Pumpkin Barn

"Pumpkin Barn" 15" x 22"

I will leave you in the Halloween spirit with my rendition

of a barn in Waitsfield with a row of pumpkins in front.

I painted this on site at this farmstand with boxes and boxes

of various squashes and gourds behind me and these rows

of orange future jack 'o lanterns in front of me! Plus I introduced

a new color to my palette for this painting...Burnt Umber...not

really one I always have on hand, but worked well for this barn.

I can't post again until after the elections, so everyone go out and vote!

Plus have a HAPPY SPOOKY AND FUN HALLOWEEN!

Steeple study

I did four of these studies not so long ago while the hills

were alive with color. I took my 15" x 22" (half sheet) of

Fabriano Cold Press watercolor paper and loosely drew

four rectangles on the page. I then tried to work them all

at the same time, but varying some colors and compositions.

This is a great exercise, because you learn from one to the

next. Plus you think of them as practice and the precious piece

of paper becomes less of a focus to be your next masterpiece.

These were done outside and took probably slightly over an

hour to complete. (I posted another one of these on Oct. 14th)

Silo and Red Barn

"Silo and Red Barn" 10" x 22"

This summer image was just begging to be posted today...

Now that the forecast is saying we are in for snow! Oh no..

it's too early. I loved painting this out in the field. The lower

part of the painting was loosely interpreted by just washing

several shades of greens and yellows to indicate a vast field

of grasses. Scratching across the paper with the back of your

brush, or dipping it into a darker color to get random strokes.

It makes the movement of the paint less predictable. Plus my

ever present splotches and splashes!

Mandevilla

Another sketchbook entry that I did several weeks ago

in a friend's garden. Unfortunately the frost has gotten

to our garden and not much is left. The impatiens are so

tender that they always get hit first, but surprisingly the

fuchsia is still doing okay...would not have thought they

were tough. This pink flower, I believe, is the Mandevilla plant.

Obviously not a winter hardy one, but I have seen it around

quite a bit as a summer annual. I did the sketch with my

newest sketchbox tool...one of those synthetic brushes

that you fill with water, so you always have a brush at the

ready, without having to find a cup of water! With a tissue

in hand it wipes clean just like that waiting for the next color.

Illusion of Fall

"Illusion of Fall" 22" x 15"

This painting was one of four that was

selected by a company to reproduce on

canvas...I have the samples of the pieces

they did (one of which was the poppy piece

that was in the Coldwater Creek catalog, see a

previous post) and this fall piece is another one.

They are hanging in the living room and are quite

large. It's fun to see my paintings on canvas and

not framed behind glass. I don't know who will be

stocking these pieces, but keep your eye out at

stores like Homegoods and Target...you never know.

Or maybe another catalog will select a new piece!

Tulip Tableau

"Tulip Tableau"

I'm baaaaaaaccccckkkkkk! Miss me? Some of you said

you would, so thanks for that! A day in the big apple...alot of

fun visiting with a friend. Didn't do much except walk around,

which is what you typically do in the city anyway! Now it's back

to the computer and updating my blog. The tulips came to mind,

because it's that time to put bulbs in the ground. I mentioned a

while ago that I had some left over from last year, so that experiment

is going to happen...maybe today I'll put them all in a big hole and

cross my fingers and see what comes up next spring. I should be able

to deduct that expense from my taxes, because they'll serve as

inspiration for future paintings...right?

Red answer

"Glad glads" 22" x 10"

So my red question from last week

didn't garner that many answers(too easy, right?)

...but for those of you who either commented or

emailed....the colors are visible again in this

painting...Cadmium Red Medium and Alizarin

Crimson. The Alizarin is an easy one...on so

many of our palettes. I have also tried Bright

Red by Holbein and Napthol Crimson by Daler

Rowney, which was another guess. I'm off for a few

days...so you'll have to do without my posts until

Thursday and bear with the same figure painting

of the week for another couple days.

Red Pepper Reds

I am already thinking about what to make for

dinner tonight and this red pepper jumped out

at me as an image to post...because at the top of

the menu is either meatloaf or shepherd's pie...but

you probably aren't too interested in my meal choices,

so I'll talk about the two colors of red...one decidedly

warm and the other on the cooler side. Can you guess

which one circles the top of the pepper and which

one is on the bottom/shadow side of it? I'll let you

"stew"(another good dinner choice) over this question

for the weekend! :)

Daffodil Party

"Daffodil Party" 15" x 22"

I thought I'd throw you all for a loop and post a very "spring"

image so deep into the fall! This is what we have to look forward

to...I actually have a bag of bulbs still in the basement from last

year that never made it in the ground prior to frost...I don't

know if they are any good anymore...I'll just dig a giant hole, throw

caution to the wind, toss them all in there and look for volunteers

in the spring! Or they'll just be squirrel food...but hopefully there

will be some that will end up being painted and captured on paper!

