Nancy Medina Art

My Sunflower Painting Video

Sun Seeker Sunflowers and Larkspur is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, and I admit I'm seeing double after working all day in an office, and then painting a new floral still life until midnight. My little solo orange in the foreground needed a companion, so I gave him a reflection to admire, and sprinkled some larkspur on the table for good measure. If you've ever painted larkspur, you'll know it's about the messiest flower you can bring into the studio, and my white tablecloth is now speckled with purple splotchy stains as a result. I still love it, and will keep right on bringing it home, because it's so cheerful!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my new sunflower painting video trailer teaser promo footage! The full length video is under construction, and you'll be the first to know when it's available so stay tuned to the art bloggy!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Thrice Bright Sunflowers and a New Video by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Thrice Bright Sunflowers by Nancy Medina

11X14

Oil on Linen Board

My Sunflower Video

Thrice Bright is the newest sunflower painting in Flower Mound Studio. Even though the pugs are dozing and the house is quiet, I'm having a little party in the studio - I'm excited to announce my first sunflower video! The hubby is working on the full length DVD video for me, which is fortunate, considering the only thing I know how to do on an IMac is to overfill the memory with photographs of flowers. I detected a bit of shock and awe when he discovered last week I had filled up the entire Mac hard drive in less than 12 months. But that's a problem for another day, since today we're celebrating! Take a peek at my new video and let me know what you think!

Click Here to See My New Sunflower Video

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Season Finale White Roses by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Season Finale White Roses

by Nancy Medina

11X14

Oil on Linen Board

My Web Site

Season Finale White Roses is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, as I prep a 60X48 canvas for a new large container garden for my favorite gallery in Coronado, CA. I finished work on my first flower painting video today, Sunflower Daisy Divas, and now I have to figure out how to download, share, market, give away, use as promo? All those business side of the brain thoughts slow me down a bit from time to time, the best solution is to pick up the brushes and get lost in front of a blank canvas. Stay tuned, I'll definitely have a sunflower painting video to share with you soon! In the meantime, I had to pay tribute to these white roses I found at the grocery store. They are as beautiful as any of the expensive $3 a stem lovelies I buy from Central Market *sound of harps* - and they were in the bargain bucket at Kroger! Tonight they are fully open, and tomorrow will be their last day to shine. Thank you white roses, for sharing your essence and your beauty in my studio today!

These studio models take their final bow!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Step by Step Sunflowers and Daisies and My First Painting Video by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Sunflower Daisy Divas by Nancy Medina

18X18

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Sunflower Daisy Divas was my first attempt at a painting demonstration on video today, courtesy of cameraman hubby and my four studio pugs who provided background snoring and snuffling sound effects. Hubby is working on the final movie edit, while all four pugs wonder anxiously who will end up on the cutting room floor, since I did insist that each of them be introduced and their specific studio roles and tasks explained. The loudest snoring award while mama was filming went to Howie (no surprise there, with his big ole gorilla nose), and the most determined to trip mama while she was doing a demo on camera award went to Cheesy Man Java, who decided dinner an hour early was important enough to interrupt any video in his house. (Java was our first pug, so, as I often tell him, technically in this house, we are ALL his guests....)

I've already seen the first clip of the painting demo video, and it was terrifying on a par with Jaws or the first Freddy Krueger movie, with a bright overhead light shining straight down on my face and the high def camera three inches from my nose. Rest assured I'll be exercising executive producer privileges to demand air brushing, my own hairdresser, and soft romantic lighting for Scene 2. (More wine my cherie amour?)

While we wait with bated breath to see what might be the first flower painting demo with a pug in it ever before produced on the Pug Planet, here's a little step by step of the sunflower demo we filmed today. Enjoy! Stay tuned to the bloggy for more on this developing news item, but to see sunflowers painted in the flesh, join me for my Summer Saturday Sunflower workshop on June 23! Read more...

