Carol Sue Witt

After years of designing an annual card, I decided I would take a break this year and just “promote”my past ones. I have quite a few. Isn’t that a smart business move? One look at my husband’s face and I knew that would not fly. “Oh” , he said, OK”....if you think anyone wants one of those”. So instead, I got busy and created 2 cards. Yes, I’m an over achiever. I like them both and they satisfy two of my Christmas requirements: must be fun and must be nostalgic! I love the scenes form the 50 ‘s or timeless scenes from a simpler time. Weren’t snow drifts taller? Santa’s more real? Sleds more common? Spirits brighter? So here they are with my usual dedication to a strong name:                                                       “Fixin’to Decorate”    "Jingle Your Bells” I so loved painting them! The farmhouse in snow may ...

Here is my finished Fall Garden...the harvest was abundant and colorful! And the joy of creating it was a lesson in design, value and transparent blending that I would like to share with you.. I like the surface texture opportunities in this scene with the wood, straw and various veggie skins.  I will be teaching this technique which includes an under painting at a one day workshop 9:30-3:30 at Galleries at Pecan Creek on Main Street in Marble Falls on Wednesday, October 17 th. Contact Deb Heatley at (830) 265-7725 to sign up and get a supply list. I will provide the pre-drawn, pre-masked ( to protect the white of the paper) sketch on 140 lb paper.   Meanwhile, a group of 8 Waterloo Watercolor Group artists have a beautiful watercolor Show and sale at the lovely Lost Pines Art Center in Bastrop through the end of September. If you have not yet visited , plan a trip soon. Here is a special invitation for our reception on September 12th where artists will be ...

 I know, I know...it's still summer but if your garden is like ours, it has stopped producing due to the intense heat in central Texas. We are already dreaming of the second crop, the Fall garden.  I am inspired to paint the luscious tomatoes, carrots, cabbage and squash that will be harvested because their colors are richer and more Old World than the bright Spring and Summer garden colors. I selected these veggie images from a variety of sources including our garden, the grocery store and my daughter Leslie's bountiful tomato plants in California which are healthy specimens and delicious, too! This Fall Garden will likely be my subject for a one day work shop October 17th in Marble Falls at Galleries at Pecan Creek. I will provide the pre-drawn sketch and this method is beginner friendly. Also good for adding some new methods for experienced painters. So let's work on the game plan for that and for those interested in my current favorite paint process that uses just 3...

Never tried watercolor before? Or maybe you are an artist would like to explore a new technique? I think "splashing" ( a pouring method) is the perfect way to start a new adventure in watercolor. Thanks to a lovely group of artists from the Highland Arts Guild in Marble Falls, Texas, I was able to test my theory. I used two of my favorite paint subjects, water and rocks, to do a one day work shop. This is my painting of the image we all used to create 1) an under painting of local colors using only 3 paints, a red, a yellow and a blue 2) a rhythmic value study of light, medium and dark tones and with 3) varied splatters, brush strokes and shapes ...a fun , glowing painting. Here were the supplies we used: I supplied a masked sketch on 140# paper for everyone and will also included tape, straws and pipettes, stirrers and some plastic cups for mixing paints. Each participant brought: Any 3 transparent red, yellow and blue Watercolors. I use naphthol red, hansa yello...

That's the message from internationally known artist, author and instructor, Lian Quan Zhen. I had the pleasure of attending his 4 day work shop this past week and my Art will be changed for the better. We traced two images provided by him ( 26 attended), one a floral and one a group of elephants. These two scenes allowed him to demonstrate his ability to use only 3 colors , red ( Naptha), yellow (Hansa) and blue (Antwerp) to create a multitude of colors and hues. He also wated to emphasize the immense changes in value that can occur with only 3 colors.  Using a TV screen that allowed him to zoom in on small details, we watched 4 or more demos daily as he taught his valuable techniques. He considers imperfect to be perfect and makes excellent choices to change shapes and values in his work. His use of negative painting may be the most imaginative tip I picked up...and there were many! Lian Zhen Work Shop Feb 26-March 1, 2018              Arti...

I have a connection to dogs...no doubt about it. We are usually instant friends when we meet. I see the beauty of their shape and color, their full body personalities and the love and devotion in their eyes. I’m not opposed to getting a big juicy kiss, either. So I guess it’s only natural that I enjoy capturing them in a painting.  Among my collection of painted dogs are those precious animals we have had the joy of owning and also some of yours. Here are a few. My first dog of 2018 is Quinn: