Hi Max and Betty hope all is OK with you havn't heard from you in a while

Hi Max and Betty so sorry to hear of your Town Cryer and what a funeral with a horse drawn carriage...hope they appoint another and it's not another tradition sunk...I know what you mean about painters block I can't even get a descent wash in regardless of the paper quality...but it will go and the enthusiasm will return...I'm lacking that at the moment and perhaps best to leave it alone until that urge returns...four years ago a good friend was killed in a road accident when a road cleaner pulled out in front of her...she had a full requiem mass and the church was full to bursting and there were people outside who they put a loud speaker up for...in all there were 700 people who attended...she had three beautiful children and with a large Italian extended family and all of the children's schools and of course her friends it's amazing...I just remember feeling numb...my Daughter held on to me I just wanted to feel her touching me...you take your life into your hands driving here very aggressive drivers so I always keep an good eye on the other drivers and I've taught my daughter to do the same...which thankfully she does...enough of the sad stuff with art I think when you turn out something good and everyone loves it we keep trying to catch that breeze again...I'm going to stop trying and just do it and forget about the last painting good or bad...well goodnight Max and Betty LOL Patsy XXX

Hi Patsy thank you for your kind support......especially when i have had painter's block like i have had this week.We have had lovely weather again today hope it keeps up........The town is full of visitors & you can't get along the sea front. Our town cryer died last week he was a lovely man & was very well liked......his funeral was last friday & the town was shut of to traffic for the cortege to pass through there was 400 people at the church & the sevice was relayed on a big screen outside for all to see......there also were about 10 town cryers from all over the south west with their bells he was pulled in a horse drawn carriage & they led the way then when they left the church they all rang their bells in respect.......he will be greatly missed he was loved by every one he died on duty doing the thing he loved most he was 83. Well must close LOL Betty & Max xxx

Hi Max and Betty thanks for your comment on the course work...glad to hear you are both OK...yes it's good to have visitors but nice to wave them off...ours usually get wa ved off at the airport...good luck with your new painting.LOL Patsy XXX

Hi Patsy, havn't been on the computer the last few days...have had a few visitors who didn't want to go home but it was nice......also been visiting mum she was very tired today but is determined to get better & go home to her little dog. I (max) am attempting another painting of a peaceful scene.....two boats at anchor & swans with their cygnets in the foreground........restful colours & a lovely sky.....It's quite a challenge but will have a go. Take care LOL Betty & Max xxx

Hi Max and Betty just checking in to make sure you are both OK havn't heard from you for a while LOL Patsy XXX

Hi Max and Betty yes my preference is cerulean it was one of the first colours I bought...the blues here are so strong so some phthalo has to go on over the top but with the wet in wet it spreads a bit too far and encompasses the cerulean...I think patience and a slow build up of paint...I had a busy day today so too tired to paint got to have my mind on the paint and paper and not the pain in my back...so tomorrow I have a much easier day so I will have the energy to paint...I made a chart of my blues and their mixtures which will come in very handy...I'll do one for greens too although we did greens in class I would like to see more mixed and it's always worth having something to check back on... I really enjoy my class it isn't easy for me to do new things but every week I go I enjoy it more now the class is relaxing...the Tutor is doing a morning class in drawing for beginners and onwards and it's on the morning of my painting class...so if I can drag myself out of bed I might make a day of it...I love freshly caught fish we have a friend who often sends some over for us...our potatoes were lovely Hubby has a way with them mine never taste quite as good...glad Mum is improving...glad your are both OK so Goodnight LOL Patsy XXX

Cerulean Blue is a personal favourite of mine...i alway's find Ultra Marine or Antwerp is a bit too strident for me however you must find out what your preferances are.....I tend to get a lighter blue with Cerulean i tend to get a better sky & even a better sea with it hope this has helped in some way.....I too have trouble doing wet in wet just go from the left hand side to the right all in one movement......depending on how much paint is on your brush return in the same way & leave it at that because once you start fiddling you have lost the crispness of the colour, let it dry & then proceed down the page........OK? Hope you enjoyed your class. Also that your potatoes done on the fire tasted delicious !!!!!! We had some fresh Mackeral brought to us this evening by a friend of ours he had caught them only an hour before......he had topped & tailed them for us......nice to have friends like that....we shall enjoy them very much. Mum is still improving slowly thank goodness. Will say goodnight now take care LOL Betty & Max xxx

Hi Max and Betty I go to my class tomorrow...I think I'll stick with Cerulean Blue I think the Antwerp is pretty saturating and I found it difficult to drop the other colours in...so another piece of paper has been stretched and I shall try again...I'm determined that this picture will not get the better of me...yes wet in wet can be daunting for me I don't know where to stop which is why I'm having trouble with this painting...your weather sounds lovely...yes it's lovely with the fire on Hubby has peeled some potatoes and is cooking on top of the fire lovely...well off now to have some tea and get painting so look after yourselves and I'm glad Mum is making a little improvement. LOL Patsy XXX

Glad you have started painting the sea & sky in Antwerp Blue i have never tried this myself alway's relied on Cerulean Blue.......just a matter of choice!.....I find that ultramarine is to strong for sea & sky......maybe it's just me. Have not had time to take a photo of the orchid yet but will do so over the weekend sometime then post it on our blog......Bet it's nice & cosy by the fire. Mum has made a slight improvement but still won't be home for a while yet. Went to our art class today Max was trying out Wet-in-Wet for a change but not having much joy with it.....there were 12 of us there today all doing differant media's & subjects but it was warm we had the doors & windows open......Well must say goodnight & it's been a long day LOL Betty & Max XXX

Hi Max and Betty yes I think you are right it is an age thing...everything takes so much longer to do...I painted last night and found in my paint box beautiful blue called Antwerp Blue...I can't remember why I bought it...it looks awful in the tube but when you add water to it what a surprise out came this beautiful aquamarine colour...much kinder than cerulean so I have laid in the first wash for the sky and sea with this colour as a base...and the shore base a very light wash of yellow ochre which is very much an Australian colour...I got it out tonight but it got a bit late and I thought I would spoil it if I rushed...what a lovely Hubby you have and a lovely Wife he has...you must post a picture of your orchid...our grass really slows down in winter so it dosn't need to be mown so much whereas in the summer it's every week...our winter has returned and we have the fire on...we had a little rain but not enough yet so I hope it's not going to be a drought year...how is Mum is she making any improvement I hope so...well must off now LOL Patsy XXX

Sorry it seems to much for you at the moment we do understand & sympathise.....we get day's like that very often but put it down to age "HA HA" It was a lovely afternoon here so decided to go into town & have a meal out which was delicious. Max bought me another beautiful orchid a pinky-lilac in colour said i was worth it putting up with him but i don't mind he is a lovely chap & we all get our off day's. Afraid our grass is knee-high in our garden at the moment will have to get the mower out after art class tomorrow. Take care LOL Betty & Max Xxx

Hi Max and Betty yes I saw your reply thankyou...I'm going through one of those slump stages it's as if I just don't know how to handle the paint anymore...I think I think too much about what I'm going to do now whereas when I started back first I just did it...so gotta stop thinking...off to bed now really tired so goodnight Max and Betty LOL Patsy XXX

Hope you see the reply ok Patsy. Take care Betty & Max xxxxxx

I love it Max will off to the gallery before I log off...hope the two of you are well and Mum os on the road to recovery...it's late now so I'll say goodnight and talk later take care LOL Patsy XXX

Hope you liked the painting Patsy........have left a reply on my gallery for you.

Hi Max looks smashing off to the gallery to have a look