Letting Go To Get Connected... I am so, so excited to invite you to a creative workshop and retreat next fall in the Southwest of France!This workshop has been years in the making but could not be more timely! I have to admit to galloping butterflies as I sent the announcement out today—this is one of those vulnerable moments for me as I am quite passionate and strongly believe (now more than ever) we all need more art, creativity, joy and happiness in our lives as we navigate through the negative news, commitments, obligations and responsibilities that threaten to overwhelm us on a near daily basis.

Cleverly disguised as a Travel And Art workshop, this retreat is so much more. It’s really about creativity—our connectivity to our own creative wellspring (or lack thereof), filling our well of inspiration, connections with other creatives and moving into a deeper flow of creativity. Registration is open for the 2020 SW France workshop and retreat. For those of you searching for a chance to pause and reconnect or refresh your creativity, this is youropportunity. All the details and pricing are available at ImaginaryTrips.com. And as always, please let me know of any questions I can answer!

I've always heard about the gorgeous light in Paris, but I never imagined that all of France (well, the parts I visited anyway) would have that same light! At times, it seemed pearlescent or iridescent...and so very clear.

It was a delight to walk around medieval towns and villages to sketch and paint (and take photos) because of that light. But I would be remiss if I didn't also mention the subject matter of said sketches and photos...delight visits to so many small towns, parks, rivers, castles, gardens, and cities made this trip worthy of being made into an ImaginaryTrips.com' online class!

I hope you'll join me for the Imaginary Trip To Southwest France and Le Vieux Couvent! We'll explore the lovely convent and its gardens, where we stayed as well as some of the most intriguing small villages (Saint Cirq Lapopie and Beynec), larger cities (Sarlat) and some off the beaten path destinations (Castelfranc).

There is something for everyone! I will be sharing my sketchbook and the pages I created while in France and I'll also show how I create a more finished look once I'm home.

Class starts on April 18th and will feature four assignments. There is an interactive class as well as self-study class option available.

To join in and get registered today, please click here for more information!


I am going back to LVC in September this year and would love to have you join me for the 10-day travel and art workshop! It's not to be missed! The convent was originally built in the 1600's and has been lovingly refurbished into an art retreat complete with secret gardens, a koi pond and lovely courtyard. The classroom and art library are both huge and available 24/7.

This is a true immersion experience as we will get out to explore, sketch and paint the Dordogne and Lot Regions each day! We'll make use of the classroom to finish our pages in the evenings and during any inclement days.

And I have to say, the people of LVC make this place truly magical! From the wonderful meals they create from local sources to the care they show in everything they do, this is one of those rare workshop opportunities that transcends the words, "travel art workshop!"

I hope you can join me for this awesome experience!

To learn more and get registered, please click here!

I hope to see you in France!

If you happen to have missed the news, I am going to be doing an Art Workshop in Paris next October with Blue Walk Tours, and I've been talking about it a lot...

Okay, more like non-stop because I am so, so excited for the opportunity and because, well, it's Paris!

I have been thrilled by the enthusiastic and excited response the trip has received. It seems like Paris is on everyone's bucket list even if they've already been there!

Talking about the going to the City of Light to sketch and to explore the city through a sketchbook has brought out a number of hesitant questions from some of the artists interested in going and I thought it might be helpful to address a few of them here in case these same questions are in your mind.

How good of a sketcher do I have to be? Because I'm really not all that good and I don't know if I'm ready. 

Being "good enough" is a minefield of doubt and insecurity and while we've all been there at some point, there's no need to worry. Rather than worrying about being good enough, I like to focus on the incredible learning opportunities that always happen when you're surrounded by like-minded people, a teacher (me!) and immersed in a location with art and sketching on your mind! There will inspiration around every corner, literally!

I'll be with you throughout each day providing on-the-spot demos based on our views as well as to help you whenever you need me. There will also be a workbook full of ideas with tips and techniques to help you with this trip. (I'll also let you in on a secret...another cool thing about this trip is that it will begin long before we ever step foot in France! We'll have time to get started on filling the pages of our sketchbooks well before we leave for the actual trip.)

