End of April Showers

Wow, this has been the most spectacular floral start to spring I can remember! The late winter storms have made the land so rich in moisture that the rhododendrons are bursting with blossoms. We trimmed back the azaleas that were starting to blossom and created a special floral arrangement that continued to bloom for a long time. It is a great time to get the dust off the paint box and brushes and capture the beauty right in front of your eyes!



Every spring brings new and fun ideas for subjects for the painting class. This watercolor was done for class and the print used for the sample was taken by someone out of the display. I took it as a compliment. Thankfully, I still owned the original painting. I guess you could say it "quacked me up"!

So, these little white daisy type flowers are everywhere the dandelions are blooming in the grass and I have no idea what their real name is called. Anyone know? Let me know.

New Things to Come!

What a great week! The hope of springtime brings new beginnings and ideas to fruition. The changes made in the studio this week help to rid the cobwebs and replace the old with fresh new ideas. Time helps to see things in better perspective. An old piece done in 1977 in graphite on rag board, 30x36 unframed, is being dusted off and framed. The title: "Changing Times" will be replaced with "Presidential Dreams". It brought lots of different comments back then, and I am sure it will stir the hearts of those who view it now in this day of many changes. Hopefully, I will get a photo of it and show it soon. Of course it brings the idea of women in the political scene as timely, but there is a small catch in the picture which brings lots of those wondering which way I intended the message! It was first published in Edmonds, Washington.

Lots of contacts were made this week as my "Faces of the World" bookmarks were received by new acquaintances. Thanks to all who made wonderful comments about the map!

April 2009

Hello! Spring 2009 is officially here. In the Pacific Northwest it is a battle to let go of 'ol man winter! The mountain passes are still filled with amazing record snow.



When the cold decides to leave and make way for warmer weather, I will be dusting off the oil paints and getting back to some serious painting. Don't get me wrong, the watercolors are wonderful, but there is nothing as rich and luxurious as the long lasting oils.



Watercolors do last as long as oils with special precautions. Museum quality glass is very important to preserve the integrity of the painting as well as moisture and dust protection. Good framing is very important to the longevity of watercolors.



Drawing is always the most important medium to master. It lays the foundation to every other painting medium. You can paint without knowing how to draw, but great paintings are developed through the understanding gained through the drawing.



Hope to hear from you about the website created to showcase the painting titled: Faces of the World done in mixed media. The "giclee" captures the essence of the original perfectly!



Donna Mack