Arriving in Rome- How to Travel From Airport to City Center

I arrived today for a few days in Rome prior to hosting my Artfully Tasteful Tour of Tuscany.  I was reminded again that getting off the plane in Europe can be disorienting. Interpreting foreign signs and languages while sleep deprived and groggy can be a challenge. If you're not with a group, here are a few things I have learned which might help you navigate your way to town from the Rome Airport.   

Passport Control and Customs: 

Wherever your first point of entry into the EU happens to be, it is there you must go through passport control.  If you fly direct and enter the EU by landing in Rome, then you must to through passport control there.  From there you follow the "Bagliali" Signs to claim your luggage.  There is essentially no luggage inspection after that, so you merely need to follow signs to the "Uscita" or exit.  

Car Service:
It can be a real convenience to be met by a car, rather than look for a Train.  If you want to plan ahead, you can think about calling a car service to take you one way from the airport into town.  Just check the price ahead of time in order to avoid surprises.  You may want to try this Car service which is well rated by Trip Advisor: 
http://www.romeairporttransportation.com


Taking the Train into Rome: 

Once you claim your luggage, you can hop on the train into Rome's Termini Station (for central Rome).  Finding your way to the train gets a little confusing at the airport.  Once you exit the baggage claim, you will need to go UP to the train departure area.  The elevators are not clear on this point.  Today we witnessed many a tourist walking around in a jet-lagged daze, riding the elevators up and down, trying to figure out where to go to get to the trains. 

Once you get to the train station, you need to purchase a ticket.  After purchasing a ticket, you run it through the ticket stamper at the edge of the entrance to the train platforms.  You slide it in order to stamp it, and then get on your train.  This is important, as we found out later that you can be fined if you don't stamp your ticket prior to getting on the train. 

If you have a lot of luggage, riding the trains can be a challenge, but not impossible.  You may need to leave your large bags near the entrance to the car, and then take your seat.  As much as possible, you will want to make it difficult to run off easily with your baggage.  I might suggest placing a locked bike safety cord through the handles of your luggage.  That way they are secured as a group and not easily moved.  

Once you arrive at Rome's Termini station, make sure you are prepared to be on your toes for opportunistic crime.  

Here are a few hints:

• Don't leave your phone or wallet on the tabletop while you have a cappuccino.  
• Put your purse or your pack over your head and across the front of your body.  
• Have your money and passport in your money belt.  
• Don't hang your purse on the back of your chair.

Catching a Cab at Termini Station:  Official Taxi Stands at the Termini are clearly marked with a sign and details of fare stipulations.  If you don't see a line and a sign with detailed fare information, then look for another official taxi location.  

We learned this the hard way. After wandering up to an official looking Taxi sign, we spoke to a man who represented himself as the taxi director, and he sent us to a small white SUV.  Once he began loading our luggage, we noted that he did not have a "TAXI" sign on the top of his car.  We asked him "Quanta costo?" or "How Much?" and his quote was an outrageous 35 Euros for a 5 minute cab ride.  We declined the ride and found the real taxi line across the Termini Train Platform and outside another exit door.  In the end, we paid 13 Euros, plus 3 Euros for extra bags.  This story is reminiscent of NYC, and so just be aware that unofficial taxis are a potential rip-off. 

Even real taxis, may try to pull a fast one...possibly starting the meter or not starting the meter.  Be cautious, and your radar should probably go off if the cabbie doesn't want to bring you to the door of your hotel, or flips the seat forward to cover the meter.  Watch out for funny business, and make sure they are official taxi's with a lit white sign on the top of the car.  

If you come to Rome, I hope these suggestions make it a bit easier for you to get into town and avoid getting into trouble along the way.  If you have any other ideas that might be helpful to travelers coming into Rome, feel free to leave your comments here.  

 Tomorrow we visit the Colosseum with a private guide! Stay tuned!



Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

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On Location Lesson 3: International Travel Tips and Karlyn Holman Workshop Announcement

Tuscany Here We Come!!!!!!

