After posting my picture I thought you may want to see the original picture I had to work from. I guess I want to redeem myself and show you that she was kind of hard to paint. Maybe it was not so bad after all.

Different strokes from Different Folks Challenge

Ok don't laugh! I agreed to do the challenge for Karin Jurick and boy was it just that! We were sent a picture of a random person and had to paint them. I think this woman ended up looking like the abominable snowman on Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer movie. I had a hard time making her look like a person. I think the original picture was a bit dark so I could not get the color right. So... Random person if you look at my blog. So Sorry for your portrait I Did try!!

Roosters Again!!

In my absent minded state Thursday night, I forgot my camera for my paint class. I wish I had remembered it because Yvonne and Karen painted the prettiest Roosters yet!! I was so proud of their work.

Be looking for my calender for Carson's Grille!! I will post it soon so be sure to email me for a reservation!!

There will be fun for all ages!! I will have "secret Santa" paint nights for the kids to make gifts for mom and dad, grandma or who ever!! Teens will have their nights too!

I am free to do private parties. Email me for details and to get on my calendar!! It is filling up!!

Wine and Paint Tuscany Night

Last night was a blast!! Two students that had never painted before ended up with gorgeous pictures of rolling hillsides and vineyards! I was so excited for each student because each of their pictures were just as they had expected! Thanks for a great night and I hope to see you soon! Spread the word to your friends and they too can become a master painter!!

Hello to all,
If you missed painting the Rooster, I will be doing a make-up class
Thursday night November 12 at Carson's Grille. (5:30 dinner which is optional)
6:00 paint. Please email me and let me know you are coming!
apope@hsv.k12.al.us

Be watching for the updated calendar for the remainder of this year and 2010!!

Retro 60's party

Friday night I had the pleasure of teaching 17 12-13 year olds how to paint for a birthday party! We did tie die and peace signs. It was a blast and all were unique in their own way!! The girls had fun but not as much as I did! Thanks for including me in your special day Melissa.

LOVE IT! You did a great job on this! I know you will find a special place in your home for it! I presume near the Rooster! Thanks for your support and encouragement!!

OK Laura, I am impressed you now have your masterpiece as your screan saver on your phone!! AND that you feel it is worthy of framing!! BOY you make me feel good!

These two paintings are going to be side by side in Jennifers new house!! Bravo to you both!

Everyone was so excited about what they had painted we took seperate pictures and I promised that they would be famous today!

Wine and Paint-Still life

Last nights paint class was sooo much fun! We painted a still life of wine,grapes and a big hunk of cheese! Once again it is amazing to see the difference in each masterpiece! LOTS of smiles and budding artists were there! Great job to all!

Dine and Paint

The next Dine and Paint at Carson's Grille will be November 5th at 5:30 if you want to eat dinner and painting will begin at 6:00. Please arrive on time if you come just to paint. We have been running over lately and they close at 10:00. If you would like to join us, email me at apope@hsv.k12.al.us and reserve a spot!! I look forward to seeing you.

Just wanted to share these olive pictures because they will hang side by side. What fun it was! Glad you came Katie. I guess we need to work on the martini glass or olive branches to finish the wall hanging.

OLIVES Wine and Paint

We had such a relaxing time painting the olives. It was a bit more challenging than we all thought. The black olives especially because we had to get the colors right. ALL were great! Thanks ladies!! The only thing missing was the martini!

Dine and Paint Private Tuscany Party

OK ladies, I told you that you were talented. We had so much fun painting, laughing, dreaming of Tuscany and listening to "I think my tractor is sexy". I forgot my music so it made for an eventful night. One lady had to leave before this picture but all did sooo well. I am proud of the jobs you all did! Have fun on your cruise! Thanks for the fun and I hope to see you all after your trip and paint some more.

Tuscan Landscape

Last night we painted a Tuscan Landscape. ALL of the pictures were beautiful. We incorporated ideas from two different pictures. I loved each masterpiece. YOU all did a fantastic job! Let me tell you about our special guest. I arrived before 5:00 to get prepared and the room had a squirrel in it. He had been there for days. We had to bring in John Tanner and Dan Fincher to help scare him out. It was quite an adventure. He had eaten or taken a bite from corks, plates, paper towels, window ledges--must I go on. Once we were able to get to our painting,the night turned out to be a huge success. Thanks to all who made it special for me. See you soon!

"Crabby" afternoon

11x14 Acrylic on Canvas

Yesterday it was cold, foggy, rainy and I just felt like painting this on this "crabby" afternoon. Let me know if you'd like to add a class in the calendar sometime to paint it. Of course the colors are up to you. I found a picture in a Coastal Living magazine and felt like it would be fun to paint-and it was.

Olives-Yummy!

