in Washington thru the Daily Paintworks Art Auctions.

GARDEN HOUSE

Watercolor 8x10 - SOLD

I have stated listing my new paintings fresh from the studio thru their auctions and starting the bids at a lower than normal price to encourage everyone a chance to participate in the auction process.

PANSY TRIO

Watercolor 8x10 - SOLD

If they don't sell at auction then they will be listed at my normal selling prices which I also try to keep low to ensure affordable art for everyone. You can see all my paintings currently on auction here. Happy bidding!

Beautiful Gardens at Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, SC

SPRING BOUQUET

Watercolor 11x15

Purchase Info

When we were in Charleston, SC last week we visited the historic Magnolia Plantation and Gardens located just outside the city. You can see Lisa sitting in front of the main house which was rebuilt in a different style after it was burned during the Civil War.

The plantation is most famous for its acres of beautiful gardens which were designed in the Romantic style where man conforms to nature instead of the popular English style which was very structured and man controlled nature.

There were several beautiful bridges over ponds that were surrounded my large trees with their southern Spanish Moss hanging down.

Large, manicured grounds surround the main house which was considered a 'country home' because they also owned a 'town' home in the city of Charleston. What a genteel, southern life!

Fresh Crab and Home Sweet Home in Charleston

PROFUSION OF FLOWERS

Watercolor 11x15

Purchase Info

Our oldest daughter Laura and her husband Eric have a beautiful home in John's Island which is one of the many islands in and around the coastal city of Charleston, SC. Their dog Copper - a gentle giant - felt like he should be in the picture, too!

The first morning we were there, Eric went out in his kayak for fresh crabs for our dinner - what a guy!

Then, he spent alot of time cleaning, cracking and digging out fresh meat so that he could make crab dip and crab cakes - they were delicious and we enjoyed every last morsel!

While he was busy spoiling us, the girls enjoyed a few games of Corn in the Hole where you try to get bean bags in the wooden hole or on the board for points. You can see Lisa laughing at my mom doing her celebration dance after scoring - too cute!

Southern Gardens and a Street Fair in Summerville, SC

GARDEN OUT THE WINDOW

Watercolor 11x15

Purchase Info

On our Girls Trip to Charleston, SC we went to the cute town of Summerville where the southern houses and gardens are so fun to see.

They were also having their annual street fair where they sold arts and crafts, including colorful glass ware.

Of course you have to have boiled peanuts, a southern staple. When we first moved to South Carolina none of us really appreciated the taste of them but after a while they kind of grow on you.

There were also alot of cute shops and restaurants along their main street.

Southern Flowers and Brunch In Charleston, South Carolina

YELLOW ROSE

Watercolor 8x10

SOLD

I just got back from spending six wonderful days with my mom and two girls in Charleston, SC. We stayed with our daughter Laura and her husband Eric who was a wonderful host and put up with alot of girl talk, laughter and fun.

The southern city of Charleston is a beautiful place to visit, known for its architecture, flowers and lush greenery.

We had brunch at 82 Queens, a wonderful old restaraunt in the heart of Charleston's historic district. We were lucky enough to get a table in their beautiful courtyard and enjoyed their delicious food and refreshing mimosas.

I enjoy living in Colorado but after growing up in Texas and living in South Carolina for six years I am still a southern girl at heart. Warm weather, lush plants, a few y'alls and I am back home!

Happy Easter

DAISIES

I hope all of you have a special Easter and get to enjoy it with friends and family.

Watercolor Collage Workshop - Day Lilies

DAY LILIES

Watercolor Collage 15x22

Purchase Info

I will be teaching a Watercolor Collage Workshop on Sat. Apr 28, 2012 in Colorado Springs, CO. We will be combining watercolor, texturing and collage to create an exciting painting of day lilies or a flower of your choice. Hope you can join us for a fun and creative day - for more information please go to my website.

Fine Art Newsletter for April 2012

NESTING

Watercolor 11x15

SOLD

My art newsletter has been sent out for April and highlights my paintings, workshops and trip to Charleston, SC. The winner of this month's free art giveaway will receive a print of Nesting shown above - if you have not already subscribed to the newletter you can do so at the top right of this blog and you may be the next winner! The newsletter can be viewed here

Surf Is Up

SEA SOUNDS

Watercolor 8x10

SOLD

In my weekly classes we painted moving or splashing water. The key is to hang on to your whites in the initial application of paint. You can use salt, spatter paint and spritz with water to suggest waves crashing against the rocks. I couldn't resist adding some seagulls flying by!

Sunflowers and Checks

CHECKERED SUNFLOWERS

Watercolor 11x15

Bid Here

For this painting I played around with painting a checkered pattern in the background - maybe wall paper? This painting is part of my Art Auctions on Daily Paintworks where you can enjoy the fun bidding process and buy an original watercolor at a reasonable price. Check out my gallery or watercolors here

Draw vs Trace

COMING HOME

Watercolor 8x10

Bid Here

I often have students in my classes who feel nervous about their drawing skills or lack there of so I encourage them to begin by tracing from their photos. Drawing vs tracing is often a controversial topic among artists. There is no doubt that doing your own sketching gives you the opportunity to practice and improve your draftsmanship but sometimes we need a little confidence booster to get us started. If tracing allows that, then by all means do it, but also try to push yourself do more of your own drawing along the way.

We all have different goals for where we are taking our art and it is up to the individual to choose their own path!

A Happy Art Collector

DAISIES

Watercolor Batik - 17x22

SOLD

Daisies now has a new home with Kathy right here in Colorado. She sent me a lovely email when she received the painting.

Got the watercolor batik on Saturday and it is beautiful. The colors are breathtaking and will will look wonderful in our home. I will send you a photo of the framed painting when we get it back. (My husband said this one is too nice for us to try to frame ourselves). Thanks again for allowing me to own some of your art. I think it is fantastic that you offer art at a reasonable price so not just the rich can enjoy and beautify their home with fine, quality art.

I alwas love to hear back from my collectors and appreciate when they take the time to contact me - it is a joy and privledge to be able to share my art!