remodel

The Light Makers

March 19, 2018 by Nancy Medina 6 Comments

Sweet Dreams Geranium Garden, 16X20, oil, sold

A friend was terribly upset yesterday when a social media troll attacked her post on Facebook. She had shared how joyful it made her feel, to see all the artwork shared there by so many talented people. By sharing her joy, she attracted the ire of someone whose goal it was to share darkness.

This reminded me of something I’ve been considering for some time – something that is not unique to artists, but is consistent with so many of the artists I know. It’s the way artists live, it’s who they are. Artists are the light makers and seekers. By nature, artists who are steeped in their journeys are creators, painting, producing, growing and learning, and sometimes sharing that journey with others. All of these actions are a way of giving positive energy to the universe. While this may sound a bit kumbaya, it’s been interesting to see how different my life has become when I compare 30 years in corporate America to the past 5 years working with artists. I know one thing for certain, when you give positive thoughts, when you create, when you paint, when you bring beauty to this world, there is a reciprocating joy and fulfillment, a positive energy that is given back to you. Doors open, when you move in the right direction, toward your dreams and toward who you are truly meant to be.

Let us dance in the sun, wearing wildflowers in our hair, and let us huddle together as darkness takes over. We are at home amidst the birds and the trees, for we are children of nature. – Susan Polis Schutz

Painting Brilliant Birds and Bees

My March 23 workshop is full, but there are a few seats left for Painting Brilliant Birds and Bees in Flower Gardens, July 13-15, 2018, here in Flower Mound, Texas, just 15 minutes from DFW International Airport in North Texas. You’ll get to meet the pug helpers, and have special meals prepared by Chef Carlos, with lunch in the flower gardens, in this super small workshop with plenty of teacher TLC.

Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees
July 13-15, 2018
Flower Mound Studio

Get the Buzz Here

As a bonus especially for you, spring is the perfect time to give away a new $100 gift certificate for art supplies! Tubes of joy, boxes from Dickblick.com on the doorstep, brushes in pristine clear wrappers, all the things that make an artists’ heart to go pitty pat! To be entered to win, leave a comment on the blog, easy as pie. And please, if you’re already signed up for the July workshop, don’t bring the artist pie. She has already converted all her jeans to stretchy! I’ll announce the winner on July 12, just in time for the Birds and the Bees in the studio!

Disclaimer: Content in the July Birds & Bees workshop has been approved by the Workshop Association of America with a rating of Bee Gee, suitable for all audiences. Some scenes do depict shockingly bold color, however.

Italy shutters — A day of life in an ancient Italian village – filled with color!

PS: Join me for a VIP painting dream getaway to Italy during the National Truffle Festival in Le Marche region in October 2018.

Get all the delicious Italy details here

PPS: In 2018, big changes are here for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Get your color on here!

Join me for France, Italy, and more! Here’s the scoop!

A Studio Tour and Where Do the Stories Go

March 12, 2018 by Nancy Medina 7 Comments

Final Afternoon Aperitifs Hummingbird — Afternoon Aperitifs – the latest little hummingbird in the studio, 16X16, oil

It’s been awfully quiet around the studio lately, namely because the artist lost her voice! A serious matter, since corralling a Pug puppy involves boisterous hollering from time to time (okay, every 20 minutes or so). The good news is – the bug that made the rounds has left the building. This delayed our plans to unveil the new studio for you in a timely fashion, but I’m delighted to finally pull back the curtain now! The sparkly bits are polished and the fluffy parts are fluffed.

Join me for the home studio tour!

It’s not the biggest studio in the world, nor the fanciest, but it’s another milestone in the journey. If my Mother were still alive, there would have been weekly phone calls with updates on each little step in the process, starting with the flooring and the glass doorknobs, and ending with anecdotes about what the contractors discovered under the sheetrock. I’ve been flooded with memories of her lately, as the anniversary of her passing is approaching.

On some of the nights I stayed with her during her 2 years in hospice, I would read to her from poetry books. Her favorite was Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends. She had written hundreds of poems in her lifetime, and won awards for her writing, so her love of language was a part of who she was. But it was her imagination – and her storytelling when we were children – that fueled my dreams and my writing. She used to sing silly songs to us when we were young, and, when we were older, took us the library every week. She saved money back from the grocery budget to buy us Disney records, which we played on summer days, sitting on the floor in the bedroom I shared with my three sisters. Her piano room had shelves lined with poetry anthologies and literature textbooks, and binders filled with her written and typed work.

