Contemporary Artists of Texas: classes and workshops

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Rush Hour Rooster was one of the most colorful personalities I met while visiting San Juan Bautista Mission in Central California. He and his harem were in a quite a hurry when I nabbed a few photos - after all, the dinner bell was ringing! I can't think of a better way to show the new year has rushed in - can you believe it's 2015? Before we know it, it will be 2035 and we'll all be living on space pods with faux ocean breezes blowing in through our hologram beach scene windows! Hopefully warm beach scenes.....

I hope you have had a wonderful 2014 - I asked my art friends to share their favorite 2014 memories on my Facebook page this week, and the winning entry will receive an original 20X16 hydrangea painting. Some of the entries made me cry, some made me laugh, you can see them all right here. I'd love to hear from you. Thank you so much for joining me for this wild and crazy, artful and colorful year. May 2015 bring you incredible amounts of color and joy!

Monday, December 22, 2014

How to Brighten Reds and Yellows - Rainy Day Poppies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1637477

Rainy Day Poppies

by Nancy Medina

14X14

Oil

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Rainy Day Poppies is a two-part approach to the flowers that will take center stage in my Tuscany, Italy, workshop in June - I'll be teaching there during the peak of poppy bloom season, and can hardly wait to see fields and fields of these reds - and after all those pink peonies these past few weeks, my brushes were begging for some warmer colors! I finished three small paintings yesterday - 14X14 size each, and today I brightened the clouds a bit on Rainy Day Poppies by adding Brilliant Yellow by Richeson (Shiva Series). I do love that stuff. If you want to brighten a red, yellow or orange, add brilliant yellow (or naples yellow light) instead of white. Remember, white dulls and grays - white is the color killer. There are much better options for brightening those expensive cadmiums. You can learn more about this approach to achieving your brightest, most exciting colors in my painting workshops.

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1637001

Rainy Day Poppies by Nancy Medina

14X28

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Diptych (Two Parts)

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Blue Delphiniums and Peonies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1636955

Blue Delphiniums and Peonies

by Nancy Medina

12X16

Oil on Linen Panel

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

I have buckets and buckets of fresh flowers in the studio, but the delphiniums won out over the white tulips this evening, since they're hanging on by a .... petal! The tulips might give me one more day if I pour a little flower food in their water and whisper compliments into their little petal ears. The peonies - surprisingly - are still going strong! Although I did buy a new bundle the other day. These peonies may seem especially colorful, since Jill at the flower market told me they are from Chile. It's like a bilingual parade of blossoms around here! Ole!

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Powdered Sugar Pink Peonies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1635093

Powdered Sugar Pink

Peonies

by Nancy Medina

14X11

Oil on Cradled Hardboard

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Powdered Sugar Pink Peonies is dedicated to my kitchen counters, kitchen floors, and the tops of my tennis shoes today, since all were covered with a fine layer of powdered sugar by the time the Russian Teacakes were cooling. Only one of the pug herd discovered the delights of licking powdered sugar off the floor, confirming my suspicion about the general IQ of the noble little round breed. Their entertainment and snuggle skills, however, outweigh such a tiny imperfection.

The studio models take a bow and a dip!

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Pink Halo Peonies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1633527

Pink Halo Peonies

by Nancy Medina

16X20

Oil on Cradled Hardboard

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Pink Halo Peonies was one of my class demonstrations in North Texas this weekend. It's so nice to have a house full of fresh peonies after painting them in class. Tomorrow it's time to make Christmas cookies, since Mom has requested her favorite for my visit on Wednesday. I'll be making Russian Teacakes, from the Betty Crocker cookbook. My Mom's Betty Crocker cookbook falls open to that page, we've made it so often over the years!

Monday, December 15, 2014

French Dream Tulips and a North Texas Workshop - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

French Dream White Tulips

by Nancy Medina

Class Demonstration

14X14

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Sold

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

French Dream White Tulips was one of my six classroom demonstrations in my final workshop of hte year. It's likely a symptom of pre-menopause, that just thinking about this being the last workshop of the year made me a little sniffley and teary-eyed at the easel! Fortunately I held it together long enough to help devour the French picnic lunch we had today, courtesy of my chef husband Carlos, and the cherry cheesecake also helped assuage the tears! What a fabulous year it has been, thanks to my gracious and oh so talented and inspiring students and collectors, and art friends from around the world. I hope each of you has a beautiful, incredibly blessed holiday season! Rest, relax, and surround yourselves with color, flowers, friends, family, four-footed babies, and all that you love! The new year is just days away! Next stop - Orlando, Florida!

