Reflections and looking ahead

It has truly been a year of growth and discovery.  My word for 2018 was Explore and I think I accomplished this throughout the year.

Spending time with family and friends is what it is all about.  I love meeting new friends and have had the opportunity through classes near and far.  Love the bond of friendships that were created during the OBX art retreat.  I hope to return to this beautiful beach again this coming year.  Plans are under way and I hope to be able to tell you about it soon.

Teaching on line classes through Paint Your Heart and Soul, Kara Bullock's community and a few mini classes of my own.  Such a fun way to reach out and share knowledge, techniques and learn from the students. All in the comfort of your home.  Thank you, Kara and Olga Furman.

Thank you, Somerset Studio for publishing my work!  I was so pleased and honored to have my art chosen for the spring issue of Somerset Apprentice.  Much to my surprise, my art was featured on the front cover!!  You can only imagine how thrilled and honored I felt when I received my copy.

Some new and creative things are on the horizon for this coming New Year.  Stay tuned.

I can share  this bit of news for the upcoming convention.  Gather up your brushes and join me for a week of painting, demos, fellowship and more.  Party in the Heartland.  May 13-18.  I will be teaching two classes during the week, one watercolor and the other a mixed media piece.  Registration is now open and would love to see and meet you in person. www.decorativepainters.org

My wish is to continue to explore, create, share and be thankful for all things that come my way.  

May you feel God's peace and love through this beautiful holiday season and for the coming year.

Until next year,

Ursula

xo

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Yes, the time of the year when things get a little busy.  A time for celebration and a time for giving and receiving.  A time for decorating and a time for creating holiday cheer.

I have been busy creating a few Santa projects.  I will be teaching this mixed media Santa at our local Splatter Art Studio.  If you are a local, there is still room for a couple more students on December 8.

I always love to spend time with my watercolors and these two Santas were fun to create.  They are a on line class, available through my facebook page.  Class fee is $15, and includes full instructions and a PDF.  It is easy to sign up!  Just go to PayPal @  uswoll@gmail.com  Pay, comment Mini Santa Watercolors and pdf will be sent to you along with the link to the videos.  It's that simple!

These would make fun Christmas cards!

Wising you all a very Happy Holiday season.

Ursula xo

Waiting

  "Patience is not simply the ability to wait, it's how we behave while we wait"

  My latest painting  "Waiting"  has inspired these thoughts within myself.   Even while we are painting, we are waiting for the paint to do it's magic.  Waiting for the paint to dry before adding the next coat.  Waiting for the inspiration, the process, working towards the finish line.  Then there is that time in between, where you question the process and pause before moving forward.

  So many times we ask for something and the waiting almost seems unbearable.  I don't know about you, but that time in between is where I seem to fail in my faith.  

I think patience is about the attitude, not the simple act of waiting.  There is that time of pause and play, in art and life itself.  

I guess the time in between is where we find our strength.  Pushing on and moving forward while we patiently wait for things to happen.   Exercising our faith, the substance of things hoped for.  "The evidence of things not seen."

Ursula

xo

A Sweeter Day

A while back, I received an old library book from my cousin.  It has been quietly tucked away for some time.  The pages are full of beautiful women and fashion from times gone by.

During a time of searching for new topics and art to paint with my new Rosemary watercolor brushes, I remembered I had "The Way She Wore".  

A wonderful journey of fashion through the ages of the 30's - 40's and our world since then.

All the pages and photos are in black and white.

After my first painting, I was smitten by the idea to do a series of these lovely women .

A time when families were cherished and people had their innocence.  When movies always gave us hope and had a happy ending.

I didn't grow up in this time, but I love the fashion.  The hats, the gloves, the hair, all of it.  

A certain glamour, a touch of elegance and the styles told us much about the times.

These are just a couple of my paintings inspired by this book.  I am continuing to explore both watercolor and the women of this era.

Thanks for stepping back in time with me.  

I would like to share these paintings and more with you in an upcoming on line class.

Please let me know if you would be interested.  

Until next time..

Ursula

xo

Being More intentional

For the last month, I have dedicated my time to watercolor painting, seeking, learning and trying new techniques in this somewhat unforgiving medium.

