Italian Vacation in Your Plans?

I’ve been all over the map lately planning the itinerary for the Fall Anywhere Art Tour to Italy. It will be our 31st tour! 

We will be visiting a variety of locations around North Western, Central and Southern Tuscany with a touch of the Lazio province thrown in because we must visit the UNESCO World heritage site of Tarquinia and learn more about the Etruscans, their customs, and their fabulous murals. We’ll also taste wine in the Chianti region, visit the Festival of the Thrush (which promises dancing in the streets), dip our toes in a thermal spa, ride bikes or stroll in the wall park in Lucca, visit a shoe factory, see the Cinque Terre and spend a Sunday at an Antiques Faire in the heart of Lucca.

In fact, I am so excited about the Fall Italian adventure that I got the vapors and our rescue Aussie had to revive me.

Pep Talking Yourself into Painting

This weekend I tried a new technique to get myself to my desk to watercolor.  You may have used this technique before with a friend or family member. Maybe you’ve said to them  “You can do it! You’re smart, you have a good head on your shoulders, just try,”

Pep talks are not to be cnfused with affirmations. I think an affirmation is something you repeat to yourself that you want to be or happen. You could say, “I am a successful painter, I am creating all the time, even if these things aren’t true I think the theory is that if you repeat them often enough you will believe them. Affirmations don’t work for me. I tried saying to myself, “I am 20 lbs thinner,” then I reached for a cookie.

Today I said to myself something I had been mulling over for a while. “Barbara, you need to practice the painting concepts you have been studying, you don’t need to create a perfect painting.” I also threw in, when you finish you can have a cookie, ooops I said carrot”. 

Here is my practice. Going into the kitchen to get my carrot now.  

How to Choose Your Sketchbook

I wasn't looking for a new portable sketchbook when I found the one pictured in the photo below at San Clemente Art Supply Store.   I have been content using Moleskine watercolor sketchbooks that I carry with me to sketch anywhere. 

What made me stray from the Moleskine and buy this new sketchbook? I liked the sketchbooks size, it's light weight cover, its paper quality (strong enough for watercolor painting), and it's stitched binding so you can paint across the pages.

Ollie and my new favorite sketchbook

Up Cycled CreAtioNs

Good news for women who want to use power tools and have a spot in the garage (could it be called a girl cave or girl nook?). I have claimed a corner in our garage from the boys and am painting, hammering and drilling to my heart's content. 

My corner of the garage, my " Girl Nook". 

What am I making, you ask? I am remaking a lot of stuff actually. I am making prints of my original watercolor paintings and framing them in old frames with new paint to compliment the painting. Plus I am furiously paintings signs, chalkboards, earrings and suitcases as well. Do not get in my way or I will cover you with a fresh coat of paint.

The reason I am making up cycled creations is to fill my 3rd of a booth my friends Merrian, the furniture painter and Gayle, the jeweler have rented in the Carlsbad Antique Mall in Carlsbad Village on State Street. 

We decided it was time to test the retail market with our wares. We are all sensitive and shy artists and hate the thought of marketing our art.  However,  together we are brave and willing to risk rejection or success or both.  

Repainted metal suitcase with chalkboard. 

Hand painted cat beware sign on fence wood. 

Print in old vintage frame.