Oo - la - la - all dressed up for a French picnic!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Holiday Pink Peonies and Notable Things We Learned in Class Today - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1632329

Holiday Pink Peonies

by Nancy Medina

20X16

Class Demonstration

Oil on Linen Panel

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Holiday Pink Peonies was one of my class demonstrations in North Texas today. Tomorrow we paint French landscapes - oo la la! I can hardly wait, since this also happens to be my end of year party, everyone in class is going to get a big surprise! The handsome Frenchman has agreed to come to serve us lunch. I'm going to be sure he wears a beret, too, whether he likes it or not! (he is my husband, do you think anyone will notice he is Hispanic rather than French?) Here are a few important things we learned in class today:

Eating eight mini cupcakes is equal to less than half of one traditional sized cupcake
When teacher eats 8 cupcakes in class, everyone agrees NOT to tell teacher's husband
Women need the thermostat set at a balmy 50 degrees year-round please and thank you
If you proclaim you NEVER win anything, the WINNER sticker will be on the bottom of your chair

Thanks to Mother Nature (and the market)
for giving us these fresh flowers today!

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Creamer Dreamer White Tulips and a North Texas Workshop - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

Creamer Dreamer White Tulips

by Nancy Medina

20X16

Oil on Linen Panel

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Creamer Dreamer White Tulips was my class demonstration this morning during my North Texas end of year party-workshop. What could be more ideal than to paint French tulips during my French painting workshop? I totally lucked out with fresh tulips and peonies, so we're celebrating the occasion by painting the springtime bouquets while it's chilly outside. I'm a firm believer that color affects emotion, and fresh flowers lift spirits, so we're putting on bold color and chasing off the winter blues. Tomorrow we have some big prize giveaways, so stay tuned to my art bloggy!

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1631593

The studio models take a bow!

Friday, December 12, 2014

Blue Dapple White Daisies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1630904

Blue Dapple White Daisies

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Blue Dapple White Daisies is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio, and the car is packed with supplies for my French painting workshop tomorrow morning - we'll start the day with French pastries, a prize giveaway, and then we'll paint French tulips! I can't think of a better way to spend the day than with pastries, fresh flowers, and a room full of excited artists, can you? Well, okay, if there were a few four-footed helpers running about, that might make things even more enjoyable...

The studio models take a bow and a dip!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Peonies on Teal - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1630118

Peonies on Teal

by Nancy Medina

24X24

Oil on Deep Gallery Wrap Canvas

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

The pug-mobile is packed with goodies for my French Painting Workshop in Dallas this week, and tomorrow I'll be setting up for the three day event. I picked up a fresh batch of pink and white peonies today, so I'm thinking positive thoughts that they'll be completely open and fluffy for us to paint. I'm waiting until the last minute to pick up the French pastries so they'll be fresh. Okay, honestly, if I pick them up early, I'll just eat them all, and that would be really sad so I have to wait until the last minute to pick them up so there will be some left for the students. Stay tuned to the art bloggy for pictures of all the fun and some super cool prizes - oo la la! Will there be a ridiculously good looking Frenchman serving lunch one day? We shall see mon cheri! (hey, that rhymed!)

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Tuscan Skies Poppy Fields - Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1629363

Tuscan Skies Poppy Fields

by Nancy Medina

11X14

Oil on Cradled Hardboard

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Join me for poppy bloom in Tuscany!

Tuscan Skies Poppy Field is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio, looking forward to my workshop in Tuscany in the spring, as the temperatures outside drop to wintertime temps! It's tough being a full time artist when you have to make "public" appearances - digging through all my jeans to find something without paint on it, trying to remember to wear something at least slightly presentable. The workplace dress code, after all, is fluffy slippers and scruffy pullovers when one works at home in an art studio. It doesn't help matters that my four helpers run about naked as the day they were born, save for their little fur coats. I shouldn't complain, though, I still don't regret throwing away the big ole pile of panty hose when I quit the corporate world last year! I can't imagine any scenario which would require me to ever wear panty hose again. Clearly these were invented by men....

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/page/4793/june-6-13-2015-tuscany-italy

Holiday Cheer Peonies and the Thankfulness Checklist - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1628517

Holiday Cheer Peonies

by Nancy Medina

12X12

Oil on Archival Panel

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Holiday Cheer Peonies is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio, and the countdown to Christmas has begun. This was one of those perfect days, picking up goodies for my French holiday workshop in North Texas - all in French themes, coming home to a studio filled with the smell of fresh peonies, and spending an entire day with the hubby. I've got videos and paintings shipping all over the world tomorrow, and several surprise packages in the bunch for artists whom I suspect were awfully good this year! The next few weeks will go by so very quickly. When I think of the things I am most thankful for, each of them revolves around the same theme - Love. I am thankful for my family, my puggies, my job as an artist and teacher. Thanks so much to all my art friends and the students who give me so much happiness and joy. Here's to you - to a beautiful year, filled with flowers, color, art, and hot mocha with scandalous amounts of whippy creme! And a little critter or three to snuggle with!

