Studio Classes start Thursday & Sketches from Ireland (Fellowship of the Ring, of Kerry!)

While it's on my mind, I'm going to mention that my studio classes for "Sketchbook Journaling" are starting up this Thursday.  Here's the link to the scoop if you'd like to join us. It's close to full, but you might want to be on the waiting list- as I think there will be an opening in mid-October.  Also- you can click on the images to enlarge them! 

Now, back to Ireland- We started our first day with a quick demo and focusing especially on the thing that really 'cracks the nut' on success with watercolor - the pigment to water ratios!

The best way to quantify and explain that? Relate it to something we are very familiar with - FOOD! Tea (so weak that it can't get itself out of the pot!), coffee (a little more pigment), Milk (more pigment yet), cream (heavier still, you might not be able to see through it), and butter (almost straight out of the tube). Once you understand this, that's a big part of the learning curve.  Getting a bit of practice time in so everyone is familiar with their new supplies:

We have lots of opportunities to take in the local beauty. We had a carriage ride waiting for us in Knightstown, with Joe (of Valentia Ice Cream) and his horse Max. Can you imagine a guy that would be any more popular than that? (horses, home-made ice-cream, beautiful scenery, oh my).  

We rode past the pretty church on the way to Knightstown (many years ago, I painted a wedding commission of this place - good memories!).

Here's the view coming into the pier area of Knightstown, where you can ride the ferry over to the mainland.

Down the main street of Knightstown, this colorful coffee shop happens to be a great place for lunch...

I was really happy to see that there was still a lot of wildflowers in bloom, recent storms hadn't taken them out! There were montbresia and fuchsias filling the hedgerows, and wild blackberry brambles still putting out berries! 

This was along the road back to Valentia Ice Cream; to the left of us - cows in the pasture.  Below us, the Valentia Light house shines in the sunlight of a beautiful Valentia day!

We followed up our delightful ride with ice-cream! I got to chat with Joe's wife after she scooped up ice-cream for us. They are just closed for the season...but we are special guests that day.  They have expanded and added a whole new room, and patio-deck, as well as a play space for the kids! What a treat getting to visit with them again!

From here it's time to head back to Barbara's cottage for lunch! Yes, we worked up a nice appetite photographing the town, and all it's views. The ice cream was a bit of an appetizer!

The men are contemplating lunch, and the afternoon activities to come! After lunch, we cross the bridge to Portmagee and head south to Ballenskelligs Beach to visit the ruins, (and sit for a sketch if so desired!). 

Ever since Luke Skywalker made it out to Skellig Michael, everyone has been discovering what we've known all along....Skelligs Chocolate is FAB!!! 

Need we say anything more about that?! Now that we are fortified with a mug of hot chocolate, we proceed on our way, to Waterville, and Hogshead beach for a bit of beach-combing and views, and sunset!

The path to the beach is so lush!

and some can't resist getting their feet wet!

These stones are the colors that inspired my decorating choices in my home.

Looking back up the hill - another pretty view!

It's not difficult to imagine that fairies would live in such a lush and tender landscape!

The big view back up the hill!

The sun sets on our first day! 

We head off to dinner, and are already worlds away from the 'selves we left behind in the states'.   Is natural beauty important? Yes! Can it change our lives? Yes!  Does it continue to amaze and enthrall us? yes, yes, yes! Our humanity has us hard-wired to appreciate beauty in our daily lives!

Just a Couple Spots Left for the Ireland Sketchbook Tour in September

 "I dreamt I reached the Irish shore

and felt my heart rebound

From wall to wall within my breast,

as I trod that holy ground....

- Thomas D'Arcy McGee (1825-1868)

 This week, through May 31st, Aer Lingus is running air fare specials (at rates I haven't seen since before the recession!). Now is a GREAT time to book your flight, AND - plan to join us on my Ireland Sketchbook Tour class!  
My website has more details about the trip here. Our host's website to register is right here.

 Our host, Barbara Mastaglio, is an Irish American who spends time in each place during the year. Her Irish home is on Valentia Island, where we will stay in a neighboring B&B as our home base. The rolling hills are dotted with Irish cottages, sheep and cattle - idyllic views for painters! With the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Dingle Bay to our north, mainland of Ireland to the East, and the lovely fishing village of Portmagee directly across the channel to the south - we have spectacular views in ALL directions! 

 If you are a fan of beach-combing, we'll have an opportunity for that as well! There are several places to scoop up some interesting finds for sketching.

Nothing says it better than pictures though. I'm hoping you'll click through to the ValentiaArt website to see what our views are like! 

On our trip, you will learn to simplify the VAST Irish landscape to fit onto your sketchbook page. You'll learn the simple practices of sketchbook keeping enriched with watercolor washes - and bring this practice back home to your creative life. 