Part of the success of keeping a sketchbook while traveling is setting realistic expectations. We each know what our skill level is and everybody (yes, everybody!) wants to be able to come home with a sketchbook full of art that's worthy of a spot in the Louvre. Whether this happens or not, isn't really the point of sketching on the location. At least, it never has been for me though occasionally, I have to remind myself of that fact. It's really about capturing more of the experience than I can with just a camera and I assure can you, I cherish those pages no matter what my skill level was at the time!

You will remember so much more than you ever thought possible when you include pieces of art on your pages. Pages that don't live up to your expectations—at the time—become invaluable because they still serve as a portal back to those memories! Even simple doodles can go a long ways towards capturing the memories you will make during your visit.

As for being ready...I suppose it's like most things: even if you're not, you'll find a way because you are a most capable, flexible, intelligent artist and nothing will stop you!

I don't really know how to draw. I do a lot of tracing. Is that a problem?

Because we're going to be out and about and exploring Paris rather than sitting in a classroom setting, it's going to be difficult to do any tracing. That said, the beauty of announcing the trip a year in advance is so that it possible to start learning how to draw NOW long before the trip rolls around next year! There are a number of classes available online that teach you the basics. There are books at the library and you might even check with some of your local groups for opportunities to meet up and sketch in your town.

If not, I have recommended for years to sketch FROM LIFE for 15 minutes a day. It's not so much what you sketch, but that you sketch everyday. Start with a cup or a box. Sketch it each day for 15 minutes. Once you feel you've mastered the view, change it, add an item or sketch a different object. Once this becomes comfortable, trying adding the environment around the object. Rather than just drawing a mug, draw the table it's sitting on. Next time, draw the mug, table and the window behind it.

By sketching daily or near daily, you increase your visual vocabulary and you'll find that the skills you learned drawing the mug transfer to drawing a column or a vase of flowers. The box can easily become a building and so on.

Work in pen rather than pencil to learn faster (if we know we can erase and correct, we tend to not look as carefully or closely). Sketch what interests you to keep going and make it fun. Tempt yourself with images of Paris. If you start on a sketch that you really like, keep going past the 15 minutes and see where it takes you!

I've never sketched everyday for a week before. Don't you get overwhelmed or tired?

It is entirely possible to get overwhelmed when sketching on location but it's not likely to happen on this trip! The wonderful folks at the Blue Walk have set up a variety of activities for us that will include learning about the various neighborhoods in Paris, some fabulous sightseeing along with liberal indulging in coffees, pastries and shopping.

There will also be plenty of chances to look over each other's kits and sketchbooks, learn about one another's favorite tools and to sit together and work on our pages. With this said, if you still feel overwhelmed, there's flexibility built into our trip to allow you some downtime to do with whatever you'd like so you can come back to the page fresh and ready!

How physical is this trip?

There will be walking. A lot of walking, actually, as that's really the best way to see and learn about a new place. When we're driving a vehicle, we must watch the traffic. When we're a passenger, we have limited views and limited time in which to see. When we're riding a bike, we still have to pay attention to our surroundings and where we are going so as not to drive into anyone or anything.

By walking, you're view is mostly unlimited. By walking, you can pause to really see. By walking, you engage all of your senses rather than just your eyes. You can hear the voices and languages spoken by other passersby, you can feel the breeze or sun upon your skin, and you can smell the delectable aromas coming from the restaurant up ahead.

While there will be a lot of walking, the trip is at a leisurely pace with the intent that you enjoy yourself! Our days will be liberally sprinkled with plenty of visits to cafés and stops along the way to sketch the views. Again, due to the flexibility built into our days, there will be opportunities to catch your breath before we venture forth again.

I'm a little nervous to go on a trip with a group of people I don't know. What can I do to overcome this?

It never fails to fascinate me how fast folks bond over mutual interests like art, sketching and a fantastic place like Paris! It doesn't take any time at all before the group becomes a whole with plenty of laughter and cutting up. There will be moments of sheer hilarity that no one else will get (because they weren't there) as well as bonding over similar experiences from our pasts and our visit to Paris. Chances are outstanding for you'll come home with brand new friends that you'll have long past our visit.

