I always imagine that if I make it to January, I will have lots of free time and peace and creativity for painting.  And every year, I find out that I have been lying to myself.... putting off tasks till after Christmas that suddenly emerge as due (or overdue) in early January. 
But I got smart and started scheduling a mid to late January day away for painting with a friend who will be mad if I don't show up.  As a result, I am making some progress!  In this photo, I am using the computer to help me to zoom in and really see the details of each rose petal.
I paint every other petal for two reasons: first, so that they dry completely and don't bleed into their neighbors, second, so that I just look at that limited area and try to really understand both its natural coloring and how the light and shadow give it shape.
Later I go back and paint the in between petals.

Nan Henke

Texas Hill Country Art

www.TexasHillCountryArt.etsy.com



MERRY CHRISTMAS

Celebrate in your own unique way!

If you want to recieve a real card from me next year, sign up for my art mailing list.  I will not share your info with anyone, and I limit myself to a maximum of 4 contacts a year.  Simply send your mailing address to nanhenke@gmail.com

Nan Henke

Texas Hill Country Art

www.TexasHillCountryArt.etsy.com

I chose the rose and the thistle as having the best potential in a larger painting. 

Step 1: sketch in watercolor pencils because they will melt away when I start applying paint. 

Step 2: apply masque to protect the flowers and greenery while I paint the background. This allows me to do a wet and wild abstract background like you see in the thistle painting. The masque is the shiny stuff. In the rose painting, it is more about preserving details like stems and not accidentally painting into the rose petals.

Nan Henke

Texas Hill Country Art

www.TexasHillCountryArt.etsy.com

ACEO Test versions

I had some painting time Saturday, so I did baseball card sized (That is what ACEO means) versions.  The one of the creek is a little bigger: it is on a postcard.  I do these little paintings first to help me decide whether it will be worth the problem solving process to make a bigger version.  Sometimes I jump straight to a "Quarter Sheet" (my favorite size: 11x15) and other times, I do some more ACEO's or some 5x7's before committing myself.

Nan Henke

Texas Hill Country Art

www.TexasHillCountryArt.etsy.com

Time to start some new paintings, so I don't go stark raving mad over Christmas planning... Here are the 6 contender photos.

Nan Henke

Texas Hill Country Art

www.TexasHillCountryArt.etsy.com

Sisters!

My sister Lauren came to visit me (Yay!) and I always make my family paint when they visit me or when I visit them.  She picked a Colorado picture and I suggested that we both do it in acrylic paint, because it is more forgiving than watercolor.  I am SOOO proud of her result!!  I am patting myself on the back for being a good teacher! You could reach out and touch the snow on those branches... (My painting is the one on top -soon to be available on ebay, if I get my act together)

Nan Henke

Texas Hill Country Art

www.TexasHillCountryArt.etsy.com

Colorado Projects Completed

Layers of darker and darker color on the shadows of the mountains plus the shadows within the trees and snow finish off the two Colorado ACEO's.  Remember, things don't have to look exactly like they do in the photo, we are going for the feel of these beautiful views and the memory of being soooooo cold!

Nan Henke

Texas Hill Country Art

www.TexasHillCountryArt.etsy.com