Author: Margaret Hunt

Born in Oceanside, California, Margaret studied fine arts at the University of Georgia and Augusta State University where she was a protege of Freeman Schoolcraft and studied under Jim Lyle, Eugenia Comer and Dave Jones. In addition she has studied with Ken Umbach at John Campbell Folkschool and locally with Jim Ginsheer and Thomas Needham. An award winning artist, her work is represented in collections throughout Europe and the United States. Galleries and museums across the United States have represented and shown her work. Her creations have received numerous awards including multiple Best of Shows, have been exhibited locally, nationally and internationally and are part of art collections across the world most notably including the Quilts, Inc. collection and the Thomas Quilt Collection. Her art has been published in numerous art magazines and has also been included in several books such as Creative Quilting: A Page from My Journal. Highlights are her art quilts were selected Favorites at International Quilt Show, Houston. Art critics have compared her art to Thomas Gainsborough paintings. More Recently she has taken classes with the great Charles Reid, Fealing Lyn and Ted Nuttall. Margaret creates art of one kind or another almost every day at her studio on the Savannah River and teaches at various venues across the country.

Composition- Provence or the Blue Ridge?!!

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I am thinking it’s the blue ridge. I love the views from the tops of the mountains with the towns snuggled in the bottom around a lake.

I think this paintings done. Going to sleep on it to be sure.

12×17″ arches 280 cp Cheap Joe’s American Journey paint.

Paint along with Vladislav Yesileyev

I took a class with Vlad Yesileyev on composition today.

Fascinating and educational as usual.

He said composition is THE most important thing in a drawing.

Typically you divide a drawing into thirds vertically and horizontally. And where they cross is your focal point. It’s the place where you should put the greatest contrast in your painting with less detail in the other areas.

MINIMIZE anything not in your focal point. And if you don’t like your value sketch then don’t start painting.

I highly recommend that class. He’s just THE best teacher. Willing to answer any question and stay as late as necessary to help if needed. He explains everything so well leaving no detail unexplained as to why he’s doing what he’s doing. And if you don’t understand he will patiently explain it again.

And he has a GREAT russian accent and a GREAT sensenofnhumor.

The drawing

First wash. I managed NOT ago sticky my fingers in the sky or blot it. My two fav things to do to mess up My sky wash. Yellow Ochre cobalt alizarin and neutral tint

Finishing first wash using the same colors

Adding trees. I can finally do lacy dry brush trees. Well more or less.

Still using the same colors and some burnt sienna and burnt umber and indigo for the dark greens.

Teacher critique. Too much splatter and pines too Lacey. Oops. Easy fix.

Can I whine but I like splattering. You should see the tv I watch the zoom on. Covered w specks of paint.

and yes he was right. Too much splattering of flowers in the foreground.

Do yourself a favor and sign up for his paintalongs and his classes. You will be glad you did.

Day 231 So many Spots!!

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On the Farm down Florida way. Arches 280 cp. Nice paper. Scratches so well. Paint along with Vladislav Yesileyev

The photo

Vlad’s value sketch.

My sketch. Did get tired of drawing a jillion little cows and all those legs. 😜 My dad used to joke to us on trips to count the cows by counting their legs and dividing by 4. That was the best part of drawing a jillion cows. Remembering the joke.

First wash. Cobalt cad yellow alizarin dioxzine cad orange yellow ochre

My cows are too light I think. We shall see.

Painting the background trees. Still using the same colors and burnt sienna and umber.

So I painted my cows a little darker grey. Cobalt yellow ochre and alizarin dioxzine mix. That mix will give you all kinds of grey.

Greens mixed with cad yellow cobalt and indigo. Oh and cobalt teal on water tubs.

Think this one is different but I can’t tell. Shadows under white spots? NOPE. Since these are Holstein cows painted lots and lots of grey and blackish spots made with that same grey mix. I think I added ultramarine and a dab of alizarin to mine.

Cows up close.

And adding in the foreground tree. Once again that green mix on the grey side.

Can I put my feet up now?!

Margaret xoxoxox

Day 237 Undercover spying

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I like to draw random people when I am out and about. Get bored sitting in a class or in talk and then I draw the people I can see nearby but I don’t want them to see me drawing them. Thus undercover spying.

