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Continuing my series about things we hide from ourselves, this painting is about Rising Sea Levels. NASA's scientists, among others, continue to warn us about Global Warming and the effects of melting icecaps. According to NASA's website:

"For Thousands of years, sea levels have remained relatively stable, and human communities have settled along the planet's coastlines. But now, Earth's seas are rising. Globally the earth's seas have risen about 8 inches since the beginning of the 20th century, and more than 2 inches in the last 20 years alone. All signs suggest that this rise is accelerating. Scientists now say the biggest concern is what will happen to the ancient ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica, which continue to send out alerts that a warming planet is affecting their stability."

No wonder we all want to hide under the covers or just not look at the problem! However; if you want to know more about how sea levels rise at different rates in different locations or how NASA collects their information from satellites and hundreds of Earth Scientists, click on the button above. According to many in the Scientific Community, "We ain't seen nothing yet!"

Growing up in Ft. Worth, we always looked forward to the Daffodils pushing up through the soil in early Spring. Fields of happy yellow faces can chase away the greyest days and although they are March's Birth Flower, February is a good time to start seeing them here in Houston. Not being a gardener, I bought these at Trader Joes for $1.50 per bunch last week. What a deal! I ran across this poem about Daffodils that I thought you might like.

She wore her yellow sunbonnet, She wore her greenest gown,

She turned to the South wind, And curtsied up and down,

She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head,

And whispered to her neighbor: "Winter is Dead."

You may not believe it, but this Portrait by Rubens is the first painting you will do in my Beginning Painting Class. In this first exercise we learn to "Square Up" the image you want to paint, drawing just what is in each square while teaching the basics of drawing. Then, after transferring the drawing to a canvas, we do an underpainting value study and work on paint application. Next, we add color using glazes as well as lessons on color theory, warm and cool colors, transparency vs opaque, and Compliments. This teaching exercise usually takes between 4 and 5 lessons, and we call this the "Old Masters" technique. I teach 2 distinctly different methods of painting but the Second method, Alla Prima, (wet on wet) builds on the knowledge of the first. After you finish this first exercise, I encourage you to pick your own subject and we will work with either method. Each artist works independently, be it landscape from photos, still life, that you set up in my studio, or another figurative piece. It's all about You finding what you love and me helping you to get there. This is my greatest Joy! Naturally, I can only take a few students each session, so if you would like to join the class, be it Day or Evening Classes, just email me here.

Below is a sample of a Student's 2nd day of painting "Clara". The original was painted in 1616 and because it is so old, the oil paint has thinned, clearly showing the underpainting. Also, Rubens was a master painter of skin using cool greys and transparent colors in his shadows. There is much to be learned copying a Master, which is a time honored method for studying different painting techniques.

Starting Tuesday, February 5, I will be teaching evening Classes from 6:00 t0 9:00 pm here at my studio, 2712 Ferndale St. in Houston. For years I have turned down promising students who work during the day, mainly because my studio was not wired with enough light to work after dark. However; as another New Year's Resolution, I decided to take the plunge and rewired the studio. We added 16 LED 13W swivel-can lights so it looks like High Noon in there! If you would like to sign up, please email me, as soon as possible. I only have room for 9 students and 2 have already signed up. Classes are $300. per month or $850. for a 3 month session, and classes go through June 25 with 1 week off in May.

The painting above was painted plein air while looking out the window in Park City, Utah. It was a cold February day and I was glad I was not standing out in that snowstorm. Don't you wonder what we will paint looking out my studio windows at night? There is much to see and I have never thought of that...

Last week I drove up to my Gallery in Round Top, Texas to change out art, and once again, was reminded of how wonderful it is to be surrounded by delightful people like Gerald and Debbie Tobola! Really, life is so short, and the longer you are around, the more you realize that counting your blessing and voicing gratitude is the only way to live in this world. They have consolidated their 2 galleries into one large space and they now have room to display 10 of my newest paintings. Hope you will find time to drive to Round Top this Spring and see this charming corner of Texas! We will also be offering a 2-day workshop, probably in April, so let me know if you are interested in taking a Plein Air Painting Workshop with me. If you like, we can also arrange for you to stay in a charming B&B close by. More on that later!

The painting above is 24"x 30" and was painted from a plein air at Hollee's farm near Round Top. I was standing in a bed of daisies looking over the fence at the road beyond. It was early morning and there was still morning mist in the air which is why it is such a luxury to be able to spend the night. Magic usually happens first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. Again, Thank you Hollee for years of hospitality! I am grateful for you as well, Sista! Counting blessings is a good way to start off the New Year, don't you think?