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

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

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hey Dear Friends,   Last minute wish to you.

Merry  Merry  Trails

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

BOTETOURT PAINTING

Hey Friends,  I thought I was in Buchanan but the proprietor told me I was in Botetourt.   Doesn't matter to me, both are equally gorgeous.  But I DO love this particular estate.

I am happy with the painting above but would still like to put a few horses in.

It is hard making that dry, goldish-brown color of the fields.

This painting is a lot better now.  It looked so simple, that is why I choose to do it with the left over oils on my palette.  But, NO, it was not.

The light was really changing fast so I quit.  Will finish later.

There are 2 rose bushes up there in the darkest area of the photo.

And today I went with my plein air group to Sinkland Farm just outside of Christiansburg, Va.

We had a beautiful day for plein air as you can see from the photos.

I choose this vignette with the truck and cows!  Fun except a hundred vehicles driving over the dry gravel road and kicked up a dust storm every time.  We are so very dry here in SW Va. and it's time to worry about forest fires.

And I do not know what this little structure is for but I LOVE IT.  Susan the owner has put out a lot of cute little things for the kids to interact with.  They have tons of children come on school buses from every where.  And they love to SQUEAL.

Can't wait to go back !

Happy Trails

A SUNFLOWER FARM IN BUCHANON & A FARM IN SALEM

Hey Friends,  Did you know there is a huge sunflower farm in Buchanan ?  I did not until a couple weeks ago when they had their 2nd festival.

The owner Candace let us paint there today.

HERE is her FB page for the farm

So many beautiful views, it was hard to pick.

Above I set up close to the flowers to do a portrait of sorts.

I will have to finish here at home.

And here is another beautiful farm, not really now, maybe at one time, but a gorgeous piece of property nontheless, that I hope to get back to soon.

Has this faded red barn, which I think was for cows at one time.  Now it stores machinery.

This was my last start for this day.  Includes the stream and a good view of the white fence.

Very dry here in SW Va. now so the stream is tiny.  Probably when spring rolls around again, it will be full and I can try to capture that.

All in all, it has been a good week for plein air.  How much longer will it last.?  Please tell me through October the 15th !  We want some clear, sunny days for the South Peak Paint Out this year.

Happy Trails

PLEIN AIRE AT ROARING RUN

Hey Friends,  You should have come with us today.  We went to Roaring Run which is out past Botetourt and Fincastle on Rt. 220.  Positively worth the little bit of time it takes to get there.

Top photo I was almost finished with this 9x12 and I DID finish it and signed it.  Hoping that would keep me from fiddling with it anymore.

I was going to paint this spot on the creek (above) but the others were packed up and ready for lunch.

Time fly's when you are in the zone.

I will have to go back after I get my license to carry a gun.  Maybe an assault rifle so I can shoot at every little bird that breaks a twig.  You know, the paranoia of a bear leaping out of no where, to drag you back to the liar for the cubs to eat. 

I probably just need a good stiff drink before I leave the car. HA!

Happy Trails

FRAMED REPRODUCTION

Hey Friends,  I just put this little gem in my EBAY shop.  This is a reproduction of a painting I made years ago.  I had great pleasure making this short lived series. 

The whole purpose in painting them was to play with abstracted back grounds

Of course I love birds too that's why they were the feature.  But time changes everything, even me,

Now I would rather just make the backgrounds.

Or in other words, I am enjoying making abstracts

I have put just about all work made before 2017 in my shop.  I have a few more to go but I need the room, the space in my studio and shed for more canvas'.

Art makes a lovely gift and I bet you can find a pretty for someone on your list.

Visit my EBAY Store  HERE.

On another note, my group of plein aire paintrs, the DLP, were scheduled to go to Garst Mill to paint this morning.  It was raining here in Salem, Va. so I stayed home.  Some of them went anyway.  There is a shelter there so they could stay dry.

I love to paint at this park but my favorite spots can't be seen from the shelter.

I have been plein aire painting a good bit here lately so I don't feel bad about cancelling.

Have a great weekend.

Happy Trails