Before the freeze

Here are a couple of pictures of the blooms on the peach tree. I wanted to get some reference photos before the hard freeze that is predicted this weekend. Many in our area of North Florida will lose this years crop of peaches, apples and pears due to the weather. I am thankful that our weather is much better than what I am hearing on the news about other parts of the country.

Everyone have a great weekend and I will be posting February's Giveaway Painting on Sunday.

AND THE WINNER IS.......DRUM ROLL........

The winner of my first blog giveaway for January 2009 is MINDY! Mindy left a comment on the giveaway blog entry on January 2nd. I have contacted her by email for her mailing address so that I can send the painting to its new home. Thank each and every one of you that entered the contest and don't forget to check back on February 1st to view the next giveaway.

Ready For Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the drawing for the January Giveaway. I want this to be fun and easy for everyone and so I entered anyone that had put a comment on my blog and/or emailed me. There is a total of 42 entries. I will check one last time tomorrow morning before the drawing to make sure there were no last minute entries. I really appreciate everyone that has joined with me on this new adventure and don't forget that I will be posting a new painting to give away on February 1st. Good luck to each of you!

I worked a bit on "Croatian Stroll". Today was the first day in a while that it was warm enough to work in the studio.

Now, back to colored pencil homework. I also need to frame a couple of pieces for a showing at the Hospice Care Center in Lake City, Florida. They do a great job and a percentage of any sale goes to help support their programs.

Next weekend we will find out the name of the winner of the January giveaway! I think we should only have to wait 2 weeks in February.

Check Out Cia's Blog and Video Clips

A fellow artist from Alabama is working hard on a very complex peony painting and she is making an instructional DVD in the process. You can check out her blog and some video clips on YouTube by checking on the links below. Her blog is on my blog list as "My Art Activities".

Enjoy and have a great day.

http://artmaker-cecilia-price2.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/ArtmakerMeToday

Thanks Deb

I received my free painting from Deb Ward, http://debwardart.blogspot.com/ Thanks Deb. I love it. The reds of the flag are so clear and bright and I love the shadows. I will take a picture to share when the weather permits with decent lighting.

I have started a watercolor and will include a picture although it is not at a point that you can tell a lot about it. This one will be slow in progress due to the fact that my colored pencil class is taking up all of my time for homework.

The watercolor is of a little side street in Croatia. My friend, Cindy, took this picture while on vacation there because she knew I would love it.

Kumquats

I want to thank everyone for your wonderful response to my January giveaway. Your kind comments are really appreciated. I can hardly wait until the 24th when DH can draw a name and see who won! Remember entries will be accepted through January 23 so if you know of anyone that might be interested, let them know.

I am sharing a picture with you today. We had visitors yesterday and they brought us kumquats from their yard. Over the years you do not realize the little habits you develop that might seem strange to those that are not around you very often. The kumquats were so fresh and pretty I grabbed the bag, a kitchen towel, a saucer and my camera and headed for the yard. I just happened to glance and see the "what in the world is she doing look" on their faces. My DH just laughed and said you might see those again in a painting.

!!!!!!!! January Blog Giveaway !!!!!!!!!!!!

Autumn Harvest

5x7 inch Original Watercolor Painting

No matting or frame included

Here is the first giveaway of the year. It will be sent to the lucky winner absolutely free. Please tell any of your friends that you think might be interested in a free original painting to come to my blog site and enter. All you have to do is: 1. Leave a comment on this blog entry and 2. send an email to vgreene@windstream.net with January Blog Giveaway in the subject line. Deadline for entry is Friday, January 23. On Saturday, January 24th all entries will be placed in the pot and the winner will be drawn and notified by email (at this time the winner can send me their address so I can mail the gift). I will also post the winners first name and last initial on the blog. I hope that everyone enjoys my giveaway and I wish you all luck. For those that do not win this time I will be posting a new giveaway on February 1, 2009.