HELLO SPRING TIME !!! MOTHER NATURE LET US PAINT TODAY.!

Hey Friends,  Do you recognize the gorgeous Blue Bells above?  Mertensia is proper name.

A shot of the Roanoke River as it travels through Green Hill Park in Salem, Va.  Not very far from where I live.  If you view this log from another angle it looks like a bear.

And here is a painting I started .  Will finish at home.

Can you tell which of these 2 stones has recently been rolled into the river?

The DLP's will be back in Salem next week and then we have plans to go to a farm in Buchanan and a plein air event in Clifton Forge soon.  And we have permission to paint at RIVERSIDE NURSERY in Salem too.  They have beautiful pansies and violas right now.  And houses of other goodies ready to burst into blooms.

HAPPY TRAILS

ENJOY SPRING

ANOTHER GREAT DAY - FINISHING UP PAINTINGS

Howdy Dear Friends,  Hope this finds all of you well.  A BIG shout to my friend, Cathie, Who had hip surgery yesterday to repair what the first idiot did to her !  Hope all is moving along.

That photo above is about all I have to show for my day.   Finishing some of the work I have done lately.  Getting them ready to hang at the Home builders show at the Salem CC this weekend.

My car has taken her last breath today.   I tried to start her for 15 minutes or more.  She started finally and was thrashing like a hay maker.   I turned the key off and took it out of the ignition and she kept on thrashing, throttling, sounding a lot like a boat in the water.  Finally she heaved and let out one last yelp.  Bless her heart.  I really liked her.

So my brother has consented to let me use his ugly white car for the weekend.  I never have figured out why he likes that scruffy thing.  Reminds me of a street cat.

Anyway, Hope all of you with working vehicles can come by the Salem CC and say HI!!

HAPPY TRAILS

TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY

Hey Dear Friends,  It was a good day for me and HOPE your day was peachy as well.

I varnished about 7-8 new pieces today and tomorrow I will put the backs and labels on and wire so they can be hung at the Roanoke Valley's Home Builders Show at the Salem CC.

The vendor and Art show will be this coming Fri thru Sun.

I will be looking for you!

And I had to take a break and go to the mailbox.  These little sweeties were blooming.  They always bloom when the earliest daffodils bloom.  Can't remember if they are "Bloodroot" or "Spring Daisy's" or what.  Started to say "MayApple".........DUH.

Anyway more work to do for the show.  Will let you know how it goes!

HAPPY TRAILS

FOURTH ABSTRACT IN THE CHARTREUSE CHALLENGE

Hey Friends, Do you like my abstracts?    I can remember years ago when I was not fond of them.  I thought they were just something some people threw together because they really could not paint.   I was very wrong.  It takes more skill than I thought and more deliberation.

It is an intuitive way of working.

I pick out a scheme for the darks and let the rest come as I work.  I like it best when I can lay down a color and leave it alone.  The more you do, the more you trust your instincts which is why it's called Intuitive.

After a lifetime of painting realistically, then impressionism, then mixed media, I just wanted something else.  I am positive some people never tire of doing the same thing all their life but I seem to have acquired attention deficit and just don't have the patience for making an object look like that object.

I still love plein air because I love being outside and trying to capture my muse, the sky.  I think perhaps just having learned more about plein air and meeting weekly with friends to paint out there in Mother Nature is why I am not tired of it yet.

I will be showing my abstract work at the Salem Civic Center next weekend March 23 thru 24.

The Roanoke Valley Home Builders Show will have lots of ideas for your homes and landscape and now there is a section (a room actually) for art to decorate your walls.  We will be located in the lobby, the first room to the left.

Bring your friends and introduce yourself.

See You There.

HAPPY TRAILS

No. 3 in the Chartreuse Challenge and a Hint about a Workshop

Hey Friends,  Yep, Only the 3rd!  I'm suffering through a bad bout of the winter blues.  That's what I'm calling it anyway.  Can you get a temperature with the blues?

My face looks a bit snarly up there doesn't it?  Hard to fake it.

I'm calling this one CURRENTS, 'cuz I made it when the electricity was OUT.

On a happier note, a photo from the beautiful EVERGREEN LAVENDER FARM in Appomattox, Va.  The Double Line Painters meet this morning to plan for the workshop coming up on Sat. June 23rd, this summer.  Mark your calendars, you know you don't want to miss this gorgeous place and all the help and hints you will get from this lively group.

More info later of course.

HAPPY TRAILS

Enjoy the journey

FLEETING ELECTRICITY NO. 2 IN CHARTREUSE CHALLENGE

Hey Friends,  I will imagine that all of my local friends have been without electricity just as I have been for the last 3 days or so.   I went to bed when it got dark just like the pilgrims used to.

No water was not much fun though.

I went to the studio DT to work on the new challenge "Chartreuse".  have enjoyed it thus far (3 pcs. HA HA).   The one up there a goofy woman is holding is called "FLEETING ELECTRICITY".  A title befitting such a master piece, don't ya think?

I need a better photo for my website.  Hoping the breezes have settled soon, so I can photograph all 3.

HAPPY TRAILS

Enjoy the Trip

THE FIRST IN A NEW CHALLENGE - MARCH IS CHARTREUSE

Hey Friends,  This is the only chartreuse I've done so far.  I can't decide if I'm finished.  I know some people say "They are never finished, just waiting for the next layer".

The weather man is calling for HI winds tonight and tomorrow so I decided to let her title be 'THURSDAY BREEZES'.

I like the orientation of the top photo.  What do you think?

I'll bet Lavon & Cat will be the only people to give me their opinion.

I'm saving this for the HOME BUILDERS SPRING SHOW at the SALEM CIVIC CENTER on the weekend of March 23-25.

Write it down so you won't forget.

HAPPY TRAILS

ENJOY THE RIDE