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.

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.

Botanical Garden -1

Botanical Garden - 1

10x8, soft pastel

Last week I attended my very first plein air "paint out" with the Plein Air Painters of Idaho aka PAPI along with my friend Tina.   I should say we attempted to paint out....but mostly, we got soaking wet and cold each day...freezing cold.   Since we are both pastelist we didn't paint much but took quite a few reference photos and attended a short workshop.  This is my one and only painting for that event.  I was going to "finish it" when I got home but decided to leave it "as is" so I can consider it a 100% plein air painting...a benchmark for future plein air paintings.

Oh yes....I didn't mention that I also broke my camera because of all the rain (guess I need a waterproof one).   And then THIS happened...(note to self...don't take your very best pastels outside to paint).  It was a very expensive plein air event for me...but fun anyway!

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.