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Hi everyone,

I hope you are safe and well wherever you are.

The exhibition I entered opened last night and I wanted to share some footage with you.

I didn't win any prizes (insert sad face). Not to worry. There were only two prizes: a first and a second and also a youth prize and a sculpture prize. 

I was disappointed that there weren't many watercolour paintings. Acrylic and oil paintings always seem to dominate the exhibitions that I have seen. I learned from this experience that if I want to continue to enter other exhibitions I need to paint on full sheets of paper. Either that or I will have to start painting on big panels with watercolour ground on them 🤔. When they surround watercolour paintings with huge colourful canvasses, the poor little watercolour paintings get swamped. I'd love to see an exhibition where all of the watercolour paintings are grouped together. That would make more sense to me. They didn't have the room to do that here though.

I hope you enjoy this little video I put together this morning.

I'm voicing over one of the cat tutorials this weekend so it will be ready next week for you.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Louise

💕

Files

Art exhibition - Patreon

Comments

Maggie

The ability to use watercolor is far more challenging than other mediums. Your pieces are magnificent and deserved a special space just for watercolor. To mix them with other mediums just shows that the gallery had no experience with watercolor. Bravo! You are a winner in all of our hearts.

Carolyn Palmer

I so enjoyed seeing this! I loved the videos of the birds and your son’s cat at the end. Your paintings are wonderful. I liked them much more than many of the other pieces in the show. I am so grateful for everything I’m learning from you. I have painted two of your roses, the sunflower, and I’m working on the crow now. I have a lot to learn and I greatly appreciate how you teach. I need to work on my patience and your instruction really helps. Thanks for sharing! Carolyn Palmer

Carol Ray

Thanks for showing this, Louise! It's great that you showed some of the other entries, as well - great observation about smaller works being overshadowed a bit by larger ones. Sorry you didn't win :{

Cathy Neely

I enjoyed that video of the art exhibition. I loved your thee birds. Your birds are my favorite subjects to paint. Thank you for sharing with us!

Sue Gates

Beautiful entries. It must be difficult for the people hanging the art but yours definitely deserved a better spot. If you buy paper on a roll doesn't that mean you can paint longer ones? I know the width is still the same. Have you ever tried stapling watercolour to a frame? I watched a video on Karlyn Holman's channel and wondered if this would be cost effective as I know framing watercolours is so expensive. Again well done, they are beautiful watercolours.

Janet Moulton

Thanks so much for sharing. It’s like apples & oranges when viewing oils/acrylic & watercolour, don’t you think! Loved the bird paints, absolutely gorgeous

Margaret Roberts

Hi Louise, congratulations on being in the exhibition! That’s a big accomplishment in itself. Looks like there was some lovely work there, so stiff competition. Your paintings are beautiful. Enjoy the weekend. Best regards

Monica Rainbow

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I think all 3 of your pieces are beautiful. x

Jane Newman

I get sad whenever I go to an art show or gallery because there are always so few watercolours. 😞. Your work is beautiful.

Eve Campbell

Thank you for this. I really enjoyed the video. Your paintings are gorgeous! I loved meeting your bird friends and the clip of your son’s cat made me laugh out loud.

LORETTA SUE WHEELER

Thank you so much for sharing this. I felt like I was right there with you. Your work is so incredible and has shown me how unlimited watercolor art can be.

Louise De Masi

Thanks Sue! Of course......I forgot about the rolls of paper. I have one roll almost empty now. That's definitely something I will do when I get a chance. I've never tried to do it but I've seen others on YouTube do it. I'm sure it won't be too difficult. Thank you for reminding me.

Delores Lopez

Beautiful birds that you entered in the show. They seem to become part of your family. I think it was great that you shared this experience w/us. Thank you.

Diana Blakeman

You should have won something! Your work is outstanding and I do not think people realize just how difficult a medium watercolour is. We also have magpies, kookaburra and galahs at our place in the suburbs. My daughter brides them to return with roo mince. Will you be turning your works of art into lessons for us?

Diane Hicks

Thank you so much for sharing this with us Louise, really appreciate it!

