LIVING YOUR EXAMPLE

Here's the advice I wasn't going to give (from last week's blog):

SAY YES

         YES opens doors

         NO closes them

BE KIND, GENEROUS, & HELPFUL TO OTHERS

EAT WHAT TASTES GOOD TO YOU IN MODERATION

TRY TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY

Last week in Carmel, I watched two instructors, Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling, use this advice in their watercolor workshop, Make Every Day a Painting. We painted in downtown Carmel, at the Mission, in Big Sur, and at the beach. Each day Cindy and Theresa filled us not only with good watercolor techniques, but with life lessons as well. In the middle of the day, Carole Frazier, a songwriter, gave us thought-provoking prompts to write in our art journals. The first question she asked, "What Did You Come For?," made me pause. My response: to learn more watercolor techniques, and more importantly, to be with other like-minded creatives.

We did exercises and quick studies that began to fill our journals with memories of Carmel. So many people, even well-trained artists, are intimidated by watercolor. We tried to relax with the medium. We didn't create masterpieces. We did what all artists do: practice. During each session, we encouraged each other and learned to feel more confident with the medium.

At the end of the week, I felt I had a break-through with my pieces. These are a few of the paintings I made. Remember they are art journal pieces, not masterpieces. They all are unfinished and could use  more work.

Remember that art in any form takes practice. 

No one is born with paint brushes, paper, and paint in hand.

Check out Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling's website, http://makeeverydayapainting.com