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Waiting for the Dinner Bell - Romantic French Kitty - Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1627979

Waiting for the Dinner Bell

Romantic French Kitty

by Nancy Medina

14X14

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Next week is my French painting workshop in North Texas, and I can hardly wait because there are so many fun surprises in store for my students. Waiting for the Dinner Bell is another in my Romantic French Kitty series, and a memento of all the evenings we spent waiting for the dinner bell during my visit to Le Vieux Couvent in September. Imagine having a French chef to serve you three meals a day for 10 days, let's just say, I cried a little tear when we left, if only because we had to bid adieu to the food!

You are invited to join me in France - August 2015!

A picnic with my hubby and dear friends

on the Dordogne River! Au revoir!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Winter Rhapsody Peonies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1626677

Winter Rhapsody Peonies

by Nancy Medina

14X11

Oil on Cradled Hardboard

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

I'm not sure how much longer these fresh peonies are going to hold up. As you can see from the studio model photo, pretty parts are starting to droop, flower flips are starting to unfurl, and petals are raining down just a bit. I am at that age where I can sympathize! I hope my new bundle of peonies holds up just one more day. If I were smart (and motivated!) I would clear out a shelf in the fridge and put them in the chilly air overnight. However, my book is calling, and the puggy helpers are snoring, tempting me to wash the brushes and put the helpers to bed. Sweet dreams flower friends!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

A Holiday Painting Giveaway - Pink Cascade Peonies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

Pink Cascade Peonies

by Nancy Medina

20X16

Oil on Archival Panel

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

It's time for a huge holiday giveaway! As my way of saying Thank You So Much for the most incredible art year I have ever had, I'm giving away an original 20X16 peony oil painting. You can enter to win simply by leaving a comment on the post on my Facebook fan page. The winner will be announced Friday, December 5, at 8:30 pm CT. International friends are welcome to enter, as long as they don't mind covering shipping costs. I can't think of a better way to say thanks than with flowers, can you?

Click here to enter to win Pink Cascade Peonies

Monday, December 1, 2014

Breaking Down the Essentials of the Flower and Peony Hearts - Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1622896

Peony Hearts by Nancy Medina

12X12

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Peony Hearts is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio. One of the best ways to break down the essential bone structure of a flower is to deconstruct the flower, and working from life with an excellent light source is the quickest way to find that perfect balance between reality and impressionism. There are lots of great ways to migrate away from the old method of painting super-realistically. Squinting, of course, is one way. I asked my eye doctor last month during my annual exam if squinting four to five hours a day while painting would ruin my eyesight. She laughed and told me I had absolutely nothing to worry about. But then, what did she know. She's 22 years old...!

I do not paint petals, leaves, or stems. I paint shapes. Read more....

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Winter Stowaway Pansies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1622142

Winter Stowaway Pansies

by Nancy Medina

12X12

Oil on Deep Gallery Wrap Canvas

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Winter Stowaway Pansies is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio, and a slight interruption from the peony parade! Thanks so much to Jill the Flower Queen at the market today for alerting me to the arrival of a fresh batch of peonies. I was so excited when she and her helpers pulled out white and pink buds for me fresh off the flower cart. Where are all these fresh peonies coming from, I asked - she said, Chile! Wonders never cease!

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Pink Zone Peonies - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1620533

Pink Zone Peonies

by Nancy Medina

12X12

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

Pink Zone Peonies is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio, celebrating the Day 3 of the fresh peony extravaganza bonanza, as well as a day of feasting and thanks. I hope your holiday was beautiful, filled with loved ones, comfort, laughter, and, even some little four footed snugglers. Right now I have one little puggy girl snoozing with her chin on my foot, and another in my lap resting her chin on my wrist. The important thing is, the pugs are happy! I'm happy too - I love painting peonies, they are so frilly and unkempt. Even their leaves are quite a tangle, reminding me of the old adage, every crooked line can use a bend in it! Happy Thanksgiving to you flower friends, may your pumpkin pie have extravagant portions of home made whippy creme on it!

The studio models take a bow!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Winter Warmth Peonies and True Confessions of the Flower Obsessed - Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1617786

Winter Warmth Peonies

by Nancy Medina

14X14

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops

True story. The hubby and I were browsing the gourmet cheese aisle at the new Whole Foods near Flower Mound, Texas today. A woman walked by on her cell phone. She had peonies in her basket. I turned to my husband and said in a very, very calm voice: "Honey. They have peonies." He was browsing the olive bar and didn't really hear me. I said in a more serious tone. "HONEY. THEY HAVE PEONIES. I'VE GOT TO GO THE FLOWER SECTION. NOW." I was very proud about what happened next. Read more....

The studio models take a bow!

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Golden Halo Sunflowers and Hydrangeas - Flower Paintings by Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1616252

Golden Halo Sunflowers and Hydrangeas

by Nancy Medina

Class Demonstration

20X16

Oil on Archival Panel

France, Italy and the US - Flower Painting Workshops