 Sunlit Tuscan Hillside

Dreams really do come true!  Thanks to help and encouragement from my friend and mentor Karlyn Holman, my home away from home will very soon be a beautiful and modernized medieval monastery in the heart of the Chianti wine region in Tuscany.  The name of this Tuscan retreat is Borgo San Fedele.  It's location is a short day trip away from some of the most charming towns I've ever visited in the region of Tuscany.  We will have chef/sommellier Andrea Anichini, giving us cooking lessons and preparing our meals all week.  In addition, I will be giving pointers and art lessons to those who are interested.  We will have the opportunity to paint and sketch on location and in the studio at San Fedele.  Under the Tuscan Sun, we will tour, photograph, and taste our way around the area's towns and vineyards during the harvest season.  In the evenings, I'm hoping that our resident minstrels will serenade us on guitar after dinner on the terrace "Under the Tuscan Stars".  Sounds dreamy,  right?

Our chef and cooking instructor
Andrea Anichini

Want to Join Me Next Year?  

If you're interested in joining me for my next visit to Tuscany, it's time to get on board!  I have another trip in the works tentatively set for October 2015.  I hope to combine this lovely location with an added excursion to Venice!  I am going on a scouting mission to Venice in a few weeks. I will check out locations and begin to make the plans for next year.  If you'd like to come along, then please contact me and send me your information!  As details come available, I will be sure to keep you posted.

ON LOCATION LESSON 3- 

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TIPS:

Borgo San Fedele
Our "Home away from Home" 

In case you're traveling to Europe anytime soon, here's a few travel hints you may enjoy reading...


Cell phones:  I have an iPhone with Verizon on a business account.

• The rate for calling or receiving calls in France and Spain is currently $.99 cents/minute for a business account.  Non-business accounts have rates available of about $1.25/minute.  Call 611 from your phone to set up an international plan for yourself or check if there are better rates available to you on your account.
• I plan to disable my Data services while abroad.  This will prevent charges from texts or unwanted push notifications while I'm there.  You disable this by going following this path-  "Settings"-"Cellular"-"Roaming"-"Data Roaming"- "Off".
• Verizon doesn't charge for WiFi usage overseas...it simply charges if you receive texts or calls using their Verizon data plan.  If you have apps like Viber, Whatsapp, Skype, or Tango, you can use the apps to communicate free of data charges whenever you access WiFi on your trip.  These apps allow calling and texting, so long as whoever you are calling or texting also has that app.  It's a reason to get your frequent callers, family and friends to download the app before you leave.   
• Charging: Don't forget your charger!  My iPhone is capable of converting the voltage from European outlets to charge the phone. All that is needed is a plug adaptor- something that changes the shape of the plug on your charger so that it can mate with the wall outlet wherever you are traveling.  A converter is not needed for the iPhone.

Camera/ iPad

Watercolor Painting- Borgo San Fedele
11 X 15 Rebecca Zdybel 

• Taking photos from my new iPad mini gives me great shots and allows me to paint or sketch from the screen with ease.  This way I avoid dealing with my photo card and the need to download the photos to my computer in order to edit or view them.  The iPad mini does not work well in bright light...the screen is hard to visualize outdoors with glare being the problem.  It also is cumbersome to carry and shoot with
• Getting photos from my camera to my iPad is a different matter.  It requires a lightning adaptor for an SD card.  In researching the options, it seems to me that the Apple brand is only a few dollars more than some of the off-brands, so I purchased the Apple brand SDadaptor.  

