May 2012 Maureen McNaughton Gurzong Newsletter



Spring Greetings fellow painters, Have the past few months flashed by in a blur for you too? It seems like I just put away the Christmas decorations and now we’re dusting off the patio furniture. Where does the time go? I am reminded of when I was a child, and complaining to my mother about how the school year never seemed to end. "Just wait till you’re old like me" she said, "because time will fly by all too quickly." How true Mom! But here is a sure fire way to make time stand still - paint! Have you noticed when you get into a painting all sense of time goes out the window? You are in the zone - the right side of your brain where time stands still. How lucky are we! My son shared some beautiful illustrations with me, that depict the difference between the left (logical) and the right (creative) side of the brain . Check it out yourself at the following link: http://9gag.com/gag/83494 Then I invite you to join me in this newsletter where I’ll show you the great projects chosen for my fall seminars, announce the release of some new packets and share some great recipes and painting tips. Hugs, Maureen
NEW PACKETS
#819 Kiev Tapestry - #11.50 This painting measures 17" X 17" and was the inspiration for my Kiev Collection fabric line produced by Elizabeth Studios. (http://elizabethsstudio.wordpress.com/category/kiev/ ) This packet has been promised for some time and I know you will really enjoy painting this one,
#837 Spring Time Forget Me Nots - $11.50 My forget me nots are not up yet so I just had to paint them instead. I love this time of year when everything is just starting to bud. I plan to hang this painting outside on the privacy wall beside my newly cleaned patio set, and look forward to sitting there on warmer days with a glass of wine and admiring my garden! Two sizes of patterns are offered in this packet - 8" X 8" and 12" X 12"
#801 Spring Inspiration - $11.50 This painting was the inspiration painting for my 2010 Design Seminar, hence the name. The surface is a lovely large lazy Susan (17" X 17") that now sits on my kitchen table. However, it suits so many surfaces and would be lovely framed. This project has so many different flowers and leaves, I know you will have fun painting this one.
PACKET SALE
For the month of May order four packets and then choose another free packet (with a price equal to the lesser value packet in the order.) Now’s the time to stroll through the packet section on my site and see all the choices on hand to keep you painting through the summer. COST OF FREE PACKET WILL BE CREDITED WHEN YOUR CREDIT CARD IS CHARGED IT WILL NOT REFLECT ON THE INITIAL ONLINE ORDER CONFIRMATION.
	THE BRUSHSTROKE HANDBOOK This book will be released this fall in a paperback edition and the hardcover version will be discontinued. We have just a few of the hardcover (spiral bound) copies left, so now is the time to add this book to your library as an invaluable resource. If you’ve been thinking about sharing decorative painting with a friend, this book would be the perfect introduction gift. $26.99 CDN / US
Seminars
My hosts have chosen their projects for this fall and the selections promise to be exciting classes.
Sept 7-9 2012 Oklahoma USA TURTLE HOLLOW ARTISTS Contact: Darla Foreman Tel. 405-722-0581 or cell 405-203-0991 darla@turtlehollowartists.com Projects 827 White Poppy on Grey	823 Sunflowers
834 A Hummingbird Fish	834 C Girlie Fishie

Sept. 28 - 30 2012 California USA TOLE COUNTRY DECORATIVE PAINTING STUDIO Contact: Shirley Nan Ruchong Tel. 707-444-8808 ruchong@humboldt1.com	Projects 832 Oriental Iris and Spider Lily Bouquet
825 Petunias and Hydrangeas

October 18-20 2012 Utah USA THE UTAH GUILD OF HERITAGE ARTISTS SDP CHAPTER Contact: Kristen Birkeland Tel. 801-278-1615 paint14me@gmail.com 835 Yellow Lilies	Projects 833 Columbines in Spring

November 8, 9, 10, & 11 Virginia USA PAMPERED PALETTE Contact David Vernon Tel. 703-754-8141 david@pamperedpalette.com	Projects 833 Columbines in Spring
	832 Oriental Iris and Spider Lily Bouquet
JUST HAD TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU Judy Windauer from Montana USA shared photos of the class she just taught featuring packet #778. She had a full class and all had such a great time. I saw that some students used different chairs than Judy’s (hers is the left chair on the picture) and they were all absolutely lovely. I hope her students make matching seat cushions like Judy did for her chair.
UPCOMING ARTICLES IN THE DECORATIVE PAINTER MAGAZINE I am looking forward to doing two articles for this wonderful magazine. The first article will focus on common brushstroke boo boos and what causes them (from The Brushstroke Handbook). It will also feature a project. The second article will be a spring botanical painting in early 2013. I look forward to hearing from you when these articles are published.