If you love olives like I do, come and paint with us at the Hampton House on October 20th. The cost is $30.00. Please email me for a reservation@ apope@hsv.k12.al.us

Tuscan Vinyard

11x14 Acrylic on canvas

I painted two different landscapes. I love each one for different reasons. I feel that you can choose which one you would like to paint. OR we can make two classes for you to do both. The cost for the class is $30.00. Email me for a reservation. See you there!

Tuscan Sunset

11x14 Acrylic on Canvas

This is one of two Tuscan Landscapes I have painted for our paint classes. If you would like to take the class, email me at apope@hsv.k12.al.us and reserve a spot.

I provide everything, you come with a creative heart and have some fun. We will paint at the Hampton house October 13th.

Sunflower Masterpieces

MASTERPIECE! Each was unique in its own way! I am so impressed with each flower! AND the colors! You all did an outstanding job!! Thanks for all of you coming out to Carson's Grille and letting your creative juices flow.

I am taking a break next week to work on the next few pictures and a "surprise" picture! YOU will not want to miss out!! Watch for update information!!

Wine and Paint #3 Roosters

AMAZING! is the word I'd use to describe last nights class! ALL of the masterpieces were gorgeous! I was so proud of each of the artists and the neat thing is to see how uniquely different each rooster turned out! I want to thank each lady who attended! Hope to see you all soon!

My next class will be October 1st at Carson's Grille and we will paint a sunflower! email me if you'd like to join us.

Sunflower Wine and Paint

Last night was our second Wine and Paint at the Hampton House. The group was small but the masterpieces were unbelievable! I was very impressed with each painting! See ladies you can do it!! We had a great time laughing and sharing. Next week on Tuesday we will be our Third Wine and Paint. The subject will be a Rooster.

My next class to paint the Sunflowers will be a Dine and Paint at Carson's Grille October 1st. Make sure you email me to reserve a spot! apope@hsv.k12.al.us See you there!

The Ruler of the Roost

We will paint this fun rooster at a Wine and Paint on September 29th at the Hampton House. All Hampton House members are welcome to join me. I will demonstrate this painting on November 5th at Carson's Grille. The cost is $30.00. Contact me for a reservation. apope@hsv.k12.al.us

Sunflower

Sunflower is painted with acrylic on canvas. I will demonstrate this painting at the Hampton Cove Wine and Paint on September 22nd. Hampton House Members are invited to join their neighbors in a fun, relaxing night.We will have our social time from 5:30-6:00 and begin at 6:00. If you'd like to join us email me at apope@hsv.k12.al.us. I will also demonstrate this at Carson's Grille (formerly The Corner near Hampton Cove) on October 1st. (same times) The cost for each class is $30.00

Crazy Cross

I painted this for a sample for a Wine and Paint. Simple in that there is one cross but fun in that there are many options in the "squares" dividing it. Makes it fun to paint.

$ 50.00

11x14 Acrylic on canvas

First Annual Wine and Paint

The first annual WINE and PAINT was held tonight at the Hampton Cove Club House and was a HUGE success!! I would like to thank ALL who attended. I am very excited that your creative juices flowed like they did. Another THANK YOU to Kathy Tanner for making the night possible. AND a HUGE thank you for the enthusiasm each brought to the night! It made it for me! A dream come true. It amazes me how different and wonderfully unique each painting ended up. Jeff you definately made an "A" on yours and have been promoted from kindergarten ART! Seriously, everyone did a fantastic job. I appreciate each person coming out and making the night memorable for all of us. I hope to see each of you again soon.

Our First "DINE and PAINT"

By the huge encouragement from my sweet friends, and the need to have fun nights painting on "our side of the mountain" I have started two paint nights. One will be held at Carson's Grille (formerly The Corner) times TBA so watch my blog and for the next 6 weeks in Hampton Cove at the Hampton House starting on September 15. Social time from 5:30-6:00'ish and paint after that. I am so excited to be "teaching" friends and if I can get my husband to come family. It has been sort of a dream of mine to be able to share my creative side with others. NOW the dream has become a reality. I am also looking into another place in Huntsville to have similar classes. If you would like to join us at anytime, please email me at apope@hsv.k12.al.us. Space is limited at both classes so I will have to take the first 16 painters.

The class is very informal. If you have ever said "I cannot paint, I cannot draw stick figures" YOU will be surprised. I will walk you through the painting and everyone will go home with a masterpiece. I supply everything. At Hampton Cove, the class will be held in the old weight room. BYOB light snacks provided (unless you would like to bring an appetizer). At Carson's Grille, you can either eat or come and visit.

September 15th we will paint Abstract Crosses.

The class on September 15th I have 7 who have contacted me. I will keep you posted via this blog.

