"Recess" at a Mennonite school

My latest painting is from a photo I took as I drove past this school somewhere between Hanover and Kitchener--  I'm not sure just where!  I simplified the shapes and left out a lot of detail.  The larger shapes and their values are much more interesting to me than the little details.  There is a nostalgic touch to the final result!

"Recess"
acrylic
12 X 36

Here is a close-up, since it comes out so small on this post:

My next class on February 22.............

.............we'll try trees, with studies for both summer and winter.  We all think we know what trees look like, but it's good to take a closer look at the real thing, as well as photo references.  A deciduous forest will come to life through a "negative" exercise, like these studies I've just been working on:

    

                                                                 

       

And here's a little study of evergreens.

I hope the participants get some good insights into painting trees with watercolour!  Looking at tree shapes all around me, especially in winter when they are beautiful skeleton shapes, has become a regular and inspiring habit of mine.......

"Snow" watercolour class........

Last Saturday, February 1, was the first watercolour class of the winter for me and 4 participants.  It was a great day to be painting snow!  Just looking out the windows from our room gave us lots of motivation.  In fact, three people couldn't come because of the snow.........

Here are two paintings I started as demos, and finished when I got home.  "Mailboxes" is a theme I have enjoyed for two previous paintings as well.  

Next class is February 22, when I'll be challenging participants to observe and paint trees.  I will be paying attention to negative painting.  Trees are a great way to practise it!  I will post a couple of examples soon.