Enough Already!

Geez....will this ever end? Methinks I do protest too much as it really is only February and snow is the expectation in February...I guess I was cut out for a warmer climate...

The birds have made good use of the feeders...so that was a wise move to get them all filled...Poor things...the battle they have to go through just to get a spot on a perch and manage to dig out a seed of two with the feeders blowing in the wind like that and the snow whirling all around them.

I did make it to my afternoon watercolour class - no amount of snow would work as an excuse as the class is held only a couple of blocks away! I sheepishly showed up without my homework done and the world did not end. 

Today's session was on Streetscapes...a  very daunting theme...Imagine a city street scene and all the things in it..things that are challenging in themselves to paint.. things like buildings, sidewalks, the street itself, rows of lamp posts or parking meters..all demanding a mastering of perspective..add in a sky, a couple of trees, some cars, signs and obviously, people! Oh yes and then toss in snow! Where to start? 

Well our instructor starts in the beginning even if it means cutting back on actual painting time...which is what she had to do today..We were all so in need of review! She patiently gave basic lessons on the steps involved in preparing for the drawing and then, before getting out a paintbrush, she gave a demo and actually did the painting before our eyes. One could only marvel at how she, with daring swipes of the brush, a dab of paint here and there, a line or two over there, effortlessly created an impressionist rendition of the reference photo! It was amazing to watch the image appear from what seemed to be a very slap-dash approach...She makes it look so easy but it is not. It took her a lifetime of practise to reach that level...and she makes sure we realize that and do not expect masterpieces from our early efforts... which is reassuring! 

Then it was our turn, but there was not a lot of time left, so no-one, except perhaps the woman sitting next to me, was able to finish a painting. I, of course, botched mine and see little hope of it getting completed for homework! So deja vu all over again...but at least this time I am not alone. 

I have one more workshop with her in March..next theme?  Flowers... surely that won't be as complicated?