Poplar Place

Poplar Place

8x10, soft pastel

Continuing on with landscapes....I'm beginning to tame the color (at least a little more than usual). Restraint isn't easy for me but I like the progress so far.  This scene captured my attention because I love the way the back field peaks through the trees.

Peaceful Meadow

 Peaceful Meadow

5x7, soft pastel

If this looks a bit familiar...it is.   I kept looking at the Wild Phlox painting from a couple days ago and it was crying out "yikes!".  The field I had imagined was going to be much more peaceful...I was headed in a good direction with the trees then as soon as I painted the flowers...I went way way too far with color.  I'm not sure this is an improvement or not...but it's much more peaceful to me.  Thus, Wild Phlox is no more.  That's the beauty of do-overs.  The blues in the photo above look brighter than they do in real life...in a frame, the painting doesn't look too shabby.  

Wild Phlox

Wild Phlox

5x7, soft pastel

Finally...a little landscape.  I wanted to play with a yellow sky.  As I've said in many a post before, I'm not too great at landscapes...but maybe someday I'll be satisfied with one.  Practice, practice!

Frozen Dog Day

Frozen Dog Day

11x14, soft pastel     

This is Boone.  He's a very special dog because he's my grand-dog. I had the pleasure of playing with the litter of pups (he is a Pudelpointer)...and helping to pick him out three years ago.  Before he was ready to leave his mom, I visited him and his litter mates several times.  Early on I could tell that he was going to be a good family dog.  More importantly though, the breeder said he was going to be a great bird dog for my son-in-law Jason and grandson Jake.  And that he is!

Boone goes to work on the family farm each day with Jason.  They share many many long days together working the farm.  But on this particular winter's day, it was time for some fun! 

Pudelpoiinters are breed to retrieve birds...a job Boone does well.  So well in fact I think he was completely oblivious to that fact that he was covered in icicles as he posed for his picture at the end of the day.

Poppy Love

Poppy Love

6x8, soft pastel

I painted the same poppy field as I did a couple days ago. One will go to a charity auction and another I will keep...mainly because I love the colors and composition. I think it looks great framed...or maybe I'll just keep a copy.  In any event...."Poppy Love" makes me smile.

Field of Poppies

Field of Poppies

6x8 soft pastel

Ok...this painting has nothing to do with my family theme...but I decided it was time to practice a landscape while watching a video demonstration by Colleen Howe Bleinberger. She has such a soothing and calm presentation...it was relaxing and fun. Check it out on Artists Network TV.

Roadside Barn 2

Roadside Barn 

6x8, soft pastel 

Today I had enough time to refine a painting of the Roadside Barn (painted in Sept). I don't think I helped it much if any...oh well.

I also started another painting of a scene at The Village located in Meridian, Id.   The patio at Twigs is a perfect start to a series of Meridian cityscapes I hope to do this winter.  I've been busy taking photos and narrowing down a few...now, I can finally get down to actually painting them.

The Patio At Twigs...Work in Progress 

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".