I'm Teaching a New Class - Watercolor!

Sunflower Bouquet

I have some exciting news!  I've been asked to teach a watercolor class for the Art House 7.
This is an art school founded by 2 former Arlington County Art teachers.  They have asked me to teach a class for adults in watercolor.  It's an 8 week class, and it starts on Jan 11.  It runs every Wednesday for 8 weeks from 1:30 - 3:30 pm.

Art House 7 is located at 5537 Lee Highway in Arlington, VA.  There is plenty of parking.

 You can look at their website at:  www.arthouseseven.com.  There you will see a schedule of classes. Look under Class Descriptions and then weekly classes.  If you think you might like to try watercolor, sign up and give it a try.  It's lots of fun, and it's easy clean up.  It's a great medium to travel with because you can pack it in your purse!  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  

Chickadee in Winter

Christmas Wishes for 2016

Sunset on Winter Snow
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

I want to take a few moments to wish everyone a happy holiday, whether it's Christmas or Hanukkah or anything else you celebrate, and to wish you a Happy New Year.  This is to all my friends and family and people who support me through my life.  I'm am grateful for all of you because you make my life so rich and joyful.  I am indeed a lucky woman.  I don't see some of you often, but none the less, you have enriched my life. Even the students I have had on the cruise ship, you have brought me joy!

I read somewhere that if you wake up every day and name what you are thankful for, you will have a happier day.  I think this is true.  With so much negativity in the world, we need to focus on the positive.

What brings you joy?  Focus on that.  If you can't think of anything, then you need to start painting!  As one of my lawyer students said, " Taking your class and painting is a lot cheaper than if I had to pay a psychiatrist. "  There is a reason there is such a thing as art therapy.

Whatever you do this upcoming year, I hope it is filled with joy and laughter and also thankfulness.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

With the new Harry Potter movie out, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them", it made me think of a painting I did a number of years ago.

Lots of people ask me why do I paint what I paint or how do I decide what to paint.  Each painting has it's own reason, but I think "Harry Potter's Bookshelf" has a good story. 

Harry Potter's Bookshelf
painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

When my son, Kevin, was in elementary school, he was a non reader.  He hated to read, and it was difficult for him.  So I bought the first Harry Potter book, and each night, I would read a chapter to him before he went to bed.  If you haven't read it, it is a book that draws you in.  It's funny, it's scary, you fall in love with some of the characters and you hate some of them.  You become totally involved in the story.  Every night, Kevin would sit next to me in bed as I read.  When we got to the scary parts, he would snuggle even closer.  It was a very special time for both of us.  At the end of the book, he was so excited!  "READ IT AGAIN!" he screamed.  I calmly handed him the book and said, "No, you read it.  It's your book now." From that day on, he began to read.  He read all of the Harry Potter books (I think there are 7 of them), and when he finished, he read them again.  

The author J.K. Rowling changed Kevin's life when she wrote the Harry Potter series.  He's an avid reader now. 

As an adult, he's in 2 book clubs.  I did this painting for Kevin because of the importance that the Harry Potter books played in his life. I know he will cherish it long after I'm gone, and for me, it was a labor of love.

1st Place Prize in the Hollin Hills Show 2016

Hot Dog Stand in the Theatre District
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I am on a roll lately.  Last week I won 2nd place in the national juried show, "Figuratively Speaking", with my sculpture "Harriet".  This weekend I won first place in the "Famous Artists of the 21st Century" show held at Hollin Hall in Alexandria, VA.
I had several pieces in the show, but my watercolor, "Hot Dog Stand in the Theatre District" won 1st place.  It's quite an honor because there are some really FABULOUS artists that are in this show.  So I was quite shocked when I found out I won.  There were so many beautiful paintings in this show.

If I had known I was going to have my picture taken with my painting, I would have combed my hair and worn something a little nicer.  Oh well, that's what artists are like - half the time we look like rag-a-muffins. Today was one of those days.

2nd Place in "Figuratively Speaking" Juried Show

sculpture by Jane McElvany Coonce

I was thrilled today when I found out I won 2nd place in a National Juried Show - Figuratively Speaking - for my sculpture called "Harriett."  (She was formerly known as "Sheila", but I changed her name.  Maybe it brought her luck!)  The show hangs for the month of December at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City.  The juror,  John Morrell, had over 100 entries and picked 51 pieces to be in the show.  I was shocked when I heard I got 2nd place!  It's a very interesting show.  If you can come Friday night (Dec 2) to the reception, I will be there.