Becoming more intentional, purposeful with each application.  Allowing the brush and paint to create each individual shape and  the shapes within.  Applying warm over cool, cool colors over warm.  The balance between the two.  Leaving some things undone and how much to render.  Allowing the viewer to fill in the blanks.

I have discovered new colors, creating more pigment and contrast within a painting.  Here are a few steps in progress of the above painting.  A just for fun watercolor study on 140 lb watercolor paper.

By seeking, learning and breaking things down, we can be more deliberate and intentional in what we create.  

Until next time..

Ursula xo

www.artbyursula.net

It's Here...  

Summer fun and a mini on line painting class.

A fun, mix your mediums lesson coming to you.  Mini, unconventional watercolor class.  Learn to layer watercolors and add interest with salt, stencil and oil overlay. "Pear Time".  Classroom is now open.  PDF and 4 instructional videos.  Step by step instructions.

Fee:  $15
Send Payment to pay pal:   uswoll@aol.com

PDF will then be sent to you with url.

Thank you,

Ursula

New Web site has finally arrived!

Please visit me @ artbyursula.net

Warming Up With Watercolors

                                  What painting medium do you use to warm up with?

For the last week, I have chosen to warm up with watercolors.  It is often my medium of choice.  There is very little prep or clean up, and I can take my watercolor paints with me wherever I go.  

I had a ball sitting outside with my paper and paints on one of the first warm days we have had this spring.  Sitting outdoors and connecting with nature and art.  A beautiful combination that soothes the soul. 

I had some pre-cut watercolor sheets and decided to do a series of mini floral still life paintings .  

                                                  This is the finished plein air painting.

                                 I began with a drawing pencil, and sketched out my design.  

As I began to paint, I added a few lights and dark values to the design.

Adding and layering color to the design.  I think it is important to wait until layers dry before layering  the colors on top.  Adding more depth as you progress.

I found a floral photo on Pinterest and used it as my guide.  

This next painting was a little more experimental as I used an oil overlay and a palette knife.

A watercolor class in the works and I can't wait to share the details with you.

I would love to hear from you and see what you would be interested in learning.  What techniques, watercolor on other substrates, subject matter, wet on wet, favorite paints and so on.

"Life begins at the end of our comfort zone."

See you soon,

Ursula

xo

Connecting with your intuitive self.

The question of intuitive art is often asked.  What is it and how does it differ from other forms of art?

I was a little confused about this myself, and this is how I see it now.

I think it is the practice of freeing your creative self.  Trusting the brush as you move it about the painting.  The willingness to open your heart, your mind and spirit.  Trusting yourself.

Allowing each layer of paint to inform what comes next.   Letting go of fear and expectations to allow the painting to evolve.    Listening to your heart, an inner awareness.  Stepping away from what your head knows and trusting what lies ahead.

"Painting is a blind man's profession.  He paints not what he sees, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen."  Pablo Picasso

A few things I have learned along the way:

Don't worry, just do.  Experiment!

Focus on what works for you and expand on it.

Be yourself and have fun.

Let go of attachment.

Let go of the idea of the painting and let it become whatever it wants to.

Enjoy the experience and results will follow!

Ursula

xo

That's just the way it is:

Everything happens all at once or nothing happens at all.

We just returned from a wonderful and relaxing two week vacation on Navarre Beach, Florida.

The sunsets were spectacular each night and the days were filled with beach walks and plenty of sunshine.

While in Florida,  Somerset Apprentice, spring addition was released.  I knew my art work was chosen for the issue, but much to my surprise it also made the cover!  What an honor and feeling so blessed!

After coming home, I had to tweak a few things for my upcoming classes.  

Mix Your Mediums opens March, 7!  If you haven't signed up, there is still time.  Visit: karabullockart.com/project/mix-your-mediums/  for full description.

Paint Your Heart and Soul 2018 is a year long class of projects each week.  This is a peek at one of the lessons I will be teaching this month.  Here is the link for PYHAS 2018

https://tinyurl.com/y7t6gr7j

So many fun things happening.  

