Planning And Playing

Hi!

Big plans coming for 2024.

In addition to the January Strada Easel Challenge, I will be continuing both the favorite hymns 5"x7" landscapes and the 'Chickadees In The Studio' series with paintings ranging from 10"x10" up to...who knows?

This painting, when finished, will be part of that.

I wanted to thank the subscriber who suggested the title.

Only...that message/comment got buried somewhere and I can't find it. So now I can't remember who to credit. Oy.

That was the plan part. Now comes the PLAY part and a surprise free thing, that is if you like watercolor free things.

December can be one of the most enjoyable months of the year, or it can be a drain. And the good news is...we get to decide which.

I decided long ago that I would enjoy December and not stress.

OK, well it doesn't always pan out that way, but there is less stress and more joy if I focus on bringing delight to people I love....which is as it should be all year long. Am I right?

So that's what today's letter is all about.

I am taking a wee tiny break from the oils and planning some time to play and experiment this month.

Enter Miss Shirley!

Shirley form Texas, is one of those remarkable people who just make me smile.

Here she is holding the "Comfort Zone" Artist Proof she ordered.

Besides always being one of the first to respond whenever I put myself out there, Shirley is the inspiration behind a new technique with shimmery, shiny, glittery, blingy watercolor.

I call it the "Shirleygig" in her honor.

But what IS a Shirleygig? I'm glad you asked (even if you didn't).

Here is one of the first.

I was on a trip to Texas and met up with Shirley and her family at a Mexican restaurant.

I had been experimenting with freehand radial designs using metallic watercolors, and I liked how this one turned out.

Shirley is such an enthusiastic fan that I gifted it to her. Since I didn't quite know what to call this new technique, I dubbed it the "Shirleygig" simple as that.

Ever since then, whenever I need a break from the oils, I find myself drawn back to these blingy watercolors.

There is something deeply satisfying in the loose and imperfect repetition.

This one was done using watercolors purchased from a German artist who makes her own.

These paints slide off the brush like silk and have a shine far beyond any others I've tried.

They are very very good and very expensive.

And so...

I wondered what ingredients went into watercolors and I did some research.

I found at least a dozen different recipes for making my own watercolors and narrowed it down to one.

Recently I had purchased a beautiful watercolor sketchbook just for experimenting with the whole "Shirleygig" concept.

This is a combination of handmade watercolors, purchased ones and adding a glitter used in resin countertops.

While that glitter was a bit too chunky to glide off a brush, I did like the shine it produced.

After adjusting the amounts of liquid ingredients, the shine and flow improved.

This snowflake is done entirely with my own handmade watercolors.

But it isn't technically a Shirleygig, because it doesn't have the swirly effect in the pattern.

It's closer to a simple radial design.

As promised, here is the FREE thing I mentioned.

I am preparing a free 2 hour Shirleygig Workshop via ZOOM sometime between December 12 - 16.

I am limiting this first workshop to six people because this is still in the experimental stage.

Eventually, I hope to run more of these for paying participants, but this first one is free.

Shirley has the first spot, of course, so there are five open spots.

Each participant will receive a small kit with paint sample practice cards and nearly everything needed to complete two 7"x7" Shirleygigs.

I will show you everything from how to quickly map a radial pattern and use a few different brushstrokes that help you add your own flair.

We will start with a simple pre-drawn pattern. But you may be surprised at how fast you will be able to eyeball it freehand to create your own unique designs.

Are you interested? Reply to this letter with "Free workshop, please" and include which of the five days (Dec 12-16) would work best for you.

(Note that this is only free to the first five people who respond.)

We're going to have a blingy blast! Hope you can join us.

Take time for birdsong!

Jan