Betty Johnson

I am so delighted to have found you. You have a rare combination of artistic skill, technical film editing skills, humility, warmth, fun personality. . . . . . . so wonderful.

Frances Swan

Thanks for that. We are unable to attend so it was great to see the other works. Watercolour is the hardest to do. Acrylics can allow you to make mistakes.

Maree Millard

All I can say after reading the comments from your admirers/students is "ditto". You are a special teacher, artist and person.

Lydia Frazier Bosley

Gosh, Louise, I think that watercolor is such a different medium and sensibility that it needs an exhibition of its own! Are there any art guilds around you specializing in watercolor which could mount their own exhibits?...or perhaps any focusing on birds or wildlife? I think you deserve a show with the same type of work, or at least with themes in common...are you acquainted with other watercolorists in your area?, maybe you could put on a show of your own!

Sherry Lester

I think your paintings held there own. Larger doesn't always mean better. You should go with what feels right to you. All three were/are beautiful. Did they sell?

Kari Howry

Your paintings are beautiful. I am partial to the kookaburras. I can’t wait to try the ones you’ve listed on Patreon. But I’m still on the daisy level. Lol. I tried it first with 5x7 but just too small for the detail. Went full size and still working on it. Just don’t have the right greens and it just doesn’t look right. So waiting for delivery 📦. Great work Louise. You are very talented and an excellent teacher! Your definitely worth the top tier!

Carolyn Ness

I was recently in an art gallery in Canmore, Alberta. I asked the gallerist "why no watercolour displays". He responded "it is out of fashion"!! I was flabbergasted. I don't know how or why i happened upon you Louise, but trust me, you have brought so many of us back from the brink of despair that winning a prize in a measly art show doesn't even come close to the importance of breathing life into sagging spirits. What you do is amazing on so msny levels. ❤️

Lynn Benn

Your painting were just beautiful and thank you for sharing your experience with us, you are so talented as an artist and there is no better teacher on Utube. I agree with your comments about the art show, here on the Gold Coast we have the Darcy Doyle Art Show every year and there are very few watercolor paintings entered which, for me, is disappointing. Perhaps next year you might consider entering that one as I think they have separate categories.

Wendy Crane

Congratulations on entering, a lot more work went into your lovely smaller pictures than some of the larger big splashes of colour pictures.

Jay

Thank you for sharing this video and your experience with the exhibition, Louise. Your painting are beautiful and always capture the sweet nuance of your subjects. I personally rarely bother with exhibitions any more. While I know art is subjective, I've found that judges are more interested in the latest 'trendy' bandwagon rather than that which examines the artist's genuine creativity and skill. I prefer to paint what pleases me and after years of painting in acrylics, watercolors, at the moment, please me most. I am learning so much from your instruction, in a medium I once found too intimidating to even try. You are a fantastic teacher, a skilled artist and a sweet lady. Stay safe and keep on keeping on!

Kathy Wilden

I am a member of the watercolour society here on the central coast and they have exhibitions twice a year. I haven’t entered this year. I probably will next year. Your paintings are fantastic Louise. Thank you for being a great teacher.

Marijke de Boer

Lovely to see this little video! Gorgious paintings too - pity you feel that you should work larger. I also think that of my own paintings, but it is difficult to paint that big! I think you did wonderful:)

Linda Allan

Hi Louise, your work is beautiful! Thanks for sharing them with us. I especially love the pink parrot and kookaburra. I am learning so much from you, thank you, Merci beaucoup. I have so far done the pink rose, twice, which I gave as gifts to my mom and to my doctor, they bothbloved them. I wish you well, stay safe. Linda 💕

Aurélie Daugas

Your work is really beautiful ! Congratulations !.. You won my heart and eyes Prizes !.. Thanks for sharing this moment with us.

