Twenty-Minute Challenge, Small Paintings

Donna Vines introduced me to artist Mary Gilkerson's 20-minute challenge, which means doing a small painting in just 20 minutes. Here is my first attempt, a scene in Florence, Italy. I learned from this one that the subject was a bit too complex for a 20-minute execution!

This was my second attempt, and it went much easier. No buildings or people!

I was more deliberate with this last one, and stopped panicking over the time ticking by.

If you want to paint more loosely, this is a great exercise. One important tip: mix up your paint before you set the time.

Below is a page from my sketch journal, starting with my gym class the other day. Jean Thomas's class really inspired me to sketch more about everyday happenings.

Carmen

Rainy Day in Georgia

by Kathy Garvey
Sadly, we are leaving Phillis and Georgia tomorrow. It's been a great retreat.

Yesterday we spent the morning on a large pontoon boat touring around Lake Oconee. Below is a view of one of the more spectacular houses around the lake.

We spent the afternoon painting and journaling. Below is Carmen catching up on her journal.

 Denette is painting a set up of fresh peppers from the market. Mary is uploading her photos.

 Below is a beautiful page from Phillis' journal. (The Pieces of 8 journaling was inspired by Diana Gessler.)

Since it was Halloween in a retirement community, we decided to stay in and watch "The Gods Must be Crazy" on You Tube. What an odd, fun, beautiful movie. At one point in the evening we were visited by Captain America, aka Phillis' husband Jerry!

 Today we toured houses, lunched on fried green tomatoes and buttermilk pie, painted, poured, journaled, ate some more, and packed our things.
Below, Carmen and Phillis are experimenting with poured acrylic painting. 

 Below, one of Carmen's newly poured pieces.

Goodbye, Georgia and Phillis!

Fabulous Guest Speaker Diana Gessler

Diana 

One of Diana's Books

Thanks to Cindy, the Pieces were fortunate enough to have a talented, witty and informative guest yesterday, Diana Hollingsworth Gessler. Diana is the author of the highly successful series of hand illustrated travel journals about Charleston, California, New Orleans and Washington, D.C.. We also found out today that because of her beautiful journals Diana was invited by the Sampoerna family to do a privately commissioned work about the journey, over several generations of the Sampoernas, from impoverished immigrants from China to the third richest family in Indonesia.

Diana shared the story of her life so far: her childhood as an Air Force brat, attending The Ringling School of art, and her long career in New York City in many art-related fields. She was such a successful, busy woman she didn't have the time she would have liked to devote to painting. While on vacation she decided to keep a journal and sketch in it. That was the beginning of her love affair with illustrated journaling.
Diana was full of information on how to adapt your art to your life no matter where it takes you. She has developed her journals into works of art. She is an accomplished watercolor and oil painter who is represented by The Shaw Gallery in Naples, Fl.
Diana teaches Journaling Workshops and has developed a wonderful "Sampler" to help you get started. She has also put together a kit that contains everything you need. They are available on her website. She has also been asked by Artful Gatherings to develop an online six-week course called "Fantasy Journaling Charleston" which will be available online in June.

A rapt audience

Cindy, Kathy and Carmen were lucky enough to take her Workshop and have become sketching fools who cannot say enough about how wonderful the experience was in so many ways.

Thanks so much for a wonderful day, Diana.
www.dianagessler.com
www.shawgallery.com
diana@dianagessler.com