Abundance

Abundance

11x14, soft pastel

While scouting out locations to paint during the Eagle Plein Air Festival, I toured a nearby iris garden. Two small boys were also walking through the garden trailing far behind their mother.  She told them not to pick the flowers as they made their way down the pathway.  It must have been quite a vantage point to view the blooming garden at eye level, a sea of color, an abundance of life.

Dockside Sunrise

Dockside Sunrise

12x16, soft pastel

Back to my boat theme.  With this piece, I had to do quite a bit by memory.  Two years ago I painted a smaller version of this scene en plein air.   But, I made a rooky plein air mistake and didn't take a photograph of the scene before leaving the lake.  So, I had to recall some of the details that I had missed when I painted the first piece.   I was drawn to this particular scene because I loved how the sunlight from the early morning sunrise lit the tips of the kayaks casting jagged sunlight onto the waters below.  It was a gorgeous September morning at Redfish Lake.  One I will always remember.

Desert Color

                         Desert Color

                      8x10, soft pastel

When in Vegas, one must paint cacti.

Goin' With The Flow

Goin' With The Flow

6x8, soft pastel

Day 4 of 30

My intention was to stick to landscapes this month...but I needed to repaint this little guy for a good friend.   Long story short, I misplaced the first one I painted months ago (guess I'm not as organized as I thought I was).  I do love the colors on this duck!!

Morning Roadtrip

Morning Roadtrip

6x6, soft pastel

Day 2 of 30 and I'm feeling a bit more colorful.  I think it must be the right brain taking charge.  Or, maybe too much coffee!!!

We Are All Family

We Are All Family

6.5x3.5, pastel and ink

 

In keeping with my Family Matters theme...a simple reminder to the human race of what's important in this life.  Painted in my family's favorite colors.

A Splash of Color

A Splash of Color

7.5x7.5, soft pastel

                            

                       

Some days...you just have to give yourself a break. Today I decided to paint a small colorful square with the thought of using it in the end-of-month collage of all the paintings completed during the month.  In fact,  I hope to make a few more if time permits.  It was a little less stressful...and a little less time consuming so I guess I achieved my goal for today.

Lucious Lavender

Luscious Lavender 

6x8, soft pastel

I always like the look of blooming lavender fields. They are such a beautiful shade (shades) of purple. Today, I had wished I was an oil painter where I could mix just the right luscious lavender colors. Alas, I struggled a bit to find the right colors...but at least I can say... "It's colorful".   

Practice...practice...practice

Out in the Clearing

6x8, soft pastel

Last fall I clipped my horoscope out of the local paper.  It read: "discipline counts more than natural talent. The natural talent you have may serve to make practice more fun, but ultimately, it's the practice, not the talent, that will make you successful." At the time I hadn't yet found my love of painting with soft pastels.  Yet I knew that the horoscope was right...if you want to be the best you can be, you must practice, practice, and then practice some more.  

In preparation of starting the 30in30 challenge in Sept. (to create one painting a day for 30 consecutive days) I have now finished 3 in 3 (whoop, whoop!)

Oh Deer...

Be Courageous

6x8, soft pastel

Let the games begin!  I'm stepping out of my comfort zone...again.  That is my mantra this year.  Get out of my comfort zone and be courageous!

This little fawn seems so comfortable in the grasses...but something has her attention.  Maybe she'll venture out too and have some fun.