Credit cards/Insurance card /passport/precautions:

Bubble Boys- Tuscany
11 X 15 Rebecca Zdybel

• I make a photocopy of my cards, passport  and ID and put them in my carry-on.  When I arrive at the hotel, I put them in the safe.  Just in case
• Contact your credit card company to tell them you'll be traveling abroad.  It avoids fraud protection issues that can impact your ability to access the card while traveling.  
• Check to see if your card charges foreign transaction fees.  Ask your credit card representative.  If you will be charged fees,  think about getting a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.  I have one from Barclay and also Bank of America. 
• I always bring my medical insurance card and my healthcare savings credit card.  
• Always keep your passport in your hand...do not set it down or let it go out of your sight with employees of any restaurant or rental companies.  Hotels sometimes keep your passport on tours, and though this really bothers me, I will cooperate if they insist. 
• There is a new scam around being run at security checkpoints in airports.  It involves theft of unsupervised bags...While you go through the X-ray scanners separated from your bag, someone grabs your bag and goes.   Wait to put your bags into the scanner until just as you go through your body scan.  It will help to minimize your time of separation from your bags.  
• Another new way to steal is on trains.  Baggage is often stored at the entrance to the train car that you occupy.  I've been told that stealing bags is becoming common when they are out of sight.  The suggestion is to buy a lightweight bike lock and secure your bags together and to the luggage rack.  
• Consider money belts or bra-wallets to increase the safety of your cash, cards and identification. 
• I generally make a manila envelope my travel file.  I keep my boarding pass there, and I put copies of my itinerary there and any travel emails sent to me by my carriers or travel companions.  That way I have one place to look when I want to refer to travel arrangements.  I keep this with me while I travel in my carry-on.  I also make a copy for my husband to keep at home if he's not traveling with me. 

New Painting- New Lesson for Tuscany!
Watercolor and Ink on Paper Rebecca Zdybel 11X15 $177

Clothing: 

I wear primarily athletic attire and pack for 1 week.  Then I wash clothes in the sink.  I bring flip flops because floors are cold and sometimes its comfortable to just flip flop around.  Stone buildings tend to retain their sense of cold, so be ready to layer.  For dressier moments, I bring some jewelry that can  take my black top and black pants into evening.  I also bring scarves for pops of color or a dressier look.  Remember that women need to cover their shoulders inside church buildings.  Scarves are good for doubling as a shawl in this instance.  

For a list of Art Materials I plan to bring- see the Travel supply list on my home page.

I wish I could take all my friends and students with me, but if you can't make it, then I hope you'll join me vicariously by subscribing to this blog.  


I'd love to read your travel suggestions.  Post them here and we can all learn from one another =)

Links to my previous On Location Lessons- 
On Location Lesson 2: "I'm So Dizzy!" Solving Perspective Problems
On Location Lesson 1- Choosing Your Subject

Special Karlyn Holman Workshop

Karlyn and Rebecca in the studio together in France

Watercolor by Karlyn Holman

 Karlyn Holman Watercolor Fun and Free Workshop
Dates: Feb 23-27, 2015 
Beach Cove Resort,  4800 S Ocean Blvd. , North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Cost: $500, $100 Deposit reserves your seat


This exciting watercolor workshop will be coming soon with Karlyn Holman!  I wanted to let my friends and students have first crack at registration, and and it's already almost ½ full!  Her workshop at Cheap Joe's has a waiting list of 8 people.  If you might be interested, I encourage you to sign up early before the course fills up.  Karlyn is amazing and we are so fortunate to have her!  Email me and I will gladly send you a brochure.  

Watercolor by Karlyn Holman

Watercolor by Karlyn Holman

Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist
Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ Profile

On Location Lesson 2- I'M SO DIZZY- SOLVING PERSPECTIVE PROBLEMS

ON LOCATION LESSON 2: I'M SO DIZZY! 

SOLVING PERSPECTIVE AND OTHER PROBLEMS

Sometimes in city landscapes with narrow streets, you end up shooting the scene and almost feel dizzy looking at the photos.  It's like looking up at a skyscraper from the sidewalk below.  Streets and fences can also move across the frame at crazy angles.  Bottom line: very steep lines of perspective are uncomfortable.  The fence in the image of this barn is a good example.

The angle of perspective is a bit uncomfortable in this photo

Hint:  BACK AWAY FROM THE SUBJECT and ZOOM IN.

When I back away and zoom in on my subject, note how much more comfortable the scene appears.

