The Eyes Have It

So today I had to visit the eye doctor to schedule my cataract surgery. I'm a little more than  nervous about all of this because my eyes are so precious to me as an artist.

I came home from the visit and I have done 2 sketches/studies, one of a girl and one of a guy. It's like I have to get all this stuff done just in case something goes wrong.

The good news is, is that he will correct my astigmatism and I also won't have to wear glasses any more. The bad news is in order to do that he will have to take my close up vision....so I'll have to wear reading glasses.

I asked if it will affect my paintings....he said his wife was an artist and he understands that blues will be more intense and white will have hint of pink or blue. I'm not sure how I feel about that but it might be interesting to compare new and old paintings I guess.

Surgery is August 11, pray for me please....so the "girl study" was done with dilated eyes...maybe I should just keep the cataracts and keep my eyes dilated.

A New Kid in Town

There's a new kid in town, Dennis Holcomb of Holcomb Arts on Etsy. Well actually he's not so new and not a kid but he is new to Etsy. He's one of my favorite artists who combines photography and painting with amazing results.


 So go check him out and if you are an Etsian, give his shop a little love with some hearts please. :)

Here's a link to Holcomb Arts on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ shop/Holcombarts?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Painting Projects

Well my trip to Italy certainly left me with over 600 photos, many of which I'd like to paint one of these days....here's a few.

How Cool Is This?

So I was having trouble hauling around all my inks and supplies. I cannot paint in my studio  because the alcohol inks require good ventilation so I paint in my kitchen which is open to the family room, dining room, etc. That means I have to haul everything downstairs.





 Well the other day I found this 3 tiered container at AC Moores. What a find! It's awesome and has enough room for everything. I want to move the dividers around so they are long ways so I can also fit the paint brushes in there.....love this thing.

PU What is that SMELL?

Ewuuuuu.....What is that smell? I went outside today to put away the trash cans and it smelled like something died out there. First I thought it was the trash cans but no that wasn't it.

I have looked all over the front yard but I can't find the source of that smell. I'm hoping whatever died gets eaten by some scavenger but in the meantime that terrible smell is staying with me. PU!

On a less stinky note, I had a great day today. A friend and fellow Iconographer, Rebecca LaChance drove down from Frederick. We had a nice morning sharing some painting techniques.  Then we went to Moulin de Paris...which defines itself as a Euro Asian bistro....Love that place.

What Did I Get Myself Into?

Ya'll know how I love to paint. I am a pretty prolific painter and I always see things and think I want to paint that.

Years ago (must have been at least 15 or so) I saw a painting of the Holy Family in a china painting magazine and tore it out. I have had it for years thinking one day I'm going to paint that.  Well the day has come. LOL.

I'm not crazy about portrait painting...skin tones, etc. Oh and how I hate clothing folds...I struggle with it but it's like landscapes I hate to paint them and I think I suck at it but I make myself do it. You can't  paint all the cutesy stuff  forever and you can't grow as an artist if you don't push yourself.

Soon after I started it, I could see that this piece was going to take many paintings and kiln fires. The whole time I'm praying to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph & Infant Jesus! I need big time help!

 In this photo I was just starting the 2nd fire (painting) process.  I was working in the face area (where the colors were being darkened). You can see the rest of the plate is very light, that was the first fire area.  Yesterday I  finished working on the 2nd fire painting and it's in the kiln now. It looks much better. Things are more defined and taking shape, however, it's got a very long way to go and the background....well to get the depth of color I want...more fires. When I get it out of the kiln I'll take another photo of it...so stay tuned folks.

Today's Feature an ACEO

I'm ready for summer and I figured some of you might be too!

So what is an ACEO...some call it an art card.

ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". These cards are always 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches which is the size of a trading card. Cards will be sold either as originals or editions. Make sure you know which you are buying! If it is a print it should say so, and it should be numbered and signed, usually on the back.

Art Cards were intended to be traded! In the past artists would swap these trading cards. It was difficult for the public to obtain these cards. Now you can bid or buy the fun original pieces of art. You can obtain these little precious pieces of art from artists from all over the world in different mediums and of different subjects and in all style of art work from Realism to Abstract and everywhere in between. Frame them or trade them. These are collectable and now very affordable.

Today's featured ACEO is an acrylic called Tropical Night. It's available at my shop on Etsy.com for $8.99 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10320417

Today's Work --- My Icon Class

I have been taking an icon class every other Monday in Gaithersburg at a Byzentine church. My first icon was of Jesus. It took about 8 months to complete.

Now I'm working on Mary & child Jesus. I am in the beginning stages so as I work on it I will scan it and let you see how it's going. This is the second step. The first is to do the line work. The next step is shadowing the lines.


After Class today I will scan the next step in.........stay tuned folks!

To Blog or Not to Blog....

....that is the question? So many of my crafter and artist friends blog. They tell me, it's the thing to do, the place to be.....be seen girl, they say. Well I AM a chatterbox or that's what my Mom always told me so maybe I will be good at this!

So who am I, what am I, what do I do? Hi, nice to meet you I am Joann Y Wheeler of Pasadena, Maryland. I am retired and working part time on contract back for my former employer. I have a wonderful husband of 32 years and 2 grown children in their 20's who I am very proud of.

My passion is painting. My joke is I will paint on anything, stand still long enough and I'll paint you too! I am a decorative painter, a china painter, a watercolorist. I enjoy pastels and colored pencils and drawing of course.

Over the past year or so I have gotten into painting miniature art, ACEO's. Sell my things on Etsy.com....come visit my shop jywheeler.etsy.com Here's one I really like

I hold memberships in the Society of Decorative Painters, Chesapeake Bay Decorative Painters, International Porcelain Artists and Teachers, China Painting Artists of Maryland.

On Etsy I belong to a team called Old Farmhouse Gathering....search for OFG for all the beautiful Primitive and Cottage style things from these talented women. I lean towards the cottage side of "the gathering".

I also belong to a group called the Designing Artists Women's Group. This group is a very talent bunch too, mostly painters, our friendship formed as a result of an Ebay Group called AOTC-Artist of Trading Cards. Many of these ladies do more than just ACEO's. Some do larger pieces of art. We also have some who do religious art, photography and even poetry. Please search for DAWG on ETSY.com you will not be disappointed.