Fiona Di Pinto (Drawingsinadrawer)

Out of fashion? How sad, but seeing the amount of watercolour accounts on Instagram, I think watercolour is very much back in fashion together with gouache. Let’s hope this is soon recognised in galleries and exhibitions soon. 💓

Kristina

This is very nice to see the small exhibition and also feel your excitement being there! I totally understand your feeling concerning the sizes. Unfortunately in all art categories usually the bigger gives a first WOW factor among common people, but... it depends on who is judging. In my job (cake art) I love to do miniatures, but I also had the experience that with my tiny things I have no chance. Now I am a judge in our sector, so I always give a huge consideration for little things and appreciation and looking for details. I think it is very difficult to compare different mediums used in "painting". If it was only for watercolor paintings, you had more chance, for sure! Thank you for sharing your experience, your paintings are exquisite!

Fiona Di Pinto (Drawingsinadrawer)

Your work is amazing as always. I do get the fact that you feel you have to paint larger. Larger paintings have more impact. It is quite hard though to spread watercolour over very large surfaces. What size were your painting here?

Louise De Masi

Thank you Fiona! The Magpie was 52cm by 40cm (20.4" by 15.7") unframed and the other two were about 50cm by 35cm unframed. I didn't measure them with the frame on.

Louise De Masi

Thanks very much Kristina. You must be a very talented cook!

Louise De Masi

Thank you Kathy! I'm thinking I might join a watercolour society somewhere.

Louise De Masi

That's very kind of you to say. Thank you Betty. 😘

Louise De Masi

Thanks Lydia. I'd love that! I'll have a look and see if there are any watercolour societies I can join.

Louise De Masi

Thank you Kari. I hope the supplies arrive soon for you.

Louise De Masi

Thank you so much Carolyn. That makes me very happy. 💕

Kristina

I am a cake decorator and eater.... :-D :-*

Louise De Masi

Thank you Lynn. I'll have to look that up. I used to love Darcy Doyle paintings when I was growing up. I'd stare at them for ages taking in all the detail and beautiful colours he used.

Laura Etchemaite-Walborn

Your paintings are amazing Loiuse! It is true there were many paintings really big, but none of those look too good to my eyes.

Stephanie R Marder

You are a big winner in everyday in my book. Keep inspiring all of us.

Jan Richards

LOUise, you know we all believe you’re a winner. But, I have a solution...move to the US .... there’s a very vibrant watercolor community in most communities. I currently live in Florida (we’re all retired so we have lots of time to paint!!). Here are some entries in a recent show in Tallahassee... https://cocaonlinegallery.zenfolio.com/p1045178310

Tiffany Townsend

Thank you Louise for taking us on your journey with you. While all of us agree you should’ve won. You have definitely won our hearts. I am still so jealous of all the bird friends you have around you. That is one thing that I absolutely love about Oz.

Terri H.

Louise, thank you so much for making this film of your process and experience of the art exhibition! I’m so disappointed for you that your lovely paintings didn’t win, but I’m sure the experience and anticipation of seeing your amazing paintings on display was well worth the effort. As many have said already, we know what a talented and gifted artist you are and we appreciate all you’ve given and shared with us. You continue to teach and challenge us to become better artists! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Karen Morris

Louise, your paintings could never, ever look insignificant!!! They are soooooooo beautiful! Your love for the birds comes through in every stroke. The framing is lovely. The paintings are absolutely gorgeous. I wish they would have placed your paintings more in the middle of a wall instead of a corner. Seems like they would have been better seen that way. But, they will look fantastic in your lovely home. Please remember to show us a video when you get them hung.

Marion Preston

Louise, thank you for the walk-through of the exhibition. Your paintings were amazing and I especially love the juvenile magpie. No accounting for the taste of some judges. As others have commented your work is outstanding and you are the most amazing teacher. I can't begin to tell you the difference your teaching has made towards my efforts and confidence, you are the best!

Tracy Hughes

That was a brilliant video Louise and a huge thankyou for taking us with you on the journey ♥️ I recon the video itself deserve 1st prize cause it shows how much providence and story telling goes into all your incredible paintings.... what would be great is to have your video running on a screen next to your works.... that truly would encompass the unique tallent of all that is Louise De Masi. I really related to seeing you wandering around feeling overwhelmed by all the incredible art, the colour and size of the acrylics and oils.....I have felt the same when I exhibit..... it's very surreal when you (finally) locate your painting hanging amongst them all. It is a shame they are all hung so close and that they didn't display yours together as a set. You seriously need to be hung in a major gallery in Sydney or Brisbane next time Louise!!.... one that curates properly and understands an artist of your calabre.... YES full sheet is the way to go. It's my new minimum size if I show my work - with a deep matt board and darker frame to push it out and give it more presence. Investing in a large ($$$$😵!!!) full widrh roll of arches might be the way to go big. Your a shining light in the international world of online teaching; on that note thankyou for sharing so much of yourself and for all the time you dedicate to the art world and making all our lives a bit brighter!!

