Planting Ideas In Fertile Soil-Thoughts on Sketchbooks

"Paintings are like plants that grow from little seeds. Plant enough of these seeds in your sketchbook and some of them will surely blossom."
- Dan McCaw from "A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art"

Thought I'd share some thoughts on sketchbooks. A fellow artist whose work is such crazy-imaginative-on-all levels-fun recently posted one of her daily paintings on her blog, along with some thoughts on sketchbooks. Which I LOVE- it's like a private conversation with the artist, or maybe 'eaves-dropping' into this conversation! Brenda York really got me thinking about this, "It definitely feels a little like your slip is showing, however..." she says!
So - thanks Brenda, I think maybe a 'tag-team-blog-sharing' of sketchbooks might be a fun thing! On a recent week in mid-September I had the chance to go down to Washington, DC with my husband, who had business down there. We took the train, so I wanted to pack light, and didn't want to lug a lot of paint gear, but of course, I took one favorite sketchbook. Had a chance to sit & sketch one of my daughters (which I'm sure bores the daylights out of her, but she tolerates her mom's peculiarities really well). We got to laughing because her hand under her chin starting going numb and she began moving it...at which point it seemed like it was all over her face! hahah. It's a small sketch in a little 5x7? book, but it's amazing how strong the memory of that moment is - when you take the time to sketch it out.

From my other sketch-books you can see how I work out some compositional ideas, whether a design will fit a certain format, or how will the values make this a stronger piece? Sometimes, it's just some 'glorified doodling', which is quite fun on it's own...sketch and hopefully the brain will follow! Depending on what I'm after, my favorite tools are sharpie markers or ball-point pens. I like to use books with heavier or even watercolor paper- to keep the marker from bleeding through- or if I want to add a bit of color later, with watercolor or colored pencil or marker. And as one of my favorite living artists, Dan McCaw says in his book, "A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art", "I can record my random ideas, free-flowing thoughts, subjects or ideas that intrinsically move me. It's like daydreaming with a pen or in little watercolor roughs. I even like to put notes in my sketchbooks. They become a little bit of a diary to look back on. I often refer to my sketchbooks and find ideas I had forgotten about."
McCaw's book has been one of my favorite resources over the years. It never ceases to encourage and inspire me.

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Special Guests - commission/sold

8"x10" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."
-Gilda Radner


I've just finished putting the final touches on this commission. I've been calling it "Special Guests", an 8x10" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board. A gift for her daughter, this mom has chosen to have her 'grand-dogs' painted, who were decked out in all their flowers & ribbon-finery for the lovely outdoor October wedding! I got the thrill of seeing some very romantic and beautiful wedding photos and create a special gift for one of my collectors!

Please contact me if you are interested in having a painting done to celebrate a special occasion in your life, or as a gift for a loved one!
roxannesteed@gmail.com

Beach Cruiser

6"x8" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board

"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you live."
-Mark Twain


I do have one small painting left to show you from my Chincoteague paint-out weekend. I'm calling it "Beach Cruiser". When the owners of the "Channel Bass Inn" started setting out bicycles in the gardens for their guests to take for a ride to the beach, I saw this bright pink one....and asked if I could move it over to this lime-green foliage ....and 'borrow' it for just an hour or so to paint! Whew, glad that worked out! I was just loving these colors together, enjoying my time in this garden space, and becoming a bit envious of the guests who would actually be riding out on that pink bike over to the beach!- Lucky person!

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Gray Day At The Shoreline - sold

8"x10" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board

"There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul."
- Victor Hugo


I took some time out to go paint outside today. One of my Twitter artist friends, Jackie White, here in CT invited me to meet up with her over at Harkness Park (my favorite place). It was very overcast most of the day, which is actually quite pretty down by Goshen Cove, looking across the beach. The treeline & tall steeple silhouette is such a nice view. I love how the curve of the beach and grasses lead right in to the steeple view. This one is called, "Gray Day At The Shoreline" and is an 8"x10" on Belgian linen mounted on archival board.