In more practical terms, you will also have the opportunity to become acquainted with the other travelers in our group before we meet up in the hotel for the first time. Remember the secret I mentioned above? That's how will start to get to know each other before we go.

What questions do you have?

Do you have questions about going to Paris for a week? You can learn all about the trip here. If so, please feel free to ask in the comments below or drop me an email. You can also contact me via the contact form here. If not, it won't be long until it's time to...

Oh, my goodness, I have so much to tell you! I've been quiet these last few months as I've been working on opportunities and I finally get to share all the joy with you! To cut down on confusion, I'm going to go in date order so I'm sure to cover all the yummy goodness coming up. You can bet I'll be sharing more in the weeks to come!

December 3, 2016
Festive Starfish Designs
Keeton's Office & Art Supplies
Bradenton, Florida
December 3
9 am - 12:30 pm
Cost: $35
Please call 941.747.2995 to register

These festive starfish can be arranged in a number of ways including a ball, a swirl, and a wreath, just to name a few! I know I haven't been able to stop at just one because this idea opens up so many possibilities.

This dimensional project combines scrapbooking paper, extra watercolor paper, salt, glue and a little bling! It's just another way we can make our journals come alive.





Painting Postcards In The Gardens Workshop
August 14-20, 2017
An Imaginary Trip Made Real To England 2017! Workshop
SaveSave

Acorns Watercolor, watercolor pencil, ink and charcoal

The other morning I found myself in a parking lot full of acorns and you know I just had to pick some up!

And this time I had a good reason…I did a class last week at Keeton's Office and Art Supplies on Autumn's Garden and the bounty to be found there. We painted some of the acorns.

But I gotta tell you, I probably would have picked them up anyway as they were huge! I think they were from a red oak(?) and I fell in love with them.

Looking at an acorn, you usually see a hint of green, umber, ochres, yellows, a few golds and maybe some gray. Not so exciting when I look at all the fun colors I have in my palette.

So I decided a fantasy acorn was just what I needed to dispel the icky weather we've been having lately.

Above is the result of playing with all kinds of color as well as media. There's a little bit of everything in there.

I can't say I'm wild about the end result as it looks nothing like I had in my head, but I can say it was fun and it scratched the itch of painting an acorn.

Back in the parking lot, as I looked up into the tree I was standing under, I could see gobs and gobs of acorns still on the tree…a very bountiful crop this year…and I thought about Mother Nature's approach to the future.

She didn't put all her hope into one acorn, but into thousands and that was from just ONE tree!

She knew that some acorns would feed the woodland creatures and some would fall onto concrete for crazy humans like me to pick up.

Some would fall to the mower's blades and others would fall in an inhospitable environment, so she made sure there were enough that maybe, just maybe, a few of those acorns would grow into themselves to become big, strong oak trees.

I often find myself too focused on the one acorn rather than a more bountiful approach of several acorns. Perhaps you can relate?

However, I've been quite fortunate and blessed to find that my acorn has taken root and continues to grow daily (ImaginaryTrips.com). Another acorn, Imaginary Trips Made Real, is thriving with a trip to the beach coming up in January—if you want to interrupt winter, there's still time! Click on the box at the top of the page for more info.

My friends and family are also blessings though some are more like squirrels than acorns. As we *supposably* slow down for the Thanksgiving holiday here in the states, I am taking stock of all of my acorns and how much they've grown this year.

Thanks to all of you who've come to be part of my world via classes, the blog, the internet and FB groups. Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, I wish you the very best of blessings for the season.

May you find your acorns have grown as well.

Getting ready for my trip to Acadia National Park and trying to decide what to take is so much fun!

I'm not sure what your approach is, but more often than not, we artists seem to adopt the "more is way better" attitude when it comes to packing up for a trip on which we hope to get some sketching done. In fact, we often try to take the whole studio, never considering how much that's gonna weigh!

After the tickets for my trip were booked, I started setting "maybe" art supplies in a pile at the corner of my desk. This past weekend, I pulled them out and sorted them to see what it was that I thought I wanted to pack and schlepp across two airports. Here's the pile:

Possible art stuff for the trip—the sad thing is that this isn't even all of it! Click to enlarge.