I have a camera which has a 50X zoom capability.  It's nice in instances where I want to shoot from a distance.  The advantage of doing this, when it comes to street scenes, is that it "flattens" the landscape and helps create less steep angles of recession in your perspective lines.  If you paint severe perspective, the image will feel edgy. Changing your perspective to allow a bit of distance, can flatten those angles, and perhaps make the image more comfortable to look at.  Try it and see if this doesn't help your photos!


On the other hand...TRY TO FIND A VIEW WHICH IS  "ANYTHING BUT DULL"

I had a different sort of problem in Benajarafe, Spain.  We had come to the beach to paint boats, and the landscape was incredibly level.  No crazy lines or angles here.  I was probably the only dizzy thing on that beach!  This is what I saw...

"Anything but Dull" is a motto of mine.  So something had to be done! If I sat on the beach, my eye (the horizon line) was even with the sides of the boats, and it didn't make for an interesting image.  I needed a different (elevated) perspective.  I tried pointing my camera differently and framing the shots both in landscape and portrait compositions (as I suggested in Lesson 1 of my Painting on Location Series).  That strategy didn't change the fact that my horizon line was not high enough to see anything but the near edge of the boats.  I looked around for a hill.  I thought perhaps I could telephoto the boats from a higher vantage point...but there were no hills nearby. That's when I spotted the stack of pallets on the beach! Ahhh, do you hear the choir of angels singing?? I did!  I'm not sure why these pallets were stacked up on the beach, but they looked as if they might allow me to get a better perspective on my subject.

Sometimes an Artist's got to do what she's got to do...

Against every common sense instinct, I climbed up onto those pallets and sure enough, I had a much more interesting view of the beach!  My 3-legged stool is not the most secure perch, but  there it was ready for "such a moment as this".  I set up my stool on the stack of pallets, and all of a sudden it looked like a scene with elements I'd like to draw!  Woo hoo!






My great idea was seconded by a fellow artist on the beach.  Wei Lan Lorbor carefully joined me atop the stack of pallets, (thankfully she is petite!) We laughed, but we really didn't think much about it...after all, sometimes an Artist's got to do what she's got to do, right? They seemed like the best seats in the house...so there we sat and enjoyed a gorgeous day on the Costa del Sol of Spain. It doesn't get any better!

Hint: Photograph your subject from wherever you draw it.

When you draw or paint on location: DON'T FORGET TO TAKE A PHOTO FROM WHATEVER VANTAGE POINT YOU SETTLE ON.  THIS WILL RECORD THE SCENE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND ALLOW YOU TO HAVE A GOOD REFERENCE IMAGE IN CASE YOU WANT TO COMPLETE THE PIECE LATER IN THE STUDIO (or in case it rains, or you have a sudden cappucino craving).


I am not a hard-core guerilla painter.  After about an hour in the sunshine on my 3-legged stool, I was no longer comfortable.  My "painting" was just a drawing at that point, but often my body is done before my painting is... even so, I captured an impression of the beach scene and took multiple reference photos in order to paint it later (in the comfort of a studio). Here is my little drawing...

Sketch of Benarafe Beach based on my time on Location that morning

I got off the pallet stack and made my way back to the café, where other (possibly smarter) artists from our group were happily painting in the shade and drinking cappucinos.  I was hot and thirsty and a little stiff.  Though I was happy with my drawing, it was pretty apparent that these smarty-pants in the shade of the café truly had THE best seats in the house.  In fact, they had found inspiration for their paintings in the view of our backsides.  Look what Karen Knutson came up with...isn't it fun?!

"Best Seats in the House"- sketch by Karen Knutson- Tombow markers on paper.  Love it!

I didn't come away with a great painting that day, but I had an experience and a drawing...and a story! Sure it's not always comfortable...and you don't always come away with a masterpiece...but you make a memory.    In some ways painting on location is like camping; not always a simple or comfy, but there's joy to be had in overcoming the obstacles, and some experiences can only be had out in the open and on site. That's what I love about Plein-Air painting...the memories and the experiences.  My drawing and photos from that day allowed me to come up with this little painting once I got home. A happy momento of my visit to Benajarafe on the Costa Del Sol.