Where do the stories go, when the storyteller is gone? As long as I can still remember the sound of her laughter, and see her hands turning the pages of a book at her kitchen table, maybe the story isn’t finished, quite yet. Maybe the storyteller is still here, a part of the fabric of who I am today, and who I am growing to be.

Birds and Bees Abuzz in the Studio

Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees
July 13-15, 2018
Flower Mound Studio

Get the Buzz Here

My March 23 workshop is full, but there are a few seats left for Painting Brilliant Birds and Bees, July 13-15, 2018, here in the new studio. Flower Mound, Texas, is just 15 minutes from DFW International Airport in North Texas, and the gals who joined me in February said the new Marriott in Flower Mound is lovely, with waterfall gardens and walking paths just outside. July students will get to meet the pug helpers, and have special meals prepared by Chef Carlos. If it’s not too warm that weekend, we’ll have lunches in the flower gardens. Best of all, my studio workshops are super small with plenty of teacher TLC!

Spring is the perfect time to give away a new $100 gift certificate for art supplies! Tubes of joy, boxes from Dickblick.com on the doorstep, brushes in pristine clear wrappers, all the things that make an artists’ heart to go pitty pat! To be entered to win, leave a comment on the blog, easy as pie. And please, if you’re already signed up for the July workshop, don’t bring the artist pie. She has already converted all her jeans to stretchy! I’ll announce the winner on July 12, just in time for the Birds and the Bees in the studio!

Disclaimer: Content in the July Birds & Bees workshop has been approved by the Workshop Association of America with a rating of Bee Gee, suitable for all audiences. Some scenes do depict shockingly bold color, however.

Our hotel courtyard in Italy looks out over this colorful village scene and the flower market below!

PS: Join me for a VIP painting dream getaway to Italy during the National Truffle Festival in Le Marche region in October 2018.

Get all the delicious Italy details here

PPS: In 2018, big changes are here for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Get your color on here!

Join me for France, Italy, and more! Here’s the scoop!

Birds and Bees and a Peek at the New Studio

February 18, 2018 by Nancy Medina 3 Comments

Starlit Dreams Geranium Garden, 24X12, oil (click photo for more information)

My first workshop all about the birds and the bees (and flowers!) is now open for registration and will be held right here in Flower Mound Studio. My sage and lavender garden is full of these critters each summer, so we’ll get a peek at some live models in the garden. Painting Brilliant Birds and Bees in Flower Gardens will be held July 13-15, 2018, here in Flower Mound, Texas, just 15 minutes from DFW International Airport in North Texas. The newly remodeled studio is on the brink of finito. As soon as the new furniture arrives, I’ll be filming a grand tour for you! You’ve been so very patient, much more so than the artist in residence. To allay her nerves, she has been consuming birthday and Valentine’s chocolate like there is no tomorrow and is decidedly rounder and bouncier than one year prior.

To reward you for your kindness and patience (and to share the birthday love!) it seems perfecto to give away a new $100 gift certificate for art supplies! Tubes of joy, boxes from Dickblick.com on the doorstep, brushes in pristine clear wrappers, all the things that make an artists’ heart to go pitty pat! To be entered to win, leave a comment on the blog, easy as pie. And please, if you’re already signed up for the July workshop, don’t bring the artist pie. She has already converted all her jeans to stretchy!

Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees
July 13-15, 2018
Flower Mound Studio

Get the Buzz Here

Bee Ballet

Disclaimer: Content in the July Birds & Bees workshop has been approved by the Workshop Association of America with a rating of Bee Gee, suitable for all audiences. Some scenes do depict shockingly bold color, however.

Studio peek — A peek at the new studio (with superlative helper afoot!)

PS: Join me for a VIP painting dream getaway to Italy during the National Truffle Festival in Le Marche region in October 2018.

Get all the delicious Italy details here

PPS: In 2018, big changes are here for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Get your color on here!

Join me for France, Italy, and more! Here’s the scoop!

A Gift Certificate Winner and the Daily Painting Journey

January 29, 2018 by Nancy Medina Leave a Comment

Roses and Rainwater setup — Roses and Rainwater, class demonstration, 20X20, oil, sold

I’m super excited to announce the winner of a $100 art gift certificate today! A million thanks to everyone who entered to win, who left comments and encouragement, and who hung in there for the wait. Stay tuned for another big giveaway on Superbowl Sunday on my Facebook fan page. Please join me in warmly congratulating Frankie Cayton, winner of a $100 Dick Blick art gift certificate!

