Heirloom Tomatoes from Dick Cole Workshop

I took a workshop the week of March 14th with Dick Cole. It wasn't the best workshop I've ever attended, but I got some work done that I was happy with and met a couple of new people. The members of SCVWS (Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society) are the nicest people! This painting is 9" x 13" and based upon a photo I took of some of the heirloom tomatoes we grew last summer in our plot at the community garden to which we belong. The 2 little odd things in the lower left of the basket are tomatillos in their crinkly brown husks. I'm thinking about doing it again on a full sheet.

John Salminen Workshop-Bruges Canal

Last month I was fortunate enough to be a participant in a workshop with John Salminen. Not only is he an incredible painter-her's a great teacher, as well. The workshop topic was "Urban Landscapes." I painted this from a photo I took when we visited Bruges, Belgium last May. The rooftop on the dark house at left is actually covered in orange glazed tiles, but John suggested that I leave it white and shade it with the mouth atomizer technique. He was right-the bright orange would have overwhelmed the rest of the painting. Overall, the piece turned out...okay. I wish I had selected a different subject. (He did pick this one from the photos I brought-so he's culpable, too!)I will try to get back into posting mode on a more regular basis-it helps me stay focussed on painting.