Finished painting
All Along the Watchtower- Benjarafe, Spain
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper 11 X 15  $225

The painting above was completed in the studio.  The image is entirely based on elements drawn from the beach.  Their locations and the time of day are "imagineered" by me, but it's still an homage to my time on that beach.  So fun!

If you haven't tried painting like this, I encourage you to give it a go...Take a hat, perhaps a small stool, paper, pen, pencil, eraser, some kleenex, and a camera. Don't worry about doing a finished masterpiece.  My goal is simply to capture elements from the scene which are impressions of my experience there.  Give it a try and report back!

Not sure what to bring?  My complete Supply list for Travel is near the calendar here on the homepage of my website. 

In a few weeks, I will be heading back to Italy with the interesting group I've assembled for my Artfully Tasteful Tour of Tuscany.  We are going to eat, paint, cook, and sip our way around that beautiful region during harvest time...ahhh!  I can only imagine the excellent memories we are about to create!  Interested in going on an international trip of this sort?  Contact me about my next fabulous adventure, and perhaps you can join me...

Let me hear from you! I read every comment and it means a lot to know you are out there reading.


Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist
Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ Profile

Blessing Beads- New Video How to for Easy DIY Yupo Paper Jewelry Project

Blessings embedded into the beads make these a special craft project!

Follow the link below to watch my video explanation of how to make these meaning-filled beads which embed thoughtful wishes or prayers right into each bead.  It's a great way to create a unique jewelry creation for someone special. We made one for our niece's baby shower, and recently made another for a friend who is battling cancer.


I'd recommend writing down the prayers or intentions on a sheet of paper and letting that list accompany your final creation.  

That way the recipient will know the contents of their beads.  All in all, a meaningful and fun way to use your yupo paper!  

Blessing Beads-How to Video for Easy DIY Yupo paper jewelry project 


Have fun and let me know how they turn out!
Here are some photos of our creations...

Materials you'll need:  heat gun, sturdy non-melting work surface, needle nosed pliers (I like having 2), scissors, yupo paper, acrylic paint, metal nails or thin rods

Our soon-to-be-a mommy Niece Katie Zdybel with a necklace full of blessings from her baby shower.

Paint your yupo, dry, then cut into narrow strips. Write your blessings or prayers on the unpainted side of the paper strips

wrapping the yupo strips tightly around a wire support rod is key

Let me hear from you! I read every comment and it means a lot to know you are out there reading.
Contact me if you'd like to join me for art classes.  See my calendar of classes on the adjacent calendar.


Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist
Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ Profile

On Location Lesson 1...Choosing Your Subject

On Location...Lesson 1

Tips for Choosing Your Subject

All the Painters at work in St. Chamarand, France

Painting on location is one of my favorite things to do!  In preparation for my next trip with students to Tuscany Oct 3-10, 2015, I thought I'd begin a series of posts oriented toward helping you get great photos and pick where you should paint when you're out of the studio and on location, or "en plein air" as they say in France.  This first lesson gives some hints on to how to frame your shot. Whether you're a photographer, or a guerrilla painter, hopefully you'll find food for thought here...

St. Chamarand, France

Vue de la Rue- St. Chamarand, France
11x15 watercolor- Rebecca Zdybel

When on location, deciding on your subject...what to paint and how to paint it can be difficult.   Once you find an interesting subject, the next decision you face is how to frame your subject to best advantage?  These are some good questions to ask yourself:

• What angle will you use? 
• Where is the best view? 
• Will your subject be most interesting viewed from head on, from the side, from below, or from above? (hint: look for interesting shapes and angles)
• How much time do you have to paint or draw?  (if not much: then pick something simple.)
• Is there a good pattern of lights and darks?
• What interesting features do you want to highlight?
• Is there shade or a place to sit and be comfortable? 
• Where is the nearest bathroom? This is NOT A JOKE, lol!
• Do you hear thunder?  Also NOT a joke...Take shelter!  (I learned this the hard way right after the photo b!)

