This is a quick newsletter to tell you about new packets and a few other thoughts.

Some of the students attending the last seminar in my studio told me that the website photos of the August 22-24 seminar projects and the Brush Stroke Clinic projects did not do the pieces justice and they just loved them when they saw the paintings in person. So I passed this on to my web master Vikki.

She has brightend the colours and enlarged the pictures on my website. We now have a new feature where you can click on some of the pictures and an even larger picture will appear. Do take a visit and tell me what you think.

Following are the pictures for this seminar, I am very excited about sharing them with you. For this seminar only, during the seminar all students attending will be given a 25% discount on all packets and an extra discount on the brushes.

Amaryllis

This flower, which many associate with Christmas, belongs to the lily family, with it’s typical long stem erupting at the top with beautiful flowers. Now you can enjoy yours all year long! Although I've painted this flower in the Botanical style as a framed painting, I am certain you will find many surfaces that would be perfect for this 8" X 10" painting.

Floral Bouquet

This painting as quite large with many different flowers, reminiscent of the Victorian bouquet, with roses as the main flowers.

******PACKET SALE TILL AUGUST 31*******

Enjoy a 15% discount on all packets purchased until August 31. Mary will take the discount off when she processes the order here, so it will not appear on your order confirmation.

NEW PACKETS RELEASED

These new packets are just in time for some summer painting - or maybe some of you are getting a head start on making your Christmas Gifts.

A painting from someone you love is straight from the heart and always treasured.

#728 Lilac Branch

#691 Jacobean Symmetry

#755 Pretty Birdie

Following are some recipes and painting tips you will enjoy - keep sending them to me folks.

Until next time,

Maureen

From Kathleen Lewis Willits California WHITE CHOCOLATE POPCORN

8 C. unbuttered popcorn
1 C. salted peanuts (I used cashews) 1 C. crushed Fritos corn chips
1 C. puffed corn cereal (corn pops, even Kix will work)
2 pounds white chocolate, melted.
Mix first four ingredients together. Melt chocolate in double boiler on low heat, stirring constantly. (I just put it in the microwave to melt.)
Once melted, pour over popcorn mixture and spread on wax paper-lined cookie sheet.
Cool until set (can be put in the refrigerator). Once set, break into pieces.

From Linda Myers Ohio
Extending The Use of Your Paper Towels

I buy Viva soft paper towels in Select-a-Size. I then cut the roll in half using a very sharp knife (not serrated). When cutting the roll, try to not saw through it, but rather push the knife in one fluid cut from tip to handle (obviously I use a large kitchen knife).

This makes for a nice size piece of paper towel with little or no lint to keep by your pallet. If you get it wet or get it in your paint, you are only throwing away ¼ sheet of towel instead of the whole sheet of a regular sized paper towel.

From Jeanie Barbee

When applying gesso to a canvas for an eggshell finish use an old credit card to smooth the gesso over the surface. One thin coat let dry, second thin coat let dry then sand. If you want a smoother surface repeat the process. With the credit card to smooth out the gesso there will not be any brushstrokes you have to get rid of.

I use this technique all the time for my fine art pieces. I like to use clear gesso so I can add paint in smaller amounts to the gesso for a background hue