The gallery is located at 2120 Crystal Plaza Arcade.  There is free parking in the garage on 20th St. between Jefferson Davis Highway and Crystal Drive.  The reception is from 5 to 8 pm.

The show continues through the month of December, so if you can't make it Friday night, there is still time to see it.

Ft. C.F. Smith FAll Art Show November 18 - 20Sunrise

Sunrise on Winter Snow
Oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

This weekend is the annual Ft. Smith show.  If you have never attended it, you are missing a real treat.  It opens Friday night with a lovely reception from 6 to 8 pm.  The show is located in the beautiful restored house off of Lorcom Lane and Fillmore Street.  I hope you will stop by.  I will be there Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

However, the show is open all weekend.
Friday from 6 to 8 pm
Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday from noon to 4 pm.

Address:  2411 N. 24th St. Arlington, VA

There will be paintings, pottery, sculpture, and notecards.  It's a good time to start your Christmas shopping.  I've got lots of new paintings and you can see what I've been up to for the past few months.

On the news
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

Reception for "Travels in France" This Sunday, Oct 30, 2016

Boats Along the Canal of the Aude River
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

The art show, "Travels in France," was hung 2 weeks ago.  It's a beautiful show that has gotten rave reviews!  6 paintings have sold by 5 different artists so far.  And we haven't even had the reception.  We have filled the empty spaces on the wall with more French paintings, so there is plenty to see and buy.  Initially, we couldn't hang all the paintings that we created, so as painting sells, we put another one in its place.  So the show is continually changing.

I hope you will come on Sunday, Oct 30 , from 5 to 8 pm.  It's at Cassatt's Cafe 

4536 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA.

If you can't make it to the reception, you can visit Cassatt's 

Monday - Friday : 8 am - 9 pm

Saturday:  9 am - 9 pm

Sunday:  9 am - 3 pm

The show will end on Sunday,November 13

so you have 2 more weeks to see it.  

Vineyard Overlooking Saint Anselme
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

Travels in France: A Show of the Paintings of Our Trip to Limoux

Blue Door of Camon
watercolor painting by Jane McElvany Coonce


Yesterday, we hung the show at Cassatt's.  The paintings we hung were a culmination of the work we did in France this summer.  I took a group of 10 artists and 3 non artists over to France.  We spent several days in Paris touring the city and eating great French food.  Then we took the train down to Montfalcon.  We traveled each day to a small town, vineyard or a canal to paint our hearts out.  We had a fabulous time and ate wonderful French food.  After we came home, we finished up work and framed our pieces for this wonderful show.

I hope you will go and see the show.  It's at Cassatt's Cafe,  4536 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA.  It's open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday.  Saturday it is open from 9 am- 8pm and Sunday, it's open from 9 am to 3 pm.

The show will hang from Sunday Oct. 16 until Sunday, November 13,2016.

There will be a reception where you can meet all of the artists on Sunday, October 30 from 5 to 8 pm.
Hope you can make it and see all the beautiful art that we did.

Market Day
watercolor by Jane McElvany Coonce

3rd Annual Art Auction: Artrageous!

Morning Light on Key Bridge
by Jane McElvany Coonce

For a third year in a row, the Arlington Artists Alliance is having its annual fundraiser  this coming Friday, Oct 7 from 6 to 8 pm at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City.  This year, I painted "Morning Light on Key Bridge" especially for the event.  The fundraiser called Artrageous is a silent art auction and over 75 paintings will be in the show. There will be paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics and some other fun items including my brother's beach house for a weekend.

The show will be hung on Monday, Oct 3, and you can preview the work from Oct 3 through the 7th.
The art auction admission is free, and it's a way to acquire art at a very reasonable price.  I hope everyone will come for a fun evening of food, beverage, music and of course, ART!

I will be there and would love to party with you.  So put it on your calendar and come this Friday.
Parking is free in the garage on 20th St between Rt. 1 and Crystal Drive.

Drop by next week at Gallery Underground for an in-person preview of all the great art to be auctioned, on view from October 3-7, 10am-6pm.  Or view artwork you can bid on at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/126919361@N04/sets/72157671268913426

See something you love? Can’t attend this year? NEW feature, “BUY IT NOW,” allows you to buy art right off the wall at great prices without waiting for the auction competition.

The Gallery is located at The Shops at 2100 Crystal Drive in Arlington.