I’m very honored at the overwhelming response to the giveaway, and so many great stories and comments, and suggestions for studio renovations you’ve shared! This week my Facebook fan page hit the 59,000 fan mark, and I’m overjoyed to have flower friends from around the world! This week has been a time for some quiet reflection on the journey (when the pug puppy is sleeping, of course).

gift certificate

Eight years ago, I began painting every day. There are occasionally days that I miss, I may be on a plane, or just resting up, but there is rarely an evening that doesn’t conclude with a wet canvas on its way to the drying rack. I look back over these years now, and realize this daily practice is what made all the difference. When you paint every day, it starts to mean something bigger than technique, and more than skill building. You begin capturing your own voice and style and authentic identity. Additionally, as an impressionistic painter, you remove the strictures of realism and allow your unfiltered style to show. Key to this is the eventual graduation from working from photos, and painting instead from life.

I’d love to say that art success happens in a flash. It goes without saying that if you’ve painted this long, you’ve begun to recognize your shortcomings and are targeting these for improvement.

But the most interesting thing that happens in this type of a dedicated daily art pursuit is the emergence of your design identity. At some point, your work begins to take on emotional narrative that overlies the simple rules of composition. In some instances, this can be something as subtle as the use of predictable and harmonious color combinations – a defining palette. This can also be demonstrated as a recognizable expressiveness in your brush strokes, in your subject matter, and in the choice of patterns of positive and negative space. At this point, you as a daily painter begin to break away from the pack, and build a body of work. Each painting you create is the narrative of not only your style, but your personality, your experiences, your attitude, and your enthusiasm for each subject.

Even if you’ve been painting at least three times a week, you are on a real path to growth. You’ll see significant changes in your work 6 months down the road. Plus you begin to accumulate (ahem!) lots of paintings! A few weeks ago, we had a spontaneous block party with the neighbors, when I put over 100 (exceptionally) old paintings by the trash bin. The hubby and I noticed flashlights dancing around our front yard and we went outside to say hello to folks digging through the piles. It turned into a rather nice meet the neighbors event, and we even discovered another dog sitter just a block away. I also made the acquaintance of a serious professional artist, aged 10, whose Mom was quite sure they didn’t have room for all of the paintings she had selected, but let her take them home anyway. I think that sort of vote of confidence from a Mom can be the impetus for a lifetime as a courageous, successful artist, don’t you?

Stay tuned, because we are now approaching the final days of studio renovation. The faux antique glass doorknobs were installed just yesterday and the THREE new chandeliers are hanging and shining beautifully! If you’re wanting to know which chandeliers we picked, stay tuned, the grand unveiling video and tons of footage is coming your way soon!

PS: There are only 2 seats left for June 4-14, 2018, workshop in Southern France at Le Vieux Couvent . I’m saving a chocolate croissant with your name on it, ma cheri!

Learn more about France here!

PPS: In 2018, big changes are here for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Learn more here!

Prepare for your next beautiful adventure in France! Join me in June 2018

Join me for France, Italy, and more! Here’s the scoop!

A Big Decision and a Sneak Peek at the Studio Renovation

January 24, 2018 by Nancy Medina 13 Comments

Heart and Soul Peonies Aflight, 16X12, oil

Studio renovation is approaching the finish line, and the artist is learning that patience is a virtue, and also that double espresso mochas do not lend themselves to patience. Another lesson she learned: the artist should take deep breaths and not hover while the professionals are trying to paint walls and trim and the new fireplace mantel. These guys aren’t interested in whether the paint trim is a warm white or cool white that also looks great on pansies, they just want a clean brush and a clear path without the artist underfoot, so they can do their jobs. One final tip – bacon egg burritos incentivize early morning crew arrival (thanks to Chef Carlos! Btw, if you don’t happen to have a Chef Carlos, I highly recommend you find one post-haste prior to your next studio renovation!).

Last week on my Facebook page, you helped me make a very important decision – which would be better: black or white paint trim on the new French doors. Hundreds of you shared thoughts and decorating expertise, and I’m so grateful you took the time. The majority voted for – black! I confess, there were some nervous moments when the paint cans were purchased, but I’m happy to report (teaser alert) – the black trim is in place and the French doors look amazing! There’s a sneak peek for you below.

By the end of today, the new fireplace should be in place, and I’m hoping we’ll have at least 2 weeks of winter, so I can try it out before flip flop weather returns to Flower Mound, Texas! Remember, leave a comment on the bloggy, and you’re entered to win a $100 art gift certificate – got studio ideas, I want to hear them! I absolutely love hearing from you. After all, who knows better what should go in the dream studio than an artist with beautiful, bold, big ideas just like you! Stay tuned flower friends, I’ll be sharing videos of the new studio soon!

Black doors

The votes are in and your verdict – black trim!

