Thursday, October 30, 2008

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!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

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)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

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!

Monday, October 27, 2008

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.

Friday, October 24, 2008

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!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

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?

Monday, October 20, 2008

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.

Friday, October 17, 2008

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! :)

Thursday, October 16, 2008

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!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

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.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

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!

Monday, October 13, 2008

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.

Friday, October 10, 2008

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?

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Imbued with color

"Imbued with color"
If you find yourself in the Southern sector of
Vermont you can view this painting at the
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....

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

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!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

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!

Monday, October 6, 2008

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.

Friday, October 3, 2008

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.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

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.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

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.