ORIGINAL PAINTING OF HANDMADE BIRDHOUSE AMONGST THE ROSES

 

Hey Friends,  Another quick post.  I need to pick up the GranBabes again today at school.  And their Mom (my Angie) is going to pick them up before dark and bring her fancy camera to take photos of my latest painting efforts.  YaY ! 

So maybe I'll something different to show you tmorrow.

 

This little bird house is in my ETSY SHOP.

 

Happy Trails

NEST FULL OF JOY

 

Hey Friends,  A quick post today because I get to pick up my sweet GranBabes today after school and take Lillie to her riding lesson.  Photo Op.!!

 

I got a couple of small collages back from a show and I have listed them in EBAY.

I continue to clear out anything unnecessary in my studio.  I need to focus.

 

Not to mention my art group, the Double Line Painters, is having a BIG challenge.       It's called - 150 Paintings in 150 Days.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Happy Trails

CAT FOR AUCTION AND PLEIN AIR PAINTING IN BOTETOURT

 

Hey Friends,  Found a few more pieces for Ebay in the studio.  This is called "Ms. Kitty and Her Aquarium".  We all know how much cats love to watch fish go by.  CLICK HERE for details in EBAY.

 

Today Linda and I had the great pleasure of painting at the Pleasant Grove Farm in Botetourt.  Mrs. Whitney Feldmann and her husband graciously opened their beautiful home and property for about 12 painters from the local area to capture the many beautiful views.  Above Mrs. Feldmann even hung some laundry on the lines just for me!  I told her how much I loved to paint laundry drying on the line.  You so seldom see this anymore.  What a generous lady.

 

Here is Linda in the shade of any old maple.  Mr. Feldmann said it was planted in 1955.  He had quite a few stories to pass on.  Their gorgeous home was built in 1830"s if I remember correctly.

 

This is the view that Linda was trying to get on the canvas before lunch.  She will have to tweek it before giving to Whitney for the BIG auction in Sept.

Can you see the cows?

 

And here is me!  Starting a third one.  I usually just do "Starts" when plein airing and finish later from memory or photos.

I will decide which to give to the auction after they are finished.

I have not looked yet but assume you can find out more about the auction in Sept by going to www.blueridgelandconservancy.org

 

We had a wonderful day and hope to go back soon.

Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Feldmann.

 

Happy Trails

PEACOCK PAINTED AND PLEIN AIR PAINTING AND NOSEY COWS

 

Hey Friends,  A post about what's been going on here in SW Va.   It is spring, glorious spring time, here in the beautiful mountains of the Roanoke-Salem Valley.

This beautiful, noisy peacock is up for auction in EBAY. click there.

 

Yesterday I went with my group the DLP's to the beautiful arboretum at our local community College. Virginia Western Community College.  This is a beautiful, well maintained garden of unusual trees that create a canopy for all the shade loving plants.  You will find many.  Everything has a name tag so you can find them for your garden.  The photo above is poor quality but you get the idea of what I painted.  The blooms just didn't show up at all. 

 

After the arboretum and lunch, I went to the Little Gallery at Smith Mountain Lake to exchange artwork.  I'll show what I took later because I want you to see these silly, cute cows.

I was headed home through Hardy, Va. to avoid the Windy Gap Mtn. (my car is being a pickle).  When I saw a glimpse of these black and white cuties, I slammed on the brakes and turned around.

This is how I found them.  It appeared to be their private little campground minus tents.

 

They stayed on the ground for maybe 2 minutes but their nosiness got the best of them.  They ventured this close and stood there until I left.  HOW I wished I had a flute or bango.  Next time I go that way I'll need to remember music and apples for these sweet faces.

I'm dying to paint them but I must get ready for a big day tomorrow.  The www.BlueRidgeLandConservancy.org is sponsoring a plein-air paint out at Pleasant Grove Farm in Botetourt County tomorrow from 9 to 4.

Mrs. Whitney Feldman has graciously opened her farm for us to use.

 

Linda and I are hoping for nice weather and anticipate a lot of fun.  I'll let you know tomorrow night.

 

Great times

Happy Trails

Mother's Day at Blue Ridge Vineyard and My Mother's Day Feast.

 

Hey Friends,  Reposting this little painting I did at Longwood a month ago.  I painted it just as I saw it then, pale pink flowers.  Didn't excite me or anyone else evidently.  So I made it more colorful.

You can find it HERE in Ebay.

 

Yesterday, I went with the DLP to Blue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock to start our Challenge of 150 Paintings in 150 days !!  Yep, We are really going to paint 150 paintings.

The Challenge will culminate at Ikenberry's Orchard on Rt. 220 this fall.

