MASON'S CREEK ROCKS

Hey My Friend, Here is the little pleine air piece I did last week at Mason's Creek.

Lots of water in the creek right now, we have had so much rain.

It was a joy to be there and I got a funny little photo of my GranSon, if I can email it to myself.

 

I didn't even notice it when I took the photo.  He appears to be sitting on my easel !

Have not added this small painting to Ebay yet.

Hoping to make it to Sheep Mountain soon with friends to paint more .  Never been there but hoping for some Mountain views.

HAPPY TRAILS

FANTASTIC DAY TO BE OUTSIDE PAINTING

Hey My friend,  Hope your part of the world is as lovely as here in SW Va. in the Blue Ridge Mtns.  This is Mason's Creek, which is pretty close to I81 and at the intersection of Rt.311 and Rt.419.

It is a beautiful creek but too chilly to get in right now.  My GranBabe, Nic waded and threw stones.  He was very patient while I painted.  He is my art critic too.

This is the scene I chose.  Let me express my frustration with moving water.  Don't believe I will ever get it onto a canvas.  I think I'm aware of my limits but I will try again.  Sooner than later.

Didn't have to wear a face mask out here thank Heavens.  A couple of people came by and we chatted and I never even thought once about social distance and masks.  Slow learner, I guess.

Hope all are well and happy.

HAPPY TRAILS

THE WINTER WINDS

Hey Friends,  I'm interrupting the stream of painting posts to show you what happened last night.

I had just gotten home from a PAR meeting, was changing clothes and I heard some BIG noises and glass breaking.  A couple more thuds and all was quiet.

We were very lucky, it could have been so much worse.

I'm standing in the window with the broken glass taking this photo.  Looks like a giant poplar and an Oak.  I assume all the rain we have had this year weakened the roots and then these stiff winds came thru last night.

You guys have a great day.

HAPPY TRAILS

CELESTIAL SUNFLOWERS #1 AND #2 - ORIGINAL ABSTRACT ART

Hey Friends,  This set can be what you call a dyptch  or they can be displayed indivually.

They were inspired by my last visit to BEAVER DAM FARM in Buchanan, Virginia.  They have a sunflower festival there every year.  AgroTourism, even though they are a dairy farm, they are struggling like most farmers so they started this wonderful festival and I hope you go next year.

This is #1.

Here they are together, a little too together.

Here is #2.

A shot of them together over a desk.  If you love sunflowers I think you will love these.  The colors are very sunflower-ry.

Hope you look at the link to Beaver Dam Farm, if you click on one of the photos, you will see a lot more hidden in there somewhere. And hope for better weather next year.

HAPPY TRAILS

TIME FLIES - ORIGINAL SMALL ABSTRACT PAINTING

Hey Friends,  Always working!  Look out OBX, I'll be there soon.

This is titled "TIME FLIES".   My sister and I were talking about how old our babes are now and WE DO NOT feel old enough to have kids their age!  We all do that, don't we?

Even talking about it shows our age, right?

This is on my website HERE.  And you can see it better!

HAPPY TRAILS

FOUND A NEW TECHNIQUE TO PLAY WITH (WASTE TIME WITH?)

Hey Friends,  I'm sure you ALL know about paint pouring and I have been watching YouTube videos of it for way over a year.  I thought it looked like fun but did not want to get involved with yet another new thing!  Also thought I should not waste the money.

But I have been wanting to play with a series of abstracted, deformed pottery rejects for months.  I think it will be interesting to use these panels and skins for the vases...!!

I'm starting to get the hang of it.  First ones look like marbled paper, not cells.

Can't wait to get started.

COMPLICATED FROM BIRTH  24" sq. Acrylic

And lastly, this new piece will be going to WVTF in the morning.  I painted over one that I did not like but kept the title.  I wonder if that is bad luck?A little glare on the right side but like I said, Photographing Artwork is a PAIN!

I'm liking my work more and more.  I would like to know your opinion.

HAPPY TRAILS

ROANOKE COUNCIL OF GARDEN CLUBS FOR DLP'S MEETING TODAY

Hey Friends,  Three of us went painting this morning at the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs Home on Colonial Ave.  CLICK HERE for their FB Page.

I don't recognize that fat lady in my chair up there, but she looks like she may be having fun!

We got one of the Club ladies to take our photo with our paintings.  I'm not finished with mine.

Here is a shot of my first one almost done.

If you are looking for a place to paint, go here.  If you are looking for a space to rent for receptions or parties or whatever, go here.

Everyone is very kind, and generous.

HAPPY TRAILS

RIVERSIDE NURSERY HAS THE BLOOMS YOU WANT

Hey Friends,  Yesterday was a fun day for me at Riverside Nursery painting the koi pond.

