Summer Bouquet

Summer Bouquet

10x8, soft pastel

Painted this summer...and repainted larger this fall for an upcoming show.  I just loved the sunlight hitting the cement stoop in front of a local shop...especially how it cast shadows from the glowing flower bouquet.

Out Of The Depths

Out Of The Depths

9x12, soft pastel

This persistent late summer waterlily was intent on blooming one more time before the chill of fall set in.  The sun was low in the sky, peeking through the trees and highlighting the gorgeous bloom.  I suppose it was its final farewell to summer.

Summer Bouquet

Summer Bouquet

6x8, soft pastel

Wow!   It’s time to get caught up on this blog.  The reason I’m behind on posting is that my Blogger app on IOS devices stopped working (months ago) and I’m just now finding a solution that seems to work for posting to Blogspot.com.  So, I’m back.  I also didn’t participate in the 30in30 Challenge in September taking that time to travel to see family and enjoy what was left of summertime.  Now that fall is in full swing...It’s time to get back to business.

I participated in the Eagle Plein Air Festival in June and had a great time...even though I was outside my comfort zone.  I was delighted to win a best dry media ribbon for the little plein air piece above.  I also painted the piece below at the Quick Draw competition (which was sold during the auction that followed).  The Plein Air festival was a blast and I met several new friends along the way.  

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Roadside Hollyhocks

Roadside Hollyhocks

10x8, soft pastel 

Door County is one of the most picturesque places I know. Boats, harbors, spectacular sunrises and sunsets...and more flowers than you can imagine!

Tea Rose

Tea Rose

8x6 soft pastel

Sometimes the simple things in life are the sweetest.  A little bud from a gorgeous rose bush...simply sweet!

Lily Pad Down Under

Lily Pad Down Under

6x8, Soft Pastel

    

 Today I had a shot of inspiration from an artist buddy who is in Vienna, Austria today at the Albertina Museum.  She shared photos of works by Monet and Degas this morning...two of my favorite artists!  

I've been meaning to take a swing at lily pads for a couple years...and today was the day! I have quite a few pictures from various areas around Idaho and the Midwest...always imaging how awesome they might be...and I have to say, I had a blast painting this little study.   I think I'll paint a larger version!  I hope you enjoy!

The past couple months have been a blur.  Lots of travel, a long bout of influenza (I never get the flu!), a wonderful surprise birthday party, working on refining the Plein Air Painters of Idaho's website and preparing for a couple of art shows. Life is exciting right now...and yes, I have a few paintings to share that I haven't gotten around to posting but I hope to soon.  Thanks for reading!  And, if you're a fellow artist....keep on painting!  

Amaryllis

Amaryllis

10x8, soft pastel

This past week was crazy busy but I managed to find time to paint at the greenhouse along with a few of my plein air buddies.  Although it was a bit cold, I was able to persevere long enough to paint a flower (red of course). Not liking it at all...but that's how it goes!

Stray Daisy

Stray Daisy

14x11, soft pastel

Some paintings stay within my control...and some take on a life of their own.  This one insisted on being bright and vibrant.  I haven't really decided if I like it or not but it does look better to me in a mat (picture below).  I don't know, I think I'll have to life with this one for awhile before I know if it should be changed.

Small Bouquet

Small Bouquet

8x8, soft pastel 

So many times a larger bouquet of flowers turns into a much smaller bouquet.  Smaller, but beautiful nonetheless.   Thanks for the photo Danielle!

Evening Shadows

Evening Shadows

10x8, pastel

Day 14 of 30

While on Bainbridge Island earlier this summer I found this little terra cotta pot spilling over with geraniums.  The sun was just setting casting lacy shadows onto the pot.  A beautiful site!  I spent quite a bit of time today fiddling with the flowers struggling to get them right...then I reminded myself of the importance of the shadows...not necessarily the flowers.  The flowers were there for color...but the real story is told in the shadows. I was finally able to step back, relax and just let the painting dictate what it needed.  While it's not exactly how I imaged it would turn out...the more I look at it the more I like it.  The story of my life! 

