Jacqueline’s Blog

Finding Inspiration to Paint, Part 5

Finding Inspiration to Paint, Part 5

A fun and easy thing to do to get you inspired to paint is to do some watercolor exercises.  It is also a great way to see how your paints interact with each other.  I love doing little studies and will often bind them in a notebook to keep for future reference.  Relax and enjoy watching the paint flow.  Here are a few of the studies I like to do.  What kind of watercolor studies do you like to do?

Watercolor Classes in Bend, Oregon

Watercolor Classes in Bend, Oregon

Beginning Watercolor Workshop

Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m. Continues through Nov. 15
541-388-3108

ClassesThis workshop is especially for beginner watercolor artists. Have fun and relax while you play with color and learn basic watercolor techniques for successful paintings. All supplies provided. $35.

Watercolor & Mixed Media

Thursdays, 1-4 p.m. Continues through Nov. 10
541-388-3108

ClassesCombining beautiful watercolor painting techniques and mixed media, you will learn how to make colorful, intriguing journal pages a perfect backdrop for adding paintings and words that inspire you. $30.
Finding Inspiration to Paint, Part 4

Finding Inspiration to Paint, Part 4

Here is another idea to get you going…. watch a YouTube video.  There are lots of free ones by lots of artists.  I have to tell you though, some of them are really boring and the end result is not what I aspire to.  So what I do is to fast forward to see the final painting and then invest the time to watch the video if I think the painting is good.  Here are a couple of YouTube videos that are demos of how to paint…

Fast video of how I paint a field of flowers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttywat9RQDs

How to paint palm trees

Here is one where I show what supplies are needed to get started with watercolor painting.
If you find a video you like, look to the right side of the YouTube page and you will see recommendations of other similar videos to watch.  Warning!  Watch a couple then go paint!  I know that I could spend all day watching other people paint but this is to inspire you to paint!

Finding Inspiration to Paint, Part 3

Finding Inspiration to Paint, Part 3

Take a Workshop!

Beginning Watercolor Workshop with Jacqueline Newbold
Tuesdays, October 25 – November 15, 2016 1:00 – 4:00 pm
$35 per class (includes all supplies)
Join me in my private Tumalo studio for this fun and colorful workshop especially designed for beginner watercolor artists. 

Watercolor and Mixed Media with Jacqueline Newbold
Thursdays, October 27 – November 10, 2016 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Combining beautiful watercolor painting techniques and mixed media, you will learn how to make colorful, intriguing journal pages a perfect backdrop for adding paintings and words that inspire you. 
$30 per class, plus a one-time $10 supply fee

Email:  [email protected]

Portland Art & Soul Retreat
Art for the Soul, April 9, 2017
Let’s Go – France, April 8, 2017
Tutti Frutti Watercolors, April 6, 2017


Finding Inspiration to Paint, Part 2

Finding Inspiration to Paint, Part 2

We all find a creative roadblock once in awhile.  So I thought I would continue to share with you some of the things I like to do to get my creative juices flowing again.  Last week I blogged about inviting art friends over.  A couple of responses I received were great ideas too – Celeste recommended traveling to inspire her and Susan says to “slow down and really look around”.  Thank you for these great ideas!
Today’s thought for inspiration is to look through an art book for ideas.  Whether you browse through your own personal art book library or visit the
local library, check out what other artists are doing and see what inspires you.  Try a new technique that is described in the book or try to recreate a painting that you love.  The Splash series books are a wonderful collection of the best of watercolor.  Each book has a focus (light, value, creative solutions…) and is filled with beautiful, inspiring watercolor paintings.

This painting was inspired by what I read in a book about adding white gouache to your painting.  It was quickly done – playful and colorful!

Finding Inspiration to Paint

Finding Inspiration to Paint

Do you ever find that it is hard to get inspired to paint?  Maybe it is just finding the time in our busy lives.  Sometimes I am so anxious to get all my chores done so that I can “go paint”.  But I sit down, surrounded by all my art supplies and nothing comes to me.  I feel uninspired.  What to do!  I wanted to post a few blogs about finding inspiration…
One great thing to do is to invite a friend or a few friends over to paint with you.  Set aside time, a few hours at least, and invite some friends for a relaxing, artistic afternoon.  I set out some stencils and inks in case someone wanted to use them in their art journals.  We explored different ways to add color to our stencils.  Here are some photos of our fun afternoon….

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers

“Hope” is the thing with feathers
“Hope” is the thing with feathers – 
That perches in the soul – 
And sings the tune without the words – 
And never stops – at all – 
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – 
And sore must be the storm – 
That could abash the little Bird 
That kept so many warm – 
I’ve heard it in the chillest land – 
And on the strangest Sea – 
Yet – never – in Extremity, 

It asked a crumb – of me.