I'm currently working on some commission sketches, another project that looks like it will be a fun painting!

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

The Secret Garden

7"x5" oil on gessoed masonite art board

"I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I worked in the garden."
- John Erskine

I'm finally ready to unveil the last two paintings from my Chincoteague trip. Both of them were done in the fabulous little garden behind the "Channel Bass Inn", just off of Main Street. You would never know that such a garden exists by looking at the front of the Inn. But once you enter into the back yard area, the garden is like a series of little rooms and paths, with a vine covered potting shed, bird baths and fountains, flowers spilling out every where, climbing & soaring; there's something blooming at every level. Tall butterfly bushes and tall sunflowers blossomed overhead to give a real sense of privacy, pink and white phlox growing along some of the lower levels. For my first painting of the morning, I placed my easel where I could see the light peeking through on the garden path, lighting up the rim of an old shell shaped fountain. I'm calling it "The Secret Garden" and it's a 7"x5" oil on primed masonite art board. Oh what an inspiring place to paint (and think about what I might do in my own garden at home)! Tomorrow I'll show you the last painting of the "Chincoteague weekend". To purchase, please visit my DailyPainters.com Gallery Store.

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Yellow Barn, Griswold Point, Sunny Day in Old Lyme

8"x10" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
- John Muir


This morning I headed out to Griswold Point, down in Old Lyme, to meet up with other CT Plein Air Painters. What a gorgeous September morning. I took a walk down to see the water, from time to time turning to see what was behind me. That's when I noticed the sunlight on this yellow barn! My intentions were to paint some of the shoreline this morning....but I know the thing that 'grabs me' quicker than anything is strong light contrasts! We're at the time of year when the tall grasses in the fields are getting those red-tinged tops- it makes for such interesting color variations across the surface!

I just got back in Sunday evening from a trip down to DC. Though I didn't take the oils with me this time. We went down on the train, so I wanted to pack light. But I did take a sketch book, and had time for a few museum trips!

I still have 2 more small oil paintings to share with you from my Chincoteague paint-out, and I've recently finished a commission to share with you! Thanks for following along, I'll be talking about all those later this week!

To purchase, please visit my DailyPainters Gallery-Store online!

Chincoteague Houseboat

5"x7" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain

The fourth & final painting of last Friday's paint-out in Chincoteague was completed in the afternoon. I'm calling it, "Chincoteague Houseboat", and it's a 5"x7" oil on gessoed masonite artboard.

After lunch, I headed down to Curtis Merritt Harbor marina near the end of South Main Street on Chincoteague. Now at 2pm, the sky was clouding up and the wind picking up a bit, too, but I had been admiring some of the larger boats here. As long as the wind didn't send me & my gear into the water, I knew I'd have the last painting of the day right there. I had checked out the views from both sides of the marina & found I couldn't go wrong either way, but I had one view that really appealled to me - but what I thought was a shed or small building....turned out to be a houseboat! Wow! I found out through one of the boaters who came up to see what I was up to. "Oh, you're painting the house-boat".
me, "That's a houseboat?...wow, does it go out very often?"
The boater told me, this fellow who owns the houseboat only takes it out once or twice a year, but certainly for the pony swim! Now there's a story - and something I'd love to see! It's been almost 20 years since I've been to a pony penning day on Chincoteague (it happens every year, the last week of July). But the excitement stays with you - it's something you never forget! I think I need to get me back to the island during July and see this again! I'll be watching out for the houseboat!

The plein-air event on Chincoteague is so well planned and hosted. There's a couple that hosts a dinner for the artists on the Friday night of the weekend event. They always have a wonderful spread of food and desserts in warm and inviting surroundings. It is always fun to see old friends who continue to return to the paint-out as well as new friends that you haven't yet had the pleasure to meet. Now, as beautiful as the surroundings are to paint, there are many of us artists who smile, wink & tell you we definitely come back for the Friday night dinners!