Reception at 1st Stage This Sunday, September 11, 2016

Remains of the Day
 oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

In case you missed my last post, I have a solo show at 1st Stage!  (Thanks to Debby Conn for arranging it!)  The reception is this Sunday, September 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 and you are invited!
I really hope you'll stop by.  I have 20 oil paintings in the show.  They really look great with the warm mustard colored walls.  Stop by and have some wine and snacks.

1st Stage is located at 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons , Va.  If you are on Route 7, turn when you see Container Store ( on the other side of Route 7 from Marshalls, Sports Authority) .  Go up one block and turn left into a small strip mall.  When you see the big sports gym, park there.  1st Stage is right there although I think you really have to search for the signage.  There is plenty of  free parking.

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Hydrangeas, Roses and Sargent
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

My Solo Show at 1st Stage, Tysons Corner, VA

A Piggy Bank's Dream
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This week, I hung a show of 20 of my paintings at 1st Stage Theatre.  The show will be there from August 25 until October 9, 2016.  One way to see my show is to also buy tickets to their first play of the season, "Lobby Hero."

I will also have a reception on Sunday, September 11 and would like to invite all of my fans to come.  The reception will be from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.  Please feel free to drop by.  You don't need tickets to come to the reception.

If you haven't heard of 1st Stage before, please feel free to check them out on their website.
They are located at Tyson's Corner and there is plenty of parking.

The address for 1st Stage is:

1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, Va. 22102.

The theatre is right off Route 7.  When you see the Container Store, turn at that corner and the theatre is located about a block up on the left in a small shopping center.  Hope to see you at the reception.

The Audition
by Jane McElvany Coonce

A Sculpture Named Sheila

Sheila
Terra Cotta by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Art League, located in the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, is having 2  juried shows this month.  One is the landscape show that they have every August and the other is a sculpture show called "Taking Shape."  I was thrilled when my sculpture, "Sheila," was accepted.

I started doing sculpture when my youngest son was just born.  I needed a break from motherhood, so once a week I hired a babysitter and would go to The Art League and take a sculpture class.

One thing about sculpture is that you really need to work from a model.  A photograph doesn't show you the person except from one view point.  In sculpture, ever view point is important.

I captured a woman who had beautiful features, and I put her in a simple garment and head scarf.  She reminded me of a woman from my childhood.  Elnora was a cleaning lady who cleaned many of the houses in my neighborhood.  Although, she didn't clean my parent's house, I knew her because she was always at one of the neighborhood kids' houses.  She was like a 2nd mother, always fussing at us and fixing us food.  I know everyone in our neighborhood had a special place in our hearts for Elnora.  Even in her simple clothes, Elnora was memoriable. This sculpture celebrates all those special people who touch our lives in some small way but who have a special quality that makes them last in our memories until the day we die.  Sometimes, it's just a little incident that triggers a memory and makes you remember someone who made a lasting impression in your life.

Finishing Touches on My France Paintings

Vineyard Overlooking the Village of Saint Anselme
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

During the heat wave, I finished up a few paintings that I had started in France, but they needed a few touch ups.  This is one of the paintings I did in France.  We painted in a vineyard with this tiny town just down the hill.  It was a beautiful day, and all of my students did a fantastic job.

Boats on the Aude River in Carcassone
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce



Another day we went to the new city of Carcassonne (instead of the medieval part) and painted along the Aude River.  It was a lovely spot.  Some boat owner had the nerve to move his boat in the middle of the painting session,. Luckily I had taken some photos.  Again, everyone did a fabulous job!  The only mishap we had on this day was one of my students was sitting very close to the river and somehow her little tray tipped over and all of her tubes of paint went into the river.  For an artist, that's one of the worst things that could happen to you  Maybe a thousand years from now, some archeologist will find the paints at the bottom of the Aude and write an ode about it.   

The Heat Wave and Art

Seagulls Playground
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Washington DC area has been suffering from a heat wave for the past week.  It isn't pleasant being outside, so I've been staying indoors and getting a lot of painting done.  It's been really great painting all day.  No grocery store, no running to the bank.  Too hot to go out so I just paint, paint, paint!  

I'm working on a couple of commissions, but I'm also finishing up some demos I did in my class.  Last semester, we were painting rocks and water.  I did a small painting in each class, but never put the finishing touches on them.  So this week, I finished up several paintings that have been sitting in my studio,  waiting for attention.

I will have them at the Gallery Underground in August.  Put Friday, August 5th on your calendar for the opening reception at the Gallery. It will be from 5 to 8 pm.   I'll be there.  Stop by and say hi and see some of the work I did during the heat wave.

