WALKING EXERCISE WITH THE DLP'S

Hey Friends,  I went with the DLP's to paint from the parking lots at St. Andrews Catholic Church in DT Roanoke, Va. yesterday.   Turns out they were having their graduation ceremony so we just walked and took photos.

With the front that was moving through we had lots of beautiful clouds to enhance our gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains.

Hope to get a few paintings from these memories this weekend.

Just FYI,  therapy for knee replacements are tuff.  Yes, they do hurt, but it is NOT something you can't stand.  Mostly (for my impatient self) it's the time involved.

And walking is a good thing to do, like taking photos above.  But when you finally go to bed, it is TUFF to get to sleep 'cuz of the achy pain.

Happy Trails

SMOKE OVER OUR VALLEY - ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING

Hey Friends,  It's over whelming so I'm trying to make some room in my studio.  If I think a painting has some merit, I will offer it on Ebay as the last channel.  This was started on Mill Mountain, back when Wytheville was suffering with a lot of brush fires.  The wind blew the smoke into our valley and it sat there for a day and an evening.

This painted with oils and is 10" x 19".  This is a nice hand made frame and is not the garrish gold seen in the photo.  It has a softer golden look.

It is up for auction HERE on Ebay.

Thanks for stopping by

Happy Trails

No. 31 in 30 day Challenge - "STAR CITY"

Hey Friends, If you look closely you will see the black and white grid this paper started life as.

You just start laying down pieces of painted papers and something will usually show up.  You don't glue until you have something that seems to be calling you.

After the initial layer of papers are glued that's when you start embellishing.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy doing this, before this challenge started.

And I thought the challenge went through the end of January but NO it ended yesterday on the 30th.  That's OK I'm publishing this anyway.

I took my 2 beautiful Gran-Babes to the circus Sunday evening, even though it was freezing and blowing a mix of rain, ice, snow !  I took about 400 photos and have already deleted a bunch and not finished yet

Hoping I can get ideas and photos for collage paintings.

Thanks for traveling with me and hope you continue to visit.

Happy Trails

I FINISHED IT

Hey Friends,  I finished this painting started at Carvin's Cove last week.

Below you can see the underpainting/sketch done with Golden's Metallic fluid paint.

I almost finished it and went to the photos to see how well I had done!  BOY, what a disappointment!

I guess, in my defense, it looks like my memory.  But it does not look like the real scene.

There were not any yellows like I painted, or like my memory stored.

So now I will do the same routine with a small one I started Monday at GreenHill Park in Salem, Va.

Will post that memory tomorrow.

Happy Trails

MOTHER NATURE GAVE US ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR PLEIN AIR

Hey Friends,  We had a good time this morning at Garst Mill Park just off Brambleton Ave.  The little creek that runs through this park is melodious (HaHa-look at me trying to use big words).

I made a little short video and hope you can hear the water babbling.

I like this new method I've been using for plein air painting.  The top photo shows my 9x12 canvas with an acrylic sketch on it of the pictured creek.  This dries really fast and you don't have to worry about getting it home, like you do with oil.

So now I just paint over the acrylic with oils at home.  Maybe I won't do this forever, maybe I'll learn to focus better and I won't flit off chasing squirrels and butterflies.

After all I'm out here to have fun, not to be winning awards!

Please tell me what you think of the short video.

You can even say "Don't EVER do that again"

Happy Trails

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND

Hello Friends,  Just a quick note to say 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

Last weeks plain air painting done with the DLP buddies on Mexico Way off  Rt. 460.

The scene was beautiful even with the fog and heavy clouds.  The sun peeked thru occasionally.

The birds sang for us the whole time, one of the bonus' of plein air.

Available at my new website  HERE.

Enjoy your long weekend

Happy Trails

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