ORIGINAL AUTUMN LANDSCAPE PAINTING

Hey Friends,  A colorful addition to ebay auctions of a path along the James River next to Otter Creek.  It had been raining so there are a few puddles along the path.

A beautiful piece of land in our mountains of Virginia.

Click Here for the ebay auction.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING FOR AUCTION AND MORE BEAUTIES AT THE JEFFERSON CENTER

Hey Friends,  Still listing more work for auction on EBAY.  Above a small lady drug her little folding chair to the edge of the Roanoke River in South Salem and settled in for a long time.

She caught several and I had a great time painting her relaxed silhouette.

Here are a couple you will see when you come to the reception at the Jefferson Center on Nov. 29th  2 pm til 4 pm.

These are pretty large at 24"x24" and have nice textures.  Make a statement ! !

Happy Trails

"FLOWERS FOR A TABLE" NEW LARGE PAINTING ON EBAY

Hey Friends,  Just finished listing this big painting on Ebay.  Interested in seeing what happens.

CLICK HERE, doesn't engage until 9pm tonight.

I felt like a photo in a real setting might show the scale better.  I know this can be done virtually somehow but you know I can't figure it out.  This works OK, has a little glare.

Comments or suggestions are always nice.

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 PAINTING OF SISTERS PATIO GARDEN

 

Hey Friends, I was able to get out and paint a bit more today.  After I picked up my little GranBabes from school, we went to my sisters house.

While the babes jumped on the trampoline and swung, I Painted!

 

This is the view of the patio from her driveway.  The giant bush in the back has pretty little round yellow blooms.  Don't know what it's called but it is very hearty.  The sweet little birds like to nest in it.  The bleeding heart is on the left, with Va. Blue Bells.  There is Iris and phlox on the right.

 

CLICK HERE for the EBAY auction. We want to go to the beach this year, and every bit helps.  This would make a great gift for Mom's Day or your Sis's Birthday.

 

Thanks for stopping in.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING PLEIN AIR IN SALEM CHERRY TREES IN SPRING DRESSES

 

Hey Friends,  For you Salemites, do you recognize this place ?   I stopped a few times to take photos.

 

This shot is after I finished a sketch.  I have read your sketch is good IF a truck pulled up and blocked your view, you could still paint from your sketch.   I have not been put to the test yet.

 

Starting to block it in.

 

Added the shadows.

 

Got the trunks in, so now it's the blossums.  And if you are wondering, this is a new panel holder from Carol Marine.  Only used it once, not the easy tool she talks about.  But I probably haven't gotten the hang of it yet.

 

This little spring time jewel is for auction in EBAY.  CLICK HERE.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF A BLUE FLORAL RIVER

 

Hey Friends,  Do you think this looks a river?  A river of sweet smiling hyacinth !

A few yellow tulips thrown in, to make it really colorful.

 

It's for auction, starting at 99 cents in Ebay. CLICK HERE.

 

You could win it for your Mom or your Wife.         Doesn't cost anything to try.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF AN OLD FASHION CELLAR

 

Hey Friends,  This little root cellar is in great disrepair.  I spruced it up just for this painting.  Gave it a fresh coat of white wash and planted the white rambling rose.

 

Fantasy Painting is available .HERE

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF GARDEN STATUE

 

Hey Friends,  A garden ornament, statue of the funny bunny.  I have a couple cement bunnies, a kitty, some frogs, and a bird.  Never thought to paint them before now.

 

This little guy is available HERE.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF LAZY COWS

 

Hey Friends,  Slightly different take on these cows.  Saw them in Bedford when hunting for barns.  They moved so slowly you would have thought it was freezing cold or they were a bit DAFF !

 

None the less, they were pretty cute.  I especially like the blond cows.

CLICK HERE FOR EBAY.

 

Hope your weekend has been smooth sailing.

Thanks for stopping.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING LANDSCAPE RIVER EDGE WITH COWS AND REDBUDS

 

Hey Friends,  This was painted from photos and sketches I took last summer while watching my

GranBabes play along the bank of the Roanoke River in Greenhill Park. 

There is a small herd of cows, I see from time to time, across the way.  I"ve always wanted to cross the river and get closer photos.

I can't seem to spot a place on the other bank to get out of the water.  It all looks too overgrown and snakey.

 

This is painted on gessoed mat board so it should be matted and under glass.

Check it out in EBAY.

 

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

HAPPY TRAILS

ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA DAISY PAINTINGS

 

Hey Friends,  I've had a busy and pretty day so far.  The Double Line Painters met at 2nd Helpings Gallery on their patio to finish our Color Wheel Chair for the Bedford Artisan Trail auction.

 

 

For the DLP Blog - CLICK HERE

 

 

And before I forget, the Daisys above, along with a few more are for auction in Ebay.

CLICK HERE

 

Thanks for taking your time to stop in.

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF MILL MOUNTAIN WITH STAR AND MOON

 

Hey Friends,  Here is a fantasy type or dreamy type painting of our famous Star.  You know the Roanoke Valley is known as the Star City of the South ! 

It really is exceptional.

 

And you can bid on it in Ebay - JUST CLICK HERE.

 

Soon it will be warm enough to stand on the observation deck under the Star at night.  YAY!

 

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL ACRYLIC PAINTING - "WOOD STORKS'

 

Hey Friends,  Again the weather here is sunny and nice.  A bit chillier than yesterday.

 

This painting of nesting wood storks was done a couple years ago from photos taken while in Florida visiting my uncle.

This nest was really big and messy and a bit stinky.  But what the heck you can't be picturesque and smell like a gardenia every day.

 

This is for auction in EBAY but the link doesn't engage until tonight, about 9pm.

CLICK HERE

 

Thanks for stopping by

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING STILL LIFE CONTEMPORARY FLORAL

 

Hey Friends, I told you more to come !  Painted at the same time as the previous.  Maybe a bit looser.

 

It is double matted to a 12" sq.  CLICK HERE for Ebay and some close ups.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Happy Trails

Happy Spring !!

ORIGINAL PAINTING STILL LIFE CONTEMPORARY FLORAL

 

Hey Friends,  When I find work that's been packed away or maybe it comes back from gallery, it doesn't always look like something I would typically do.  I enjoy experimenting and trying new techniques so some doesn't fit my NORMAL mode.

 

I always return to my place of contentment.  Mostly Mother Nature.

 

This is for auction on Ebay now.  CLICK HERE.  Could add that spark of color excitement to your room or office.

 

More coming soon.

 

Happy Trails