Small Studies Practice

Autumn Along the Uncompahgre

Monuments and Temples of Zion

Super Moon Rising over Zion

I am sure you are tired of me telling of how I have been struggling with painting for the past few years.  So far nothing that I have tried to renew my enthusiasm has worked, but I will continue to persevere.  The small size suits me just now.  If I screw up, I don't have a lot of time and creativity invested.

Mark and I have been collaborating on some digital art cards.  We have had luck selling a few at one of the shops in Ouray that carries my art.  (the Wildflower Boutique).

These are 5 1/2" x 8" blank note cards printed on high quality photo paper.
Here are a few examples:

"Columbine and Paintbrush"

"Red Mountain Reflection"

"Saint Sophia's Ridge"

"Tracks into Winter"

"Early Snow up Camp Bird Road"

"Virgin Snow"

These cards sell at the shop for $5.00 @,  You can purchase them from us for $4.00@ or 6 for $20.

SKY LIFE

We have about wrapped up our pastel lessons with good friend, Barb.  Right after we finished the top painting Barb adopted a rescue dog who needed lots of TLC, so we missed several weeks

of practice especially since we left all our materials over at Barb's studio.  

Finally her dog seemed to be settling down, so I went over to finish up the last painting and pick up our materials.  

As you can see we have been working on dramatic skies using Utube videos.  I still find I don't quite get pastels, but I think I am improving.  But before I forget how to watercolor, I need to get back to my old medium.  I have found that I do not have any fall watercolor paintings left.  Seems they have all sold.  There is a message there somewhere that I should heed.

Keeping It Red

Red Mountains as seen from Mt. Abram's ridge


Since painting with Linda Nadel for a month, this is my first painting on my own.  Seems like I am still having some problems finding time and inspiration to paint.  One reason is that Mark and I have been trying to learn how to work with pastels with my good friend Barbara Kendrick.  Barbara is very accomplished at her chosen medium, and seems glad to share her talent with us.  We are struggling but determined to get the "hang of it"

This is my first pastel attempt, In case you can't tell, it is a Utah scene with storm clouds over the canyon.  I have a long way to go.

This quilt is another project.  The top photo is a sample of the squares.  There are 30 squares, each different,
There is a green border added to the blue one now.  I am hoping to quilt this on my sewing machine.  Wish me luck.

It has been a few weeks since I started this post.  Here is my second attempt at pastel.  I had a lot of help  from Barb, but I feel like I am getting somewhere.  It still doesn't make complete sense to me, but hopefully I will have an "Ah Ha" moment soon.

Attempt to Refresh

Snowscape


Perhaps many of you who follow my art have realized that I have been struggling with painting for a couple of years now.  In an attempt to recapture my love of painting, I went back to the basics, contacting my former instructor, Linda Nadel in Montrose.  She was always fun to paint with, so I thought that she would be the one to get my juices flowing again.

We spent 4 Thursday afternoons in April cussing and discussing the ups and downs of creativity and playing with paint.
I can't say right now if I will continue painting on my own on a regular basis, but those 4 afternoons were so much fun and brought pleasure back to a process that had become a chore.  Thanks Linda!!

The above painting came out of our first meeting together.  I had brought in photos and magazines to give us inspiration.  This was an exercise in creativity in a recent issue of Watercolor magazine.  It demonstrates the fluidity and "looseness" that I have wanted to portray in my work.  The original was created by Carol Z. Brody.  The above is my version.

More Aspen Studies

Autumn Quakie Study

Summer Quakies

Abstract Quakie

I realized after I posted last, that my web site was not going away, but just has a different name.
I have let my domain name go, but I am still on at bobbiejohnsonart.blogspot.com.

Anyway, painting is happening sporadically, and lately I have been playing with different styles and seasons of Quakies, (or Aspen as you may know them by).

"Quakies in Spring"
This is my latest painting.  I am planning to discontinue my web site and will hopefully develop a Facebook page for my art instead.  

Combatting Cabin Fever

Rag Quilt I made for Caleb
(Me, Caleb, Kelli)
We arrived home from winter travels on the first of April.  That is almost a month early for us.  The weather was great at first, but then the spring rains/snows started and we were stuck indoors for much of the time.  To combat Cabin Fever I made a couple of quilts and painted a little.

Starting of the Bedfordshire Quilt I made for my great nephew, Alex
Lots of cutting and piecing.

One square done, many more to go

Four squares make one block

16 Blocks make up the center 

Add 4 different borders, each one a little larger than the one before, to make a whole, then bind it.
I purchased this quilt kit from Craftsy, which included the pattern and fabric. I added the batting and backing.
I love the colors and quality of the fabric in this kit.

I painted as well.  2 small, 8x8" landscapes to remind me of the beautiful Sonoran Desert

And the colors of Capitol Reef

Starting the Rag Quilt for my stepson, Caleb

Each square is a sandwich of backing fabric, batting, and top fabric

It is called a rag quilt because all the seams show

One strip made of 7 blocks

All 9 strips sewn together

Each seam is clipped about every 1/4" to make it ragged.
There is no border on this quilt.  I stitched around the whole thing a 1/2 "
in, then clipped the same as for all the other seams.  Once the quilt is washed and dried on low heat in the dryer, it takes on the ragged look.

Happy Birthday, Caleb!