Daily Painters of Texas: flower painting workshops

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Provence Violets Sunflowers was one of seven class demonstrations this weekend in my North Texas workshop. Why paint from life? Why not save a few pennies and just print out a bunch of prints at the PhotoMart down the street and use those? Here's why. You cannot hide your true self and your true style when you paint from life. Read more....

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Morning Garden Azure Blue Hydrangeas by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Morning Garden Azure Blue Hydrangeas

by Nancy Medina

16X20

Palette Knife/Oil

I dusted off my palette knife and attempted to capture the dappled light, the warm blue purples and the chilly cold greenery of my back porch hydrangeas this morning. Morning Garden Blue Hydrangeas is packed with a punch of color, and I was in the mood for bright color, especially when I saw the back lit flowers with just a hint of azure coming through the fuschia pinks in my potted garden. I've been feeding my hydrangeas scandalous amounts of gardening fertilizer to give them a blue boost. I'm sure at some point I will learn when how much is too much, but for now they are thriving! I've shared a photo of one of the pots of blue blossoms on my art blog for you. See now why I could not resist painting them?

Morning Garden on the porch

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Pink Roses and Perks of Painting at the Dallas Arboretum by Nancy Medina

Pink on Blue Roses

by Nancy Medina

8X10

Oil on Archival Panel

Pink on Blue Roses is the newest daily painting in Flower Mound Studio. Painting outdoors at the Dallas Arboretum is one of the perks of my new job as a full time artist. No more soul scorching fluorescent lighting, just pure sunshine and breezes. On weekends, you can hear the sound of classical piano music wafting through the delphiniums and watch the brides and their photographers on their way to the perfect Kodak moment. Painting in the Arboretum gardens is just about perfect, especially if you rent one of the big red wagons at the help desk to haul all your important accoutrements (a picnic basket of fried chicken and iced down peach tea). Even better when the hubby comes along and sets up your EasyL easel and makes a critical ice cream bar run around 2 pm. I love when the children come up and ask questions about the painting, many answering in the affirmative when I ask, "Are you an artist?" I've never had one answer with uncertainty. They are either very certainly an artist, or very certainly not an artist. If the parent allows, I always offer the child my brush and invite them to contribute to the work in progress. This small gesture provides a return on investment equal to about a million smiles of pure childlike joy and wonderment. Have I mentioned recently how much I love my new job?

Just another day at the office!

Saturday, May 25, 2013

SOLD ~ Surrounded by Love and a Florida Workshop by Dallas Arboretum Flower Instructor Nancy Medina

Surrounded by Love White Lilies and Hydrangeas

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

12X16

Oil on Archival Panel

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Surrounded by Love, White Lilies and Hydrangeas, is the newest daily painting on the easel in Flower Mound Studio. I was delighted to get a big response to my post yesterday, providing tips on how to paint red poppies. Over 200 folks tuned in! I will provide more tips for you in the future, and eventually put these into a collection.

If you've been following my art blog for a while, you may already be familiar with my step by step paintings, where I provide each step of a painting for you in images. I start with a completely transparent underpainting, then move into opaque colors as a last step, a final reward for all the hard work of building a foundation of color that will play well with the final values. Put a little joy in your brush and join me for a flower painting workshop! I'll be teaching in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, next spring. What say let's put on our vacation hats and make some flowers bloom on the beach!

Fort Lauderdale, Florida workshop next spring!

Detail from Surrounded by Love, one little lily

Friday, May 24, 2013

Tips on Painting Red Poppies by Dallas Arboretum Flower Painting Instructor Nancy Medina

Dreamers Three Poppies

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Dreamers Three Poppies is the newest daily painting in Flower Mound Studio, and a study based on the poppies of Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit my art blog today to read some of my favorite tips for making brilliant red poppies glow in oils! Read more....

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Blown Away Yellow Roses by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Blown Away Yellow Roses

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Blown Away Yellow Roses was one of my step by step paintalong, class demonstrations this weekend in my North Texas workshop. My students painted white hydrangeas, yellow roses, and blue delphiniums and we had a plethora of color to choose from each morning, as well as a plethora of fresh donuts! Visit my art blog to hear about the big surprise I got in my workshop this weekend!

The studio models are hanging in there!

Friday, May 17, 2013

Birds and Roses and a North Texas Workshop by Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Birds and Roses

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Birds and Roses is the newest small work in Flower Mound Studio, as I pack up the brushes, paints, palette and fresh flowers for my North Texas workshop this weekend. I have 13 students coming from across Louisiana and all parts of the Lone Star State, and I'm triple excited to bring in a batch of lovely new blossoms I found at Central Market *sound of harps* this afternoon. It is a little splurge to drive to Southlake, Texas, to sample the wares at Central Market *sound of harps* but they always have the best selection. I haven't decided yet if Little Bird is coming to class yet, we shall see what the muses say in the morning, if my mind isn't too distracted by the idea that I will be REQUIRED to pick up a few dozen fresh donuts from my undisclosed absolute best place to get donuts in Flower Mound, Texas, because this little donut shop DOUBLE GLAZES their donuts. No I'm sorry, please don't ask. I just cannot share this place, nor the address, nor nearby landmark hints. Otherwise I'd be standing in a line fourteen-gazillion miles long!

