A Slice of Summer...Watermelon

'Slice of Summer' 6x6 pastel

I wanted to try some close-up watermelons slices and had some fun with this one. I used an irridescent red pastel at the end and in real life it really shimmers making the watermelon wet and juicy! I have to order some more of those pastels!!

Queen Anne's Lace by the Roadside

'In the Weeds' 5x7 pastel

Here is my addition to the Daily Painter's Gallery 'Weed & Wildflower' Theme Day. I am looking forward to seeing how the other artists interpret the theme. I happen to love painting weeds & wildflowers. I found this scene along the road in Murphy, North Carolina. I am heading there tomorrow so I will be on the hunt for more roadside beauty!

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Watermelons, Watermelons!

'Watermelons, Watermelons! 8x10 pastel

I was in a summer mood today so I decided to paint some watermelons. I had the painting up on my easel when my son came over...he gave me an idea to do another version of these watermelons so maybe I will try that tonight. This one was fun!

Fighting Conch Florida Sea Shell

'Florida Fighting Conch' 8x10 pastel

I think it's time to paint more Shells! This is one from our trip last summer to Sanibel Island. At low tide we saw many of the Fighting Conchs on the sand bar. I'm glad they have the law against collecting live shells so others can enjoy seeing them.

Beaufort South Carolina Sunset

'Million Dollar View' 5x7 pastel

I was going through my reference photos looking for wildflower pictures. The Daily Painter's site will be having 'Weeds & Wildflowers Day' theme painting day for this Saturday. I found one but I also found this South Carolina sunset photo that begged to be painted today. Wouldn't it be nice to live where you had this kind of view every evening!?

Ouray Colorado Aspens in Summer

'Ouray Aspens' 8x10 pastel

I think I love Aspens as much as I love Palm Trees! If I saw an aspen grove on my trip to Colorado...I just had to stop for photos! This little grove was found on a hike we did in Ouray, Colorado. It was labled as a very easy hike in the book....I sure would not like to try a difficult hike!! But the scenery was amazing. We had a wonderful view over the town of Ouray and crossed some streams and hiked through idyllic meadows...and when we were finished, we agreed that it was worth the effort!

Taos Pueblo ACEO

'Taos Pueblo Door' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel

I had time to paint this little ACEO. I am still trying to let my elbow rest so I haven't done too much yet. It's giving me some time to get organized! We loved our visit to Taos Pueblo. We got there as it first opening in the morning and we had perfect early morning light and no crowds. We spent about 2 hours, bought some watermelon juice and some jewelry. As we were leaving...the whole scene had changed dramatically. Crowds of people filed in and the colorful doors were opened to welcome people into the shops. I am glad we saw the magic of the early morning!

Note to Carol....I have received and replied to your emails!! If you don't get a reply today give me a call so we can catch up!!!

Skies over New Mexico

'Skies over New Mexico' 8x10 pastel

Many of the photos I took on my trip to the SW were taken from the passenger seat as we drove from place to place. I got pretty good at taking photos at 70 miles per hour!! We saw some wonderful skies and clouds.....which I love to paint. This scene is in Northern New Mexico close to the Colorado border. We were on our way to Great Sand Dunes National Park...which is a very cool place!

Red Cliffs Moab, Utah

'Red Cliffs in the Afternoon' 5x7 pastel

Here is another plein air painting from my recent trip to the Southwest. I was so happy to be outside painting that I spent a couple of hours painting this scene as the light changed. I had been watching this same view on the hotlel's live webcam for weeks before my trip so I felt like I had been there already! This is just a quick impression on LaCarte paper using Great American and Terry Ludwig pastels.

Daisy Flower ACEO

'Daisy Up Close' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel

I love to paint daisies and I took some great photos from a garden out in Santa Fe...they will be fun to paint. This little painting is ACEO size. I would love to do one super large!!! This week I am not painting...trying to rest my sore arm. I am getting antsy though...I printed out some photos and set up my paper...maybe this weekend I'll try something small.

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South Georgia Spanish Moss

'Whispering Moss' 12x18 pastel

On a visit to Providence Canyon in South Georgia last spring we stayed near a lake. Late one afternoon, the light on the moss was just magical. Looking at this painting I can still hear the breeze whisper past the hanging moss.