Sailing School Across the Bay
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

Home Sales

Lunch Under the Umbrella
watercolor by Jane McElvany Coonce

Under the White Umbrellas

Recently, a friend of mine called and said she had redone 3 bathrooms and needed some art work.  I invited her over and showed her some pieces I had here at the house.  Many of my pieces are out at various shows, but I still had plenty for her to look at.  She took quite a few home to try out, and she's picked 6 paintings!
Her husband is Italian, so she picked 2 of my Italian scenes from when I went to Italy two years ago.  These will hang together in the same bathroom so there is definitely a theme there.  I was planning to enter one of these in The Art League's Landscape show in August.  So I better get busy thinking of another entry.

Painting in Southern France

The Blue Door of Camon
watercolor by Jane McElvany Coonce

 I just got back from taking a group of artists to southern France.  There were 14 of us (3 were non painters.)  Our home base was in Limoux, a lovely little town on the Aude River.  Montfaucon, the place where we stayed, was similar to what we would call a bed and breakfast.  It was beautifully furnished, and I felt like I was living like the rich and famous.  Gourmet meals were provided with a chef that came in 4 times during our stay, and the other dinners were at Castles and 5 star restaurants.  We were treated royally.

Every day, we would journey to a nearby town to paint a variety of scenes:  vineyards, doorways and windows, gardens, canals with boats and barges, old medieval towns, cafes, and plazas.  I had to pinch myself every day to make sure it wasn't a dream.

We also lucked out on the weather.  The weather app showed that it was supposed to rain every day, but we really only had one day of rain. That was truly a blessing.

 Everyone really did nice paintings.  We will have a show of the France paintings in October at Cassatt's Kiwi Cafe in Arlington.  Put Sunday, October  30 on your calendar from
5-8 pm for the opening reception.

Trompe L'oeil "Trash Night" sold on Etsy

"Trash Night"
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I sold a painting that was near and dear to my heart.  Artists all have favorite paintings that are hard to part with, and "Trash night " is one of them for me.  But a woman on Etsy wrote me and told me she was really obsessed with it.  So I decided that if someone loved it that much, I would let it go.  

"Trash Night" is a painting done in the trompe l'oeil fashion.  Trompe L'oeil means "fool the eye."  Done in a realistic fashion, trompe l'oeil paintings are very labor intensive and take months to create.  That is why there are not many trompe l'oeil artists. 

This piece is painted to look like a bulletin board.  The wood frame is painted on the canvas.  The corkboard is painted to simulate a bulletin board.  Then various items were added: tickets to a Harry Potter movie (my family members are Harry Potter freaks), a photograph (of my 3 boys when they were younger), playing cards( Queen of diamonds is me- I was born in April my birthstone is the diamond and being the only female in the house, I am the Queen), matches and a firecracker (with 3 boys, there were plenty of firecrackers going off), and 2 notes.  One note is "Trash Night" which reminds the 3 boys to take out the trash. (This is my weekly "Nag" call that I make at the top of my lungs) , A key hangs from the wooden frame with the number 5 ( the number of people in my family)and a pencil dangles from a string held by a push pin.  All of these items are painted. The painting is a autobiographical painting of my family.

The painting is done in acrylics.  It is 11 inches by 14 inches and the sides of the canvas are painted to look like wood, so a frame is not necessary.  In fact, a frame would ruin the trompe l'oeil effect since the purpose of the genre is to fool the eye.

June's Featured Artists for Potomac Valley Watercolorists

Patiently Waiting
By Jane McElvany Coonce

This month, I have been selected as the featured artist for the Potomac Valley Watercolorists.  This is an organization that comprised of the best watercolorists in the area.  I feel honored that I was juried into this organization.  It is a group that promotes the art of watercolor.  Nowadays, art can be so many different things- glueing trash to a canvas, running string and rope from wall to wall - so it's nice to see that good composition and technique is still in existence.

I hope you'll look at the PVW website: http://www.potomacvalleywatercolorists.org
You will see my work under featured artist, but you can also look at all the other wonderful artists that make up this organization.  PVW also has art shows throughout the year, and every show is as beautiful as the last one.  I'm always amazed!

Portrait of Judge Esther Wiggins

Judge Esther Wiggins

I have been working on a commission since December 2015 on a project for Arlington County. It was to do a portrait of a retiring judge from the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for the 17th Judicial District.  I wasn't able to put photos up as I worked on it because they were going to have an unveiling of it in May.