Spent the day going thru old photos of random people and tossing them into recycle. Or terrible print outed photos. They look blurry. Who needs them when they are on your iPad available for painting or running a slide show?!

Probably should paint them. Found my tiny whiskey painters box today when I was cleaning. Hurrah!!

Hahnamuhle journal with no idea of what pen. Probably a Lamy EF loaded with eel skin ink. Lettering done with my namiki fude today.

Margaret xoxoxox

Day 236 A cuppa Joe

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Been meaning to post this for a few days. My fav express cup. So I scribbled all over it. Probably too much but then I do subscribe to the more is better school.

Margaret who can barely tear herself away from the election returns to post this. Eeekkk. Nail biter. Xoxoxo

Day 235 Urbansketching in Decatur

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The view from our lunch table at Taqueria de Sol on W Ponce yesterday. Thought my fingers were going to freeze off.

My favorite hamburger joint the original Farmburgers and Chai Pani Indian Street food the home of blistered tongues from their hot food. Give me a farmburger please. Sooo good.

Stillman and Birn Alpha and Micro univalve. Meant to post yesterday but was too busy watching the election returns. Swore I wouldn’t but oh well. Now I needs a nap.

Margaret still listening on NPR. Xoxoxo

Day 233 Alla Prima

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My granddaughter and I were painting together today. I decided to do one of her. No pencil drawing first. Not too bad. Her hair is wild aka bed head. She might have dreadlocks soon. Now if I could just get rid of the seam. What was I thinking?!

Groan. It’s not like I didn’t have some fluid 150 cold press nearby.

Cad red and cad yellow. Alizarin Quin gold burnt sienna burn umber a dab of black. Peacock blue and Verditer blue – a pretty soft sky blue that I think has white gouache in it

Stillman and Birn alpha which was very forgiving when I lifted a few areas.

Margaret xoxoxo

Day 229 Recipe time

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They never seem to turn out how I imagine but the recipe book is filling up. Try these two. Easy ad delish.

Snickerdoodles. Yum. Quite popular with my friends

My fav go to easy meal

Margaret going to watch Queens Gambit because I got sidetracked Fishermans Friends a feel good movie about some British fisherman who hit the top ten with their sea shanty recordings. A true story. Xoxoxo

Day 228 Kitties Wonder

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Chased around after the kitties drawing them today. There’s always something that gets their interest. Sometimes it’s me. Hmm.

Ps fixed the spelling of kitties. But too lazy to take another picture. Now comfy on the sofa.

What is she doing?! I know that’s what they are thinking. Didn’t someone have fun with Hallie’s marking??

Yesterday I lifted tails of everyone but the tigers. One male the black two females the torties. Like calicoes torties are almost always female and bring good luck.

My torties are named for Halloween. Hallie and Weenie. Weenie and Tootsie are quite friendly. Thinking he might need a rename but what?? Hallie is coming around. Tigers as shy as ever.

Lots of baking going on today. Snickerdoodles and quiche or a frittata since I leave off the crust.

I drew the recipes in my recipe sketchbook but letting the ink dry over nite before i color them.

Ok lazy Tahred woman fixed it.

Margaret ready to watch Queens Gambit. Xoxoxo

Day 227 Zoe Time

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Zoe and I have been a little under the weather. She had dental surgery and I had a shingles shot that made me feel just ill Achy fever fatigued. My arm still hurts three days later. The first two days I couldn’t raise my arm. Not ideal for lugging a sock puppy up down the stairs. She felt so rotten after surgery she wanted to throw up wandered around in a daze finally pooped in the upstairs shower. She was so apologetic for that. I told her no worries it was the perfect spot. Try it again next time she has a problem. That happens about once every other year.

Today she posed for me while I held a chunk of cracker for her to drool over. Something I used to do with my old Jacks when I wanted to draw them. Also works when you want to take a good pic of your dog.

Anyway we are down to the last two episodes of New Tricks so ta ra. Been a fun romp that reminds me of the curmudgeons on the Closer.

Margaret xoxoxo still wondering why she got that shot since she’s never had chicken pox though she’s been repeatedly exposed to it.