Contact me for purchase information on this painting: roxannesteed@gmail.com

Filmore Street Sun and Shadow - sold

8"x6" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."
- Maori Proverb


The third painting on Friday during my Chincoteague Paint-out last week-end:

I headed over to a 'hidden garden' on Filmore Street belonging to Theresa Bulgher. Filmore St. is a tiny narrow street off of Church Street that edges along a canal on one side. Colorful little beach cottages line each side and lush, interesting gardens with just a touch of "wildness" to them. There was quite a bit to choose from in any direction, but a bit of picket fence caught my eye. If you've followed my blog & paintings for any length of time, you know how I love these in a garden! Combine that with an interesting dose of sun & shadow and I knew exactly what I was after. AND another crepe myrtle still in bloom, too!

Several artists were already painting here in various little nooks & crannies of the garden- all of us with quite different views in mind. One, who claimed not to be a 'landscape painter' but a still life painter, found many paintings in this area that day! I always find it fascinating that you can turn 40 artists loose on an island and have sooo many different, amazing views! Just the thought of that makes me smile!

This painting came together so nicely! What an enjoyable spot to stand and paint, under the shade of large trees, with great views in any direction. By this point, it was 1pm and time for lunch.

This painting sold during our exhibit & sale last weekend...sorry if you missed the show - it was a lot of fun and I know you would have enjoyed it!! There's always next year....and following along with my blog! :-)

Green Cottage

6"x8" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board

"I can envision a small cottage somewhere, with a lot of writing paper, and a dog, and a fireplace and maybe enough money to give myself some Irish coffee now and then and entertain my two friends."
- Lt. Richard Van de Geer

The second painting on Friday during my Chincoteague Paint-out last week-end:

Over on Maddox Street, about 9am the sun is still moving quickly and making some interesting shadows under the eves and porch roof on the front of this house. I love to see the varying temperatures of light as it glances across the angles of buildings. Top that off with the gorgeous crepe myrtle on the front corner of this cottage and I've got a wonderful complimentary color thing going here. I'm set up on the lawn of a hotel just across the street, in the shade of the hotel sign, so there is no direct sun on my canvas or palette (makes it easier to see what you're doing!) Now if you've been to Chincoteague, you'll know that there are several bands of roaming ducks- being surrounded by water, this should not come as a surprise. I was wondering if they would come up and start pecking at my paint tubes, but they kept their distance. Whew, dodged that little bullet. So again, to start a painting, I indicate the large masses- with 'masses of paint' and block that in with these considerations in mind: warm vs. cool colors and light vs. dark values. As a painter, you'll find that if you allow yourself to block in with simple shapes first(and fairly abstractly), and get that canvas covered, the details you add on top of that will finish things up easily. And I am so glad I chose those shadow shapes immediately and got them indicated with the initial block in. As the sun continued to rise, the shadow shapes continued to change and weren't near as interesting as when I first saw them!

*Painters, make your decisions early and stick with them, see them through to the end. If you really must change for something 'better' you can always do that later. But if what you saw at first is the best, and you haven't gotten that down on canvas, it's more difficult to go back to the shadows that "used to be there". By 11am I was wrapping things up, the sun is high in the sky and I was ready to move to my next selected painting
spot.

Contact me to purchase this painting: roxannesteed@gmail.com

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Sunrise On Assateague

6"x8" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board

"Each golden sunrise ushers in new opportunities for those who retain faith in themselves, and keep their chins up....Meet the sunrise with confidence. Fill every golden minute with right thinking and worthwhile endeavor. Do this and there will be joy for you in each golden sunset."
- Alonzo Newton Benn


I'm back from Chincoteague and now that the laundry's done, I'm off on the next adventure. It's birthday week at our house (both my husband & I share this week) but I'm three days older, so I get to celebrate first. That's another story for later in the week! But I'm writing this on a train to DC!