Angela Pereira

Loved the video and your work is always amazing! The exhibit looked full of very talented artists. I think there needs to be categories when prizes/awards are involved. I feel it is hard for a sculpture piece to compete with oil and acrylics as well. To me, the main goal of exhibits is to find that collector that is drawn to you and your style - they will then seek you out for commissions or your work you want to sell. Keep doing what you do, I think your talent and ability to help the rest of us budding artists is priceless!

Mur Warren

Thank you for sharing . It was so much fun. I love your style.

Zarah McIntosh

How fun!!! Congratulations on your showing!! They are gorgeous!

Lydia Shemain

Louise, your paintings are gorgeous — such detail, I am sure they were admired by all. Congratulations for three beautiful paintings.

Caroline

Well done Louise, your paintings are amazing.

Sue Miller

Louise, your paintings are beautiful just the way they are. I wouldn’t change a single thing! You are so talented ❣️

Elizabeth lemieux

Do they put these up for sale during or after the exhibition? The reason I ask is because my brother paints on large boards and we keep telling him the are too large and that most people don't have rooms large enough for them. We live in Michigan so perhaps California and some of the wealthier areas here would but, not where we are. I agree that they could have been displayed better but it looks like they crammed so many in that it was even hard for you to find your own. Your are is so excellent and beautiful. You don't need an art prize to see that!

Laurel

I love your work and thank you for sharing the video. I’m sure there are many of us who are biased towards you and are somewhat miffed your work was not chosen! Good information about needing to go larger, that’s something I haven’t attempted as yet (largest 11”x14”) and I definitely need to give it a try.

Pat Edsall

Louise, you are right that watercolor can be "lost in the crowd" when put next to large acrylic and oil paintings. At our local Gallery the mediums are put together so everyone can see "apples to apples" which also gives the viewer a chance to compare the artists strength in their medium. Your work is lovely. You have taught me so much. I recently won "best in watercolor" in the show I entered. Thanks you for all your wonderful instruction, I never would have done so well without your help. You paintings are wonderful.

Karen Welch-Smith

Hi Louise, I have been part of a team putting on an annual art show here in Canada. Artworks are entered into divisions by medium, so watercolours are judged with other watercolours. They are then hung in those divisions. They did a terrible job of placement with the paintings and your pieces were definitely hidden among the large bold acrylics and oils. It's one of my bug bears as some of the hanging team were all about space and just getting the exhibit up, making for a very haphazard disjointed display. Personally, I don't think you need to go larger - unless you want to of course. A different art show will judge and hang differently. Enter a few more for the experience before you make scale adjustments. Congrats on entering the show, your artwork is still being seen by many and the exposure alone is valuable. Just like your wonderful instruction which is wonderful, I have learned a lot in just a couple of weeks already.

Catherine Kuehnis

Congratulations on showing your artwork. Your paintings looked beautiful and inspiring.

Julie Schwindt

Dear Louise. Thank-you for posting. I think you're wonderful and brave! I've never entered anything. You've got me thinking. I know nothing about exhibiting, but the exhibit seemed like a jumble sale. Too busy! I wouldn't know where to rest my eye. I wouldn't know how to focus on one painting because so much busyness was happening so close to each work with other pieces. I was wondering how large your entries were and what it approximately cost you for mat/frame ? I thought it was so sweet your husband didn't want your pieces to sell so he could take them home. Nice support Dom!