"Supreme" Angels

Ok, wondering about the name. Here is the story. I painted this in a class with Leslie Lockhart who is known for her angels. I was so excited about the class. I really had a hard time with this because painting people is not my specialty. I left the workshop thinking all the way home what exactly could I do to improve this aside from painting it again. I got home and showed my husband who immediately said "I'm impressed, you painted the "Supremes"! OK, well that got us laughing so hard. I guess another will be painted with lighter fleshtones. Leslie, thanks for a fun workshop and I cannot blaim this on the lighting.

Untitled

I was asked to paint this for a birthday. The only colors I was to include were purple, white lavender and black. I just could not see black in it so I chose a dark purple/eggplant color.

Tuscan Sunflowers

My dream place to visit is Tuscany. I will one day see the famous sunflowers and hopefully paint them. This landscape was painted in hopes of seeing it in person. The flowers fade into the distance and the vinyard fades into the sunset. My husband grabed this painting and it hangs in his office. Lucky him to be able to dream of Tuscany at work.

Mary with Child

Acrylic on Canvas

I painted this for my sister's for their birthday's this year. The original is from a picture my mom had hanging in her house. After she passed away and we went through her prized possessions, my sisters asked if I would paint each one a picture resembling it. After painting three, I liked each differently. They loved them and more will come.

The Streets of San Fransisco

Acrylic on Canvas

6x9

$25.00

I painted this for Karin Jurick's

Different Strokes from Different Folks challenge and boy was it ever a challenge. The original picture was very busy and hard to find a focal point.

I have been to San Fransisco and it is exactly like this in some places. I enjoyed being stretched a bit.

If anyone would like to purchase this or any of my works please contact me at apope9062@gmail.com

After Claude Monet's "Irisis"

I painted this on a 5x7 artist canvas in Acrylics

I LOVE how this turned out. I think purple is one of my favorite colors. I found this and fell in love with it. I painted it for the Following the Masters challenge.

$25.00

After Maurice Pendergrast's "Portrait of a Girl with Flowers"

This painting was done for the Following the Masters Challenge. I was definately challenged by her face but after a while I think I came close.

After Winslow Homer's "Flower Garden and Bungalow" in Bermuda

After Winslow Homer's picture which is an entry for

Following the Masters challenge. This months challenge was to find a master painters picture of flowers and paint it "our" way. I loved this because of the gorgeous colors and its simplicity.

Man in Metal Chair

Man in Metal Chair was painted as an entry to Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different Folks Challenge.

I didn't feel like painting today so I checked out some new blogs. My favorite was Miro Sinovcic. He immigrated to the United States from Croatia 24 years ago, landed in NYC and decided to call it home. His primary subject matter is just that NYC. Check out is style. I love it. I just returned from a trip to NYC in May and boy how lucky he is to have a new subject around each corner. It is an amazing place to visit, you cannot take everything in in a week --GREAT excuse to go back.

After Claude Monet-Artists Garden at Grerny

Painted in 1900

Acrylic on Canvas

10x10

$50

I adore Claude Monet's work. I love his style and use of colors. I printed this off the internet a few weeks ago to paint for the Following the Masters challenge. I chose to do a Picasso instead. I pulled it out today to paint. I tried to paint it in under an hour and managed to come close. If you would like to purchase any paintings contact me at apope9062@gmail.com

Summer's Best

Acrylic on Artist Panel

5x7

$20

I was sitting in the kitchen this morning looking out at my cone flowers and daisies taking over in my garden and thought that just painting a simple garden would be fun. Not being able to get out and really paint this was my only alternative.

3rd update from the Crip "Knock Out Cast"

Ok don't think I am nuts. I got this cast on Monday -choices were green(already had), pink (been there done that), BLACK-(HOT ), RED (ON FIRE), blue (BLAH), purple-NOT, orange (for Auburn and Tenn. fans only). So this was my last resort. In my last update from the crip, I told you about the world being handicapped-well NO ONE noticed me with my green or pink cast. I opened doors with the help of skinny legs, pulled my way throughout Wal Mart on a cart which lost its battery (kind of the good foot motoring the "vehicle" and pulling myself pulling on the shelves)WELL let me tell you, highlighter yellow is the way to be noticed. I had lunch with a friend today, went to the front of the line, left there and some guy said "can you turn it down a bit" --no one made comments before, I went back to Wal Mart today with my friend and a lady standing outside taking in a leisurely cig, probably on a break from shopping asked if she could help me. Stopped me in my tracks! Had to thank her for noticing. Does it not want you to get out a marker and go to town? I had to share this and I am seriously thinking of writing that book I mentioned before.

Untitled

I painted this for Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks. It was challenging to me because I have not mastered painting people yet. I changed the colors from the original because it was hazy and felt it needed color.

