Real Cowboys in Florida

Yes, there are some real cowboys in Florida and I had a wonderful opportunity to meet some recently at the Polasek Museum. Not only do they own and run their own ranches, but they are also artists!

Pictured below are Eldon Lux (in the black hat, red shirt) and Buddy Mills (black hat, white shirt). I also caught a picture of Billy Davis. I didn't catch the name of the fourth gentleman in the picture with Billy.

You can find out more about Eldon at his website and see examples of his work.

New Venue for Classes Starting April 6, 2019

Sad news today. Michaels Corporate (not the store I was teaching at) has decided to not have any instructors that work directly for them as of April 6, 2019. That is the last day of employment for all Michaels instructors in North America.

Due to their recent business decision, I have moved all my classes to Hobby Lobby! Happily, my students are following.

The store manager at the Tuskawilla Hobby Lobby location in Winter Springs (still in the Orlando area) is very happy to add us to their schedule.

Classes for April 2019 are already in their calendar. Future classes will probably be scheduled for every 4th Saturday.

The classroom is located at the front of the store. I have pictures!

The classroom is the door on the left (not pictured). This is what it looks like after you enter the store and turn left. Walk past the shopping carts and look left. Just keep turning left.




 

Unlike Michaels, there's no window and the room can get a little chilly so bring a sweater or jacket - even in the summer! The sink is to the right behind the door (not pictured).

30-in-30 Numbers 20 and 21

I'm back at the challenge! The interruption was due to a hurricane. I'll be continuing the September challenge. But a few friends of mine who were also affected by the hurricane will be restarting our own personal challenges in October. I'm calling it a "reboot".

The first painting is in honor of national peace day while the second is for national New York day.

Watercolor on Yupo paper.

Watercolor on paper.

About Karen Bowden

Want to learn more?

Leslie Saeta's 30-in-30 Challenge
Other Artists Entries

Or maybe you just want to see what other people around the world are posting for all #30paintingsin30days challenges happening today

30-in-30 Painting 3 of 30 Sep 2017

After working on some sketches I decided to make a painting using them as my reference.
This is another watercolor - a little bigger than the others and not on greeting card stock so I guess I'll end up with only 29.

My favorite subject - a horse.

I had enough time in one day to work out and actually do the painting. I wish I could do this more often. Thankfully, I do have a regular job to pay the bills.

About Karen Bowden

Want to learn more?

Leslie Saeta's 30-in-30 Challenge
Other Artists Entries

Or maybe you just want to see what other people around the world are posting for all #30paintingsin30days challenges happening today.

30-in-30 Painting 2 of 30 Sep 2017

Another little watercolor done only from my imagination.

The goal of the challenge is to do a painting each day. I'm posting this one a little late. And sometimes I might only be able to post every few days. But each post will include as many paintings as I could complete!

I also got some sketching done.

About Karen Bowden

Want to learn more?

Leslie Saeta's 30-in-30 Challenge
Other Artists Entries

Or maybe you just want to see what other people around the world are posting for all #30paintingsin30days challenges happening today.

30-in-30 Challenge September 2017

I have joined the challenge! And here is my first entry. Number 1 of 30.

Normally I work from real life or reference photos. However, this little watercolor is completely from my imagination. It is inspired by watercolor artist, Tom Jones.

About Karen Bowden

Want to learn more?

Leslie Saeta's 30-in-30 Challenge
Other Artists Entries
Tom Jones Workshops

Or maybe you just want to see what other people around the world are posting for all #30paintingsin30days challenges happening today.

Heron's Perch

At the Sanford Marina I painted a scene en plein air during an outing with the Florida Painters. It's a small 8x10 done on canvas board and is for sale at $50.

Click to see a larger version.

When I first saw the weather-worn pylons I knew I wanted to paint a scene with them. The toughest decision was deciding what to add to the scene. When I first arrived there was a gentleman fishing. So I snapped a picture of him in case he moved away. And he did a few minutes later.

So I finished setting up and started painting. As I was working a couple of Mallard ducks decided to   take a nap under the two trees you see in the painting. So, I took a picture of them thinking to add them later. However, fate intervened.

After I packed up to go eat lunch, I accidentally set the painting face down on my palette. When I peeled it off later, (Yes, I said peeled.) I had three little stark white dots to contend with.  It could have been worse! And I think I ended up with the best option.

I turned the dots into birds.

To see pictures of all the Florida Painters click here.

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Website http://www.KarenBowden.com
About Me at http://about.me/Karen.Bowden

Morning Doves

It's done! If you read my previous post this little painting was almost completed. It just needed a few finishing touches.

This little scene came about at Baldwin Park in Orlando. It's a plein air painting only 9x12 inches. I have been enjoying the opportunity to paint with the Florida Painters lately. It is for sale at $65.

Click to see a larger version.

I started early in the morning and while I was working two doves perched in the tree limb for a short time. Then they flew away. 

I managed to get a picture of them just as one was taking flight. But I decided that was too much action for this serene scene.

To see pictures of all the Florida Painters click here.

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Website http://www.KarenBowden.com
About Me at http://about.me/Karen.Bowden

Baldwin Park and Stewart Jones

Hot on the easel here is the result of a plein air outing with the Florida Painters in Baldwin park!

To see pictures of the other Florida Painters that day click here.

And later that same day I went to a workshop held by my friend Stewart Jones where I did this cute little watercolor:

For more pictures and information visit my page.

Karen

Imaginarium Fluid My Art Catalog

For those who would like to see some of my watercolors I have five paintings in the show. The online catalog I created has a little story about each painting. I hope you enjoy it. 

My Free Online Art Course On Using Tracing Paper

How to transfer drawings using tracing paper

I created my first online course at Skillshare. It's a very cool site where you can sign up for free and take some of their classes free, too. If you subscribe, you can take ALL of the courses they offer.

Mine is free. It shows you how and why using tracing paper is cost efficient and easy. You can also see it free on YouTube (below).



Click Art With Karen to see a list of all my courses.

My next class on Skillshare is also free and it's online there right now. It's a treasure hunt project. The objective is to find and draw a treasured object.

Firehouse Turned BBQ Restaurant

As I was looking for project ideas for my watercolor students, I pulled out a set of old, printed photos a friend of mine gave me back in the 1990's. 

Amongst the photos I found a picture of the front of this cute, little firehouse. Unfortunately, the top of the building was cut off in the picture so I went online to find a reference photo I could use to complete the facade.

I couldn't find any.

With a little more digging I uncovered the sad story:

The H.W. Rogers Hose Co. No. 2 began operation in 1794. A home for the retired volunteer firefighters was built in 1892 on the same grounds. The firehouse was turned into a museum along with six others. Back in 1998 they were still considered an asset to the history and civic pride of the downtown area.

In 2002 the old firehouse became a barbeque restaurant.

It was the second oldest volunteer firehouse in New York State.

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References:

New York Times, "Our Towns; A Tradition Of Firefighting Put to the Test"
By JANE GROSS, Published: September 24, 1998
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/24/nyregion/our-towns-a-tradition-of-firefighting-put-to-the-test.html

Website, American Glory BBQ Restaurant:
http://www.americanglory.com

Website, Good Morning Gloucester:
https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/the-american-glory-at-cruise-port/

Image of restaurant:
https://goodmorninggloucester.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/august-17-2012-american-glory.jpg?w=86