More new paintings in the "Little Gems" Series

Dragonfly with Dewdrops

Yellow Fairies

Thistles on the Isle of Wight

Thisles on the Isle of Wight

Another painting to be in my Isle of Wight show, which I'm hoping to have in the fall of this year.

This is a very recently completed painting inspired by the beautiful countryside on the Isle of Wight in England where my parents-in-law live. The path is along where an old railroad used to go and is now a lovely lane to walk or bike along that takes you from the center to the edge of the island. This particular winter morning was cold and frosty, but nonetheless enchanting.

Reflections

My newest painting titled Pink Water Lily Reflections

I taught an art class for the first time on Sunday this past weekend at the Merton Abbey Mills art market. It was really fulfilling to be teaching again after this past 2 and half year hiatus! There seemed to be interest in the classes, so I'm hopeful that they will grow into a solid future enterprise.

 This month I'll be focusing on painting with watercolor. Teaching these watercolor basics: how to choose what tools are needed, how to prepare your painting surface, painting light to dark, using the transparency of the paint, what common errors to watch out for and how to correct mistakes, building a painting up layer upon layer versus laying the paint on thickly, and with an emphasis on color mixing and color theory as the situation permits.

In preparing for teaching the course, I've been going over my notes in old sketchbooks from my CCA(California College of the Arts) days. Wow, do I ever miss art school! There is nothing like being surrounded by people who feel as passionately as you do about art and the feedback and interaction are to be treasured.

Another New "Little Gem" Painting: Dragonfly with Dewdrops

I painted this "little gem" painting, as I like to call them, while I was at the Merton Abbey Mills Art and Craft market last weekend. I'm really enjoying the opportunity to meet new people in London and start to get a little bit of time to myself again. It's been super to double task it. I'm both showing my work and making more at the same time. Right now I'm trying to decide what to work on first when I bring my oils this coming Sunday!

Etsy Gallery Up and Running Once Again & New Facebook Page!

After a two and a half year hiatus (during which I moved across the world, learned how to drive on the other side of the road, had my firstborn, and bought my first house- a serious fixer-upper which we are still working on) my Etsy Gallery is up and running and finally out of "vacation mode"! I still don't have much of an art studio, but there is enough space to work on small pieces. I'm looking forward to summer weather to enable me to paint larger oils plein-air and work on some other pieces I've had in mind for a long time now which require space to stretch out.

I've completed two more paintings in my Dancing Dandelions series, number V is shown here. This is the first painting I've listed for sale on the gallery. I get more exposure by eeking the listings out one at a time, so it will be a week or more before every new painting is up on the site.

Check it out:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CassandraSeeger

Also, more marketing hoo-haa prompted me to build a new Facebook page. Feel free to take a look:
https://www.facebook.com/CassandraSeegerArt

Merton Abbey Mills Art and Craft Market

For the past three weekends I've been selling my artworks on Sundays at the Merton Abbey Mills Art and Craft Market. The market is open from 10am to 5pm. There is a lovely relaxed atmosphere. People come and listen to live music, sit around outside a cafe enjoying lunch or a pint by the square and browse the stores and stalls. I've been painting while I'm there, which has been a nice change of pace to get out of the home studio.

If you're in the Southwest London area by the South Wimbledon tube station on a Sunday, come and check out my stall and say "Hello"!

Here is a link to their website:
http://www.mertonabbeymills.org.uk

Two New "Little Gems"

Butterfly with Tiger Lily and White Flowers

I have been using the left-over paper from my wedding invitations (on which I did a linoleum block print) to make "little gem" paintings to sell on my Etsy gallery. They are just 4" x 5" and so can be placed into a picture frame one would normally put a 5" x 7" photograph in.

Dancing Dandelion IV

I usually like to paint bigger, but I've been using these as a way of experimenting and playing with my style. They really are studies, but perfect for my goal of the elusive "20 minute" painting. They take much longer than that, but my teacher at CCA, Robert Hunt, set me the goal of producing a 20 minute piece every day and, though I've failed to work that fast so far, I like these as a way of pushing myself a little bit.

Getting My Feet Wet

My husband and I have just bought our first house and this week I've been working on setting up my art studio in our new home!
Whenever there's been a break in art-making for me, I find I need to do a quick painting to get back into the swing of things. I painted this piece on December 3rd from a photo I took this summer on the Isle of Wight at the beach.

 Sandown Beachscape I, watercolor and ink on paper 8 1/4" (21cm) x 12" (30.5cm)

At the Barre/ At the Sketchbook

Yesterday I went to the art store on Kensington High Street and browsed through a book called The Art of Urban Sketching. I found it inspiring enough that I had to buy yet another sketch book and pen so that I could get back to doing daily sketches again! I must have over 30 sketchbooks, most of which are in storage at the moment, but this one has a soft cover and is small enough for me to carry around in my bag. Sketching daily has been an ever-present, yet continually elusive, goal of mine. Somehow when I find the time to make art, I'm far more eager to start painting than get out the sketchbook. Especially lately when the moments I get are so few and far between.

Yet the sketching is essential. It is the daily stretch and flex of the muscles, the work-out, the practice, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!! that helps to refine one's skill-set. Also, when you're working in a sketchbook, the emphasis can be on exploration and experimentation instead of creating finished work to sell. This is the opportunity to explore new techniques and play with different mediums. To break down one's own personal boundaries and barriers in the mind that make you do the same thing over and over. To find the way to make it work for you.

Having been a professional ballet dancer, I'm very familiar with the discipline required to go to the barre every day and repeat the same exercises (for 20 years!) continuing to refine my movements. Well, the sketchbook is no different than the barre. The question is, being a stay-at-home Mom as my profession of the moment, can I engage the discipline required to sketch daily with a toddler demanding my attention constantly? Surely, there must be a way!

This new sketchbook will most likely be filled with moments such as it's first entry. After all, Liam is my most favorite subject matter at present. I'm hooked, line and sinker, on my baby boy!

Portrait of Liam at 14 months

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Work in progress:
I started this piece on the Isle of Wight while Liam was sleeping about a month ago. When he wakes up from his nap he's always drowsy and stayed still long enough for me to capture his (still in dreamland) expression.  I'm planning on adding watercolor when I can get to it.