Swirling tulips

"A Tempest of Tulips and a tea cup" 22" x 15"

So my sap green experiment didn't work

yesterday...not because it's not possible, but

because I didn't get to paint outside :) So I will

have to table that idea until next time. This

painting is one I picked up yesterday from the

show that has ended. I love the swirling tulips.

Doing their little tulip dance! I'll probably

bring this one to one of my galleries because

this was the first show where it's been shown.

Sap Green overload

This is the Williston Church steeple peaking out from

behind fall foliage. Where would we be without Sap Green?

Today I am going to pick up my paintings from the Round

Barn show and will try to squeeze in some plein air painting

time...but maybe with the mission of not dipping my brush

into the Sap Green! That in itself can be my challenge...

We must always give ourselves some sort of assignment when

it comes to painting...make it exciting, work BIG, work small.

use a flat brush for the whole painting, don't sketch first...so

many choices, hopefully I'll settle on one or two today!

Overlooking Champlain

Happy Monday to you! Another week, more blogging!

Here is a piece I did about 2 weeks ago from an overlook

across Lake Champlain...it is the fifth great lake...well that

fact was never proven or approved for that matter...ha ha

The leaves were starting to change and there was some color

in the Adirondacks across the way. Most of the state is now

past peak, but it was certainly nice. Southern Vermont was

especially "red" and glowing. Enjoy the start of your week.

Pristine Peonies

"Pristine Peonies" 15" x 15" at Shelburne Farms through October 19th.

The week of show showings is over...makes me realize

that my work is literally across the state...maybe it's time

to go across state lines and look at other galleries. Perhaps

in the spring, take a road trip and explore what other venues

are out there. We are being treated to beautiful fall weather

up here in Northern Vermont. The colors have been nice as

well. I didn't get out as much as I wanted to paint the scenery.

Maybe I'll brave winter's weather and try my hand at some

snowy scenes sometime these next few months. White flowers..

snow covered hills??? It's just leaving the white of the paper, right?

Imbued with color

"Imbued with color"

If you find yourself in the Southern sector of

Vermont you can view this painting at the

Southern Vermont Art Center in Manchester.

They host a National Fall Exhibition every year

and this year the juror awarded some additional

honors to select artists in the form of "juror's selection".

This just means an honorable mention, but my pieces

were included among the 30 or so other works!

Yahoo....

Suave

"Suave" 7.5" x 7.5"

Another show in a different location. This little painting

can be found at the Mary Bryan Gallery in Jeffersonville

at their Small Works Show. There will be an artist reception

on November 2 from 3 - 5 p.m. There are over 240 little

paintings on display and for sale...maybe a good idea for

some Holiday shopping? They also have a plein air show

going on right now. The hills are alive with art here in Vermont!

Purple Majesties

"Purple Majesties" 22" x 15"

This painting is at the Round Barn show

in Waitsfield..That show is up through October13th.

Read an article about that show here.

A great location as well. Beautiful drive

along country roads and loaded farmstands.

Time flies during the fall months when I am carting

myself and various paintings across the state.

North, South, East, West...but what a nice

time to be able to do it though!

Nature's Bounty

"Nature's Bounty" 11" x 15"

Here is one of the five paintings on display at the Envisioned

in a Pastoral Setting show at Shelburne Farms. This one sold

on opening night! That's a great feeling to meet the person buying

the painting and being able to talk about your work. It is always

nice to be a part of this show. The work is varied and the

diversity of artists and media is wonderful. Plus the setting

is unlike any other. The show will run through October 19th.

Orange you glad it's Friday?

The last installment of orange as a color and as a subject!

Makes me want to try with some other fruit in the future.

My latest entry for the different strokes blog is linked on mine.

Check it out. This week was a doozy. Next week I'll post some

paintings of my fall shows. I can't believe it's October already.

Where does the time go? I am diving in to the local community

clay studio this evening with my youngest niece.. I haven't been

behind a potter's wheel since college! Should be a fun night.

Orange continues

Can everyone detect the theme here? "Fun with Fruit".

I'm a little behind schedule today and am posting later

than usual. Hopefully you'll all get this today. Next week

I have a board meeting for the Vermont Watercolor Society.

We do some great group shows throughout the year, plus

our two meetings a year (one in the spring and one in the fall)

are a nice way to connect to other Vermont watercolor artists.

Check out the link and see what we're all about. This fall meeting

we are going to have Woody Jackson as our keynote speaker.

Click his name to see what he does. Very Vermont.

On the edge

This orange series was done at the Vermont

Studio Center in Johnson. A wonderful place

for artists to retreat to. They provide a studio,

room and three wonderful meals. It is a nice way

to connect to other artists. Plus there are writers

as well. A diverse group of folks to say the least.

Sharing time with other artists is alot of fun. I paint

once a week with a friend of mine and even going

to the figure sessions at the local art space connects

you to other creative individuals.