PS: The Year 2017 has been a whirlwind year, and my final workshop in Southern France at Le Vieux Couvent is filling fast. In 2018, big changes are coming for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Learn more here!

PPS: Want to win a $100 gift box of art supplies? Leave a comment here on my blog and share your dream studio ideas! I’ll announce the winner on January 30 here on the bloggy!

gift certificate

Prepare for your next beautiful adventure in France! Join me in June 2018

Join me for France, Italy, and more! Here’s the scoop!

Studio Bling: Chandeliers Are Like Potato Chips

January 15, 2018 by Nancy Medina 7 Comments

Birds of a Feather Red Gerbera Daisies, 12X12, oil, information

graphics

The studio renovation continues, and your votes are in for the studio lighting. We had a tie between two of the three chandelier contestants. I decided to make an executive decision and purchase both of the favs, since that seemed the sensible thing to do when Carlos was in the other room. This weekend three big chandelier boxes arrived, oops did I say three? It also seemed reasonable to order two of the smaller chandeliers, plus one of the big lights, since a girl can never have too much bling in her art studio, don’t you agree? Chandeliers are like potato chips. You can’t have just one.

Did I also mention all three of these chandeliers arrived unassembled? Helpful instructions on the large box said “Refer to photo on box for assembly. 1,000 pieces enclosed.” Fortunately, the hubby enjoys tackling these types of projects, and so he hung each chandelier on my big work easel and attached the bling while watching football. The workers moved my big easel out of the studio Friday, because they didn’t want to get paint on it, so it made the perfect chandelier staging prop!

Photos of the winning chandeliers are below, and, in the meantime, you’ve shared questions about what type of lighting is best for the studio. Are chandeliers ideal? Chandeliers are sparkly, true, but is that enough light to work by? In short: no. In the new studio space, I have seven recessed lights in the ceiling, each with a 100-watt, 5000 Kelvin daylight bulb. Attached to dimmer switches, I’ll be able to control this strong, cool overhead lighting for painting at night, and adjust when needed during filming of online classes. The chandeliers are just for show and to make the space feel warm, inviting, and exciting. With the new fireplace, I’m hoping to have some sparkle that inspires!

What’s the best lighting for studio work? Since I paint mostly at night, I like to have cool light overhead, and a mixture of warm and cool lights on my still life setup. Daylight bulbs, and blue spectrum lighting in the 4000 to 5000 Kelvin range is great for indoor painting. Fortunately, hardware stores are getting better at carrying these cooler lights than they did even a year ago. If you cannot find the Kelvin designation on the box, look for the “daylight” label. There are two kinds of work light sources in my studio – overhead lighting and directional lighting for still life setups. I’m very particular about the light source I use on my still life setups. Spot lights (as opposed to flood lights) give exceptional light and shadow differentiation – in other words, they are a road map to value. Where to place the highlights? A strong spot answers the question. Where to place the shadows? A strong spot on your still life setup answers the question. I do like having one additional spot bouncing cool light on an opposing section, to change the temperature of cast shadows. Here’s a photo of my fav bulb, and a cameo of Howard Pee Pugpants, senior director of Flower Mound Studio.

Bulbs for my recessed lighting – with seven of these in place,
I have strong, cool indoor lights.

The big studio easel gets a new kind of workout and somepuggies were caught taking a break!

Lighting winners were: A and (a variation of) C!

PS: The Year 2017 has been a whirlwind year, and my final workshop in Southern France at Le Vieux Couvent is filling fast. In 2018, big changes are coming for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Learn more here!

PPS: Want to win a $100 gift box of art supplies? Leave a comment here on my blog and share your dream studio ideas! I’ll announce the winner on January 30 here on the bloggy!

gift certificate

Prepare for your next beautiful adventure in France! Join me in June 2018

Join me for France, Italy, and more! Here’s the scoop!

Studio Remodel Details Revealed

January 3, 2018 by Nancy Medina 23 Comments

Halos and Daisies, 16X16, oil, information

graphics

Happy New Year from the Flower Mound construction zone. Don’t forget your hardhats and goggles, and we have tiny little hairnets for your paintbrushes to keep the dust out of their ferrels. It’s grand seeing a new studio come together, but even more exciting is the arrival of the studio bling! Chandeliers, a new fireplace, faux wood tile, shiny new shiplap, French doors (Squeeeee!!), new baskets and French wall hangings and all sorts of things I never should have bought before construction concluded are here. Let me rephrase that: And all sorts of things I bought when hubby was out running errands and won’t he be surprised!