The pond reflected the inside of the green house, of course, so that was not very pretty.  And I had a bit of a stroke trying to imagine the reflections if it were outside.

Can't say it was the most imaginative but I like it anyway.

Thank you Bruce for letting us set up inside your lovely house of blooms.

I bought some of the gorgeous yellow pansies for my sister's front porch.  I have never seen such giant pansy blooms.  You know you need some!

HAPPY TRAILS

Enjoy your weekend

THE PEAKS OF OTTER WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE TODAY

Hey Friends,  First thing I would like to know !  Does anyone out there in Cyber Land know what kind of tree this is?  Really want to know.  Took this photo this morning and the leaves are all gone and the bark is gray green.

This was my first work.  A little cove along the edge of Abbot Lake at the parkway road.

Started with an under layer/block in of phalo turq. & raw umber.

Here is a better view of the waters edge.  A very few leaves laying on the water had some crimson but that was about all.

A view looking across Abbot Lake to where Linda and Bonnie were set up to paint.

Here is my last little creation that needs much more work.  When I finish I'll show the before and after. 

Just had a delicious day and hope you did also.

Til next time !

Happy Trails

New Show in Covington and Plein Aire at South Peak

Hey Friends,  Judy and Mary Anne along with Kyle (above photo) hung a new show at the Alleghany Highlands Regional Library in Covington, Va. today.  We hope you will be able to visit them and see the new work.  HERE is a link for more info.

Linda and I went to South Peak again today to do some more practice pieces.  The sky was beautiful even though these photos don't tell you much.

These top 2 photos were taken from the parking lot of the Hilton Hotel, just below South Peak as you can see.

I was using some palettes I'm not exactly used to.  They came from a book called the YIN and YANG.  The top 2 were a red/green color palette.

And these two were the blue/orange palette.  I did not finish any of the 3 totally.  They were pretty slippery and I need to let them get sorta dry or sticky so I can get some more paint to stick and stay put.  I like both color combos.

I won't know for sure until I finish them.  Hopefully they can go into the art show.

Have you put this plein air event on your calendar?  You can come October 13, 14, or 15.

More details will follow.

AND ART BLAST HAS BEEN CHANGED TO SUNDAY ,9-3.

Was scheduled for Sat. the 2nd but IRMA and HARVEY have changed it to Sunday.

Hope to see you come by.

Happy Trails

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

FIELD OF BEES - ORIGINAL ART PAINTING

Hey Friends,  Here is a new work that may be hanging at the SPRING SENSATIONS show at 2nd Helpings Gallery in Roanoke.  I say 'may' because the final show will be determined by the sizes of all the work the members of  DLP will bring.

We will be hanging the show on Tues. April 4th, next week ! !  That's right April is here !

The meet the artists reception will be Sat. April 8th, from 1 - 3 pm.  The members will be painting, so plan to visit and watch us paint and chat at the same time.

Here is what this painting would like hanging in your home.

This listed in my web site at FASO.

And reproductions and such are available at FAA.

Happy Trails

MEXICAN NEWS - Not What You Would Think

Hey Friends,  A favorite produce market is called Reyna Produce on Williamson Rd. in Roanoke, Va. close to Brookside Golf Course.

Mexicans (forgive me if I should be saying Hispanic) own it and they seem to have some of the best pablanos and avocados ever.  And I love their baked goods.

Anyway, I found a small Mexican newspaper, which I could not read but covered it with gesso and acrylics anyway.  Turned out great and I have used them in several collages, this being the first.

Have a grand weekend while it is still warm.

Happy Trails

NO.5 of the 30 in 30 Challenge

Hey Friends,  This Piece was easy and fun.  It is on watercolor paper so it needs to be matted and framed.   I decided to title it  COSMIC INTENTIONS.   Why??

I will need to sleep on this question but mostly 'cuz I like the sound.

Once it is matted, I intend to send to Goose Creek Gallery in Bedford, Va.

So I look forward to doing more on paper.

Hope your New Year is unfolding as you anticipated.

Happy Trails

SOUTH PEAK PAINT OUT IN ROANOKE, VA.

Hey All You Lovely's Out There,  It may wind up being a bit wet tomorrow for the Paint Out but only in the morning according to the weather channel.

So you can still come by in the afternoon.  It would be interesting to watch artists paint in the rain!

Bring Irish Coffee's with you if you want to make sure it's fun.

Look at these gorgeous views I took a few weeks ago.  I think you can see West Va.!

I'm looking forward to it - Rain or Shine.

Happy Trails

Until We Meet Again