Workshop results from the weekend with Lian Zhen.

Another exciting workshop with Lian Zhen here in Yuma this past weekend.  I have been trying to paint Lunch at the Paradisio since last summer and requested that Lian do this one at this workshop.  Participants were jokingly telling me they were going to confiscate my camera before I go down to Los Algodones, Mexico, again.  LOL   Love this scene in the little open air cafe which I photographed with my I Phone last January.  Lian also commented that this painting is the most difficult project he has ever taught in one of his workshops!

A simpler, easier project was a colorful little rooster.

Great workshop, Lian!  Thank you so much!

Just received notification that "On my Morning Stroll" the second painting shown here was awarded Best of Show in the Mountain Shadows Art Show in Yuma!! Elated!!

Fun with textures!

Mixed media acrylics opens all kinds of possibilities for new ways to paint.  This one, called "Parched,"  was an experiment with some stuff called "crackle paste," a lot of paint and a photo I took last year in White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico.  The photo is a laser transfer onto a surface called Dura Lar matte and then embedded into the painting surface.

And now for the watercolors!

During the winter season in Yuma, I teach two watercolor classes and occasionally get some good demo paintings as a result of those classes.  Since prepping for classes is usually the only time I have to paint watercolors during the winter, I want to share these two.  First is Painted Desert, a lovely part of Petrified Forest National Park in Northern Arizona along I-40.  

The second painting is from an very old photo from the distant past.  I lived in Colorado for a very long time and Rocky Mountain National Park was one of my favorite hang outs for scenery, particularly on mountain hikes.  This one is titled Rocky Mountain Stream.

Enjoy!