Yesterday was the day that the portrait was presented at the courthouse of Arlington County, and it will hang in the courtroom that Judge Wiggins presided over for the last 18 years. It was a lovely ceremony honoring Judge Wiggins.

It was an honor to be selected as the portrait artist to paint Judge Wiggins.  It was also an honor to get to know her as I painted this portrait.  I know that Arlington County has lost a caring judge, and she will be missed.

The May 2016-The Art League Show

Ebb and Flow
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Art League, located in the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, is having their monthly juried show.  I entered an abstract piece and was lucky to be chosen.  I'm not an abstract painter, and this is actually the last abstract I ever plan to do.  It's too damn hard!  I'm not one to paint and let the painting lead me to where it wants to go.  I'm more of a planner.  Anyway, I was working on this piece, and I tried to lift some color out of a spot where I didn't mean to put it.  When I did, it looked like a stone under water.  So I decided to lift more, until I had many stones.  So maybe there are rocks and seashells in this piece, too.  I really don't know.  It just happened after much fussing and aggravation. I do like the colors, though.  It was a total experiment. I'm glad the juror liked it enough to put it into the show.

The May show at The Art League  will hang for the month of May.  If you are down in Old Town, stop by and see the show.  And when you see my piece, you'll know that you are witnessing the last abstract I ever plan to do.  I must admit through life experiences, that one should never say never.

Green Springs Gardens Presents "Nature's Palette"Si

Sit a Spell
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Potomac Valley Watercolorists are having a show at Green Spring Gardens.  All paintings in the show have to be about nature, flowers, gardens, etc.
I have two paintings in the show that are of the garden of my friend, Claire DeGroot.  She has the most beautiful backyard full of azaleas.  It's on Ohio Street in Arlington, one of the prettiest streets in the county.  Her yard is a painters paradise.  I go there every year and try to paint a different area of her massive garden.  She is always kind enough to invite me so I never feel I'm intruding.

If you haven't been to Green Spring Gardens, you are in for a real treat.  There are beautiful grounds that is owned by the county.  Besides the gardens, there is a historic house and a horticulture center.

The show runs from April 26- June 26.  There will be a reception this Sunday, May 1 from 1-3 pm.

 Green Spring Gardens is located at 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA.  It's off of I-395.  Take exit 3B (Little River Turnpike West, Route 236).  Turn right on Braddock Road.  Then turn right at the entrance on Witch Hazel Road.

The exhibit hours :
     Historic House :  Wed-Sun from 12-4:30pm
     Horticulture Center:  Mon - Sat from 9 - 4:30 and Sunday 12- 4:30pm.
Hope you get a chance to stop by and see the show.  It's always beautiful.

Backyard Azaleas
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Rocks and Surf

Crashing Waves No. 1
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Rough Surf on the Rocks No. 3
by Jane McElvany Coonce

In my class, I try to think of projects for my students to do so they get experience with all kinds of things to paint.  One of the projects this semester was to conquer rocks (which is not easy) and surf.  I teach 4 classes (2 day and 2 night classes) and in each one, I do a demonstration.  Usually, if the demonstration looks half way decent, I take them home and finish it up in the studio.

Here are two of the 4 demonstrations I did.  (The other 2, I still need to work on before they are presentable to the public.) I added the seagulls to add some life to the scenes.  I may take these down to Rehoboth Art League and put them in the gallery at the beach this summer.

I will post the other two once I finish them up.

I've got several projects going on right now so I'm not sure when I'll get to the other two.  I'm doing a portrait commission of Judge Esther Wiggins who is retiring from the juvenile court system of Arlington County.  I can't post what I've done so far because there will be an unveiling on May 20, but I will post a photo of the painting once the ceremony has taken place.  It's been a fun portrait to do.  She is a beautiful woman, and she doesn't look old enough to retire.  I'm honored that I was selected to do this commission.  Stay tuned!

The Red Hat and the Baltimore Watercolor Society

The Red Hat
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I've been beaten up lately.  I've entered several juried shows and haven't been selected.  I know that entering juried shows is a crap shoot.  I entered the Virginia Watercolor Society's juried art show and put the two best watercolors in that I've ever done in my entire life.  Both were rejected.  I was shocked.  I thought surely the judge would have a hard time making up his mind between my two entries.  It just shows that you can't ever tell what will appeal to a judge.  However, I entered the Baltimore Watercolor Society's annual show.  (Last year I was rejected, so I didn't have much hope.)  Today I got the news that my lady with "The Red Hat" was accepted!  I was thrilled!  Rejection was being to hurt!