Taking a closer look from the top right:
1. Storage baggies and a piece of brown paper from a brown sack.
2. Masking fluid. Ummm, yeah. Moving on...
3. Assortment of pens, pencils, water brushes, charcoal pencils, watercolor pencils, bamboo pens, white markers and colored ink pens, both permanent and non-waterproof.
4. Wrist band for wiping my brush.
5. Two small plastic boxes containing clips, erasers, kneaded erasers, white and wax crayons and small splatter brushes.
6. Leatherman tool. (This will go in the checked luggage. I don't want to get thrown off the plane before I even get to board.)
7. Sketchbook and palette.
8. Assortment of travel brushes.
9. A fountain pen.
10. White post notes and a see-thru ruler.
11. Stamps, stamp pads, extra decorative paper, and whatnot.
12. (which is not marked in the image) Wet wipes at the top middle of the image. Those will go. They're great for having on hand after I pick up something "icky."
13. And right below the wet wipes is a box with several document clips on top. The clips will go. The box probably won't make the cut.

I have to point out that even with what I've culled from the list above that's still too much stuff to lug around. And believe me when I say that unless you're going on an art trip with likeminded artists or have copious amounts of free time to sketch and paint, it's highly unlikely that the majority of stuff you drag along will ever see daylight. Also, it gets damn heavy. What started out weighing 9 ounces will feel more like 9 pounds by the time you get home!

A Different Approach
Rather than approaching the art supply selection process from the "how much can I take" end, I find I do much better if I pull out what I MUST HAVE—something to draw on, something to draw with, something to add color with and color in some form.

In other words, the basics.

The better I do on choosing the basics, the more "extras" I can take to play with if I get the time.

Let's take another look:

Necessary basics—art stuff I won't leave home without. Click to enlarge.

Again from the center top:
1. Leatherman tool. You never know when you're going to have to operate on some piece of equipment that has suddenly decided to be contrary.
2. Baggies and brown paper. Always be prepared to bring home unexpected (but messy) treasures. Likewise with the brown paper. You just never know when you might need to sketch something on brown paper…or cover up a major oops.
3. Document clips. Yep. That wind is wicked to fight when you're trying to hold everything in your lap.
4. Wrist band. With this item, I don't have to struggle with paper towels fluttering in the wind, dropping on the ground or flopping over onto the wet page.
5. Post-It Notes® in white. I won't take all 1,184 notes. Instead, I'll break off about 50 and fold up the last not to cover the sticky strip. Why notes? When I skip a page I use the notes to write down my thoughts on what will go on that page, weather conditions, etc. Why white? Because I'm using water and have found that if the colored notes get wet they are inclined to leave a colorful imprint on my page. Not cool.
6. Sketchbook with extra pages.
7. See-thru ruler. I seldom use it, but when I need a ruler, I need a ruler.
8. Palette. Self explanatory.
9. Water brushes. These will be tested before I go to make sure I don't have any duds or leakers. I use four brushes (small, medium, large, and flat tips) because the handles are all interchangeable. If I run out of water on one handle, I simply change the handles to the preferred tip and keep going.
10. Fountain pen. I still have to make a decision as to which one (or three) fountain pens I'll be taking plus ink. I say three because one is my workhorse for drawing while the other two are great for lettering. Decisions, decisions!
11. White pens, mechanical pencils, stick eraser and (missing from the image) black waterproof pens. I generally take a couple of white pens (permanent and non-permanent), a loaded mechanical pencil, stick eraser (though this item is not strictly necessary), and the missing black pens. I take the extra black pens to make sure I have backup if I should have an ornery fountain pen or lose a pen. If I draw while I'm flying, it won't be with a fountain pen as they don't like pressure.

What's not showing besides the black pens: scraps of Zeta paper for practice, scraps of tracing paper for testing ideas if necessary, white gouache, wet wipes and possibly one stamp and one stamp pad. Maybe a couple of pieces of decorative paper.

Because I'll be staying in one location most of the time, I am trying to decide if I want to take my travel brushes. I can always use a glass for a water container. It will most likely depend on the weight once it's all in my bag.