Summer Saturday Sunflower Workshop

Nancy Medina

June 23, 2012

Jaycee Park Center for the Arts

Irving, Texas

Registration Information

Step one, nice and simple and loose!

Step two - establishing the focal point sunflower

The models take a bow!

Move trailer slash teaser....

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Royal Blue Hydrangeas by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Royal Blue Hydrangeas by Nancy Medina

16X20

Oil on Linen Board

Royal Blue Hydrangeas is a new painting in Flower Mound Studio, and another painting starring my new blue vase. I admit I'm infatuated with my new blue vase. I've painted Sunflowers, then white roses, and now blue hydrangeas in it in the last 3 days. I think of the three, I like the blue hydrangeas the most. I first saw this setup during my Fredericksburg, Texas workshop a few weeks ago. Thanks so much to Linda for bringing this vase with her, and how lucky for me to find one just like it on Ebay a few weeks later!

The studio models looking a little blue....

Saturday, May 26, 2012

A Step by Step White Rose and Orange Oil Painting by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Orange Parfait White Rose Bouquet

by Nancy Medina

16X20

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Orange Parfait White Rose Bouquet is the newest painting in the Flower Mound Studio. We are still in a bit of a celebratory mood, now that Hannah the rescue pug has become an official part of our family. Her adoption contract was signed today and mailed to DFW Pug Rescue. It was a perfect way to start the holiday weekend! I hope you have something wonderful to celebrate this weekend, even if it just the love of a little four-footed friend.

Here's Orange Parfait White Rose Bouquet for you step by step. Put a little joy in your brush and join me for a flower painting workshop this summer! Read more....

Step 1 - the underpainting

Step 2 - playing with the opaques

Step 3 - putting in the bones

Closeup

Step 4 - the vase gets taller!

The studio models take a bow!

Some Great News and a Summer Saturday Sunflower Workshop - June 23 - by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Click here to join my Summer Saturday Sunflower workshop!

It's official - we have a new baby girl in Flower Mound Studio this week! Carlos and I have decided to adopt our little foster pug, Hannah, to celebrate one year as her foster parents this month. She is the only pug in the house who comes when I call, plus she has these cute little freckles on her toes - we simply could not let her go! I've been fostering pugs for rescue for over 5 years now, and there is always the temptation to keep these little ones, but her special needs and her wonderful personality really found a place in my heart. Hannah has a paralyzed larynx, and though she lives a full active life, she will always have to have special care taken to stay cool and not too excited. She sounds like a little frog when she barks, and she loves it here at the Medina Foster Home for Wayward Pugs. Making this her official furever home feels like the right thing to do.

There's so much to celebrate in the studio this week! I'm sharing a step by step painting of Fancy Free Sunflowers with you on my blog to announce my Summer Saturday Sunflower workshop on June 23. Join me in North Texas at the Jaycee Park Center for the arts from 9 am to 4 pm for a fun day of painting sunflowers in oils. Read more...

Hannah Love

Photo by www.jennyfroh.com

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Step by Step Sunflower Oil Painting and a Summer Workshop- Fancy Free by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Fancy Free Sunflowers and Oranges

by Nancy Medina

16X20

Oil on Linen Board

Click here to join my Summer Saturday Sunflower workshop!

Fancy Free Sunflowers and Oranges is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio. There is probably a medication for my obsessive compulsive sunflower painting disorder, but I have no intention of considering a seven step program until Rembrandt discontinues cadmium yellow. I'm sharing my step by step painting of Fancy Free Sunflowers with you to celebrate my Summer Saturday Sunflower workshop on June 23. Join me in North Texas at the Jaycee Park Center for the arts from 9 am to 4 pm for a fun day of painting sunflowers in oils. Read more...

I began Fancy Free Sunflowers around 8 pm last night, and finished around 1 am this morning. AnnieBee stayed with me in the studio long after the boys and Hannah retired, and today she looks just a little less perky than usual. She stays up late for the sweet potato chews. I owe it all to caffeine and a jumbo bag of Dove chocolate.

Step 1 - the underpainting

Step 2 - getting in the greens

Step 3 - starting the opaques

Step 4 - Consulting my muse

Step 5 - fini!

More information on my June 23

Summer Saturday Sunflower workshop!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Double Duty Blue Hydrangeas by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Double Duty Blue Hydrangeas

by Nancy Medina

11X14

Oil on Linen Board

Nancy Medina Workshops

Double Duty Blue Hydrangeas is a new small work in the studio, as I pack up paintings to ship to collectors in South Texas and to Australia this week! Tonight I discovered a new wonderful feature of my rolly thingy ma bob, my new rubbermaid art cart - it can also serve as a *wait for it* drying rack for wet paintings! To prove this amazing fact, I've shared a picture below. Reminds me of those old Saturday Night Live skits : It's a furniture polish AND a dessert topping! AnnieBee Belly decided to lend her beauty to the image, although after about the fourth shot I could see from her expression she was thinking about how many ways I use her gratuitously to peddle my wares, and how many sweet potato chew sticks she should be paid for each of these shameful occurrences...

The studio models take a bow!

AnnieBee demonstrates the many uses of the art cart!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Lemon Blossom Sunflowers and an Unexpected Phone Call by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Lemon Blossom Sunflowers

and Larkspur by Nancy Medina

16X20

Oil on Linen Board

Click here to check out my workshops

Lemon Blossom Sunflowers is drying on the easel in Flower Mound Studio and while it is almost time to put the puggies to bed, I wanted to tell you about an interesting phone call I got yesterday. A very nice lady from La Quinta in Las Colinas said she noticed I'm hosting several art workshops in Irving, Texas. She said she used to do the marketing for the Dallas Arboretum, and noticed I teach out there, and thought it would be great if we could partner up and do something to help my workshop students.

She and her colleagues at La Quinta are going to offer the "Nancy Medina Art Workshop" special rate to anyone who calls to reserve their room at their Las Colinas, Texas, location during one of my workshops. I've never had a special hotel rate named after me before, and immediately wondered if I would be hearing from Tom Bodette next, but she assured me that's the other place down the road. Students attending my classes at the Jaycee Parks Center of the Arts in Irving will receive free shuttle from the airport and to class back and forth each day - plus free wifi and free breakfast. Plus this place is pet friendly!

My fellow pug mom and good friend Marsha was quick to point out that La Quinta offers all these nice things to everyone, except of course for the special Nancy Medina Art Workshop special rate. Okay, so I'm slightly disappointed they didn't invent all those cool perks in my honor, but hey - the special room rate is cool, yes? I know all the years I've traveled to workshops in strange cities and struggled to navigate to and fro in my rental car, how great to be able to shuttle and not even have to worry about getting lost! Hmmm. I wonder if they have donuts on their free breakfast buffet, and if I could crash breakfast one morning...

and see how you too can get your

Nancy Medina Art Workshop room rate!

The models take a bow (and an orange!)

Sunday, May 20, 2012

A Little Love Sunflowers and Larkspur by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

A Little Love Sunflowers and

Larkspur by Nancy Medina

SOLD

11X14

Oil on Linen Board

A Little Love is a new work in the studio, a celebratory small sunflower I finished today after completing a large commission which will be a surprise gift for a very special person! I've been exercising some frequent flower miles with my new blue vase, as you can see - it's earned its keep six times over in the studio already. Not bad for a $9.99 Ebay find!

Put a little joy in your brush and join me for:

Two one-day workshops in June

A 3-day workshop in the Texas Hill Country in July!

A Little Love with the studio models

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Midnight Blue Vase Hydrangeas and Roses by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medin

Midnight Blue Vase Hydrangeas and Roses

by Nancy Medina

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Midnight Blue was named for the hour I stopped painting today (this morning?). I made another trip to Central Market this weekend, braving the Grapevine Festival traffic and construction on Highway 114 to acquire fresh white roses and larkspur today. I used my favorite big brush to lay in large petals and color notes to match the flowers. I have a surprise for my students who are coming to the 3-day workshop in August - everyone is going to get a gift of one of my favorite painting accessories! Plus donuts, of course. We mustn't forget the donuts.

Stay tuned to my blog, I'll be sharing another step by step flower painting with you very soon!

Click here for workshop information

Friday, May 18, 2012

Spring Promise Roses by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Spring Promise Roses by Nancy Medina

12X12

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Spring Promise Roses is a new small work in the studio, as I deconstruct the large flower setup on my rubber maid roller cart, the wonderful new studio accessory I've been enjoying since the hubby found it on clearance at Office Max last weekend. I had to remove the sunflowers for a special commission I've begun of hydrangeas and white roses, so I'm going to treat myself to a trip to Central Market in the morning for fresh flowers! They don't allow photography in Central Market, so I can't share that trip with you, but their flower market is the closest thing to visiting the Dallas Arboretum you can get without driving to the actual gardens themselves (which will be quite packed this weekend, in fact, because of the Chihuly exhibit!).

So we'll avoid the real gardens and go to the store bought ones. I can hardly wait to see what their theme is this weekend. Last weekend it was "A Walk in Provence," so you may have noticed I borrowed that title a few times for new paintings over the past few days. Hubby and I are planning a REAL walk in Provence in the next 2 years. Now THAT trip I will share with you every step of the way, I just wish it would hurry up and get here!

Registration officially opened today for my 3-day workshop in the Texas Hill Country in historic Fredericksburg, Texas, July 6, 7 and 8. I hope you'll join me. It is a perfect place to unwind, sightsee, shop, eat out, and Paint!

Click here for more information

The studio models take a bow!

My Fredericksburg workshop demo - 30X40 hydrangeas!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Purple Hearts Hydrangeas, Larkspur and Roses by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Purple Hearts Hydrangeas, Larkspur and Roses

by Nancy Medina

24X24

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Purple Hearts Hydrangeas, Larkspur and Roses is drying on the easel, as work has begun on a top secret, very large container garden which is going to be a gift for someone very special. It's wonderful being party to great surprises for people I love, it's fun to build something step by step that you know is going to give someone joy.

One year a client contacted me in August to commission a sunflower painting for her husband. She needed it delivered months in advance for special framing, and then she had to find the perfect hiding place for it in their house where he would not accidentally stumble across it for four months! I think I was just as anxious as she was on Christmas morning to see his reaction, since she was famous for not being able to keep a secret from him. He was delighted and surprised, I wonder if more so because she had successfully kept the secret from him than he had received a gift he loved.

I think for me, my favorite surprise was my little AnnieBee. Her name was Angel when she came to me, a gift from a friend who knew I had just lost my Winnie Wiggles to encephalitis at the age of 7. I wasn't ready for another little four footed girl in my life, but Annie-Angel was the answer and the comfort I needed at a very sad time. She gives me smiles, joy, devotion and love every single day. She will always be a precious little gift. What is the best surprise you ever received? Annie and I would love to know!

Detail: Purple Hearts Hydrangeas

It's important to squeeze Annie at least a few times each day!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Summer Night Sunflower Container Garden and a Hill Country Workshop by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Summer Night Container Garden With

Hydrangeas, Roses and Sunflowers

by Nancy Medina

36X48

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Class Registration Information

Summer Night is the newest container garden in Flower Mound Studio, and a painting that has been under construction for a few days now - my studio models held up beautifully, but I don't think tomorrow they will be quite as perky due to the muggy, warm weather in Flower Mound. Tonight I'll have to deconstruct this huge flower setup and spritz and spray and water, hoping these blossoms will survive just a few more days despite the bright lights in the studio.

I'll be taking many of these elements with me when I host my next 3-day workshop in Fredericksburg, Texas, July 6, 7 and 8 at the Good Art Company School. We'll be painting a variety of these fresh flowers during the workshop, and I can hardly wait to get back to this beautiful Hill Country setting. The Good Art Company School at Baron's Creekside Resort is the absolute perfect place to paint, with tons of sightseeing, shopping, and pastry shops nearby. We'll be painting each day from 8 am to 3 pm so we will have time to do a little shopping downtown in the afternoons. If the hubby stays home, I can visit my favorite quilt store with absolutely no adult supervision whatsoever!

The class will fill up quickly, so don't delay - I would love to paint with you in the Texas Hill Country! You can find more info here:

A Day in Provence With Nancy Medina

Flower Painting Workshop

July 6, 7 and 8

8 am to 3 pm daily

Contact Mary Katherine at 830-997-1111 to Register

The studio models take a bow!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

A Day in Provence Sunflowers and a Dallas Arboretum Workshop by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Demo painting for my Dallas Arboretum Class

A Day in Provence Sunflower Bouquet

SOLD

24X24

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

A Day in Provence Sunflower Bouquet was the morning demo painting for my one-day workshop at the Dallas Arboretum Saturday. I had a very talented group of 13 students and we had the perfect day for painting, with sunshine streaming in the skylights and the Chihuly glass exhibit right outside our doors. The Arboretum was abuzz with excitement and busloads of tourists coming through to see the beautiful glass sculptues, but indoors our hearts and minds were all about painting flowers!

I had a completely full class, but we had more than enough of roses, hydrangeas, and sunflowers to paint, thanks to a productive shopping trip to Central Market *sound of harps* by the instructor the day before class. Plus the arrival of my new studio prized possession - my blue glass vase I ordered from Ebay for a bargain price! *trumpets* Thanks so much to Debra for pointing me in the right direction for that gem and giving me the courage to bid (something I hadn't really tried before!).

Painting Summer Flowers in Oils

Nancy Medina Workshop

August 17, 18, and 19, 2012

Jaycee Park Center for the Arts

Irving, Texas

Click here for more information

Check out my Web site for my new 3-day workshop coming up at the Jaycee Park Center for the Arts in Irving, Texas, Painting Summer Flowers in Oils, August 17, 18 and 19 in North Texas, not far from DFW International Airport. I'm still pinching myself about this one, I posted the class online four days ago and there are only four seats left! Was it me, or was it the promise of a cameo appearance by AnnieBee that is attracting this attention, I wonder? Hmmm - or could it have been the promise of donuts....!

My class was ready to see some painting happen!

The paparazzi!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Painting Summer Flowers - New 3-Day Workshop by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

I'm excited to announce my new 3-day North Texas workshop at the Jaycee Park Center for the Arts in Irving, Texas, August 17, 18 and 19. One day after it posted, students from Louisiana, California, and North Texas had registered. Class is already filling up so don't dally, and keep in mind - yes - there will be donuts! For those who are not familiar with North Texas, the Jaycee Park Center is just a few miles from DFW International Airport. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants nearby, and it's super convenient if you are coming from out of town.

Painting Summer Flowers in Oils
August 17, 18, and 19, 2012
9 am to 4 pm
Jaycee Park Center for the Arts
1975 Puritan Drive
Irving, Texas 75061
$325 per student

Open for beginners to those experienced in oils, we will focus on loosening your approach to the floral still life. I'll share all my favorite tips for creating brilliant color and methods for making your flowers look authentic and beautiful. Students in my classes are encouraged to take lots of photos and ask many questions, so you can take home the tools you will need to create flower paintings you will love for many years to come.
I will begin class each day with a thorough and well explained demonstration. In the afternoons, we'll paint your favorite flowers together. Using transparent colors as a base, I'll show you how to create powerful color notes that will make your flowers sing. Students will receive a supply list shortly after registration.
Click here to register for the August Workshop using paypal, or you may call or email me with any major credit card to make your payment.
$325 per student. Let's paint flowers together this summer!
Contact: nancy@nancymedina.com

Click here to register

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Free Fall White Rose Painting Step by Step and New Workshops by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Free Fall White Roses

by Nancy Medina

18X18

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas