Summer's Mailbox

Hey Friends,  Something different today.   Not a bird in sight!  Such a shame, a bluebird perched on that box would be pretty.
This is painted first with pen and ink then watercolor to fill it out. I'm listing it in my Etsy shop.

 On another note, Judy, Mary Anne and myself where out today in Bedford, Va. taking photos of BARNS !  There is a beautiful red barn behind us in this photo.  But we were thrilled these cows came over to say HI !   Judy is the photographer here.   I took 298 photos today .  We had a good day and enough fodder for 200 paintings.  We also came across a farm with a lot of colorful chickens and roosters.   I was happy to get this reference.  I was thinking of you NaNaKat when photographing the chickens.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Hummingbird

Hey Friends,  I like the idea of this tiny little fella hanging onto a lite-up tree light.  After watching these precious little birds all summer, I want to immortalize a few by painting them.   I will have to rely on my imagination because I surely couldn't get any decent photos of the little dare devils.
I have different lights I can use for props and would love to find a life sized artificial bird.  Maybe I can make one from clay !
On another note, I will be out with the Double Line Painters this Thursday in Bedford, Va.  This is to gather reference photos of any local barns to paint from.   This is a special project by Bedford and I will have to find the invitation to share with you, so it will make sense.  Mary Anne wrote a bit in her blog and here is the link.
I'm listing this hummer in my Etsy shop and in the DPW gallery.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Rosey Finch

Hey Friends,  Another bird you say.  Yeah, I still love them and love to paint them.  This measures 6" x 5" on 300 lb. arches watercolor paper.  I have put it in an off-white mat and it's in my Etsy shop.

I'm getting some work ready for our Holiday show at the Salem Museum and the Jefferson Center in Roanoke.   We will be hanging both on the same day !  It is lovely to be busy.  Hoping you can make it to both places during Nov. or Dec. to see some new works.  Art makes a wonderful gift for anyone, and in my case, any nature lover.   I will post some images from both places closer to the hanging.

Happy Trails
Travel Well

Mini Original Art for the Holidays

Hey Friends,  Yes, How I've slacked off since that challenge ended.  Bad - Bad.  I have been busy even though I haven't shown you anything.  At night, I like to give my Mom a little company.  She isn't getting any younger, so we watch some TV and holler at each other ( we're both deaf).  I can take that for just so long and then I pull out the paints and pens, and start doodling.
Pen and Ink with watercolor has proven to be pretty neat and doesn't take up much room.  Since it has turned winter here in Virginia (I hate this) I can't play outside any more, so I'll have to be content with this for now.
These are small little jewels and would make nice, inexpensive gifts for almost anyone, especially the person that has everything.  If you want a mini of any subject,  just let me know.  I will probably be able to do it with a little flair.   Check this out in my Etsy shop, HERE.

Friends and Lovers

 Hey Friends,  I'm posting the latest work first because I'm afraid I'll get in trouble with DPW.  They (DPW) pull the first image on your blog to post on their site in my gallery.  Hope that makes since.  Anyway a couple times I've just blogged about what's going on (nothing for sale) and some one made a comment about it being a photo and not a painting.  So just to be safe I'm doing it this way from now on.   Maybe.  The painting above just sort of grew from beginning with the piece of green paper with the musical notes on it.  It actually came in the mail as a postcard invitation to a concert.  You can see in the real piece that I stitched on it with a sewing machine before gelling it on the canvas panel.  Another piece of the GranBabes music sheets, real oat grass from the yard and a feather stencil and silk flowers.  And I'll put this in my Etsy shop.

And today I met up with my painting buddies here in Salem, Va. to enjoy a drizzly day, chatting and painting under the picnic shelter.  Enjoyed every minute.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

More of the Plein-Aire Frustration

 Hey Friends,  The majority of this day has been beautiful here in SW Va.  So after a few little chores, I threw my stuff on the golf cart and headed down Gum Springs.

 This is another neighbors quaint little homestead.  Above I have finished the first of the shed.

 Between this photo and the second one, I made a mess.  One leg on the easel gave way when I was moving it to paint that gorgeous tree.  The palette flipped very conveniently on top of the canvas panel that I had the tree drawn on.   Of course it was a mess but much better than grass and dirt in the paint.   I just got the biggest brush I had and using the turps blended all the different colors across the drawing.

So you can see I recovered but I'll tell ya, this plein-aire job is almost more than I can take.   If  I didn't want to be outside so much, I'd say "Forget It".  And I don't seem to be getting any better at it.  That's the part that's really frustrating.  I have been told more than once I'm to impatient, that's the reason I haven't given up yet.   What I really need is a class/workshop from someone that's good at this.   My color choices suck, especially in the fall.  Enough whining.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Autumn at Ikenberry Orchard with the Double Line Painters

 Hey Friends, Just a quick post to show a bit of the beautiful colors we saw and painted today.  We set up on the huge comfortable porch at Ikenberry's Orchard on Rt. 220 in Botetourt, Va.   They have a vast selection of pumpkins and gourds and mums to decorate with.

