Tuesday, June 11, 2013

White River in Plein Air

      

Oil
16 x 20

SOLD



My first plein air paint out was last Friday with The Gathering, an event sponsored by the Hamilton County Artists Association.  The photo immediately above is my set up - I painted from 8:00 am to 11:00 am along White River near 116th street and then moved up to Noblesville after lunch to complete a second painting.  

This experience really gave me great respect for the plein air painters as it's a challenge to complete a painting on location in a limited amount of time!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Call Me Susan



Oil 
9 x 12

SOLD

Perennial flowers at the Hazel Landing park last summer.  They looked like Brown-eyed Susans to me.


Reflection

Oil
6 x 8

SOLD

A nice little abstract painting with the leftover paints.  I kinda like it!  Perhaps I'll do this more often.

A "Pea Soup" Day


Oil
6 x 8

SOLD


Monday was accompanied by gentle rain and an occasional peak of sun. 

Happy Memorial Day



Oil
6 x 6

Quickly captured the neighbor's boat heading into the dock on Sunday.  A little overcast but still a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  I greatly appreciate all those who serve, and who have served, our country.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Peter Rabbit in Forest Park


Oil
9 x 12

No you won't see Peter Rabbit in this painting but I assure you of his, or rather their, presence!  I so wish I had a photo of me trying to plein air paint at Forest Park in Noblesville, IN on this day.  Karen Miles, Kristin Whitney and I went there for a peaceful day of plein air painting - listening to the birds, feeling the breeze, and finding inspiration.  We found our spots and began painting.  Fifteen minutes later, several women arrived at a nearby picnic shelter.  Within 30 minutes there were 30 children, ages 3 - 5, and their parents.  The children, all well behaved by the way, swarmed around me on all sides playing tag, kicking balls, and generally having a great time.  Meanwhile, I struggled to focus on my painting and finally gave up.  The painting above is the product of hours painting plein air and one hour of refinement in the studio with a well deserved glass of wine.

The group at the picnic shelter was from the local Peter Rabbit Preschool for their year-end family picnic.  One of the teachers came up to us as we were packing up and shared that the children had been learning about art and artists at the school.  Apparently, it was an art history lesson because one of the children pointed at us and exclaimed, "Look!  Those ladies are artists and they aren't dead!"

Friday, May 24, 2013

Golden Guys, Hats Off, and Little Sunshine



Individual 6 x 6 Oil Paintings

Little Sunshine is Sold.  Hats Off and Golden Guys are available.

Ambrosia, Sorbet and Daisy May




          


Individual 6 x 6 Oil Paintings

Ambrosia and Daisy May have new homes.

SOLD

Sorbet is waiting for you!

Painting some small paintings and experimenting with techniques and colors.

Queen and her Court


Oil
12 x 12

SOLD

I'm really enjoying this interpretation of Queen Anne's lace.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Prairie Trace Barn Redux


Oil
16 x 20

There aren't a lot of barns left in Carmel, Indiana.  A small barn still standing is off of River Road near Prairie Trace Elementary; however, a subdivision is going up across the street so I'm sure it's days are numbered.  

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Queen Anne's Lace


Oil
9 x 12

NFS

Now I'm caught up with postings!  Painted this floral from photos I took last summer of Queen Anne's Lace along the road next to the field.

Fall Inferno


Oil
16 x 20

Guilty as charged - I've been painting and not posting.  Here's another painting completed within the last month.  Had trouble with the name though.  Naming isn't my favorite part of painting!  Then I looked down at my 'to do' list and saw I'd written down the name of a particularly enjoyable song while painting - 'Disco Inferno' by The Trammps, 1978, and thus the name.  


Float On


Oil
9 x 12

I was planning to practice plein air painting a couple of weekends ago and Saturday was just the most gorgeous day.  First thing in the morning I saw a gorgeous light streaming through the trees in front of the house and then another beautiful scene of reflections on the water.  Well, I sat down and enjoyed my cafe au lait and read the newspaper - great morning.  I missed the painting opportunities though!  So, I thought, no problem, I'll catch them tomorrow morning . . . and it rained.  Obviously I've a lot to learn about plein air painting.  So, I painted the above from photo references painting fast and trying to approximate at least the time constraints of plein air.  

Serene Dusk


Oil
18 x 24

Playing with my palette in this painting using warmer blues.  Painted this last month working from the hundreds of great photos from our trip to Brown County last fall.  

Cafe Santa Fe


Oil
12 x 12

Forgot to post this one and it deserves to be seen.  Painted this 'Dreama' style back in February using transparent oil paints but maintaining my warm palette.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Ady


Oil on Linen

Last Thursday I went to a demo by portrait artist Clayton Beck - it was an incredible demonstration . . . and quite inspiring.  On Friday I painted this portrait of my great-aunt Ady from a photo taken on her 90th birthday.  My grandma, Mimi, will be in the painting as well but I'm still working her portrait.  Two of the most amazing ladies - wish they were still with us!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Mini Me


Oil
8 x 8

A smaller, quicker version of the vase of tulips but without the hydrangea.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Brittlebush Blooms - Shawn Deitch

Oil
6 x 6

NFS

Lots of rain in the desert last week and now the reward - it's raining flowers!  Hallelujah!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Dove Mountain Desert 3

 Oil
8 x 8

SOLD

Another desert study using gessobord again.  Gorgeous day for hiking and contemplating color and shadows!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Dove Mountain Desert


Oil
8 x 8

Another day, another hike and another desert painting!  This time using a different canvas and underpainting.  This painting is on a Raymar panel with an orange underpainting.  The result is much different from the smooth, white gessobord.  Colors and brush strokes both are more muted.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Dove Mountain Path



Oil
8 x 8

SOLD

Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona has a beautiful, natural desert walking trail on each side of the boulevard.  A hike on this trail takes you mentally miles away - breathe deep and enjoy! 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Just Chillin'


Oil
12 x 12

Just started reading 'Cutting for Stone' and I'm hooked already. New painting imagining the perfect reading spot.

Tulip Time


Oil
12 x 12

SOLD

Painting flowers and cheery scenes while wishing for warmer, sunny days!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Night Brigade


Oil
18 x 24

SOLD

Just finished 'Night Brigade".   Summer fireworks at the lake are set off from barges in the water just off shore.  Makes a spectacular show in the air and on the water.

The Big Show


36 x 24
Oil

SOLD

I painted 'The Big Show" a couple of weeks ago.  It is a contemporary take on the awesome fireworks display over Lake Tippecanoe every July 4th.