All art supplies with the exception of sharp pointy things have to go in the bag. If it doesn't fit, it's not going!

Leaving The Studio Behind
One of the biggest challenges we face when we take it on the road is making the decision to leave the studio at home. For me, getting out and about is learning to use the tools I have as best as I can. That means doing without or making an item do something I didn't intend for it to do.

Sometimes I'm successful. Sometimes not, but I always learn something.

How do you decide what to take on a trip?

Maine Things Double Spread in my Maine Sketchbook Zeta Paper - 4.5 x 15 inches Ink and watercolor

You think you know something and then you find out you don't. 

Leave behind the bitter cold and snow of January.
Soak up the warmth of the sun on white, sugar-sand beaches.
Sketch and paint dolphins and seabirds, beach cottages and turquoise waters…sound good?!

Get ready to join the fun!

After you spend the morning sketching and painting the beach and attractions with me, Laure Ferlita, you have afternoons to do your own exploring.

We'll be staying at a resort at St. Pete Beach with plenty to do within walking distance—assuming you can pry yourself out of that royal-blue cabana!!

I will be providing all the juicy, glorious details just as soon as the ink is dry on the contracts.

To view the Web page, please click here.

They're here, they're here, they're finally here!! The new Imaginary Trips' Basic Watercolor Kit and the Imaginary Trips' Complete Kit are now available through Daniel Smith! You can learn more about them by clicking on their names or by following the link under the graphic.

This has been a long while coming and I want to thank all of the wonderful "travelers" that made this happen. All of you who have joined me in adventures big and small, trip and visits, foundations and explorations, thanks for making this a reality!

For those of you who already have a kit, you can still shop at Daniel Smith and save! Enter the following two codes at checkout to save up to 15%! Please enter WSCHOOL2 and TRP00362 at checkout. Please note the discount will not apply to the kits as they've already been discount MORE than 15%!

Your purchases will accrue points and when the points add up, Daniel Smith will be issuing gift certificates that I will be giving away on the blog and on the live trips with Imaginary Trips Made Real!

Again, thanks to all who have helped get Imaginary Trips and Daniel Smith together!

California Poppies - Detail Click to Enlarge

If you've been reading Painted Thoughts blog for any time at all, you know that I worship at the altar of details. Love, LOVE, LOVE details! It is in my nature to sit down and paint the finest of details for hours on end.

It's also crazy making.

When I don't have the level of detail I think I "need" in a photo reference or worse, when half way through the painting, I'm done. Finished. O.V.E.R. I.T. And it makes me crazy.

Such gorgeous oranges, yellows and pinks! Click to Enlarge

Then I rush through to the end and invariably regret it afterwords.

One of the things that travel sketching as well as sketching on location has taught me is there is no time for detail-worship. You go for big shapes, smaller shapes in shapes and then a few well chosen details and you're off to the next location.

Yes, at first it bothered me to leave out those scrumptious details.

Until I realized that sometimes less is more. It's kinda fun to paint an image and leave just enough out that the viewer can and does interpret the work differently from me.

So easy to get lost in all that detail! Click to Enlarge

Now, with this said, my default position is to get into the details waaaay too soon in a sketch or painting. I've had to get fairly "inventive" to outsmart my detail-loving-self.

I painted this standing up with the sketchbook turned upside down with a number 10 round with one hand tied behind my back!

....oops, wait, no, just kidding. I didn't tie my hand back.

Once the entire painting was dry, I sat down and painted in a few of the details—still using the #10 brush. I had to restrain myself from putting in every crinkle and wrinkle in those sweet, happy flowers.

And yes, it was hard not to go overboard with the details given to my desire to paint every stamen, shadow, crinkle, and hair.

Full Spread of California Poppies 11 x 8.5 inches Click to Enlarge

I am so glad I didn't. These flowers were so beautiful swaying in the breeze with their bright happy faces lifted to the sun. We saw these all over San Francisco...in gardens, by utility poles, in sidewalk crevices. It didn't matter where they were, they were beautiful.

These are not as loose as some would paint, but for me, given my proclivity for painting every single detail, this is loose! I still fed my desire for detail by including "just enough" detail to balance out the loose. I'm a happy girl!