 And a ton of freshly picked apples of every variety you can think of.  My favorite was called MUTSU !   Totally new to me but I'm going back for more.

Here is that fab porch I mentioned.  This shot was very early in the morning. Starting about 10am, the place was rockin' !   Must have been a thousand people through here buying tons of goodies.  We LOVE this place.   Gwen is a wonderful host and very appreciated.
Go to Ikenberry's very soon, before they run out of apples.

Happy Trails
Travel Well

Can You Stop the Rain ?!

 Hey Friends,  Another little piece of inspiration.   Wouldn't it be cute if we humans could look up into the trees and see little purple umbrellas here and there?  We would know the little birds were doing OK.  Maybe I'm reverting to childhood.

This was painted on the piano papers again, all free hand with acrylics.  I love to make the little paperdoll chains into any creature-the little blue birds there at the bottom.  And this one has my finger prints all over it too.  If I thought it was possible at all, I'd catch a bird and make foot prints with it, before setting it free.  Wouldn't that be the coolest thing I've done yet.
I went to an apple orchard today with my sister and of course I got a bunch of pictures.  Soon I can paint from them and munch on apples whilst I work..
Here is the link to my Etsy shop

Happy Trails
Travel Well

the Best Things in Life are Free

 Hey Friends,  This piece started with the printed paper from my GranBabes piano practice book.

 Thought a few process shots might be fun.  The paper has been gelled to the thick canvas and starting with the blue acrylics.

 The stamp I carved myself and I added the vine  so it could be green.

 Here I have finished with the stamp and painted in the utility wire with the blackbirds resting.  I don't know if you can tell but I really like the finger prints I made all over the piece.  Kinda like certain brush strokes but made with the fingers.

And I have found quite a few feathers this year and I like them a lot so I use them every chance I get.  And here are the edges of the piece.  Did you notice how stained and worn my table is?  I like to put paint right on the table instead of the palette, especially when working with a tiny brush and very small strokes.   I shall put this in my Etsy Shop.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Glorious Day for an Artist

 Hello Friends and Neighbors,   This morning was beautiful here in the mountains of SW Virginia.  Maybe it isn't obvious in these photos but the sun was shining nicely, there was a breeze, and the temp. was perfect.   I jumped on the golf cart and headed down the road to my neighbor's pond.

 These wonderful folks don't mind me painting or my GranBabes chasing their chickens or dog.  They love to come here.  They live in the city and love running loose in the country.  In the top photo you can see that the ducks are hiding in the corner of the pond.   They are very skiddish of strangers.

In the 2nd painting, which was about an hour later, I guess they were getting used to my presence, because as you can see, they were right out in the middle of the pond.   You've never seen such splashing and fluffing and chasing.  They seem to really love each other.
In this second painting, after backing up to get photos, I could see that I didn't like the large yellowish spot on the left and below the ducks.  I changed that but forgot to re shoot.  Once they dry I'll scan both and show you that it looks better now.
I truly enjoyed this day and hope there are more to come.  I need this practice badly to improve.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Deep Breathing

 Hey Friends,  The companion to the last post, "Tight Rope Walking".  These titles sound almost depressing or worrisome.  But they are straight from my Gran Babes piano practice book.

After gluing the paper on the canvas and painting the flamingo, I spread the acrylic gel on with a palette knife and while wet, swirl one of those cake frosting things with comb-like teeth.  Sure you know what I'm talking about, everyone has a couple in their drawer.  Ha.
This is going to my Etsy shop-Click Here.

And go to the DLP blog to see all about our reception last night in Lynchburg.

Happy Trails
Travel Well

Tight Rope Walking

 Hey Friends,  Trying to keep a little momentum going here.  I really enjoyed Leslie Saeta's challenge, but it was a challenge !.   I can paint every day but when you add a couple hours of computer time, every day,  it's a little different.  And if there are any artist out there with storage problems or how do you keep up with NOT sending any to galleries.  I'm afraid to send any thing from my DPW gallery or Etsy shop to my galleries because I know I'd end up selling the same thing in 2 different locations.   Does that make sense?

 My GranBabe is taking piano lessons and I was perusing her books.  I saw several song titles that struck a chord so I copied them.  Tight rope walking could be any one of us.  These spindly flamingos always seem to be walking on the edge, so why not a rope.

This painting has a companion and I'll finish it tomorrow.  This will go in my Etsy shop too.
Click here.

Happy Trails
Travel Well