spending the day with my mom...



Our instructor...Caren Dunn.

I have to tell you...I have the best mom in the world. I know, I know, you probably think that you have the best mom in the world. And that's fine...you can think that if you want. But I know the truth...and the truth is that I have the best mom in the world.

Not only did she bring me homemade chicken soup and a small casserole dish of Chicken Divan when I was so sick. (And even offered to clean my house!!) She also treated me to an art class last Saturday. Honestly, we weren't sure we were going to be able to go seeing as how I've been so under the weather lately. But...I just rested and rested all week and by Saturday I felt ready to get out of the house for a while and do some art with my mom. I figured it would be OK since we would just be sitting all day and painting.

Yes...painting. The class we took was a watercolor class at a cool little shop in Berkeley called Castle in the Air. We've been visiting this shop for the past few years on our annual Christmas shopping trips but only realized this past Christmas that they offer art classes! My mom called me a few days later and asked, "Do you wanna take a watercolor class with me in February?" And I was like, "Heck yeah I do!!" So...she signed us up. Woohoo !

The studio on the upper level of the shop...I want to live in this space...

Mom picked me up around 9am Saturday morning and we hit the road...headed to Berkeley. Everyone in the class was so nice...friendly...and ready to get creative. We painted all day long. And it was WONDERFUL.

The ladies at our table...my mom is the one on the left in the front...she's so pretty.

I have wanted to learn watercolor for years and years. I have bit the bullet and bought the supplies and sat down and just went for it a time or two in the past. But...let's just say...it wasn't pretty. Watercolor can be tricky...but like the instructor, Caren Dunn, said, if you know a few key things, it's doable. And she was right...it was doable. 


My painting...a WIP.

The instructor gave us each this same design and step-by-step showed us what to do. A wash in the background...what colors compliment other colors...which brushes work best for what...some shading and highlights...wet and dry painting techniques...even a trick or two with salt and flour! SO fun...what a cool day.

Sitting and painting all day is a really good thing to do...but it's even better when you get to sit and paint all day and be with your mom.

Thank you, mom, for a GREAT day. I love you.