Alexandra May

I'm certain your gorgeous pieces would be perfectly sized if given the space they need to be viewed properly. I'm thinking of your two stunning giraffes hung behind you when you shoot tutorials. Negative space allows our eyes to rest on and appreciate them. Clearly they had a lot of entries which is fabulous! Well done Louise for exhibiting such courage. I'm excited for your future solo exhibits which will surely happen. Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring us xo

Cynthia Love

Thank you for sharing the experience and the exhibition!! I loved seeing all the talent in the show and I am happy others got to see how beautifully you paint even if you didn’t win a prize ❤️

Beth Fox

Thank you for the video - from start to finish! Loved it. I have entered a few art shows. I think you are right about smaller paintings being dwarfed. I will consider that next time for myself as well! Love your paintings!

Patsy Ann Riendeau

Your work is so beautiful. To those who have followed your wonderful tutorials know that you are a winner, no matter what.

Renee Howard Cassese

I love your paintings. Very excited for you to exhibit. It's a heady experience for sure. I know what you mean about watercolors. In my Art League most artists work in oil or acrylic. At the Dorland Arts Colony there are some excellent watercolor artists, including the two directors/caretakers. Just some thoughts. First, I like the size of your paintings and I believe you should paint in what works for you. I just wonder if there are any specific exhibits of botanical watercolor artists as they tend to work primarily in watercolor and often on a smaller scale. What are the sizes of your frames? The framer did a beautiful job!! Congratulations!!!!!

Patricia Douglas

I love your work Louise! Congrats on entering the show. Thats what matters! Even your cats want to get in on the bloopers! How darling they are.

Padma Sharma

Hi I think your paintings outshone among all the others. The brightness and vividity of your paintings are really awesome.

Hanadi

I’m so excited for you to have your beautiful artwork in an Exibition! Painting big would be an experience and nice but smaller art work is beautiful as well. People will have to come closer to see the details and appreciate it more whereas the large you can see from far and pass

Jackie Clementson

Just entered my first Art Show, opening was last night , and bless they put all watercolour paintings together, in a well lit area , well done Ellenbrook Arts 🏆W.A

Jackie Clementson

Well Done, Beautiful as always, my painting is only on A4, cant afford larger atm, hope you enjoyed your Art Show experience besides location, 😀

Gea

For me your paintings are special and beautiful. I always enlarge your line drawings as much as I can when I paint folowing your tutorial. Usually I double them.

Rachel Ottley

Thank you for sharing! Your Galah in particular certainly held his own against the larger artworks. Beautiful work 💕

Louise De Masi

Thank you Elizabeth! Yes they are all for sale. 30% of the sale goes to the group that organised the exhibition.

Louise De Masi

Thank you! Congratulations Pat. That's wonderful!!! 💕

June Lawniczak

How exciting to exhibit. I think that most artists use mixed media, oil or acrylic because (from what I've been told by other artists) water color is the hardest to master. Your paintings looked beautiful hanging at the exhibit!

Kimberley Meendering

Good for you to take a chance and learn! You certainly have the talent and have put in the work. As far as we are concerned, you are a prizewinning artist in our book. So appreciate your thoughtful and easy to follow instruction!

Sharon Whitecross

Louise, you may not have won a prize this time, but your paintings are so beautiful and I'm sure that I speak for many, we love your work!

Jana Bailey

Lovely as ever paintings by you, and your choice of matting was the best possible, imho.

Karla Sanford

Absolutely beautiful Louise! You are an extremely talented artist and people do not understood the skill required to paint watercolor.

Rana Lotfi

You should definitely enter more of your paintings in art exhibitions! Your talent deserves to be seen ! ❤️ Beautiful paintings , all of them!

Eleanor

Terrific! I hope you enter more exhibitions in the future. And it would be great to see larger paintings. I'm not sure how you would get around the whole thing if it was a full sheet of paper.

June Covey

Thanks for that Louise a great filming of your adventure with the Art Exhibition. Your paintings looked beautiful and the Exhibition looked very exciting. Loved the cat at the end - made me smile.x June.

Libby Padovan

Congratulations . I hope you get a sale. Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience. There is a lot of awesome talent on show. Your watercolours are beautiful and your classes inspire me daily.

Paula Bamford

how exciting, it's lovely to see art exhibitions in another country. Funny seeing people not wearing masks in a public place for me now.

Rebecca Minson

Loved seeing the exhibition. Your art looked spectacular. I loved the stories behind your birds! We don't have those birds in Oklahoma

Eve Eichner

I really enjoyed this peek at an art exhibit. Sorry you did not win! Your paintings were beautiful 💖

Michelle

Beautiful paintings Louise! 😍As meny here have said, that combination of mediums in an exhibition doesn't seem too fair, but I guess that's also part of the learning experience. I wanted to ask you, since I'm completely ignorant about it. What's the difference in bringing your paintings to be framed and you buying a frame and framing them yourself?

Louise De Masi

Thanks Michelle. if I was to frame them myself I'd need to paint them on paper that would fit in a standard size - pre made frame. Also the pre made frames don 't have archival mats in them. If you use pre made frames and you want to put a mat around your painting you need to get some archival mats cut from a framer. The mats that come with the pre made frames will more than likely have acid in them and that will leach onto the watercolour paper over time and cause it to deteriorate.

Michelle

Oh wow, I had completely no idea about the archival mats or how important they are. Thank you, I learned something new today :)

Karen Brodsky

What a delightful peek into your personal experience to show your art. So refreshing and humbling all at once. I think your art shows best in a clean, uncluttered, spare setting where simple is beautiful, much like your home setting. The pop up gallery you walked through just overwhelmed the room with the art screaming for attention in size, color, format, frame, and subject. Your graceful birds just didn’t stand a chance in that room any more than a single flower in a bud vase in all of its elegance would have.

Annabelle Zamora

Dear Louise your paintings are always gorgeous! is just that they were not in the right place. The exhibition was extremely packed! it would be great if you can enter in an art exhibition just for watercolor artist.

Nettie Moss

Oh Louise! How could your paintings ever be described as 'insignificant'!! Quality is more than size. However it will be wonderful to see some large versions of your magnificent works as well as the exquisite 'smaller' ones. This was a trial run and quite successful I'd say! Wish I had been there - I would have bought at least one of yours!

Debbie Maddock

Thank you for sharing your experience, it was really uplifting to watch. Your paintings looked absolutely stunning, they looked at home in the art exhibition and well worthy of a prize! I love hearing about your bird tales it's so lovely. The cat in the basket really did make me smile.

Liz C

Your paintings for the art show were amazing. I agree with the other post that art mediums should be grouped together. I have a suggestion for your next art exhibit....allow your patrons to vote for the paintings you should enter! I love the black cockatoo and some of your florals are so elegant and “fresh” looking.

Aleksandra Byers

So nice seeing you at work as an artist! My mom was an exceptional watercolor artist, but began in her late 50's. Art helped her heal from cancer, recover from grief, and reinvent her life. She inspires me today. So do you.

Marleen Jamers

Hi Louise, your paintings were so beautiful and deserved the first price 🥇💐Why didn't those people wear masks. They were so close together 😔

Louise De Masi

Thank you Marlene 💕. We are lucky enough to have no known cases of coronavirus where I live. The total number of active cases within the whole of Australia at the moment are 93- I believe. So we are managing it quite well here. I have to travel to Sydney over Christmas. I have to catch a plane. I'll be wearing a mask the whole time on the plane to be careful.

Marleen Jamers

It's great that everything is going well there 😁💐

Chrystene McAdams

Thank you for sharing the whole experience right from painting, getting to know the subjects and finally the exhibition. I think the exhibition was too eclectic/busy for your work. I would love to see your paintings exhibited in a more curated intimate space, so that the viewer can give more considered attention to the wonderful details. Thanks again Louise , I really enjoyed this documentary

Louise De Masi

My pleasure Chrystene. That's what I thought too. Thank you!

Terry Gray

So, your magpie had a" fail to take flight" syndrome. Mom and Dad had to convince him to get a job and move out.. :-)

Edit M

Thank you for the exhibition video. It was nice to see how your hard work gave joy to people. I'm new to your Patreon site and would like to know more about watercolors and how to exhibit pictures. I always feel shy to show my work because so many talented people out there. Thank you again. I am looking forward to learn from you. Edit.M