I've been wanting to tell you about the Paint-out event I spent in Chincoteague, VA last weekend. The Chincoteague Cultural Alliance hosts "Second Saturday" events all year long. For the month of September, they host a most wonderful Plein-aire Paint-out, exhibit and sale. It's well publicized and attended. Most of the artists attending paint Friday and Saturday, but some come earlier in the week to paint. I drove down on Thursday from CT and arrived with enough daylight to scout out the places I wanted to paint this year. For those not familiar with the area, Chincoteague is an island off of the eastern shore of Virginia, right near the border of Maryland. It's a small town with marinas, and famous for their oysters! the next island east of Chincoteague is Assateague, a National Park known for its wild ponies, made famous by the "Misty of Chincoteague" story.

I don't think I've ever seen the light as beautiful as I did on Thursday evening when we drove in. At 7:00pm the angle of light brought out the rich colors in the marsh grasses, trees, and even the mud flats. I'd been watching the times for sunset, and knew I wouldn't have enough time to set up & paint the rest of the evening. Perhaps if I'd just arrived another 30-50 minutes earlier? So I just stared....and took photos....and made plans for Friday! The weather was perfect and holding. Friday morning I set my alarm for 5:30am to be able to get out & set up for a sun-rise painting at the same marsh area over on Assateague. I paint in this area at least once each year, and I know the ponies make their rounds at some point during the day.

So, today's painting is "Sunrise at Assateague", a 6x8" oil on Belgian linen mounted on archival board.

The light moves fast at 6:30am. I kept things small this trip, bringing only 5x7 & 6x8 panels. I set up & began indicating all the largest land & tree masses, and BOOM- here comes the sun. I quickly decided where I wanted this in the tree-line. As it continued to climb the colors in the marsh grass continued to change and illuminate. I'm not a 'early' morning person, but if you've never watched the sun come up....and I mean really - sit- and slowly- take - it - all in....it's well worth your effort. As I was painting/watching/looking with intense concentration, I'm pulled from my thoughts by whinnying! Lots of whinnying! I turn to the marsh side behind where I'm standing, they're still not in view yet, but I hear the ponies! So I turn back to my painting, and the intensity of looking, thinking, painting....and now I'm hearing "slosh, slosh, slosh, whinny" - they are right behind me making their way through the marsh. They look sort of like a wild parade with egrets riding on their back. It makes me smile with delight! But I have a painting to finish....must focus!

Now the painting of sunrises (and sunsets for that matter) have a big challenge- you just can't 'stare' into the sun, you go color blind for a bit, and it really makes it difficult to see anything. I found myself holding up one hand to block out the sun (once I had it down on my canvas) and continued moving my eyes across the area to see the colors I wanted in my painting.

I was painting a few yards away from Lisa Egeli (one of the many fine painters at this event) who happened to be among the several of us who had chosen that view. I asked her later how she handled the 'being blinded by the intense light' situation. She indicates all the land & tree masses on her canvas before the sun comes up, then as it's rising, indicates on her canvas where it will be....and then watches the colors. Once the sun is just above the treeline, it's easier to see the shapes between the trees - and she can indicate that easier. She remembers the colors she has just watched, and goes in with that, tends to her edges, and finishes up. I find these events helpful in sharing ideas with other artists, so I'll pass these along to my artist readers! At this point in the day, the sun is up, it's still before 8am and I have a little green cottage with a fushcia colored crepe myrtle waiting for me on Maddox Street back in town! That is, after I stop for a big breakfast to get me through the rest of the day!

Contact me to purchase this painting: roxannesteed@gmail.com

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Annual Chincoteague Plein-Air Paint-out, Exhibit & Sale

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

- I made it down to Chincoteague this evening (Thursday), with just enough day-light to scout out where I'd like to paint for the next day and a half! The light was so beautiful - and it looks like the weather will cooperate and be a delight! Hope to post what I paint while I'm down here, we'll see how it goes, it's usually an action packed weekend!

In case you're not a subscriber to my 'Cheer Factor Emails', here's what I'm up to this weekend:

****For all my Virginia & Maryland friends: I'm headed down to Chincoteague, VA this weekend for Seventh Annual Plein Air Event sponsored by the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance! The artists will be out & about on Chincoteague & Assateaugue Islands painting in the open air. Saturday evening ends with a reception, exhibit and sale of the artists' work. This year the event will move to the spacious Paschal Hall at St. Andrew's Church - 6288 Church Street. The reception is 6-10pm, Saturday, September 11th.