Plein Air Painting at Red Cliffs Lodge

I thought I'd share some photos of my plein air set up from my trip. If anyone is looking to splurge on a fantastic place to paint in Moab, Utah...I highly recommend the Red Cliffs Lodge. The accomodations were wonderful, the staff so friendly and the setting was breathtaking! As you can see from the top photo, the view from the patio was amazing! There is a table and chairs and a lounger on the patio...so it was easy to set up my supplies and stay in the shade. And the dip in the pool and hot tub after painting was a nice finishing touch. And did I mention the delicious brunch and the onsite winery????????

Moab Utah Plein Air

'Red Cliffs View' 8x10 pastel

I am back home after a wonderful trip to the Southwest. We saw so much beautiful scenery and had many adventures. I didn't have any time to paint...I was much to busy taking photos...I have about 3000 photos! The last place we stayed I finally had a chance to take out my pastels which, by the way travelled perfectly in my homemade cigar box. We stayed at the Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab Utah (I highly recommend this place!) We had the most awesome view of the red cliffs and the Colorado River from our patio. I quickly painted 5 paintings in about 2 hours...it was 105 degrees!! This one is my favorite of the bunch. I really can't wait to start painting again...but I somehow hurt my elbow on the trip and so really I should let it rest so I don't make it worse...we'll see how good I will be!

North Carolina Country

'Fields of Gold' 12x18 pastel

In early summer this filed was covered with tiny yellow flowers and it just glowed! I drove past it on my way to Murphy where my parents live and had to stop! I'll be heading back to North Carolina some more this sumer and hope to paint more scenes like this.

Trip Report....Colorado

I finally had some time to upload some of my photos. I lost count but I think I am close to 2000 photos. I am not going to know what to paint first when I get home!!! Here is my daughter Caitlin trying some gold panning at our last stop. We actually found some flakes and I wish we had more time there...I wanted to find a nugget! Today we head to Moab, Utah. Maybe I will get a chance to paint there??

Summer at the Shore

'On my Watch' 12x18 pastel

Here's another painting from lat summer. It was actually painted from a photo I took on a trip to the NJ Shore a few summers ago. It's great to be in the mountains but I love a trip to the beach too!

Yellow Hibiscus

'Yellow Hibiscus' 5x7 pastel

We're taking a break this afternoon before heading back to Chalk Lake to do some fishing and gold panning in the stream. We went earlier today and the fish weren't biting but I managed to get some gold flakes..now I want to find a nugget!! Here is a Yellow Hibiscus I painted recently. It's from one of my island photos. I haven't had time enough to take out my pastels to paint yet! Tommorrow we head to Ouray, Colorado and I should have internet so I wil post another update.

Azalea Spring

'Azalea Spring' 18x24 pastel

Last Spring Jayne, Holly & I made a stop at Callaway Gardens to see the famous azalea gardens. This particlular section of the garden was at it's peak. It was so colorful it seemed unreal! I had to capture it in a large painting!

Mr. Pelican

'Mr. Pelican' 9x12 pastel

I love to paint pelicans and this is one of my favorites. I thought I'd share him with you. I am hoping to get a chance to do some plein air painting over the next few days and if so I will post the results.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Trip update! We spent the day yesterday at Great Sand Dunes National Park. This morning the sun is out and we'll go back for awhile before heading up to Salida Colorado and Antero Hot Springs Cabin. We won't have internet access for the next couple of days so I may not be able to update the blog. Here's a photo of my son hiking up the dunes. Lots of fun!

The Sunflower Festival

'The Sunflower Festival' 16x20 pastel

I haven't had the chance to paint on my trip yet. We've been busy exploring. Today we're at Great Sand Dunes National Park and I am writing this on my balcony overlooking the dunes and mountains. It's so peaceful here. I thought I would share a painting from last summer. This is from a photo I took at the Sunflower festival outside of Atlanta. I hope to be able to go again this July!

Plein Air Low Country Marsh

'Morning Softness' 6x6 pastel

Here is another plein air painting I did on my spring trip to the South Carolina Low Country. This is Huntington Beach State Park. It was a peaceful morning and a wonderful place to paint the marshes!