    

Summer Color At The Botanical Garden

Summer Color At The Botanical Garden

7x7, soft pastel

Day 5 of 30

I don't know...this is sort of a landscape isn't it?  In any event, during my last trip to the Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho I spotted this pretty little scene.  Outside the administrative office were these vibrant flowers just bursting with color.  These gorgeous flowers are cannas.  I love how the red and orange blossoms and the green foliage compliment the blue window.  Yummy color!  

Botanical Garden - 2

Purple Iris
12x9, soft pastel

I had to try my hand at painting this iris before summer begins.  This was a gorgeous one I found at the botanical garden a few days ago.  Just as the sun was peaking out from behind a storm cloud,  it lit up the bloom.  A beautiful sight.

I had high hopes I'd paint three paintings today (not sure what I was thinking).  This is the only one I could manage to do...oh well, there's always tomorrow!

Rainy Day Irises

Rainy Day Irises

11x9, soft pastel

Even though it was a rainy day at the Botanical Garden, the irises were spectacular!  I love how the background grasses were lit up on this particular day.  They really accentuating the purple blooms.

Early Morning Hollyhocks

Early Morning Hollyhocks

12x9, soft pastel

Today is a painting of hollyhocks taken last summer while I was walking during the early morning hours in Sister Bay, Wi.  It was a memorable trip attending the Door Co. Plein Air Festival where I met many new friends. Good memories!

White Iris

White Iris

9x9, soft pastel

It's always amazing to paint a "white" flower and end up using so very little white paint.  This crazy flower was every shade of gray, blue, and purple imaginable. Of course with a dollup of my favorite red/orange thrown in.

I'm pretty excited these days...paintings are selling well and I ordered a full set of new Terry Ludwig pastels that arrive tomorrow!   I am very thankful...and very humbled to be in a position to paint every day.

Daylily

Daylily

6x8, soft pastel

We have gorgeous daylilies in our yard.  Maybe not quite yet (since it's early March) but soon they'll be popping out reaching for the warmth of the sun.  It always amazes me how short lived the blooms are...but they're beautiful all the same.

Good Old Frosty

It was a long tough week when it came to painting.  I had a few days of appointments and errands but actually did find time to practice on a few pieces.  I've resorted to using the word "practice" because I don't think any of them are among my best work.   I continue to struggle to loosen up.  But hey, this is the year I decided to learn to paint...so I'll chalk it up to that.  A week of practice.

First...there were the few surviving flowers from a beautiful bouquet my daughter and her family gave us for Thanksgiving.  I had high hopes for this one...but alas, I think I missed the mark.  

The Last Bouquet

12x9, soft pastel

 

Then,  I tried to shake the cobwebs out by REALLY trying to loosen up...

Loose and Bold 2, 

5x7, soft pastel

And lastly,  in total frustration I went to my happy place.  I needed an old friend...one that always makes me smile and reminds me of just how good life really is...

Good Old Frosty

8x6, soft pastel

Work in Progress

This week I've spent time plein air painting and taking photos for an upcomimg cityscape series.  So today I headed back into the studio to start a couple paintings.  One is a redo of Beach Bum which recently sold.  I wanted to keep it in my seascape series.   The other is the fifth in a series of quilt based paintings.  Both of these are in the "ugly" stage...no more than 1/2 way through the process.  I believe the quilt one is a bit larger than usual...somewhere around 8x10 so it definitely has a ways to go!   Oh well....no rush.

Early Morning on the Patio

Early Morning on the Patio

9x9, soft pastel 

I couldn't resist painting this one...although it was a bit more time consuming than I initially thought it would be.  Fortunately I didn't try to paint it during the 30 in 30 Challenge.  This one took a couple days.  I love how the early morning sunlight was just coming up over the neighbor's fence...casting sunlight on the table and vase of flowers.  I also like the square format and the way the patio leads to a back gate and into the grassy area behind it. 

Americana

American

8x6, soft pastel

Nothing says Americana like a red, white and blue quilt...and nothing looks more inviting than a cozy patio such as this one.  Thank you Jamie and Alan for letting me crash your home and photograph your quilts.  This is painting number three of a quilt series.  Stay tuned...more to come!