Hyde Park - Dining On The Patio

Hyde Park - Dining On The Patio

9x12, soft pastel

The best part of a hot summer day is dining out on a patio...especially at a restaurant where I don't have to cook or do the dishes.  Heavenly!  This is the 13th Street Pub & Grill at Hyde Park in Boise.  The patio misters were going full blast on this particular day...cooling the diners just so.  I think I'm ready for the return of summer!

Poppies Down Under

Poppies Down Under

10x8, soft pastel

While painting this one, I imagined laying amongst the poppies looking up on a warm summer day.    It's a breezy day and while there are no clouds in the sky you can almost see the wind along the horizon line gently moving the tallest of the poppies.

In the Pacific Northwest we've had a very warm and dry winter so this painting goes out to everyone on the East Coast hit hard this year by snowfall after snowfall...take heart...spring and summer are  coming!  Really!

Poppy Field and Grapevines

Poppy Field and Grapevines

8x11, soft pastel

Well....It's time to get back in the studio and do some serious work now that I've had a couple weeks off.  

I plan to paint a few poppies and poppy field paintings.  I know, I know, a few short months ago I solidly stated that "I'm no landscape painter!".   But now, I think it's time tackle a few more before I give it up...or fall in love with landscape painting all together.

I love color...as I'm sure you can see in my paintings.  Maybe someday I'll tone it down...but for now, I'm having a blast with the rich yummy colors pastels come in. 

Canadian - Little Red

Canadian - Little Red

8x10, soft pastel

The past week has been spent painting this piece and readying the patio and yard for spring...with such warm weather the past few weeks it feels like spring already instead of the middle of February. Spring flowers are already popping up.  I am so ready.  Can't wait to get out in the kayak!

Missing Maui

Missing Maui

6x8, soft pastel

Over the years we've often travelled...ESPECIALLY during this time of year.  Mid-January through mid-February in Idaho always seems to be dark, often cloudy, and dreary.  Otherwise, the weather here is absolutely ideal.   This year, we decided to stay home since we've been busy with projects... and of course the last couple weeks have been cloudy...yikes!  I keep kicking my heels together silently repeating "there's no place like Maui...there's no place like Maui".   I open my eyes and darn it...I'm still here!  I'm really missing Maui.

A Table For Two

A Table For Two

6x8, soft pastel

Well...I've had a nice break from the January challenge and am even caught up on household chores so it's back to the easel for some more fun.  I've wanted to start a "Table for Two" series...so here's the first one.  I don't know why I'm drawn to these tables...we see them everywhere, in every restaurant... all types of tables set up for two.  For me, I think it's because they seem to be so romantic!

My January Collage

I finally came out of the fog I felt from losing our little Tubby last Wednesday and finishing the Challenge on Friday.   Actually, I've also been busy catching up with a variety of household administrative chores too.  Tonight I finished a collage of all 30 paintings completed during January.  

Once again I can say that I learned a lot by completing this Challenge and now that it's over can honestly say (while exhausting) it was well worth it!