Some more blooms from the irises!   I especially like the way the violet and yellow complement each other.  Our water lily is doing well also despite getting some pads torn off by either a raccoon for maybe a deer; I now have a domed screen overtop to protect it.  Have a nice Memorial day everyone!

  I just got back from an amazing trip to Bermuda!  It was my first time in Bermuda and it was really amazing.  The weather, colors, culture, food and drinks of the island were wonderful.  The locals were also super friendly and taught me a lot about their unique environment.
 I packed my watercolor plein air kit and got a lot of painting done.  Many things caught my eye, but I was particularly impressed with the pink color of many of the homes, which is beautifully complemented by the blues and greens of the ocean.  By the way, I learned that some of the beaches have pink sand because pink shells have been ground up by the waves over many years and mixed with the sand.  Also, the roofs have a unique shape to collect rainwater because there is no freshwater source on the island.  And there were many beautiful flowers such as hibiscus.
  For me, painting is a way of remembering special places and moments.  It's also a reason for me to explore and learn about different countries.  I can take my paints anywhere in the world and it gives me a connection to that area.  I'm so thankful that I got to paint in this beautiful country.  I only wish we could have stayed longer.. I guess I'll have to go back!

  Join me on Sunday, June 23rd for a floral watercolor painting workshop at Stems Brooklyn.
  This workshop is for students of all levels so beginners are welcome to sign up.  I will be instructing everyone on how to create a complete watercolor painting using the principles of art.  All participants will be able to enjoy painting directly from a floral arrangement. 
 Materials are provided, but space is limited so purchase your tickets soon.  More info and tickets available at: https://stemsbrooklyn.com/product/painting-florals-with-watercolor/

  Today was beautiful so I couldn't resist painting a small flower pot study.  It felt great to be outside and painting in my own floral environment.  
  The painting from today is small (6" X 6") and I painted it using a cigar box palette/easel.  It actually worked really well as a painting setup.  It was a pretty quick painting and I'm happy with the way it came out.  I was in the zone and it really felt like I was capturing what I was seeing.  Not every painting goes so smoothly so it's nice when I get a good one.
  There's nothing better than painting flowers and sunlight - We recently planted a lot of beautiful flowers and I'll be painting them as they grow.
  Speaking of small works, I just received a book that I've been waiting for.  It's from a 2019 exhibition: Sorolla En Pequeño Formato.  I would have loved to have seen that exhibition, but maybe there will be another in the future.  What a master Sorolla was and his work really inspires me.

  I haven't read this yet, but I flipped through and it looks like a great book for any Sorolla fan.  FYI: the text is all in Spanish.