**Now....for the big secret, if you haven't learned this about me already- just one of the reasons I LOVE going to Chincoteague is because I grew up as one little 'horse-crazed' girl....and "Misty of Chincoteague" was a favorite story of mine. I'm always surprised when I meet folks who don't know of the story- so here's the wiki article!- this is a classic, and a Newbery medal winner (literature for children). Of course- the other reasons I return each year to paint there are: good food, fun friends, and fine art in a beautiful natural setting! What else could you want?! I hope to see you there!


Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

ndp

Roses Of Late Summer, Crystal Vase & North Light

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

"Flowers are words which even a baby can understand."
- Arthur C. Coxe

We've had a second round of blooms on our Eden rose. It's putting out some big canes- next year this thing should be quite magnificent! They have a delicate fragrance but a full ruffly bloom head - soo nice to cut & bring in the house.....and paint.

To purchase, please visit my gallery store on DailyPainters.com

I'm going to be starting another commission next- a pair of dogs- Australian shepherds, that are part of a wedding party!! and they are sooo pretty! I'm really looking forward to this! Thanks for following along as this artist's life unfolds!


****For all my Virginia & Maryland friends: I'm headed down to Chincoteague, VA this weekend for Seventh Annual Plein Air Event sponsored by the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance! The artists will be out & about on Chincoteague & Assateaugue Islands painting in the open air. Saturday evening ends with a reception, exhibit and sale of the artists' work. This year the event will move to the spacious Paschal Hall at St. Andrew's Church - 6288 Church Street on. The reception is 6-10pm, Saturday, September 11th. Make your summer last a little longer with a delightful trip out to the Eastern shore this weekend!

**Now....for the big secret, if you haven't learned this about me already- just one of the reasons I LOVE going to Chincoteague is because I grew up as one little 'horse-crazed' girl....and "Misty of Chincoteague" was a favorite story of mine. I'm always surprised when I meet folks who don't know of the story- so here's the wiki article!- this is a classic, and a Newbery medal winner (literature for children). Of course- the other reasons I return each year to paint there are: good food, fun friends, and fine art in a beautiful natural setting! What else could you want?! I hope to see you there!


Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Irish Wedding- commission

14"x18" oil on Belgian linen

"If you do not have a vision, nothing happens."
- Christopher Reeve


Today's painting is "Irish Wedding" and is a 14"x18" oil on Belgian linen stretched canvas. This was a particularly fun commission - as it came from a collector who had previously bought one of my Valentia Island, Ireland paintings...it was a landscape scene- and it just happened that her grandmother had lived in that same area- on the same road! That was pretty thrilling for me to hear her story of her visits with her grandmother. Now, two years later, her daughter was recently married over there on Valentia Island- and she asked me to paint this as a gift for the newlyweds! Of course I'm thrilled! After seeing all the wedding photos of these familiar places....I felt a bit like I had been there (and secretly wishing I had been - it was lovely!). My best wishes to the adorable couple...and heart-felt thank-yous to the mom who had me collaborate with her on a special gift for them.

For CT & nearby art lovers: - If you happen to live in CT- or aren't too far (NY, MA etc)- you still have some time left (through Sept 19th) to see a wonderful show at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme. "Connecticut Treasures: Works from Private Collections" far exceeded my expectations. The 'Flo-Gris' always puts on a good show- and while my mom was visiting last week, we spent one rainy day visiting the exhibit. I went with the intentions of seeing their new acquisition - a Willard Metcalf painting, "Kalmia". I had gotten hooked on Metcalf's works from a prior exhibit they had of his work in 2005. And yes- I loved it! My surprise at the show was finding an artist whose works I had never heard of....one of those moments when you round the corner, look across the room & BOOM- you're socks are knocked off! When you spend a lot of time looking at really great art - it sometimes takes a lot to make you draw in a breath- and exhale with the long....wowwwww. "Who is this artist?" is the next thing that pops into my head - "The Broken Wall" c.1926 was painted by Wilson Henry Irvine....and this was the painting that had such an effect on me. Owned by George M. Yeager, it is to be donated to the museum's permanent collection. I felt a big surge of gratitude for George....this guy who I had never met, but suddenly felt like I owed a big thank-you for his generous and beautiful gift!

