MSW Show at Fine Arts Center

The Mid-Southern Watercolorists Annual Fall Members Show will be hung at the Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs during the month of January. Although I did not originally enter a painting in the fall show, there were a few extra spaces available at the Fine Arts Center, so I'll be exhibiting my painting Valley Ranch there. This painting is loosely based on a beautiful valley in the Rocky Mountain foothills. There will be a reception at 5 pm on Friday, January 1st, during Hot Springs Gallery Walk.

Yet Another Demo

This seems to be the season of demos for me. Last Thursday, Barb Seibel invited me to do a 2-hour painting demo for her Brush Strokes-sponsored beginner watercolor class. I decided to paint a half-sheet Sound of Silence, which I have painted before. I enjoyed both the painting and the discussion of technique and design principles related to the painting. And the painting (attached) turned out pretty well, which does not always happen with demos.

I've also done a small version of this painting that I plan to offer as part of my Weekly Watercolor project.

Weekly Watercolor Website Launched

My new website, Weekly Watercolor by Jim Oberst at www.weeklywatercolor.com, is now active. It consists of three main pages: the Gallery, which is also the home page, showing all project paintings to date; the Order page, with ordering instructions, and the About page, with information about me and this project. Please visit my new site often. You can sign up for weekly or monthly email updates about my new paintings by clicking links on the Gallery page. It's not quite 2010, but I've decided to jump-start this project now with my first painting, rather than waiting for January 1.

The first painting posted, Early Snow, accompanies this post. It is based on a previous larger painting which was inspired by the many beautiful lake scenes in Arkansas. The snow-covered mountains are my own invention, and are not characteristic of Arkansas, which has gently rolling hills. I'm particularly drawn to the reflections in the water, the color in the trees, and the painting's fresh and spontaneous feel.

I will not be posting all of my weekly watercolor paintings here, but if you subscribe to my new blog www.weeklywatercolor.blogspot.com you will be notified as each new painting is posted.

Follow me on Facebook

I have established a new Facebook page to provide real-time information about all of my art activities. Clicking on this link - Watercolors by Jim Oberst - will take you directly to this page. To follow me if you are already a Facebook member, just click on the Become a Fan box at the top of the page. If you are not a Facebook member, you can sign up by clicking on the Sign Up box, and you will be able to follow me, as well as share personal and art-related happenings with all of your Facebook friends.

I hope to "see" you on Facebook soon.