Snow, snow , Snow!

Snow Fall at Mount Vernon
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This has been a terrible winter with tons of snow!  Will it ever end?  I decided if I can't beat it then I might as well join it.  I did several snow scenes.  In watercolor, you have to save the white of the paper.  So, of course, the lightest thing is the painting is the snow and that's where there is no paint. It's completely opposite painting to oil paint.  But I'm growing to love watercolor more and more each day.

Creek in Winter
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Night Scenes- Part 1

Friday Night Traffic
by Jane McElvany Coonce

In my art class, we are working on night scenes.  I've been doing a demo each week on different aspects of the night scene.  There's the blocking in, the suggestion of buildings, and the cars and the people.  It's fun to see what my students come up with, and they are doing amazing work.

I have done a different scene in each class and I will be putting them up on the blog.  There is a show coming up in April at the Gallery Underground called "Series."  So my series is going to be night scenes.  This first one is called "Friday Night Traffic".  It probably had the most cars and motorcyles in it of all of them, but I liked how it came out.  The bright colors of the tail lights reflect in the wet asphalt and make for a dazzling array of color.  These scenes are fun to do and I think my students are enjoying it, too even though they complain through the whole process.  I guess that's human nature.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.  It's a place with large rock formations and it looks mystical and magical at the same time!  It looks like something out of National Geographic with thousands of limestone formations soaring from the beautiful water.  It has many grottoes and caves and is a Unesco World Heritage Site.  It's definitely something everyone should see.

by Aliana Turkel

This was probably one of the most difficult lessons my students had to paint.  But they did a great job.  Take a look and see what you think.

by Norma Lowe

by Louise Kitchen

by Barbara Coates

Rice Paddies in Vietnam

Rice Paddies in Vietnam
by Jane McElvany Coonce

by Barbara Beckingsale

by Lin Cole

by Louise Kitchen

by Norma Lowe

The 3rd lesson we did on the cruise ship was called "Rice Paddies."  The ship advertised it as "Rice Patties", so I was afraid a lot of people might think it was a cooking class!  But my old regulars showed up with a few new ones.  Once again, they did an amazing job.

by Kate Hamblin

When you travel outside of the cities, women can be seen working in the rice paddies.  It's hard work because they are out there all day in the sun.  They wear the cone shaped hats  to keep the sun off of their faces.  

by Barbara Coates

by Anne Cullen

by Ali Turkel

by Sue Stuart

by Jean Randal

Vietnamese Fisherman

Vietnamese Fisherman
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This was the 2nd lesson I taught on the Azamara cruise ship on our trip to Thailand and Vietnam.  It is typical to see these cone shaped hats on the people everywhere.  We took a bicycle ride in the small rural town of the Tra Que Village.  We saw men and women fishing, working in the rice field, tending to their water buffalo.  It was an amazing experience.

by Louise Kitchen

by Kate Hamblin

My students did an amazing job back on the ship.  I'll put a few of the paintings up.  I didn't get to photograph everyone's work.  But the ones I did get did a fabulous job.  Keep in mind, most of these people have never painted before.  I was so proud of them.

by Aliana Turkel

by Barbara Coates

by Mike Beckingsale

by Norma Lowe

by Sue Stuart

Thailand and Vietnam: Class 1

It's been quite a while since I posted on my blog.  I have been away for 3 weeks on one of the most awesome trips I've ever taken.  I had another teaching cruise to Thailand and Vietnam.  We started out in Singapore.  Tom and I went a few days early so that we could see Singapore.  It's a very clean city (chewing gum is illegal- they don't want gum on their streets or under tables).  It is also very hot and humid.  Lots of high rises among the lush vegetation.  We boarded the Azamara Cruise ship and set sail for Thailand.  Our first stop was Ko Samui, an island in the south of Thailand.  Besides going to a beautiful beach , we went to a coconut farm where they domonstrated how they train monkeys to climb the trees and spin the coconuts until the vine beaks and they fall to the ground.  It was quite ingenious.

Ko Samui, Thailand
by Jane McElvany Coonce

by Sue Stuart

by Barbara Coates

One of my students, Barabara Coates, said she had painted before but had been very dissatisfied with the results.  I told her to give my class a try.  She used the fan brush to make the fronds of the coconut tree and was thrilled.  She came to every class!

by Aliana Turkel

Another student, Mike Beckingsale, said his wife had given him a watercolor set 5 years ago and he had never used it.  They both came to my classes, and now he's hooked.  Hopefully, he's back at home in Australia painting up a storm!

Most of my students were total novices.  Look at these paintings they did.  Wait to you see how they progressed throughout the cruise.  I'll have more in my next update.

by Mike Beckingsale

by Barbara Beckingsale

Merry Christmas 2013

Waiting for Christmas
watercolor
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has followed my blog; this is a great way to support me.  As an artist, the most enjoyable thing about the business is the creating of art work.  The second most enjoyable thing is sharing what I've created with people who appreciate  my endeavors.  This blog has given me the opportunity to share what I've done with more people than I ever have before.

The painting , "Waiting for Christmas", is a tribute to my beloved Seamus, who passed away in September.  He was a wonderful companion who laid down in my art room while I painted.  He never passed judgement on any of my art work, not even ones that I wasn't happy with.  He was a gentle soul,and he is truly missed.
I decided to dedicate my Christmas card to him.  Every year, I paint something and turn it into a Christmas card.  This is another way I can share what I'm doing with friends and family.

This is my first Christmas card that was a watercolor.  I usually do oil paintings.  But I've been focusing on watercolor this year so that I can do a better job teaching on the cruise ships.

I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday with their friends and family.  I know I'm looking forward to spending this week with my sons, my husband and my brother.  I am blessed, and I thank the Lord every day for the life he has given me.  Being an artist has been one of the most rewarding accomplishments I've ever done.  Thanks, Mom, for taking me to art class.