One more project to share before I sign off. This "Mini Floral" lesson is available in the On Line Painting Magazine.  Fun classes are posted on the site for a minimum payment.  You can choose one painting or more, bringing the teachers to you!  

https://onlinepaintingmagazine.com

Still trying to catch up with laundry and all, but very happy for what is happening in the studio this month.  

Need inspiration, a reason to paint, one project or more?  Please visit one or all of the links listed above.

Happy Painting Artists!

Ursula

xo

Thoughts on a snowy Sunday Morning

                          "Dance is an art, paint your dream and follow it."

 Love this saying and it holds so true.  If we do not have hope to follow a dream, we cannot achieve it.  If we do not have faith, we feel hopeless.  I think dreams and faith should go hand in hand.  Faith in ourselves to know that we can be more, do more.  Faith in God to help us through the rough patches, the hard stuff.  Knowing that there is more and we can do it!

                     Sometimes we just need to put ourselves out there and trust the process. 

I have a scripture posted to my bulletin board that reads; "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me."  During this past month, I have referred to that scripture over and over again.  Reciting it out loud at times.  Working on some new projects, opportunities and following my dream.  Trusting, believing and showing up.  

What are your dreams?

Ursula

xo

Mix Your mediums Class is now open for registration.

I am beyond excited to share my new on line class with all of you!

If you are like me, you have accumulated an excessive amount of art supplies.  We have our favorites and seem to use those the most.  It is fun to experiment with some of the tools that we do not use as often.  In this class, we will use a few unexpected mediums and tools to create our paintings.  

The sky is the limit, so to speak.  I would love for you to join me, share what supplies you are combining and learn from one another.

                Have you used traditional chalk paint in your work or combined oil and water?  

 

For more information and to sign up for the class, visit:  karabullockart.com/product/mixyour-mediums/

Early bird pricing is available!!

Hope to see you in class.

Ursula xo

Snow days are great for creating!

We have had our first real snow these past couple of days.  Everything is so beautiful and pure, covered with a blanket of white.  A perfect day for a fire, jammies and studio time!

I am in the midst of creating a new on line class that offers a variety of mediums and subject matter.  Don't you enjoy exploring new ideas and new ways to use what supplies you have available.?  Have you tried combining watercolors with DecoArt Americana paints?  How about adding chalk paint to the mix?

I love warming up while using a vintage journal or watercolor paper.   Using an old photo of an oil painting I did for reference.  I like to use reference photos in my work.  Not to necessarily look exactly like the photo, but to use parts of it.  Areas and elements that speak to me, such as shadows, color and so on.

 The first step was to apply a light coat of DecoArt Gesso to the background, leaving some areas untouched.   I began to sketch her in................

The washes of lavender were applied with Americana Decor Chalky Finish, Fini Calcaire. Using it within the piece  as I went along.  Applied lightly, using a moist brush.

DecoArt Americana paints were added to create bolder colors as I began to develop her features.  Going back and forth between the watercolors, watercolor pencils  and the Americana paints.  I like using the Americana paints with water to create a softer more fluid appearance.  If I didn't like an area, I went over it with the gesso. to block it out.  Adding colors on top of the gesso and using the white gesso as my highlight.

This was a fun warm up piece to keep inside my journal and to use as a reference for paintings in the future.  It's always a good thing to write your color palette and supplies used next to the art itself.  So, when you go back to it at a later date, you can pull out parts, colors and such to add to new ideas and art.

Better get back to the studio.  I have a few more projects and ideas to explore and videos to edit.

I can't announce any details yet, but very soon.

Until then, I will keep exploring and sharing a little more along the way.

Happy Painting!

Ursula
xo

Happy New Year!

                                                    

For the last two years, I  have given myself a word for each year.  This year my word is "Explore"  .

By giving myself a word, I hold myself more accountable to that truth.  Giving it a life, a purpose to hold onto.

Explore, meaning to examine, seek, investigate, look into, search out, research, delve into and leave no stone unturned.

There is so much more to learn and my hope is to search out new areas of my life and art that I have not yet explored.

I now have more free time to do things I have put on hold.  Travel, embrace life and delve into my art  wholeheartedly.

What is your word for 2018?

Looking forward to this new year of exploration!

Won't you join me?!

Ursula 
xo