Trip Report Day 1

I am writing from my first stopover, Taos New Mexico. We drove this morning from Denver and saw some beautiful scenery. If we could have stopped everywhere I wanted to take pictures we would never have arrived! I had to be content taking photos from the car as we drove....not an easy task! Here is my favorite shot of the day. I saw the raven and the hawk as we sped by and I just shot a picture...this is the result. Tomorrow is Santa Fe and I will try to report back!

Little Green Heron

'People Watching' 11x14 pastel

There was a big crowd at the little pond so I knew it must be something special...and it was. It was a Little Green Heron which is a solitary and secretive heron. He watched us all for awhile as we talked about him and snapped photos...then he raised his crest and disappeared into the mangroves. What a fun moment that was!

Conch Shell Bahamas

'Washed Ashore' 11x14 pastel

My husband can never guess what I am going to paint next! How can you paint a piece of cake and then switch hears and paint a shell on the beach??? It's easy! There is so much that calls out to be painted and last night it was this conch shell.

Some news to share....I delivered five paintings to the Gallery in North Carolina (David's Fine Art) He was very pleased and took all of them and is going to give me more wall space so that is exciting! I also made the local paper. 'The Cherokee Scout'. The gallery owner donated one of my paintings for a silent auction to benefit the library and there was a nice bit about me and a photo of my painting in the paper.
And finally, I am headed out to Denver tomorrow to start my 10 day SW tour. I will be visiting Taos, Santa Fe, Great Sand Dunes Natl Park, Antero Hot Springs cabins near Beauna Vista, Co, Ouray , CO and Moab, Utah. Whew! I have my pastels packed and lots of memory cards for my cameras. I plan to keep posting so stay tuned for updates!

Cheesecake with Strawberries

'Strawberries on Top' 5x7 pastel

A friend of mine reminded me that I had not painted food in awhile and she's right! I really like to paint food, especially the sweet kind! So I thought maybe a series of ice cream paintings would be just the thing for summer....since my daughter is working in an icecream shop and brings home ice cream everyday (not a good thing!!) I will have plenty of reference material. Of course last night... no ice cream... so here is my second favorite dessert....cheesecake! Ice cream on the way!

St. George Island Dunes

'Tangled Dunes' 19x27 pastel

This is the largest dune painting I have done so far. I love painting small but I would like to start doing some larger paintings as well. This painting is from a photo I took on a trip to St. George Island, Florida. There was such a tangle of vegetation growing on the dunes and they were so colorful! I love it there and I'm trying to plan another painting trip to the island. This painting is done on a sheet of Art Spectrum Colourfix paper...I haven't worked on this paper in over a year and I forgot that I like it!

Sanibel Sea Shells

'Calico Scallop Still Life' 6x6 pastel

I love painting these shell arrangements courtesy of Mother Nature. I like to walk the beach and photograph interesting piles of shells that I use for these paintings. This is a smaller one at 6x6. Another fun painting!

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Tiki Hut on Sanibel Island

'Waterside Tiki Hut' 8x10 pastel

I was in a beach mood trying to plan a little late summer beach get away to Florida...so I decided to paint the tiki hut at the Waterside Inn on Sanibel. It's a great spot to sit and watch the day go by in the shade. I want to go back!!!

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Honorable Mention for 'Afternoon Clouds'!

Tonight was the opening reception for the Southeastern Pastel Society's Juried Members Exhibition. I am happy to report that my painting 'Afternoon Clouds' won an Honorable Mention! Here is a photo of me and the painting this afternoon before the reception. Jayne, Holly and I went over early to view the show before the official opening. We planned to paint in the afternoon but it actually rained so we just hung out and got caught up. The show was good and we had a great day as we always do. I am thrilled with having two paintings accepted into the show so the honorable mention award is icing on the cake for me. I am also excited to report that my teacher Marsha Savage won First Place for her Sunflower painting that we love! Congratulations Marsha!! It looks like I picked the Best Teacher!!!!

Siamese Cat Pastel Painting

'The Window Seat' 8x10 pastel

This is prime real estate for a cat! A nice warm spot in the sun looking out the window...maybe some birds or neighborhood cats to watch...or maybe just a place to close your eyes and soak up the warmth.