Honey Crisp

 

Here’s one that was fun to paint! A big juicy apple, with one slice taken out- painted from direct observation in the campground. The background was an exercise in simplification-I’m happy with the abstract nature of it, but still portraying the colors of Fall. 8”x8”, oil on panel.

An Apple a Day

On the road in the motorhome- set up a simple still life- on the picnic table at our campsite in Pigeon Forge. Fall in Tennessee was beautiful so I indicated those shapes and colors in the background. 8x8 on a panel.

 

 

Cyclamen Revisited and Waiting

This holiday season seems to be about waiting. My memoir, Into the Light,  is close to being available, but not quite, so I wait for that. My son is coming from San Francisco for a visit, but he's not here yet. I shop, bake, clean, decorate, and prepare for the season of parties, visits and upcoming plans, but today lies unencumbered before me. A cold morning walk woke me to the nature of waiting; to find peace in the wait. Whatever will unfold, will do so in its' own time- I'm not able to make it happen. I've let go of trying to force things on my timetable. The universe, in its infinite wisdom, will guide me. I'm grateful for my faith.
I hope you find those precious moments of peace in your day, today. xox

Cyclamen

Painted from direct observation with my colors. I considered using the colors as I saw then, but changed my mind. Maybe next time! I love the structure of this plant, and the drama created by the strong value contrasts. Someone said on Instagram that it is "restrained and sculptural", and I really loved to hear that. Comments are always welcomed!
8x8 oil on panel.

Balloon Frenzy

We pulled into a tiny, quiet campground around 9 miles east of Akron, Ohio and were surprised when an hour later two trucks arrived with all the gear to launch two magnificent hot air balloons. We literally had a front row seat and I dashed to get my paints and capture as much of the excitement as I could.

 Quite a crowd gathered, and one friend of a ballooner took this picture of me as I moved into power painter mode. I did snap a few pics of my own and finished the painting as the balloons drifted out of sight. I was so excited that I posted on my FB page the first painting that evening.
But, here's the problem. I never took the time to really look at what I was painting. Second, I impulsively hit that Post button. 
So here's the "corrected" painting, which is, in fact, truer to the mood and scene that my first stab had been. 
Biggest lesson learned: it's never too late to fix something if you can. And, pause before posting!

Trumpet Daffodil

 

Another take on my trumpet daffodil. Fun with shapes and color in all the ways that make me happy to be always looking and learning with paint. I'm feeling inspired by the beauty in nature at this time of year.

Hope

Nothing brings more hope that Spring will actually come again than the appearance of daffodils. I picked a bunch of them at my sisters house on Easter morning, enjoying the great variety of blooms. There are plants that our grandmother planted eons ago showing the hardiness and longevity of these bulbs. 
This is a single Trumpet; I love the soft white petals and the vibrant yellow cup.
Painted from direct observation, then follow up from a photo as I am working in a slower way, making layers of paint for depth and considering composition of the background as important as my subject.

Tulips and the Mountains

Another one from our stay at Catalina State Park. We are north of Tucson, in Oro Valley, and have enjoyed visiting the Tucson Botanical Gardens where the Frido Kahlo exhibit puts you right into her world of inspiration. If you're anywhere near Tucson, don't miss it.  We went to the Sonoran Desert Museum,  and I thoroughly enjoyed a private tour by a docent at the Tucson Museum of Art. 

Catching Up

I set up the freshly picked sunflowers in the buckets in a field behind the vineyard. We started painting at 3 and by the time the class was over, it was cold and a heavy mist hung all around. A little tweaking in the studio- 

I'm a believer in making the painting work- sometimes things that aren't that discernible show up with great clarity in the studio. And why not?

Feeling Happy

This image caught my eye as I was headed to Spring Bull Gallery for gallery night. I passed by on my way to get a coffee and noticed the light on the wall and the amazing cast shadows of the hanging basket. The wrought iron bench lent the perfect geometry and contrast of hard edges to the composition and I stopped for a few photos. I knew I had to paint it and though I mainly work from direct observation- this time the photo would be my reference. No regrets!

Home Sweet Home

Many childhood summers were spent playing on these rocks in Jamestown, my grandmothers house on Narragansett Bay, staring into tidal pools and collecting mussels. The mussels are all gone but the rocks and my memories remain.

Red Navels

Hadn't tried a red navel orange til I bought some at the Farmers Market in Panama City, Fl.

So then I painted one...

Spring Melt

A smaller abstract inspired by another painting. When each painting takes me to the next without undue angst I know I'm in the zone!

Cyclamen

A pretty cyclamen had me searching to get the values right. White is a challenge, need I say more? This is 8x8 on a cradled panel.

Red White And Blue ll

Another red,white and blue painting. This just says summer to me. 8x8 Gallery Edge canvas.

Coggeshall Farm

Found this tranquil scene late afternoon earlier in the week. The light on the land across the pond attracted me first, then the Bay beyond. I kept the foreground very abstract, going over what I felt to be "too careful" brushstrokes with the palette knife in order to make it less fussy. I reminded myself that showing each blade of grass is not what I'm most interested in. Leave it to those who do it so well, better than I ever could!

Red Pear

Painted this pear entirely with a palette knife, which is a departure for me. When I took Catherine Kehoe's class this summer, she urged us to mix paint with the knife and not the brush for cleaner,truer color. I have been policing myself to do this (lapsing back to mixing on the palette as I was taught at The Lyme Academy ). One way is not more "right" than the other, for me it is about finding my own path, discovering what works,what excites, what facilitates my expression at a particular moment in time. And this morning, with the pear on a sunny southfacing windowsill, the knife was the way to go!

One Fine Day

More involved with my thought process and the composition of this one, simplifying the background,eliminating really everything but the dock pilings. Trying not to be literal  with the photo reference.I edit so much when I paint plein air, experimenting with doing the same when I am in the studio.

Shell on Blue

When gallery sitting at The Portsmouth Arts Guild I usually try to paint a simple still life. Found this shell on the mantle in a bowl, perfect as I've done several other shell studies this summer.Mike Rooney was teaching a one-day workshop that particular day, which looked like a fun, super informative class. He's got a very full teaching schedule, glad to have met him.

Anna Week 7

Only one class left...model was sitting high upon a dias...Catherine asked, "Where is this pose from?" I have loved this painting by Henri Matisse which is at the Boston Museum of Fine Art, so I recognized the setup. It was also the painting of the week on Powers of Observation, which I'm having trouble linking to. Sorry!