Setting up to paint in St. Cirque la Popie-
Don't ignore gathering Dark clouds even if it's bright and sunny...
Needless to say, I didn't get very far before we had to RUN for shelter!

Hint: Use Your camera as a Viewfinder

If you have a subject which excites you and you're not sure whether or not it will make a good painting...TAKE A PHOTO. It used to be that artists would carry little cardboard viewfinders in their bag, but these days, we all have cameras.  Cameras have essentially made it unnecessary to bring an extra viewfinder.

When possible, make an effort to view your subject from multiple perspectives through your camera.  Assess your photos, and then let the best photo help you decide how to compose your painting.  Digital cameras, phones, and iPads or tablets make this easy.  
(I have found that tablet screens e.g. iPads are very difficult to see in the bright sunlight.  They are also cumbersome as camera's...often taking a long time to focus and shoot).  

Scene from Gigouzac, France (Landscape orientation)

Same scene- Gigouzac, France portrait orientation with sunshine

Once you find the right vantage point and get ready to begin your sketch, here's another TO DO LIST:

• I will frequently take a photo with my iPad if I have it.  Sometimes I use it onsite as a quick reference to begin my drawing.  
• ALWAYS TAKE A PHOTO ONCE YOU ARE SEATED AND BEGIN YOUR DRAWING.  This will record your unique seated perspective for future reference if you need to alter your sketch or complete it once you get back in the studio.  Remember: If you take a photo while standing, your horizon will be at standing eye level.  If you sit down, the seated position lowers the horizon line and changes all perspective lines. 
• TAKE ANOTHER PHOTO IF THE LIGHT IMPROVES OR CHANGES.  (Shadows change, and some light patterns are more interesting than others.)

In my next installment I'll give you some tips on solving some of the perspective problems which can arise on location.  Subscribe to this blog so you'll get them delivered to you as soon as they're posted. 

Thanks to those who have been leaving me comments.  I really enjoy hearing from you!


Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist
Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ Profile

Angelic Warrior Joins Me to Fight Arthritis!

Children have a wonderful way of being open to ideas and welcoming of new experiences without expectations.  Think about it...we all began that way! Yesterday, I was reminded of how fabulous it can be to experience painting with the heart of a child.  Join us for this fun watercolor art lesson.  It's great for young kids or the "young at heart".  

It was my privilege to participate in the SC Arthritis Foundation's Fundraising Project for 2014. I was asked to work with a child from Myrtle Beach who has been diagnosed with arthritis.  My role was to help her develop a piece of art which could be sold for fundraising purposes.  With that in mind, I met this little Art Angel...

Arianna Sanchez is READY!!!

This little Art angel is a warrior!  

She is in a battle with arthritis.  

But she is not about to let that stop her!

She came to my studio along with her sweet mom and brother, and we set off to CREATE something!
Perhaps you'll enjoy her journey as an artist and want to share it with a child in your life.  In fact, maybe your Inner Child will be so inspired that you may want to give it a try...I hope so!  We all had fun with it, and you may too...

Rebecca Shows Arianna some of the materials they will use

I showed her some of the materials and gave her lots of verbal instruction. Given her age, I approached it as a color exercise.  Our First Step: Crayon lines as "wax-resist"... we made random lines and got loosened up with some mark making on the page. 

Adding a bit of yellow watercolor

Then I had her use large hake brushes and with a pure lemon yellow color, she created a winding path of yellow on a wet piece of watercolor paper.  You can't see the crayon lines, but they added some "resist" to the watercolor, creating white or relatively light lines. 

Setting a pure Manganese blue in beside the yellow and then helping it find a path to the edge was the next step. Try not to mix the colors, just set them next to one another. As I often say: 

"Water paints better than I ever could."

Next comes blue and then comes pink!