Birds and Roses - the studio models take a bow!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

SOLD ~ Summer Born Stargazers by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Summer Born Stargazers

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Summer Born Stargazers is the newest daily painting in Flower Mound Studio, and just a quick entry today since big thunderstorms are rolling across North Texas. The tornado sirens have not gone off in Flower Mound yet, but the largest storm cells are surrounding us on the West and North. What does one do when you have four little dogs in a tornado watch? You hunker down in the smallest bathroom in the house, with pillows, your cell phone, and a large bag of chips to keep everyone happy.

Summer Born Stargazer models take a little bow!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

SOLD ~ Lilies and Lavender and Rare Bird Sightings by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Lilies and Lavender

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Lilies and Lavender is the newest daily painting, and a chance to paint my new little stone bird sculpture. I rolled the little bird in a bit of white paint tonight, but I may give him another milk bath tomorrow. It seemed appropriate to include the bird, since this morning, while standing in my Mother's back yard in East Texas, a rare little bird landed 6 feet away from me. Read more...

Lilies and Lavender in the studio

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

SOLD ~ Rosy Roses and Goodbye Morning Commute by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Rosy Sunday Red Rose

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

8X10

Oil on Archival Panel

Rosy Sunday Red Rose is an original small work, drying in Flower Mound Studio. This morning when I woke up, I had an instant flash of what the day would bring: a rush hour Dallas commute, a communal coffeepot, sitting at a metal desk all day, and the bliss of budget spreadsheets. I began to hyperventilate. Then it occurred to me, no more corporate life! I'm still not quite used to being a full time artist, but this nice short-term memory of mine allows me moment after moment of realization and joy, all over again, ad infinitum!

Now I pad into Flower Mound Studio in my flip flops and pink robe, take a peek at my painting from the previous day, and line up the paintings that need to ship that morning. This morning paintings shipped to Oregon, Florida, Maine and New Zealand, and I realized it was time to order more 18X14 boxes and more packing tape. I put that on my list, made myself another cup of tea, and meandered out to the garden to see if the Dove was still sitting on her nest. There she was, almost eye to eye with me, bravely facing me without leaving her eggs. I've decided that fear is no longer part of the equation of this new job as a full time artist. Faith, however, shall be embraced in generous quantities. I put a little peanut butter flavored bird seed near the nest, and went to enjoy the day.

Monday, May 13, 2013

SOLD ~ Purple Pot Hydrangeas by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Purple Pot Hydrangeas

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

There is a story behind these white hydrangeas. They were the models for my painting in the garden at a Colleyville, Texas, event last week. Sitting out in the sun, they slowly but surely wilted to nothing, leaving me to finish my demo painting that day almost purely from memory. I had forgotten my favorite brush, was using the wrong canvas, and my flowers went kaput - a recipe for disaster in the midst of a big event? Well, not quite - the demo found a new home - with the hostess - hooray! I brought my wilted flowers home, thinking they were done for, and the next morning these white hydrangeas were bright and perky and fresh again! Just like new! I think they wanted to be in another painting, don't you?

The new purple pot takes a bow!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Spring Formal Pink and Red Poppy Field by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Spring Formal Pink and Red Poppy Field

by Nancy Medina

16X20

Oil on Archival Panel

I felt the need to step out of the studio and into the fields today, and painted Spring Formal Pink and Red Poppies based on the bobbing and dipping fields of flowers in Fredericksburg, Texas. The weather was clear, cool and absolutely gorgeous in Flower Mound, Texas. Studio Director AnnieBee bossed me away from the easel on at least four occasions to throw her toy du jour. After a busy morning of packing and shipping paintings, it was nice to have a few moments in the garden to sit, breathe, relax, and share quiet time with my pugs. I wanted to share that time with you, too, with a photo of a surprise from my garden this morning. The rest of its brethren seem spent for the season, but this morning the one, glorious white lady stood tall among the red roses.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Dream Seeker Stargazers and Hill Country Wildflowers by Nancy Medina

Dream Seeker Stargazers

by Nancy Medina

16X20

Oil on Archival Panel

Dream Seeker Stargazers was my class demonstration Sunday morning for my Texas Hill Country workshop. Fueled with an amazing fresh flower selection from the local HEB grocery store, the biggest cheese kolache danishes you've ever seen, and a nice hot cuppa tea, the ladies and I painted flowers in bright colors on transparent backgrounds, pushing the limits of just how loose, and just how intense we could make color! I had five Lindas registered for class, at first I thought I'd never be able to remember who was who, but it was quite easy actually, although each time I said "Linda" every Linda in the classroom thought I was calling her name. Stay tuned to my art blog for new flower photos from class this week! Now that I'm back in Flower Mound Studio with the fatties, I'm trying to be strong and battle a case of fresh cheese kolache withdrawal...!

