Muddymitts said:Me either, Tom. I can do a pretty decent job of art forms with acrylics. Watercolor is supposed to be forgiving -- but I have not found it so......

I agree.I end up with mud every time I try watercolors. All of this iris art made me remember I had planned , a hundred projects or so ago, to paint some iris for my house. Maybe I should put it higher on my list-after I get rid of this pesky cold and my shoulder can handle painting.

grannysgarden said:Paul, with so much information that you have to share I love it when you 'run on'. If there is someone here who does not like to read it, and I don't think there is, they can skip a bit but please do 'run on' for the rest of us.

Yes, love Iris stories and especially Utah iris stories. Just drove home from PG yesterday.

Wow what a gorgeous painting. I cannot imagine what technique she used to create those ruffles.

Goodwill had a framed print that went begging a couple of months ago...
http://www.shopgoodwill.com/au...

If you remember Jo Ann Gentle, she used to be on here a lot, but I haven't seen here on here in a while. Anyway, she shared some of her art work which was really nice. I don't remember if she had any irises though. I wish she would share some of her work.

tveguy3 said:Very nice, I envy anyone who can work with water colors. I just can't seem to make them work.

Watercolors were my first love. I held a brush before crayons, pencils or pens. I remember painting in the kitchen of a house I moved out of when I was about 2.5. Today, I was thinking about getting some new Grumbacher opaque watercolors so I could mix silver or gold to get the sparkles on flowers. My biggest problem with watercolors was getting more wild with them. I made too many pictures that looked like photographs - dry point. Eventually I made myself work everything wet. The trick with watercolors is to work light to dark. Oils, acrylics and tempera go dark to light. For the past 40 years, I have painted more houses than pictures.

Tom, I posted this thread link on her garden thread and asked if she would post any photographs she might have of her Iris art.

I got this from an antique mall owner who is also an iris lover. One of his friends does this sort of metal work for a living and made three or so of these and gave him one. I got it from my buddy. It is as thick as a quarter (maybe thicker) and has a coppery finish (uneven surface too).

Oh, niiiiice.

Very beautiful, Greg.

I wouldn't be interested in wildlife art -- I'd only be interested in her Irises. Wish I had a crack at that Goodwill auction.....................

I know... 7.99 and no takers...

I don't draw well & if & when use pastels rather than paint. Watercolor is actually very difficult even for people with lessons.

Y'all got me going. I ordered my favorite paint set. Maybe mine is in a box in the barn, dunno. Oh well. Got good quality paper that will last well. Maybe when I only have one working arm and am stoned on opiates this winter, I can paint. I am supposed to be doing course work, but....

tvGuy!
I HAVE been absent. The air just went out of me last spring when I had one bad event after another .One being when Polly died. Then in June I had my left knee replaced.That laid me up during weed season. Enough weining tho.

I was so flattered when you remembered me and my paintings. I am also pleased to see there are painters and art lovers here.
This is a great thread, I wonder if there are other forums with a thread for art related collections.
I am in my studio now and then since September. Knee replacement takes a year to completely heal.
Here are a few of my iris paintings. They go back 10 years.

I work in Watercolor and sometimes OilStick ,sometimes both on the same painting.

Grassy Garden


An Old Garden



Iris and Hydrangea


Bridghe, Dee sent such a nice bonus.I painted this small one for her.


These are all small

Those are just lovely Jo Ann!

Oh my, I'm so glad you posted these. I love them all, but am really liking the last 3.

oooohhhhh, my favorite is Iris and Hydrangea. All are wonderful Jo Ann. Thank you for posting these.

Thanks for the push everyone.
It has reminded me to paint iris again.

I agree with Bonnie -- liking Iris and Hydrangea the best -- but all are lovely.

Nice wet work!