Join me in my happy dance, won't you?!

Ever get that feeling that you know you're making a mistake when you're creating a piece of art, but you just can't see it?
Well, that's what happened when one of my cyber friends let me know that I had misspelled macaroon on my page...it should have been macaron. And I knew it, but for the life of me, could not see it! I had a good laugh when she mentioned it.

Normally, I'd let the mistake stand and simply add a note below, but I thought I'd show you how I corrected it instead.
The first thing I do is to "white out" the area to be corrected. I either use a Sharpie Poster Paint pen or white acrylic paint. The Sharpie Pen is acrylic white ink. This helps to cover up the area quicker and it stops any bleeds I'd get if I happen to be using non-permanent materials like watercolor.
Once dry, I add a thin layer of Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground and let it dry. Then I add two more very thin coats. The reason for adding the thin layers is because this stuff is thick and it shows up on the page if you don't thin it out. In fact, you can sand this stuff it's so thick.
Once it has thoroughly dried, I repaint the n, s and the exclamation point. Done! DS Watercolor Ground is fun stuff to play with and has many applications beyond just making corrections.
Moving on to Japantown, I wanted to capture some of the cherry blossoms that were in full bloom as well as a modern, metal lotus bloom.....and I nearly ruined the page!
I decided to use non-permanent ink for the lotus bloom and then flood with water. It turned out okay, but obviously, my mind was somewhere else when I drew the shadow. So I stuck a Maido sticker to help camouflage the mistake. Maido is a pen/stationary/journal/office supply paradise for anyone addicted to pens, pencils, journals and office supplies!

The cherry tree did not turn out anything like I'd hoped and I wound up salvaging it by using a Uniball Signo White Gel pen to create more of a blossom look to it.

After completing the page, I realized I had started off the page with the word Chinatown rather than Japantown....erk! So our comes the DS Watercolor Ground again to  fix that mistake—are you seeing a theme to this post yet?!
This was the view at dinner and it was the end of our third day on foot—we were exhausted and sore. We had seen this quote in the Jack Keroauc Alley we had visited in Chinatown. It seemed appropriate for the page and the memory.

This was also as close as we came to actually seeing a sunset. We were either no where near the water at the end of the day or it was foggy/cloudy. Still, it was a beautiful evening!

Next up, we get some wheels so we can really start covering some ground...

Our third day had us exploring the Painted Ladies near Alamo Square. These Victoria beauties simply sparkled in the bright sunshine! It was a brilliant day to be out walking and exploring. So much so that before the day was over, we'd walk over 16,000 steps!! (I worked it out in miles, but I didn't right it down and I don't remember now. I do remember it was a bunch! Maybe KJ will remember?)

No matter where you are in San Francisco, you cannot help but notice all the things green, growing and blooming!
This is one of two cats I managed to photograph during our entire stay. I have 100's of dog photos and two cats—hopefully, all the kitties were just inside, safe and sound, snoozing away.
Something I've recently discovered about myself is that whereas I can paint detailed architectural structures, I don't much like to....I get bored long before I get done! In the future, I will probably pick a doorway, a pretty window, etc. rather than the whole darn thing! This is quite simplified but you probably wouldn't guess it without seeing the photo reference.
You could spend a lifetime painting just flowers and gardens or just houses or just doors or just....you get the idea!

And then, wouldn't you know it, but we stumbled into the cutest little restaurant (11 blocks away from the Painted Ladies, so yes, I do mean stumbled!)....

French made macaroons, no less! These are caramel and they were soooooo good that we had to go back down the block to their bakery to buy a box of these little gems. Now, you know if we had to go back down the block, they were good!
I've even forgotten what kind of coffee we had, but I remember it as being very tasty whatever it was! I will also mention that I had a couple of macaroons from a different bakery—and I was not impressed. In fact, I'm glad I had these first or I probably wouldn't have been tempted to try any others.
 Kay, I think it was you who asked if we found any pralines and/or beignets...at any rate, someone asked, and no, we didn't find any, but we did find these delicious little bites of joy! Soooooo yummy! And trust me when I tell you those will not be my last macaroon.

Lunch revived us so off we went in search of Japantown.....