Highlandtown Lake II Plein Air

Highlandtown Lake II
5x7 Acrylic

   Painting has always given me respite from physical pain. Now I find the focus it requires gives solace from other kinds of hurt.  So quietly painting the last few days.  The last week has been very trying and sad. I  pray that the worst fear I have doesn't come to pass.  Lord willing dad will be with us a little while longer with a measure of health. In this I pray.
    Funny how one marks things in life's cycle.  One year and full circle today as I put a few paintings in the Columbiana County fair.  Last year it was the first place I started out. Fearful and anxious that my paintings would be looked at by others.  Now this year I'm expectant of perhaps doing well.   Ha!  If that is not a 180 deg. change in tune!

Rooster-Do

Red Rooster
5x7 Watercolor

Roosters are such fun to do and this little game rooster was no exception.  Just a quicky as I was trying out watercolors for the first time.  I have only used watercolor pencils and it was much different to start with a brush.

Texas Longhorn

Longhorn
11x14 Acrylic on Linen Hardboard

The reference for this piece came from the Wet Canvas Southwest Monthly Event. Probably going to adjust his horns and hair-do a bit.. But he is done.. Thanks for hosting Kay.. may have time for another one! 

Plein Air #5 Highlandtown Lake

Highlandtown Lake
Oil 11x14 on Linen Hardboard

Plein Air in oils on linen hardboard.  We went fishing.. Nice relaxing evening.  One thing about the oils though they are messy to bring home.  Joe is still chiseling a bit of paint here and there from the car.. ;-)

Redwood Forest

Redwoods
11x14 Acrylic on linen panel

The older redwood forests have a powerful dynamic thrust which tends to obliterate long patterns of light and shadow.  This is a young forest and while the trees are still large by any standards the branches are more open and allow such a wonderful stream of light to cascade in.  I tried to capture that.
 Thanks Jack for the many pictures..  Keep taken those wonderful vacations! 

YSU Arts Festival

Setup for the YSU Show.

    I had a wonderful 1st Festival, The YSU Festival of The Arts, in Youngstown, Ohio.
   To all that stopped in to view, comment, and take a painting home, "Thank you!"
    There are no words to express my appreciation and thanks to all the artists, who helped with little gems of wisdom, and also to the staff and volunteers who excelled at making this show a wonderful event for both the public and the artists. A heartfelt thank you to all.


   Last month I imagined art as a melody and song, and I hoped my melodies would sing well to others  This weekend I found that they do sing and resonate.  I am honored by all those who heard my song..  Thank you.

 

Mountain Ruts

Mountain Ruts
18x24 Canvas Acrylics

In the high mountains early sunrise.. The colors are spectacular.  In trying to capture this concept of color, rather than the realistic view, I got a little lost.  This has been on the easel for a month.  Today was the day to finish it.  

Quiet Seas

Quiet Seas
12x16 mixed media

Started this painting at a workshop.  I had never gone to one before and was very very sadly disappointed.  But.. Lets not go there.
  I sketched in the main points.. and sponged in the values and shapes with acrylics.  Took all of about 25 mins.  I quit as I was a bit disillusioned and decided to take this home and finish it in oils. So that it would not be a wasted day I studied the painting and made mental notes as to how to complete it.  I have been trying to do the mental painting more often.  To help my brain really see what is there in front of me and not what I think I see.
  This is the final result.