 

That's a shot of MOI and Linda painting from the sliver of shade at the Pavallion/Stage at the Vineyard Sunday.  I did the 2 (unfinished) in the mid photo.

 

But the best part of yesterday, is when my oldest daughter, Angie showed up with my GranBabes, Lillie and Nicolus to serve me and my mother a feast !!

They brought pasta salad, chicken salad, 2 different cheese balls with fruit slices, ham biscuits, strawberry cake with whippy icing and mini chocolate cupcakes.

I'm on a diet so I ate everything.  And it was delicious.

 

It was the best Mothers Day ever.  And why didn't I get a photo, you ask?  Because I was dizzy and out of my mind from all the carbs.

 

Thanks for stopping in, Happy Trails

ORIGINAL STUDIO PAINTINGS AND GOOSE CREEK GALLERY IN BEDFORD, VA.

 

Hey Friends,  Just got back from plein air painting at Garst Mill Park in Roanoke County, Va.  Rearing to go.

The colorful piece above is from our trip to Calabash-Southport , NC. last year.  All that purple is just the side effects of too much ice cream.  You know, My sugar spiked !

CLICK HERE for the Ebay auction.

 

 

The little bee's went to Goose Creek Gallery in Bedford this past Tuesday.  Hope you can go look.  In fact their artwalk is tomorrow night, Friday the 8th.

Click here for Goose Creek for directions.

 

 

And this is the first sketch I did this morning at Garst Creek.  I thought I would try it this way once and see what happens.  I did the color sketch there and along with a photo, I will finish at home.  I know that is not REAL plein air but when you are in a hurry, ya gotta do what ya gotta DO.

 

I'm also putting a link HERE as a reminder for you to check out Evergreen Lavender Farm's up coming workshop !!  Don't miss it.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PLEIN AIR PAINTING AND STUDIO PAINTINGS DELIVERED TO GOOSE CREEK

 

Hey Friends,  Hope you all had a great weekend, I did.  It feels like spring is here now.  I was out painting of course.  And I found these "Summer Britches" hanging on the line, waiting for me to get there with my paints!  And some beautiful pinkish clouds waited for me.

I put her up for auction in EBAY.  Click there. 

 

And new art was installed at "Goose Creek Gallery" in Bedford, Va.  Love that place.  Above is a whimsical piece that sputtered around in my brain for at least a year.  I feel that anything that takes that long to be born is going to be a disappointment.  Do you think so?  Have you ever spent that much time thinking or planning something?  I rarely do.  Most people would say I'm too impulsive.  That I don't give it time to brew.  I finally thought of the title "She Wanted His Heart But......"

 

 

This is Dragonfly # 24.... A long line of DF's done and yet to be.  Never have gotten tired of painting them.  I have gotten tired of chasing them to photograph.  So I am always real happy to get DF photos from a dear friend in Florida.  Thanks Cathie.

 

I will post the other deliveries to Goose Creek tomorrow.  Don't want to wear out my welcome.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PLEIN AIR PAINTING ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY IN SW BLUE RIDGE VIRGINIA

 

Hey Friends,  I had the huge joy of getting outside to paint some of the beautiful greens finally popping out everywhere.  It is still a bit chilly in the shade but I loved it.

CLICK HERE for Ebay.

 

Took a photo AFTER I had finished.  Don't know why I can't remember to do this all along.  I think a timer would help.

 

Hoping you all are getting outside too, even if it's just to mow the lawn.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING ACRYLIC ON CANVAS PANEL "Remembering"

 

Hey Friends,  Here a real sweet one for you.  It might even be a bit sticky.

 

This old gray headed couple sitting on their swing, watching the flowers grow and remembering all the little things they enjoyed over the years.

 

I have listed it in my EBAY page.  CLICK HERE.  And this link probably won't work until tomorrow night or 4-23 @ 9pm here in Virginia.

 

Have a great week and come back and sit on the swing for a spell.

 

Happy Trails

Peach Blossums - on SALE in my ETSY shop

 

Hey Friends,  Some people may remember from my whining before, that my computer gets NO internet service from Comcast when it rains !  So it's been pretty useless for 2 days.

 

This painting is of the Peach Blossums at Ikenberry's Orchard.  A local HotSpot with fabulous fruit.

 

I listed her in my Etsy Shop on SALE because I would love to make a little room and buy some new oils.  I'll be listing a few more so come back often.

 

Please go read the Double Line Painters blog,  we are having a challenge for the plein air season.

 

Mean while CLICK HERE to look at Etsy.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING SNOW BISON IN PAINT BANK

 

Hey Friends,  painted this one a month or so ago.  Love to paint bison.