Along the way, I had her note what colors resulted when blue merged with yellow (green).  Then we added some pretty Opera Pink, but the stipulation was...add it next to any color except "Green".   When she added the pink, we noted what color resulted when it merged with Blue (purple)  and when it merged with yellow (orange). She and her brother had big fun naming the colors and figuring out where she could put them.

We continued to add strong mixes of watercolor, all the while placing colors next to one another rather than mixing them together.  Instead, we sprayed with water to encourage their mixing.  We continued our guessing game about what color would result from our additions.  We added Winsor Red, and avoided placing it next to "Greens".  We added American Journey's Arctic Ice, but avoided placing it next to "Orange". Then one at a time, with instructions of what colors to avoid, we added more pink, blue and yellow.  (Avoiding the complementary colors helps to keep the colors bright.)  As she did her additions, a variety of beautiful colors emerged on the paper.

How about some RED! 

Once the page was full of color, we added some salt for texture in places where the paper was not as "shiny".  At least for a while, we were able to restrain the application of salt to the dry areas...then it was so much fun pouring salt, that things got a bit salty!  But that's ok, we have to let go and have some fun along the way, right?!

Then it was time to paint with the blow dryer.  Some of the deep wells of color could be moved in lines with the force of the blow dryer.  Things also need to dry before we could move on...soooooo

Painting with the blow dryer!

After blow-drying our paper, and blow-drying her brother, and lest we forget, of course we had to blow-dry mom... 
After everything was dry, we ended up with a beautiful bright page full of color and texture.

Next came the lines....To add the lines, we made big sweeping gestures with Elmers Glue.  Once the lines travelled around the paper, we added more salt...(oh yesssssss!) but we did so by pinching a bit between our fingers and dropping it directly into the wet glue lines.  Here we are doing this step.  (Since Arianna's arms were a bit short for our big painting, I gave her a had with the glue)  We all helped put salt into the wet glue.

Once the glue lines were salted, we set about adding the same colors next to one another along the lines.  This requires a gentle touch.  Simply touching the glue lines with a loaded soft brush full of paint works best.  There were so many lines that Big Brother, Christian needed to lend a hand!

Beautiful colored lines begin to form all over the page...so much fun!









Then it was time to get out the blow-dryer again...watch out mom!

After drying completely,  it was time to do a little coloring with American Journey Watercolor Sticks.  They are a fun water media product that goes on like a crayon, and dissolves like watercolor.  Arianna used those to intensify some of her colors and create a few strategic dark shapes.  I limited her choices to ones which would keep her out of color trouble, and encouraged her to search out a shapes that had been formed by the lines we had created. I had her color till she was tired of coloring in each shape, and then spread the color the rest of the way  with a wet brush.  She liked being able to quit on a shape when she felt like it, and just letting the water do the rest...

Once she had a page full of beautiful colors and lines, I thought giving her composition a calm border might be nice.  So together, we added a white acrylic border along the edge.  

 Finally, the painting needed her signature.  She looked at the piece from all directions and decided which way it should hang.  I suggested a place for her to sign it and she used 2 pieces of paper as a guide for placement, and for how large to write her signature.  I had her use graphite, to make it easy to write her name.  She did it perfectly! 

"Keep On the Sunny Side" Painting by Arianna Sanchez
Mixed media of Watercolor and Acrylic on Paper.  18"X24"
Painting will be available for sale 

Don't you just love her painting?  Comment here and I will share those comments with Our Art Angel and her sweet family.  If you're inspired to help her and other kids like her, join us in the fight against Arthritis, and attend the Masquerade Event in Charleston, SC follow this link:  
https://arthritismar.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/2014DvineAffair/tabid/517287/Default.aspx

August 3  Gallery Show to celebrate each piece created this year at Lowcountry Artists Gallery 1-3pm Charleston, SC

September 6 D'Vine Affair Masquerade Gala Benefitting the Arthritis Foundation. at Memminger Auditorium  Theme: Masquerade--Faces of Arthritis, 7 pm. 

Charleston, SC

Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

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Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

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