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Gruyere Cheese Cave

 We visited the cheese factory in Gruyere, Switzerland, about 20 years ago, but I haven’t forgotten the wonderful tour we had. It was fascinating to learn how the herbs which the cows eat change the taste of the cheese. We got to walk above the production room and see the milk become curds, be cooked, strained and then packed into wheels. The final stop was a model of the cheese cave where the cheeses sit to ripen. Today’s World Watercolor Month prompt was sharp, and I thought of sharp cheese. For purchase information, click here.

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Tomato and Basil

 Tomatoes and basil is one of our favorite summer combinations and I love being able to go out into the garden and pick things that we will eat! Today’s World Watercolor Month prompt is “Abundance” and we have an abundance of both of these delicious things! What is one of your favorite things to eat in the summer? For purchase information, click here.

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Alone

 I like taking long walks on the beach, either alone or with company, so when today’s World Watercolor Month prompt was “Alone,” I knew a beach scene would suit me. I like being with people, but I also need a certain amount of time by myself. For purchase information, click here.

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Fascination

 The World Watercolor Month prompt for today is “Valuable.” In this painting, I see many things that I value highly: communication, relationships, music, and sharing our talents are a few. What do you see in this picture that is “valuable?” For purchase information, click here.

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Organic

 This painting contrasts the organic shapes of the tulips with the vase and the hints of furniture in the background. Painted in response to the World Watercolor Month prompt, “Organic,” this painting sought to capture the sunlight falling on the flowers and leaves, lighting them up while the rest of the room remains in shadow. Photo reference by Elizabeth Ramskugler.

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Full of Wiggles

 For today’s World Watercolor Month prompt of “Wiggle” I didn’t have to look any further than my back yard, where the bunnies come and eat early in the morning. Their ears wiggle as they listen to everything around them. Their noses wiggle as they sort out all the scents in the air. Their mouths wiggle as they chomp on the grass and clover. Their muscles twitch under their fur as they lope gently to another patch of clover. Another painting to celebrate World Watercolor Month. For purchase information, click here.

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Favorite Scent

 Today’s World Watercolor Month prompt is “Favorite Scent” and after much deliberation, I decided that one of my favorites is my morning coffee. I like smelling the grounds as I scoop them out of the jar. Then the smell intensifies as the hot water hits the grounds. Finally, I get to sit in my chair looking out at the morning light on the creek and take that first sip of hot, dark, roasted coffee. What scent is your favorite?

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Soft Colors of Evening

 Because the medium uses water to disperse the paint, watercolor is good at soft edges, and one gets soft colors by adding water and putting them down next to each other so that they can flow together. I chose this scene, one we often enjoy as we sail near our home in the evening, for today’s World Watercolor Month prompt of “Soft.” I love the way the setting sun lights up the clouds and turns them all different colors, and then that light is reflected in the water. What is your favorite time of day? Why is it your favorite?

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Spontaneous Landscape

 The World Watercolor Month prompt for today is “Spontaneous” so I did a landscape by swiping paint across a wet piece of paper and coaxing the resulting forms into this landscape. Learning how to figure out what the painting “needs” and what to do next is a large part of the conversation between the artist and the work. It took me many years of painting to understand what other artists were talking about when they mentioned the painting “talking to them.” Although this painting took only a few minutes of active involvement, it required years of experience to be able to do it! This is #17 of my “Thirty-one Paintings…

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A Simple Machine

 Remember back in science class learning about simple machines? Wheels, levers, and screws are all simple machines and all these are incorporated in a bicycle, a simple machine that can bring a lot of pleasure. This one is a sturdy variety, suitable for the beach. What color was your first bicycle? Did the handlebars have streamers? Did you clip playing cards where they would click in the spokes as you rode? What is your favorite memory of riding a bicycle? Number 16 of World Watercolor Month challenge, answering the prompt “Machine.”

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