FAB WORKSHOP AT EVERGREEN LAVENDER FARM

Hey Friends,  Yesterday, June 24th, we the DLP's held our 3rd workshop at the infamous and beautiful Evergreen Lavender Farm in Appomattox, Va.

Hosted by Bonnie Swanson, the hard-working woman that keeps this farm so beautiful.

Above Mary Anne is squeezing some yellow-ochre onto a palette for one of the students.

They all seemed to have a good time expressing their version of the farm.

And each had a totally different version, a totally different feel!  It was great fun and all had a good time.  Hope they will give it a another try.  The next version could be even more awesome.

Click on the DLP's up there to read a little more.

Happy Trails

Plein Airing with the DLP's at the Ole Huffman Farm

Hey Friends,  Today was a GOOD day, out painting Nature's beauty with my friends, the DLP's.

The statue above is a Mr. Jones, evidently a soldier worth remembering from the civil war.

This tiny trickle of water I'm painting here feeds into Mason Creek.  Every little trickle helps!

This is the final version. (for this day)

Thought you might want to see the one big change for the final version.  There is a sunlight streak on the left side of that tree.  I thought it was confusing, so deleted it.

Don't you think it looks better??

This is a small road (I think maybe it's a fire road) and all I did was turn around after finishing the first one, above.  I walked up that road for about a block.  It was beautiful.  Reminded me so much of the views at Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Big boulders, stone cliffs, big trees and Mountain Laurel.  Can't wait for the laurel to bloom next spring.

And you know how much I love dogs, so wanted you to see this man watering his lab.  He was throwing stones!

CLICK HERE to read about our workshop this Saturday, the 24th, at the gorgeous Evergreen Lavender Farm in Appomattox.

There may still be a seat left.

Happy Trails

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP YET??

Hey Dear Folks,  Did you know that my painting group, the DLP's, hold a workshop at Evergreen Lavender Farm every year ??  It is to be June 24 from 10am til Noon.

Limited to >< 18 participants.  The painting above is an example of the work you can make in this workshop.  We use almost anything except brushes !  The majority of this piece was done with fingers and Q-tips !  This is the most fun workshop EVER.

HERE is a link to sign up

Here is a piece I started at the Wharton Garden in Bedford, Va. a few weeks ago.  Finally finished it a day ago.  It's available on EBAY.

Hope to see you at the Farm in Appomattox !

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

the ART WALK AT GOOSE CREEK GALLERY in BEDFORD, VA.

 

Hey Friends,  This is a photo of the show hanging at Goose Creek Gallery in Bedford, named,  

BIG X 5 !

I am not in the photo because I was at Lewis Gale getting a total knee replacement !

So sorry to have missed all our friends, BUT, I will be there this Friday evening with Linda.

Linda and I hope you will come see the works before it comes down the end of the month.

You may find a wee bit more info on the DLP blog HERE.

It is amazing how differently we all see the world.

Happy Trails

OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE DLP GANG

Hey Friends,  Just back from the PT place and showing you what we did yesterday at Wasena Park yesterday.  Read the DLP Blog HERE.

I ventured to the playground area with the nice curvy walk thru it and set up my gear.

Top photo.

The other photos are spots I think will make nice paintings.

Esp. like to paint ally's, above.

This side view of the Brew House will make an interesting piece if I can put in the patio and make it look real.  Something to try soon.

Hope you are enjoying the last days of spring.

And be aware of the creepy, crawly hideous things like RattleSnakes.  I saw a 3 footer yesterday at the bottom of our hill.  I really hate those things.

Happy Trails

CATCHING UP

Hey Friends,  It seems my life may be getting back to normal ?!!

I'm home after having a total knee replacement and spending 2 weeks with my sister recovering.  Now I have to do a few, once a week PT's at Heartland.

Just FYI, don't be afraid to have this done, it was a breeze (except for some pain) which I'm sure you would expect.  My Doc, Dr. Preston Waldrop, must be a wizard with the saw and knife, because I have healed so fast.  2 weeks and 4 days ago he operated and I've been walking without a cane or walker for over a week.

I admit it feels weird and still ACHES at night when I've been on my feet too much.  And don't be afraid to try different pain meds because some of that stuff will make you very sick at your stomach.  I have tried at least 8 different kinds and none have worked as well as plain ibuprofen.

The only photos I have taken are of my constant companions, Max & Hamilton, above, while at my sisters.  Sweet but yappy little dogs.

OK enough about that.

I have not used a paint brush since the 8th of May.  Hoping to change that today.  Maybe I will have a new painting to post tomorrow.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend, drive carefully.

Happy Trails

Plein Air at VWCC

Hey Friends,  I went with my plein air tribe to the arboretum at VWCC this morning.  The sun was missing so it was a wee bit chilly.

There was still color from the perennials and blooming trees.  And my favorite, the benches are everywhere.!!  I didn't quite finish my painting but we packed up to get our hot coffee.

My blog will probably be neglected a bit for a week or so, while I get a bionic knee !  Wonder Woman watch out, HeeHee.

HAPPY TRAILS

EXPERIMENTING WITH FRUSTRATION

Hey Friends,  I have spent the last hour or so playing with charcoal and alcohol, turpentine, water on Lana WC paper and canvas panels.

Look at all the lovely pastels my Friend Mary Anne gave me.  I want to use them so I'm experimenting.  There was a small piece of charcoal in the box.

I ground it up and it's in this tiny cup.  I got one piece of paper wet all over and shook the charcoal all over it.  I dribbled and splashed drops on 2nd paper.  Then shook charcoal all over it.

Both tests were DUD's.  Above and below.

I poured water fast all over this 2nd one.

And here it is dried and sprayed with fixative.

THEN I thought maybe I could smear the charcoal on the paper, THEN splashed turps, alcohol and last water.  

THEN I had the brilliant idea to glaze the paper with Golden's glazing medium, shake the charcoal on it, then splash the alcohol.  Did that on both the paper and the canvas.

What a bummer.

I want to figure out how Casey Baugh used Charcoal on paper and made it look like acrylics that bubble and spread with alcohol drops.

His paintings with this effect are in the new Art Collectors Magazine, featured in the very front.

Next I will try black pastels.

If anyone out there in the blog-0-sphere or Facebook knows what I'm trying to acheive, please be kind and show me how to do this.

I'll love ya forever.

Happy Trails

MOONLIGHT SAIL

Hey Friends,  This is 12" x 4" study I made for a larger painting.

This is now at the Little Gallery at Smith Mountain Lake.

This week and next will be very hectic, with doc appt's and getting life ready for a knee replacement.

I'm sure my blog will be one of the first to be neglected

Hope to get some posts scheduled to self post.  Should be interesting.

Happy Trails