The space is being designed especially with you in mind! The new studio will be the base for my North Texas workshops. Less than a week after I announced my March workshop in Flower Mound Studio, it was full! Thank you so much for this warm reception, I’m overwhelmed! So I’ve opened another for those who couldn’t get in. This will be the perfect time of year to defrost your bloomers and get those brushes swinging with warm color. The new workshop will be held February 23-25, 2018, with three days of painting, lunches by Chef Carlos, and occasional drop-ins by the pug helpers (depending on their other social engagements). Limited to eight seats, I’ll save one for you. Mi flower casa is su flower casa! Find out more here...

In this week’s episode of Flower Mound Fixer Uppers, the exciting development was the appearance of a big doorway where once there was none. Soon this new door will have an elegant archway over the top. I’m already loving how much light streams through the whole house, since the studio space has a big north-facing window. This is the “new” back wall of the studio, which expanded to encompass two rooms.

Studio doors remodel — Before and after – French doors will open out from the back wall of the studio.

Last weekend, the hubby and I took a trip to Southlake, Texas, to shop for studio lights. One thing we Texans do well, is shop, and Southlake is a must for the serious Lone Star shopper. There were so many lights to choose from, but I knew instantly which one I wanted for the studio. I’m going to share some here, and see if you can guess which one: A, B, or C? Leave your comment as a reply to this blog post, I’m excited to see what the most popular choice will be!

Which light would you choose, A, B, or C?

The Year 2017 has been a whirlwind year, and my final workshop in Southern France at Le Vieux Couvent is filling fast. In 2018, big changes are coming for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Introductory pricing ends for the Joyful Brush on January 10, 2018, but all current members will retain the regular pricing so this is the best time to join!

Want to win a $100 gift box of art supplies? Leave a comment here on my blog and share your dream studio ideas! I’ll announce the winner on January 30 here on the bloggy!

gift certificate

remodel

Painting Brilliant Birds and Bees

Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees July 13-15, 2018 Flower Mound Studio

Disclaimer: Content in the July Birds & Bees workshop has been approved by the Workshop Association of America with a rating of Bee Gee, suitable for all audiences. Some scenes do depict shockingly bold color, however.

PS: Join me for a VIP painting dream getaway to Italy during the National Truffle Festival in Le Marche region in October 2018.

PPS: In 2018, big changes are here for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Get your color on here!

Birds and Bees Abuzz in the Studio

Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees July 13-15, 2018 Flower Mound Studio

Disclaimer: Content in the July Birds & Bees workshop has been approved by the Workshop Association of America with a rating of Bee Gee, suitable for all audiences. Some scenes do depict shockingly bold color, however.

PS: Join me for a VIP painting dream getaway to Italy during the National Truffle Festival in Le Marche region in October 2018.

PPS: In 2018, big changes are here for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Get your color on here!

Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees July 13-15, 2018 Flower Mound Studio

Disclaimer: Content in the July Birds & Bees workshop has been approved by the Workshop Association of America with a rating of Bee Gee, suitable for all audiences. Some scenes do depict shockingly bold color, however.

PS: Join me for a VIP painting dream getaway to Italy during the National Truffle Festival in Le Marche region in October 2018.

PPS: In 2018, big changes are here for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Get your color on here!

PS: There are only 2 seats left for June 4-14, 2018, workshop in Southern France at Le Vieux Couvent . I’m saving a chocolate croissant with your name on it, ma cheri!

PPS: In 2018, big changes are here for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Learn more here!

PS: The Year 2017 has been a whirlwind year, and my final workshop in Southern France at Le Vieux Couvent is filling fast. In 2018, big changes are coming for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Learn more here!

PPS: Want to win a $100 gift box of art supplies? Leave a comment here on my blog and share your dream studio ideas! I’ll announce the winner on January 30 here on the bloggy!

Lighting winners were: A and (a variation of) C!

PS: The Year 2017 has been a whirlwind year, and my final workshop in Southern France at Le Vieux Couvent is filling fast. In 2018, big changes are coming for monthly online class members of The Joyful Brush, with cool new features and new paintings. Learn more here!

PPS: Want to win a $100 gift box of art supplies? Leave a comment here on my blog and share your dream studio ideas! I’ll announce the winner on January 30 here on the bloggy!

Which light would you choose, A, B, or C?

Want to win a $100 gift box of art supplies? Leave a comment here on my blog and share your dream studio ideas! I’ll announce the winner on January 30 here on the bloggy!

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Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees
July 13-15, 2018
Flower Mound Studio

Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees
July 13-15, 2018
Flower Mound Studio

Painting Brilliant Birds & Bees
July 13-15, 2018
Flower Mound Studio