I do have to confess before I did my research I did purchase a set of pan watercolors at Hobby Lobby along with an inexpensive set of brushes.  I also picked up a pad of paper that felt like it weighed enough. (Remember the paper weighs!)  Each item said they were all good for watercolor art.  I felt pretty good because that is what I was going to be, a watercolor artist!!

Just as I did when I was a kid, I drew my wet brush over the purple and made watery strokes on the paper.  As I did, a nice relaxing sigh came from deep within. I found a new therapy.  I have always found watercolor art relaxing to look at.  My eyes follow the colors as they flow from one into the other.  Blending together so well you don't know from where one ends and the other starts.

What do I paint?  I'm not one to just start painting, other than the flower garden from my childhood memory.  I need to see a picture of something then I will make an attempt.  Thank goodness these days for Pinterest!  I browsed and browsed and came up with an adult style flower to paint.  First came the purple clematis.  Then the marigolds.  Then the rooster.  (We now know the chicken didn't come first, I know I painted a rooster but I couldn't not make that comment!)  It wasn't the loose watercolor I had the desire to first paint but I was happy.

Around the time the painting desire hit me I sent a text to a friend I hadn't seen in years.  I asked Helene if she should like to meet for lunch and catch up.  We had a wonderful visit. I'm happy to add that we have continued to meet for lengthy lunches or coffee conversations ever since.  She shared with me how she had tapped into her artist talents.  She creates beautiful digital scrapbook pages and wonder journal pages.  Around September she emailed me about a juried art show that was in a neighboring county. To enter the juried show you could email up to 3 subjects and send a fee for subject.  It was a fund raiser they were having for The Greenville Art Guild.

I tossed the idea around of entering my purple flower for about 2 weeks.  No, it isn't that good.  Other artists, that are good, will enter masterpieces.  I don't have a chance.  All kinds of negativity.  Then I would look at my purple petals again and think, maybe.  Why not do it?   Its a fundraiser for the arts.  I'm sure they will appreciate the money. I got big time brave. Why not really help them and enter all 3?!

They were to email the entrants on a certain day if their art was chosen.  I checked that morning. No email.  I waited until after lunch.  No email.  Then after dinner.  No email.  Well I supported the fundraiser.  I did a normal late night email check and there was an email from The Greenville Art Guild!!  They were glad to notify me that they accepted all 3, yes all 3, of my paintings!  If I could have danced a jig I would have. (I need to enter here that I'm in a wheelchair so that would have been ugly if I had tried).  Helene also had and entry accepted into the exhibit.  We were displayed together on the gallery wall.  I didn't place but I did win.  I won a feather.  I'm still tickled that they picked my paintings!

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Late summer last year I decided I wanted to produce beautiful works of art via painting with watercolors.  The only knowledge I had of watercolors was that of a 5 year old.  At that time the requirements were the little set of colors that was on every kindergartner's school supply list and some kind of paper.  It was always a thrill to make that first purple watery stroke of the flower garden I would create.
 
I figured there must be watercolor supplies for adults so I began to look online. Oh my goodness!!
I found there to be tubes, pans, liquid, pencils and powder paints.  Next the paper.   Hot press, cold press, and I found out there are different weights of paper.  Paper weighted??  I saved the brushes for last. I figured it wouldn't be that difficult to pick a brush, after all I did all kinds of magic with the brush from my kindergarten set.  Well.... I found out brushes have bellies and ferrules.  There are liners, rounds, flats, riggers..... They can be made from the hair of squirrel, ox, goat, sable, camel and of course synthetic fiber.  There are also many sizes to chose from.  I even found out there are student and professional grades of paint and brushes.

I joined a few Facebook pages for watercolor artist.  I asked what would be good a good set of paints, brushes and the paper.  I have found that people in art groups are so kind, supportive and have many recommendations.  Some prefer certain brands of paints over others.  Same with brushes and paper.  Some state you don't need to buy "sets".  They say to buy the primary colors and blend your own colors.  What!?!?   The kindergarten set was starting to look good again.

Right or wrong I made my selections and began.  That story is for another day.

Your mind isn't playing tricks on you.  I did give you my blog address with the name Julie and as you see the title is This "Judy" Creates.  I will tell you why the name Judy has a special place in my heart.

First a little background to my name, Julia Elizabeth. (Yes, a third J name!)  I'm very proud of my name.  I was named after my Grandmothers.  Julia from my paternal Grandmother, Elizabeth Julia.  Elizabeth from my maternal Grandmother, Violet Elizabeth. I have always "went" by the name Julie. (I know if someone calls and asks for Julia they are selling something!)

Now for Judy!  Have you ever had a word that you have a difficult time rolling your tongue  around and it just doesn't come out right? Well, Grandma Violet had a hard time with my name Julie. From what I understand she called me Judy more than Julie after I was born. She was gently corrected.  You would think that after a while she would get her granddaughters name correct but I remember hearing the name Judy off and on for years.  I recall a cool ink pen she bought me.  It was fashioned like a lollipop.  The sucker part was a bright yellow with in bold black letters....JUDY.  I don't know if they had or were out of Julies or if she secretly wanted me named Judy and this was a little way her wish was fulfilled.  I didn't care.  I loved that ink pen because she bought it for me.

I was lucky to see my Grandma Violet a bunch.  We would hunt 4 leaf clovers, go fishing, and cloud watch.  On the old black and white we enjoyed Charlie Chan, Bowery Boys, Blondie and Dagwood and even Lawrence Welk.  We played jacks, tiddlywinks and did coloring books and watercolors.

You can figure why Judy has that special place.  It reminds me of her and the childhood fun I had. I still cloud watch, enjoy black and white movie and occasionally  listen to champagne music. One thing she helped me the most with was to use my imagination and be creative.

I hope you will enjoy seeing me blog on doing watercolor painting, sewing projects, crocheting and...…...

I always thought I needed a blog

And here it is!!! More to come...….