Jim Street, Watercolor Workshop

Watercolors.........the only thing I remember about them is the  long metal box, filled with ovals of hard primary colors,  and included a fabulous, stiff, plastic brush that made us all gifted artists as soon as we dipped our brushes  in water and pressed down as hard as we could on our paper, which, in this case , was usually a page torn out of ol' Big Chief.  The paints now come in tubes!  Yes, I know most of you know this, but seriously, I only came to that revelation not too long ago, I'm an acrylics girl, myself and never paid much attention to other colors.

Enter an amazing watercolor artist by the name of Jim Street.  Jim is retired Navy, and came into full time painting as soon as his service to this country was over.  Having lived in Florida and traveling all over the world with the military, he finally settled in the Hill Country town of Wimberley.

We began our class learning what different types of watercolors there are, what are the best to use, brushes,  paper, color wheels, palette's, everything a beginner, such as yours truly, need to know before even dipping the brush in water.

Wet on wet, color washing, dry brush, it was a lot to take in, thankfully, I am not a total newbie with anything artful or craftsy, I used to paint faces on fabric, but I am a self-learner,  and quite undisciplined, so it was nice to have an actual lesson on art and technique.  I had so much fun!  Seriously.  I guess I didn't realize that I could actually do something like a watercolor, and while I am by no means anywhere past beginner, with maybe just a grade above the tin pan paints, it was great and I also think I can do this.  So, while I sit at the art center tomorrow, I will be working on my "barn" and who knows, perhaps, I can pull off a tractor to go with that barn, and with any stroke of genius, I'll put a cow in for safe measures.

This is still a work in progress, I've added flowers and hay bale.

To find out more about my friend, Jim Street, and his wonderful watercolor paintings, contact him at :  www.jimstreet.com or check out the Wimberley Fine Arts Center at www.WimberleyFineArtsCenter.com.