Summer Abundance

Acrylic on Canvas

5x7 Artist Panel

$20.00

I found a picture with these gorgeous flowers and loved the bright colors. Red is so exciting to me and the vase was a watering can. The picture was taken in a garden with zinnias in the background. I cannot wait to get outside to paint!

Ahh Summer Vegetables

Acrylic on 12x12 Artist Panel

$30.00

I painted this for Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different Folkes and at the deadline to submit we had computer issues so it did not make it in. Vegetables bring out the best of the summer.

#2 update from the CRIP

Hi to all who visit my blog,
I wanted to update you on my progress. I went yesterday and had my second visit post surgery and got those nasty stitches out! I now have a highlighter yellow cast. Had to find fun in this miserable venture. I did find out that I have TWO weeks left hauling around fluorescent casts and using my "skinny legs" (the name I have given to my crutches) SO I think my doc was surprised and could not believe I questioned the 2 weeks left in a cast. Last YEAR it was 6. I will have the boot for 10 days-here again-SHOCK to my ears. I pray this will be the end of all this nonsense! I so desire to get outside to paint while things are still pretty. It has just been hard with skinny legs and knock-out casts. I have become a future advocate for the handicapped, may write a book on how to be handicapped in a world that IS handicapped and if anyone wants suggestions how to carry things with skinny legs, deal with daily chores and the best places to visit while handicapped you can call me!! Special thanks to those who have been making encouraging comments on my blog and noticing the paintings or a lack there of. I will revamp my desire and get back on track.

Hi everyone,
In all my spare time this summer, I have found in my daily routine is to check out many blogsites. This morning I was looking at one of my newer additions Paint Dance blog and saw a new painter mentioned on the site that I thought would be fun to follow. I added the site to my blog for quick reference. It is Don Sahli's paint studio. I think what I like about his work is that he is not intimidated about using lots of color. I absolutely love color-the more color the better. Check out his site- I have no doubt you will love his work.

Peaceful Night by Maxfield Parrish

Acrylic on Water color paper
I was not sure of painting on paper but felt like trying. I found the paper absorbed the paint quickly.

This is a challenge I did from Following the Masters. This challenge was to pick any of Maxfield Parrish's paintings and paint our version. You are given the liberty to paint what you see or change it and paint it your way. I thought the church was really pretty and the simple colors very comforting. Peaceful Night was painted by Parrish in the 1950's.

Betsy's Cross

We were invited to a friend's 50th birthday last weekend and I thought I would be nice and not give a "gag" gift. Also, being stranded with my cast, this was something a little special for her. There is something about painting the crosses. I love how they come together and the mix of colors make me happy. Each is unique in every way--like us :)

Landscape

Mediterreanean Landscape taken from a Pablo Picasso painting. I have been watching this new site where you "Paint the Masters" and you have to choose the subject and then find a picture to do from a master painter. I really love Picasso. His use of colors and simplicity really draw my attention. I thought this would be easy but found out differently. I do like the primary colors with the green added. I painted this on artist board in acrylics.

As with all paintings posted, if you would like to purchase anything contact me at apope9062@gmail.com

Untitled

This was a landscape I saw and thought I would attempt it. I love the colors especially the plum color with the greens. I had a hard time cropping it.

Rooster Frenzy

Ok! I have no idea why roosters are so popular. While blog searching in all my free time I have seen more roosters and the funny thing is I never paid them any attention. NOW I am curious about their barnyard frenzy. Ruling the roost! I notice them everywhere and in all colors. I was looking at the first rooster I painted and thought I would try again. This is also painted with a palette knife. I had a blast with mixing the colors.

Wickles Pickles-Abstract

Ok have you ever tried Wickles? Wicked Pickles? They are a must have in the pantry. I was introduced to them from a friend and found them at the store. I know you can purchase them in Tuscalooa, Ala. They are sweet/hot. I was in a funky mood and felt like eating pickles and painting that is where this idea came from.

Untitled

I actually should have titled this "I wish I could have been there" because a friend invited me to go paint in the country on Sat. May 30 but my surgery was the day before. This barn is a picture I borrowed from Carole Foret's site to paint. I guess I will get outside and paint sooner or later. Kind of hard to carry all you need when you are on "evil" crutches.

Best Friends

I wanted to attempt a simple beach scene. I love the beach and watching everyone enjoy its beauty. Children on the beach are amazing to watch. I love their unending curiosity about everything they encounter. I am not sure this is how I wanted this to be so you may see it again touched up.

Abstract Cone Flowers

Acrylic on canvas. 10x20

I have been watching my garden come alive and wanted to paint something as colorful as it is. I first painted the multicolored background and thought the flowers would look bold on it. I really liked the way each color stands out.