This painting has gotten into every juried show that I've ever entered, and it's won several prizes.  I think it's partly because it has an abstract underpainting consisting of various colors.  Then I drew with some water soluble crayons and filled in some parts of the hat and face with paint and left the drawing and underpainting showing in other areas of the clothing.  I lifted the highlights with alcohol.  It's kind of a long and narrow shape which is different.  (Judges like different.)

After this, I may retire my prize winner to my brother's beach house.  I've always loved this painting, and I'm thrilled that the judge for Baltimore did, too!

Entering juried shows isn't for the faint of heart.

Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial Among the Cherry Blossoms
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Several years ago, I went down to the Tidal Basin and walked around for 2 hours taking lots of photos of the cherry blossoms in bloom.  I have never painted anything from all of the pictures I took until this year.  I pulled out the envelope of my photos and looked through them until I found the one I wanted to work from.  I think it would be impossible to set up and paint from life because there are some many tourists.  People would stop and ask questions, and you'd end up talking more than painting.  But that site is a beautiful place when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Hydrangeas for Manet
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I sold a favorite still life of mine today.  Interestingly, it was bought by an old friend, Jan Cullen McDermott. Jan and I go way back.  I met her through a mutual friend, Chris Romanis Bury.  Jan bought a painting from me a few years ago.  Recently, she and her husband renovated their kitchen.  They have a beautiful empty gray wall that needed to be filled, so she contacted me.  I feel honored that out of all the wonderful artists in this area, she picked me.  I'm glad that a painting that I love found a good home.  It looks great in their "new" kitchen.

Opening Up a Can of Worms

Opening Up a Can of Worms
by Jane McElvany Coonce

My painting found a new home!  It was purchased at The Art League down at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia this week.  It's a fun but quirky painting of a plastic toy dinosaur getting ready to devour a can of gummy worms! Even the shadow adds to the drama of the painting.  This is a scene that a kid could have set up when playing with his toys.  The T-Rex was a meat eater, and these worms look juicy to him! And look at the fun colors in the reflections in the can!  I couldn't resist painting this scene.   It was fun to paint, and I always imagined it would end up in some kid's room.  I'm not sure where my piece will hang in its new home, but whoever bought it has to be a kid at heart!  My kind of person!

Akaroa, New Zealand

Light House at Akaroa, New Zealand
by Jane McElvany Coonce

by Pam Corbett
Argentina

by Raymonde Franchemontagne
Canada

Akaroa is a beautiful little beach town about an hour outside of Christ Church.  I had pulled the picture of the light house off of the internet and did the painting so I would have something to show the students what we were painting that day.  We painted it the day before we got to Akaroa.  So on the day we arrived, we took a tender into this beautiful little cove.  And there was the light house.  I walked around until I figured out exactly where the spot was that the photograph was taken.  When everyone came to class the next day, they were all excited because they had seen the light house that we had painted the day before.  I would love to go back some day and explore this area.  So beautiful!

by George Burch
Belfast, Ireland

by Sue Peters
Palm City, Florida

by Cheryl Lunde
Wells, Maine

by Billie Novak
Marathon, Florida

by Dolores Claeys
Bonita Springs, Florida

by Dagmar Zenses
Germany

Dunedin, New Zealand

Mt. Cook, New Zealand
by Jane McElvany Coonce

When we arrived in Dunedin, New Zealand (pronounced da- KNEE done) , Tom and I went on a bus ride to where they filmed Lord of the Rings.  It was located in a very desolate part of New Zealand.  Peter Jackson, the director of the movie, picked this spot specifically because it was so desolate and far from the flashing cameras of the media.  The day we went, it was overcast, so the clouds covered up any of the high peaks known as the "Southern Alps."

Rayonde Franchemontague
Canada

Pam Corbett
Argentina

However, on the ship, we used our artistic license and painted the mountains as they are on a clear day.

George Burch
Belfast , Ireland

Sue Peters
Palm City , Florida

Dolores Claeys
Bonita Springs, Florida

by Billie Novak
Marathon, Florida

Dagmar Zenses
Germany 

It is fun to see how each person interpreted the scene.  We always had fun.  On this day, while we painting, some dolphins started performing by the side of the ship.  It's as if they knew we were watching and having fun painting, and they wanted to cheer us on.  It was hard to believe that these wild creatures jumped and played just as you see at Sea World.  They were having a ball (as were we!)