Times Past (by Latane)

There is something that draws me to old houses. I can't help but wonder who lived there, what the family was like, how they spent their days and nights. This scene with the ragged curtains blowing in the wind tugs at my heart.

I am linking with Paint Party Friday

Landscape with Three Sisters

I did another watercolor view of the farmland and the mountains in the distance (this time Oregon's Three Sisters)This was a daytime scene, but I am not happy with the shade of blue of my watercolor paints.  You can't get that gorgeous azure of a bright daytime sky with it, so I turned this into a night scene, with full moon.

Joining in with Eva and Kristen's Paint Party Friday!  

Christmas Birds by Latane

With Christmas coming down to the wire, so to speak, I had some time on my hands Christmas Eve. So, I sat down and did this watercolor. I thought it looked sort of Christmasy, don't you think? Maybe it's the red berries that did it!

Christmas bird

With the Christmas holidays gearing up for the big day, I wonder how busy everyone is. I forgot Paint Party Friday yesterday but thought I'd give it a try this morning. I am wishing for each of you a Very Merry Christmas. 

Water Wheel in the Woods

As we traveled through the mountain passes coming back from the coast about three months ago we saw this water wheel in the woods beside the highway.  We stopped and took several photos.  Didn't see any water there, but water could come down to the area after heavy rains or snow melt.  The water wheel looked like it was old and no longer used.

I did this watercolor about two weeks ago....by Marie.  Joining in with Eva and Kristin's Paint Party Friday.

Golden Gate Bridge

I remember a hundred years or more (just kidding) when we lived in Concord, California, my husband drove us over to San Francisco and we saw the Golden Gate Bridge. Such an impressive sight. This is a watercolor which I did back in the '60s or '70s, (I really don't remember for sure). A lot of water has gone under the bridge since those days!! Both literally and figuratively.  

Be sure to check out Paint Party Friday to see other works of art. 

Flowers for You

Ta Da... It's Paint Party Friday. Can't wait to see what everyone has posted.

I've been busy doing a watercolor for a Christmas gift and it has taken forever!! Can't show it to you until after it's been opened by my daughter on Christmas morning.

So, nothing new to share today. But, I do have some work that I did awhile back.

First a tropicanna rose. I like the shades of yellow and pink in this particular rose. I am having it framed ... for myself, for a gift, who knows. I just wanted it framed.

and, a pink hollyhock growing by a fence.

Female Cardinal In the Snow

New painting by Marie for Eva and Kristin's Paint Party Friday:
I am still not 100% comfortable with watercolor, and some of my paintings are turning out better than others.  I did this one from a photo I found on the internet.

Also a recent charcoal and pencil drawing:

Pretty Apples

This is a pastel I did a couple years ago when I was just beginning my re-adventure into art. I'm not real fond of pastels. But, it was a starting point in bringing me back to something I love and enjoy.

Cabbage Head

Marie and I are joining forces on Palette and Paint for our artwork. Be sure to scan below this post to catch Marie's joyful art this week. And, check out Paint Party Friday for more paintings.

I did a cabbage this week. It's watercolor on an 8x8 piece of watercolor paper.

Gumdrop the Donkey

I had this ready to post last Friday and then was pretty busy with my Thanksgiving company (family) so I saved it for this week.  Linking in with Eva and Kristin's Paint Party Friday.  This is Gumdrop the Donkey, a recent watercolor.

Heron on a Log.

For Paint Party Friday I want to share a watercolor I did awhile back. A friend of mine immediately bought it from me so I no longer have it. I am glad she liked it well enough to purchase it. We see the heron often on the pond at the apartment complex where we live.                                       So, it meant something to both of us.

Waldo's Cookies

We know I can't do illustrations well. I keep trying but it's just not my forte. I did the GENEROUS theme for Michael's Scribble Picnic and here it is but I am less than happy with it. I am not asking for you all to start telling me it's good. I know it's not good. I am not even happy with the still lifes I have been attempting lately. But, I keep dragging out the paint brushes and go at it again and again. There's lots of stuff in my trash can! 

So, today we have Waldo again. He has just taken a pan of cookies out of the oven and here comes his best friend, JoJo, the cat. So, he takes a few cookies off the pan, places them on a plate and offers them to JoJo. Waldo is such a generous friend. 

I drew this on sketch paper and then colored in the figures and curtains with watercolor pens. I see my mistakes. The window is too small in comparison to the rest of the picture. We know now I can't draw a cat!! the table is out of proportion . I could go on and on.

I did do a cat once that was very good (I thought). I did it in pastels. So, I am posting it here to prove that all the cats I do don't look like opposums!! he he

Do any of you have any ideas that I could put into place to make improvements? 

Should I do the illustrations in pastels? The watercolors don't seem to be the best choice. 

Should I stick to doing what comes to mind instead of following michael's themes? Sometimes I just don't come up with anything to fit. 

I am just floundering right now. 

Help!!!

(sorry for the text size change.... my computer did that automatically and I can't change it)

Life's a Bowl of Cherries.

Friday means it's Paint Party. Lots of beautiful artwork to look at and admire. And, of course, I want to add my own.

Yes, It's me... Latane from over at Living Life On Main Street. I decided to give my art a new home. I hope you like it and I also hope you will follow me so we can stay in touch. 

Now, let's see, what do I have for today! 

I just feel like a bowl of cherries would be nice this morning. Looks like it is going to be a beautiful day where I live. Aren't we glad we have such joys in life like bright, red cherries and beautiful sunrises? 

Have a great weekend! 

Christmas Gift

Okay, there is an explanation for this. I am Latane Barton who has been posting under Living Life On Main Street. I have gotten into art so much that I felt it was taking up just about all my posting space on that site so I created Palette and Paint so I could devote the entire blog to my and my daughter Marie's art work. I hope you will enjoy it and come back again and again to visit us.

This morning I am joining Michael McVean at Scribble Picnic. Come along with me as we investigate what others have done in the way of art.

The theme this week was GIFT WRAP.

And here is Waldo, the frisky little puppy. He has found his Christmas present and is jumping for joy as he pulls on the ribbon tie hoping to get that box open.