These were on a farm in Paint Bank Virginia.  A farm in Erie, Pa. has bison also, and I've taken photos up there too.

 

Would love to see them in the National Parks out west.  Really I'm just glad the Pilgrims didn't eradicate all of them.

 

This is available in my ETSY shop - HERE.

 

Please stop in again soon. 

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL SMALL PAINTING BLUEBIRD HOUSE

 

Hey Friends,  Before you know it, it's going to be Mother's Day again.  Most of the last 20 years I have been working an art show on Mother's Day so my girls had to wait for the celebration.

 

Most Mother's don't NEED a thing but something pretty like a small piece of art work would be a happy thing to receive.  My girls never would have thought to give me art !  ART! of all things.

After all that's what I do .

 

Of course I would never have told them either.  I really need nothing.  And they were struggling to make ends meet like most families.  I'm very proud of what they have accomplished and how well they are caring for their own children.

 

So if your Mom doesn't NEED a single thing, think about giving her a permanent little piece of Nature's Beauty.  You just never know.

 

Secure this for Mom by clicking HERE.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF DRAGON FLY ON SUNFLOWER

 

Hey Friends,  Recently listed this Sunflower in my ETSY shop.

That is a very handsome Dragonfly, if I say so myself.

 

Maybe some of you remember that I have a couple of dragonfly models in my studio.  They have a tendency to wander into the greenhouse and then forget how to get out.  So they eventually die.  I save them for my models.  Wouldn't want their death to be in vain, right?

CLICK HERE for ETSY.

 

Hope your week has taken a great start.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF NANCY'S LAUNDRY

 

Hey Friends,  This small painting should bring back some memories.  Loved the smell of clothes from the line, sunshine and wind.

Wouldn't someone you know love this for Mom's Day? or a birthday?

 

Check it out in my ETSY store.

CLICK HERE.

 

Have a grand Spring week.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING GARDENSCAPE WITH HAMMOCK

 

Hey Friends,  It's Friday - YAY!  Time to play and get that hammock out of the shed.  The rain will wash away the dust.

 

This painting of memories is for sale in my ETSY Shop. Click There.

 

Also time to find the post hole digger and get that swinging bench up !

 

Time to get out the plein air equipment !  YAY!!

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Happy Trails

The MARSH'S OF SOUTH PORT, NC - An original painting

 

Hey Friends,  Have you ever been to South Port, NC ?  It's just north of Calabash and Calabash is just north of Myrtle Beach.  It's a beautiful piece of real estate.

 

This 12x12 painting is from South Port.  Name of the road has left me but its just after crossing a bridge.   I have listed this in my ETSY SHOP.

 

More to come.  Thanks for stopping by.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING ALONG RT. 311, the BLUE JAY HOTEL

 

Hey Friends,  New one on Ebay - CLICK HERE.  This hotel, the Blue Jay has been right where it is for as long as I can remember.  In fact, if I remember correctly, not long after we moved up here to Virginia, my Mom worked there for a short bit.   I don't think she liked it much and did not stay long.

 

And I have a photo of that Donut Cloud !  It was there, for real !

 

Thanks for stopping in.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF ANTIQUE ROSES

 

Hey Friends,  This little still life painting if up for auction in Ebay.  CLICK HERE to connect with Ebay.

 

And just a wee bit of other news.  The DLP's are creating a Color Wheel Chair for a silent auction that will benefit the children on the Bedford Artisan Trail.  Click on the red DLP to see the blog post about it.

Have a wonderful almost spring weekend !

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING OF RURAL VIRGINIA

 

Hey Friends,  This is a study more or less, trying to decide if I want to make it BIG.  There is so much stuff I want to paint that it seems almost redundant to do something more than once.  But the professionals will tell you how much it helps to do a study.  For choosing colors mostly, then design or composition.   I SHOULD give it a try.

CLICK HERE for the EBAY auction.

 

And please take a minute to read the Double Line Painters blog by CLICKING HERE.

Hopefully, it will be of interest to you.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF EVERGREEN LAVENDER FARM IN APPOMATTOX, VA.

 

Hey Friends,  Yesterday I posted a bigger lavender painting.  It is 11x14 and in my Etsy shop.  It was a lot of fun to paint with a natural sea sponge so I made a smaller version  at 5x7 for EBAY.

CLICK HERE.

 

And after that please CLICK HERE to see what the Roanoke Valley's visitors blog posted a couple days ago.  Scroll down a little past the map and look for Double Line Painters Logo.

Pass it on to your friends and family.

 

Happy Trails