Dream Seeker on the porch!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

SOLD ~ Blue Hydrangea Pink Daisy Surprise by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Blue Hydrangea Pink Daisy Surprise

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Blue Hydrangea Pink Daisy Surprise was my afternoon paint-along demo in class today here in the Texas Hill Country. After polishing off a dozen fresh kolaches, my students and I were properly fueled and ready to tackle a plethora of flowers! I have a nice group of gals from all over the US with me, from Santa Fe to Maryland and even though the morning started chilly, the sun was out and shining by noon. Stay tuned in the next few days for more Hill Country images but while you're waiting for those, visit my art blog to see what REAL Texas kolaches look like!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Spring Training White Roses and a Hill Country Workshop by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Spring Training White Roses

by Nancy Medina

12X12

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Spring Training White Roses is the newest daily on the easel in Flower Mound Studio, which is bereft of many accoutrements as we have loaded up the truck in preparation for a trip to the Hill Country tomorrow. I sure hope ya'll will come on out and say howdy if you're there! I'll be teaching a 3-day workshop, and have a featured art night at The Good Art Company Gallery, just up the street from the kolache bakery. I love going to Fredericksburg, Texas, to teach and to visit. This historic town is so unspoiled, and there is so much to see there. I even have my new mobile phone app, Night Sky, to try out so think positive thoughts for clear night skies for me, I want to see some constellations in an area far from large city lights! It's not too late, there are still a few seats left in my workshop. I've had a few gals with very well trained hubbies register this week as their Mom's day presents.

You are cordially invited to join me in historic Fredericksburg, Texas, amidst rolling hills, cabins, beautiful vistas, and awesome German bakeries for a perfect workshop retreat!

Wild Things ~ Making Flowers Bloom in the Hill Country

Baron's Creekside Resort

May 3, 4 and 5, 2013

316 Goehmann Lane

Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Click Here to Register

Monday, April 29, 2013

SOLD ~ Pinkquilibrium Roses by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Pinkquilibrium Roses by Nancy Medina

SOLD

12X12

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Pinkquilibrium Roses is the newest daily painting in Flower Mound Studio, as I finish packing for a trip to the Texas Hill Country. I've finished a new four foot container garden for the Good Art Company Gallery, and will have a lot of explaining to do when I return, since Studio Director AnnieBee will not be able to come with me this trip. It's a little difficult to obey her every whim and teach an art class at the same time, unfortunately.... We still have not broken the news that her gallery beau, Bob, has found a new four footed cutey upon which to lavish his affections. Stay tuned for Hill Country photos, pictures of my students, and lots of celebratory kolache eating! Cheese filled or cherry, that will be the question we will have to make each morning. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my new job?

Thursday, April 25, 2013

SOLD ~ Island Geraniums and Violet Infatuations by Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Island Geraniums by Nancy Medina

SOLD

12X12

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Island Geraniums is another Coronado-inspired floral painting, as I sift through my library of over 500 new photos from my trip there last weekend. These images will fuel the muses for some time to come; there is just something about the light on Coronado Island that seems to give the flowers there such a color boost! Like Miracle Grow in the sunshine or something.... I've become infatuated with purple backgrounds recently, and thought a purple background on this painting would be an interesting experiment. What do you think?

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

SOLD ~ Into the Air Pink Poppies and $400 Worth of Paint by Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Into the Air Pink Poppies

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

12X12

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Into the Air Pink Poppies is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, and it's good to be home after a whirlwind trip to Coronado Island for my solo show at Art and Frames by Wood Gallery in Southern California. It was a wonderful show, with so many good friends in attendance, the most scrumptious refreshments you ever tasted, and enough sales to pay for the trip! *confetti*

A few weeks ago, I received a $1000 gift card from my editorial board as a thanks for my work on the magazine. It took me all of five minutes to spend half of it. It was like being on a game show or something! In case you are wondering what $400 worth of paint looks like, I've shared a photo on my art blog today! I'm not quite sure why the song "Isn't She Lovely" runs through my mind every time I see all that fresh new paint! The smallest tube of all is the new one I tried today for this pink poppy painting.

Monday, April 22, 2013

SOLD ~ Double Pink Roses and Award Winning Cottage Gardens of Coronado Island by Nancy Medina

Double Pink Roses by Nancy Medina

SOLD

8X10

Oil on Archival Panel

Visit my art blog today to see my solo show demo in progress!

It's good to be back in the studio after a weekend in Coronado, California, painting in the garden during the 88th Annual Flower Show. Thank you to Art and Frame by Wood Gallery for hosting my annual show, and every who came by to help me eat that homemade rum cake! What a cool surprise to have so many Facebook friends pay a visit! This year I met the architect of one of the best cottage gardens on the island, one which is named in the top 10 each year. I'll be sharing his tips on how to make your flower gardens exquisite, and a photo tour of my favorite cottages in my newsletter soon!

My favorite cottage garden - I got the inside tour!

Friday, April 19, 2013

SOLD ~ Coronado Island Sunset Arbor and the 88th Annual Flower Show by Nancy Medina

Coronado Island Sunset Arbor

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel