Sedona coloring book!!!

It's been months in the making, and I am pleased to announce that "Color Me Sedona" is finally in print.

A coloring book for everyone. Color Me Sedona has beautiful line drawings of some of the most recognized and popular rock formations in the Sedona area, printed on 80 lb. drawing paper for you to color with colored pencils, pastels, crayons, 

markers, or whatever you love to color with.

Order yours now for only $10 ea. at www.artgeckos.com, or pick one up at the Sedona Pines Resort.

It's here! My instructional video about watercolor pencils.
Please enjoy, and, as always, if you have questions, you can email me. mr.geckos@gmail.com

you can watch it on youtube here...https://youtu.be/C8Ia1Cdt6Fk

A Beautiful Poem

I recently had the privilege of teaching a lovely woman named Robin Thomas. She came back the next day for another class, and had this poem to share, which she just wrote the previous day, after our lesson.

Vista

The vibrant colors of your landscape stay with you throughout your life. Your sojourn is yours alone. Your canvas is colorful, blended so well, the gentle brush strokes of time wash together showing the strength of you, the beauty within. The colors muted with the passage of time. Rivulets run through leaving your canvas streaked, damaged but redeemable.  The strength, color and beauty of a closely woven foundation is yours to share with all its astounding vistas.
By Robin Shari Goodman Thomas
9/17/15

Thanks, Robin. What a beautiful poem!

Happy holidays, and here's to a wonderful new year! Yupo painting!

Hello all. I hope everyone is painting away 2014. I hope the new year finds you all well, and I hope to see you here in beautiful Sedona again next year. 

I recently picked up some Yupo paper (which is not really paper, at all). to experiment with.

I first did a traditional watercolor painting, which I was not entirely pleased with. Yupo is polypropylene, and as such, is not absorbent at all. Therefore, the paint tends to puddle, and pool up, making it rather challenging to control.

As I have a pad of 20 sheets, I continue my experimenting with watercolor pencils, which, surprisingly worked quite well on the somewhat slick surface. So without further fanfare, I present my first painting on Yupo paper for your pleasure.

Feel free to pick some up yourself, and see what it's like.

Let me know when you're coming, and I can arrange a special Plein-Aire session.

Art

Experimental Water Media Exhibit- NAWS 2014

White watercolor pencils- are they worth using?

My watercolor pencil students know that I recommend General's Kimberly brand as a good artist grade watercolor pencil. The basic 12 pencil set has been a staple of my workshops for quite some time now. The colors in the set lend themselves to the Sedona landscape quite nicely. I purchase sets in bulk, and my latest shipment came with a substitution of the "straw" color with white. I have always derided white as being a worthless pencil, especially in a small set.
Now, I am usually not one to complain, but I figured that if no one spoke up, the company would never know. I searched them out on line, and sent them an email explaining my opinion, and position regarding white pencils.
I received a response very quickly, urging me to call a specific person at the company. I called, and talked for some time with the very friendly customer service rep, and fully explained my concerns and needs.
In just 2 short days I received a package with replacement straw pencils along with a few extra items.
I really appreciate this fast and friendly response to my inquiry. I will continue to use, and recommend General's Kimberly pencils to my students and colleagues. I find them very comparable to brands costing twice as much.            
My question to you is, have you found any use for white watercolor pencils? They are not opaque. If you need to tint something, just add some water to dilute the color.
Maybe I'm missing something here.

A couple of recent pieces, using General's Kimberly Watercolor Pencils. Enjoy!