Dandy Little Dandelion

Dandy Little Dandelion

6x8, soft pastel 

The final day of my Pastel Society of the West Coast 21n21 day challenge is the “lowly” little dandelion. Cursed by some...loved by some...and a delicacy to others. This little dandy dandelion is a true sign that summer is on its way! 

Twiggy - Flowering Plum

 Twiggy - Flowering Plum

6x8, soft pastel

Continuing with my spring flower theme...there’s nothing like seeing all the flowering trees in the spring. I paint a neighborhood scene almost every year because there are so many flowering plum and crabapple trees around. It’s easy to get a jump on spring by forcing the blooms from a few twigs (as this painting depicts). It’s such a fun thing to do in late winter when you simply can’t wait for spring to begin.

Fancy Pants

 Fancy Pants

6x8, soft pastel

While I was painting this one all I could think of was “fancy pants” for a title. It’s such a fancy, frilly type of bloom. So, when it came time to title the painting that’s all I could think of.  So...here ya go!

The Last Bloom of 2020

The Last Bloom of 2020

6x8, oil

Day 1 of the Strada Easel Challenge:  2021 Is Here!

I'm not sure the world has ever been happier to start a New Year as it is this year. Of course, we are certainly not out of the woods when it comes to the pandemic in which we have all found ourselves. In fact, the pandemic rages on...it's never been worse. Our hospitals are full and struggling still to help all those who are in need of medical attention...whether COVID related or not. I heard a statistic today that 1 in 11 Americans have it or have had it. My grandson Tyler had a mild case from attending college. My grandsons Zack and Brian currently have mild cases, thank the Lord. And, we suspect my daughter's farm family in Washington state had early cases of it last spring...before testing was widespread.

The world has lost countless lives whether from the virus itself or as a result of it and it's impact on our healthcare system, our mental wellbeing, and the world's economy. Mankind is reluctantly united in a way we have never (in my lifetime) been united...to fight the virus, to get an effective vaccine, and to recover economically. But, most importantly, too recover our sense of freedom. 

Oh how we took for granted the simple things in life! Now, we have to stop and consider whether we can visit our families and friends, go out to restaurants, movies, concerts, sporting events or fly on a plane. Even though our odds of surviving are quite good, most people are doing what it takes to both bolster our economy while at the same time staying healthy so we don't inadvertently spread the virus and further burden our healthcare system.  

COVID19 has by now touched every family I know. Fortunately most have gotten mild or moderate cases and slowly recovered. Some have been in ICU yet thankfully survived. Several friends have lost loved ones and a few of my virtual friends have lost their lives. 

Mankind has weirdly adapted to the uncertainty and heartbreaking reality of COVID19...yet we all yearn for the day we can return to the world we once had. So, in a way, we celebrate from afar, a new year...with new hope that 2021 will be better than 2020. 

May God bless us all and help guide us to healthier and happier days ahead!

Tin Roof - A Study

Tin Roof - A Study

6x8, pastel

This little guy is a study for a larger piece...at least, I think!   I'm going to stretch myself and participate in the Eagle Plein Air Festival in Eagle Idaho during the first week of June.  As someone who is not a landscape painter...and rarely a plein air painter...it should be a harrowing experience...at least I can say I'm preparing for it!  I love this scene not far from my home...this roof is so weathered it's purplish!  Yum!

Camille's Garden

Camille's Garden

6x8, soft pastel

I'm not sure this one is finished...but for now, I will let it rest.  This is an early morning scene of the garden at Camille Beckman's.  A peaceful place indeed!

A Little Sketch

The sketch below is a little project I'm working on...while it's a bit corny, there's certainly more to the back story that I'll reveal tomorrow, assuming I'm able to convert this sketch into an actual painting.  See you tomorrow?

Edgar's Trees

Edgar's Trees

6x8, soft pastel

This is a take on Edgar Payne's Eucalyptus trees.  I like studying past artists that are inspirational and he certainly was, one of America's best landscape artists.

For the #stradaeasel 31 Day Challenge: I completed this little study below on the 13th looking outside the farmhouse window at sunrise...one of my favorite times of day.

Outside The Kitchen Window

6x8, soft pastel

Windy Sail

Windy Sail

6x8, soft pastel

I doubt that I'll ever be on a sail boat. While it always looks quite thrilling, I imagine all the tilting and swaying wouldn't be up my alley...but who know's, maybe someday. For now, I'm content studying them from the shoreline with my feet firmly rooted to the ground. Or, better yet, laying in a hammock on the beach sipping something cold.

I'm always tempted to paint realistically but for this one I really tried to paint in a "Edgar Payne Impressionistic" style to help depict the feeling of a very windy day on the water.

Fresh Bloom

Fresh Bloom

8x6, soft pastel

A lighter view of a poinsettia bloom than the previous "Holiday Reds". This one reminds me of springtime for some reason...I think it's the variety of greens.  The paper I'm using for both poinsettia paintings is Pastel Premier.  It's not the paper I typically use and I'm not sure how I feel about it...it doesn't alway want to grab onto the pastel which then requires stronger mark making...so, I went with it and just shot for a little more punch to my strokes.  I'm tempted to try this one again on a different paper.

Spring Canopy

Spring Canopy

6x8, oil on linen

A little plein air painting in our neighborhood.  This time of year the flowering trees provide an explosion of color and a gorgeous canopy to walk under as we stroll the pathways that run throughout our neighborhood.  I couldn't resist!

Morning Calm

Morning Calm

6x8, Soft Pastel

Morning Calm was painted in my hotel room while visiting the Oregon Coast.  I particularly like the ocean and all things nautical...especially in the early morning or late evening hours.  Everything seems just a little more sleepy and peaceful. While painting it, I just wanted to climb up in this little dingy and take a nap.  I may paint a larger version of this one since I didn't have my best pastels with me and struggled a bit with getting just the right colors. "We'll see" (that's my new mantra).