Hey - I just checked their web-site - and Sept. 14-19th is 'free week' to all New London county residents!! It's exit 70 right off of the I-95, Tues-Sat. 10am-5pm and Sun. 1pm-5pm.

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Impasto Technique (Frosting the Cupcakes) - Tuscan Melon, French Roses

16"x20" oil on linen mounted on museum quality panel

"So many people work in arenas that discourage creativity. In fact, society as a whole attempts to persuade us not to consider an independent creative lifestyle as a wise choice. Nevertheless I guarantee that, whatever your chosen field, art will enrich your life."
- Kevin Macpherson

Glad to be back to painting & blogging! I've been away to Florida, and brought my mom up to CT for a week-long visit. I was determined to make it a memorable trip for her. She flew back home yesterday, and I promptly returned to my studio to work on a commission- I can hardly wait to show you - more on that later!

Over the last year or so, I've had many people ask me about my "impasto technique". The quest to achieve this "lushness" that so greatly appealed to me began many years ago.

Over the years, I had this feeling I wanted more paint on the canvas, but I wasn't sure how I wanted to go about doing that. I was going through Kevin Macpherson's book, "Landscape Painting Inside & Out" and there was one section called "Ten Outside Painting Challenges" - all were helpful - but #6 was "Paint by the Pound". He suggested the following exercise - use a 9x12" panel, squeeze out an entire tube of white onto your palette, as well as a half tube each of red, yellow, & blue. USE IT ALL on this one panel! The lesson he's trying to get across is that most students never put out enough paint. It is one of the best learning exercises - and truly an "ah-ha" moment. You might not continue to use all this paint in every work you do, but you will learn to free yourself from "stinginess" with the paint.

Back at that time (when I tried Macpherson's exercise) I was using brushes, and I had tried them all, flats, brights, filberts, and then.....rounds!!! I did find I could lay down more paint in the manner I found pleasing, with round brushes. Eventually, I gave the palette knife a try - inspired by Leif Nilsson's beautiful work. I had seen Leif's work in magazines for years, but when I finally saw it in 'real-life', I knew there was the path I'd follow! So I gave the knives a try for a year or so....and eventually, I had the good fortune to study with him (last summer) and it made all the difference in what I was seeking.

I know when you first pick up a palette knife to paint with, it feels so WEIRD! But, if you start to think of it like frosting cupcakes, you eventually get the hang of it. You know how if you don't get enough frosting, or you press too hard with the knife - it tears up the top of the cupcake? But if you lighten your touch, and have enough frosting on there it works..and you don't want it too watered down either, or else it will run off the sides of the cupcake instead of sitting up there nice & yummy looking. So that's the analogy. I also found over time that the bigger & more flexible a knife you use, that can make an easier time of it too. I still mostly use 2 medium-large sized knives for the small paintings - one with a pointy tip and one with a rounded tip. For really huge paintings (for me that's anything over 20" in any direction) I use what looks sort of like a trowel, but it's actually a painting knife.

The other thing that I REALLY love about painting with a knife is that I find I waste less paint. Yes, you do use a lot...but it's going on your canvas (or whatever ground you're using). It's ideal for plein-air as the clean-up is so much easier. Wipe off your (one single) knife, instead of tons of brushes! AND you don't need to carry flammable solvents or mediums!

I hope this helps! I am interested in putting together a workshop using these methods! Please let me know if this interests you!

There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at roxannesteed@gmail.com My blog: http://roxannesteed.blogspot.com/. My website: www.roxannesteed.com/