Create journal pages as unique as your own handwriting. I will show you how to enhance your drawings with creative page layouts and journal entries, as well as a bit of mixed media. If you think 'you can't draw', I will teach you! You'll be inspired and encouraged! 

Mama is a Big Fat Woolly Sheep! Sketchbook Travels!

"Now I lay me down to sleep, 

My mama's a big fat woolly sheep!"

Did you ever love those novels that take place in the southwest of Ireland, where our heroine is walking through pastures, towards the cliffs overlooking the crashing ocean waves. 

The ocean is calm today, the sun is out. The sheep are resting in the warmth of a summer day, little lambs tucked in beside their mother. A gentle breeze blows the fresh ocean air.  Breathe deeply, take in your vast surroundings, green as far as you can see on landside, deep ocean aqua blue across the Atlantic and Dingle Bay. 

Now put yourself in her place...you are that heroine! Stop along your walk, take out your sketchbook and record the scene, maybe a little vignette - to remind you of the day in a way that no photo ever, ever will! 

I'm inviting you to come along dear! Now is the time for you to consider telling your own story, changing the course of your life. Choosing fun and creativity.  Has someone told you that you cannot draw? (was it you that told yourself that?). Rubbish! Everyone starts at the beginning (as one of my most respected teachers gently told me). I'm here to show you that you CAN!! All levels will enjoy this week of sketching and watercolor journaling in the Ring of Kerry area!

Sketchbook journaling is personal, not for show, totally for enjoyment, a great way to 'practice seeing and experiencing the world'. 

If you've been following my blog posts for a while, you know that I've been back many times to this area of Ireland. My friend Barbara Mastaglio (also a painter) runs art retreats and workshops at her home on Valentia Island, Ireland. I think it will be my 10th(?) time there. I've gone as a student, and have taught plein air oil painting there a few times as well. 

My love for sketch-book journaling has grown over the last several years, and I've wanted to share this trip with those who would like to experience the same! 

I took up watercolor painting back in the late 90s while living in San Diego, and was a member of the San Diego Watercolor Society. We'd have weekly paint-outs all year long! My fondest memory was painting along with many of our older members (mid-80s at that time) who were retired Disney illustrators. Some of them would share some really interesting stories about working for "Mr. Disney" on movies like Bambi, and Dumbo! We would paint all morning until noon, and one of these fellows then led a critique. It was a great way to get out there and learn!

Click here, for more photographs of what you'll see. 

Click here for more info of what you'll be learning and what's included.

$500 will hold your spot, 

Click here for registration information and to reserve your place!

I look forward to having you join us!

Bringing Home All The Fun!

Join me in Ireland this September, on a sketchbook tour! I'll teach you watercolor sketching techniques & you'll be bringing home fantastic memories & new skills. #art #travel #Ireland #sketchbook #watercolour

A video posted by Roxanne Steed (@roxannesteed) on Feb 18, 2016 at 8:08am PST

I've been enjoying a bit of fun on Instagram (just look for roxannesteed on there. I had never tried taking those little video shorts - oh my goodness, now that is a cute little blast of fun.  Hoping to share it here with you. Just working on some sketches, planning our trip to Ireland this September 11th through the 18th.  For specific details of our trip, you'll want to check out this link.  

Can a place be exciting, mysterious, beautiful, charming, restorative, and intriguing? Well, it is all of these things on Valentia Island and the surrounding areas that we go painting and exploring. I've been back many times now, I'm starting to feel like a local. Our host Barbara Mastaglio lives there part of the year, and takes us places that "the regular tourists" don't get to see or experience.  I do hope you'll join us. For all levels of sketching experience- I'll teach you techniques to use, and you'll be bringing home all the fun - memories you'll treasure forever. 

"Water's Edge", Watch Rock Preserve, Old Lyme, CT, IRISH TRAVEL JOURNAL artist's workshop

6"x6"x1" oil on archival cradled panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here.

I am really enjoying the process of these paintings - starting with a watercolor sketch on location, and basing an oil painting on these, using intuition, memory and the color sketch. 

This is such great fun, and I find that I'm able to record a lot of 'usable' information visually. Not only do I get to enjoy the sketch journal, but I enjoy them a second time when I use them for the basis of an oil painting. 

If you like this idea, you should consider joining me this September in Ireland! I am leading & teaching an IRISH TRAVEL JOURNAL workshop. We'll be based on Valentia Island, with Barbara Mastaglio's Art on the Ring of Kerry (Ireland) Plein Air Artist's Retreat. I've been there many times now....8? 9? or 10? after a while, who's counting- I'm welcomed like a local, and you will be, too! Barbara lives there when she's not in the U.S. and we are able to see and experience some incredible things! Mark your calendar for September 11-18th, 2016. The website will be updated soon will this year's information: http://www.valentiaart.com/ In the mean time, enjoy the scenery!