PAINTING TIPS *How to re-figure the brush sizes when using a reduced or enlarged size of the line drawing* When I want to figure out brush sizes for Maureen’s strokework designs that I have chosen to reduce or enlarge, I insert the resized pattern into the front or back of the clear plastic sleeve that came with the packet. I squirt out a puddle of hand sanitizer (Purell or similar) onto the plastic sleeve. With various brush sizes, I load each brush in the hand sanitizer and experiment pulling strokes that I can see through the plastic sleeve until I find the brushes that are suitable for the new size. The hand sanitizer is about the same consistency as acrylic paint and cleans my brushes of any residual paint in the process. It also allows me to work out the brush sizes in any room of the house without the fear of getting paint on my furniture. Sandy Scales Dumfries, Virginia	*Paint Storage* Dollar stores sell 7 day pill dispensers, some even have morning and afternoon bins so you have 14 compartments with lids. Tuck a couple in your seminar bag to bring home enough paint to finish your project. To be safe, put each dispenser box in a zipper type plastic bag for transport home. *Sensible Seminar Hint* Bring a sheet of your return address labels with you to class. Put one on your personal paint bottles to keep them from getting mixed up with class paint. Also put one on your notes and on anything you purchase in class.
RECIPES
RECIPES *Maureen’s Dry Herb Rub* I’ll use this rub on beef, pork or chicken. 1 1/4 TBL paprika 1 TBL kosher salt 1 TSP garlic powder ½ TSP coarse ground black pepper ½ TSP onion powder ½ TSP cayenne pepper ½ TSP dried oregano ½ TSP dried thyme Mix the spices together then add 2 TBL olive oil Coat the meat and rub in with your fingers. Allow it to rest for an hour at least. Cook as usual in the oven or BBQ. If you love this as much as I do, make a big batch of just the spices and leave out the olive oil. Store in an airtight container. When needed, pour as much as required into a small bowl and add enough olive oil to make a paste.	*Maureen’s Chili* This is a huge hit with the whole family. We love it spicy hot. If you don’t, leave out the chopped scotch bonnet pepper. This recipe with fill a 6 quart crock pot. Brown two pounds of extra lean ground beef. Drain on paper towel. Put the cooked beef into the crock pot and add the following: 1 large can of diced tomatoes 1 can lentils 1 can kidney beans 1 can mixed beans 2 large cans spaghetti sauce - I like Hunts Thick and Zesty 3 Tbl brown sugar 1 Tbl fresh minced garlic ½ diced celery 1 cup whole mushrooms (left whole so mushroom haters can pick them out) 1 sweet red pepper diced 1 scotch bonnet pepper chopped fine (very hot, so leave out if you don’t like the heat) ½ tsp dried oregano Salt to taste Cook in the crock pot for 6-8 hours. Serve along with cheese topped Ciabatta or Italian bread. Also nice with over a baked potato.
*Maureen’s Pumpkin Soup* This is a Jamaican specialty. Put the following in a large lidded pot: 3-4 cups of diced Jamaican pumpkin (I’ve also used canned pureed pumpkin when I’m in a hurry - not pie filling though, just pure pumpkin) ½ pound (or so) of any meat, such as chicken or pork 2 boxes of Campbell Chicken or vegetable broth Simmer all in the covered pot for one hour, then remove the meat to cool. Dice the meat and remove any fat and bones. Mash the pumpkin in the broth with a potato masher. Add the meat back to the pot along with finely chopped carrots, celery, onion and bell pepper. Red lentils are also a nice addition. In a cheese cloth bag tie up a large Bay leaf, some fresh thyme sprigs and also a scotch bonnet pepper if you like the heat. Add to the soup pot and salt to taste. Add more broth if you like a thinner consistency. Simmer covered for one more hour.