Hello everyone I hope I can help you..

[shant...@aol.com]

I just wanted to touch bases with all my watercolor friends who may be
struggling to paint a painting each day. Since I have been doing this
for so long I think I can give you some tips. Unlike your larger
paintings these smaller painting don't take a lot of preparation if
you are ready to go. I suggest the following.

1. Choose a location where you can have your painting supplies left
out and ready to go.

At first (for me) this was a small table with a chair and a light in
the corner of a guest room.
My brushes, paper, paint & water are left out all the time.

2. Cut your paper into the size you have decided to work in u know..
4 by 6 - 5 by 7 - 8 by 10... 6 by 6 whatever you think you can
frame or sell easily ... have them ready to go. I don't usually tape
or staple my work down but if you do, you may spend an hour or two
getting a weeks worth of paper prepared and ready to go.

3. Consider a theme or a subject you would like to explore, not that
you have to stick to it but when you get in a jam you have something
to fall back on without a lot of prep. The paintings don't take that
much time its all the other stuff that will keep you from painting.

4. Decide on a time you will generally be painting. I tell my friends
and family.. 3 pm to 5 pm don't call. It works! And if they forget..
I just say " Its 3:15 I'm trying to get my painting done, they
usually apologize and they leave me alone... with no hard feelings.


5. When all else fails and you have your supplies sitting out and you
have actually given yourself an hour to an hour in a half sit aside
for this task, but still can't get into anything, pull out a book and
look thru the lessons and try to paint one of them. This can get you
jump started.


6. Since you will be painting all the time, some are not going to be
up to your standard of what you know you can do. Don't sweat it,
everyone has days when paintings go bad. You get to start a new one
tomorrow. Figure out why you don't like it and avoid that mistake...
sounds simple huh? It is. Also because you will paint so many
paintings... you won't feel the attachment you have to the larger
paintings and this will actually help you compose and develop
paintings more objectively.

I won't post a painting here everyday even though I have a painting to
post. I don't need another blog, this is for all of us. If you need a
walk thru on how to post your painting email me and I can walk you
thru the steps.


Your invitation was sent to you and if you accepted it then you will
have access to the blog and can post at any time day or night. I
noticed we had about 16 people looked at out blog today. Check out
the stats ( go down to the bottom of the page and click the link)
then when the graph comes up... look over to the left... look at the
section thats say map something or other this is really cool and you
can see where each visitor is on the planet and more information by
right clicking on their little flag. I hope you have as much fun as I
have with my own blog. Perhaps this will be a jump start for you to
start your own. They are free.

Shanti