Cat Painting

'Angel'        8x10     pastel

I just finished an amazing weekend at the IAPS convention in Alburquerque. Today I ended on a high note with mazing sessions with Duane Wakeham and Richard McKinley! I am so ready to get back to painting! I did do one painting in a hands on workshop with Sean Dye and that was a lot of fun. Tomorrow we start our 2 day workshop with Deborah Secor and then back home. This has been an amazing week and I have so much in my head... I can't wait to see what comes of it all!

A Field in Florida

'Florida Field'     2.5 x 3.5   pastel

This little patch of flowers was an unexpected surprise. I came across an empty lot while visiting family in Florida and it was filled with these little yellow flowers. This painting is 2.5 x 3.5 and I would love to paint a larger version. I had a wonderful day at the IAPS convention today. I had sessions with Lorenzo Chavez, Kim Lordier and Richard McKinley. My head is spinning with all the great things I have learned. I can't wait to get painting to try some  things out!

Cherry Tree in Bloom

Here is a 4x6 pastel painting of one of my cherry trees when it was blooming this spring.  Several years ago we planted 5 cherry trees and they get more beautiful every year. They are big enough now that I am thinking about putting a bench under them to have a spot where I can enjoy them.

New Mexico Plein Air

'Overlooking Pedernal'      5x7     pastel

We are now in Albuquerque and the IAPS convention starts tomorrow. It was truly difficult to leave the wonderful places we've visited this week.....our last stop was Abiquiu where we had some time to take out our pastels and paint this view of Pedernal, Georgia O'Keeffe's favorite mountain.  I hope you enjoy looking at my plein air studies. I know they will help me in the studio. Now onto a great learning experience here at the convention. We've already met Duane Wakeham and seen Albert Handell and Terry Ludwig. This is going to be fun!

New Wildflowers

'Daisy Delight'      8x10       pastel

I finally got online today! I am headed out to Georgia O'Keeffe country on this beautiful day in New Mexico. I hope to paint Pedernal, the mountain O'Keeffe liked to paint. 

Limited Internet

I am here in Abiquiu New Mexico and the internet connection isn't very good. I have tried for awhile to upload a new painting with no luck. I'll try again tomorrow. I am having a wonderful trip and have lots of new subjects to paint!

Plein Air Chickens!

'The Girls'        5x7      pastel  plein air

We decided to try painting the chickens today so we set up on the back patio overlooking their coop. Chickens don't pose or stay in one place for long so it was a challenge! But we had fun trying!

Casa Gallina, Taos New Mexico

We have been staying at the most wonderful place in Taos....Casa Gallina.  We have our own private casita in a gorgeous setting. The owner Richard has thought of everything to make our stay perfect including fresh eggs every day from the 'girls'. Today we had good weather so we set up to paint in the backyard. We tried our hand at painting chickens plein air....not an easy task!  

Taos Plein Air Painting

'Afternoon Break'           5x7       pastel

The weather has been unsettled since we've been here in Taos.  Some rain, wind and thunderstorms. On the bright side the skies have been amazing. Very dark and moody.  Today it rained on and off so I decided to just paint at the dining table of our casita. I had several great views of the mountains so I just painted what I saw as the weather changed. I managed to paint five quick 5x7's using mostly Terry Ludwig's Southwest pastel set. 

Autumn Marsh View 2

'Autumn Marsh View 2'        4x6       pastel

Here is another small painting done on Wallis mounted to board. It is done from photos taken at the same farm. The land overlooks wonderful fields and marshland and the Autumn colors were fantastic!

Autumn Marsh View

'Autumn Marsh View'        4x6          pastel

I did two quick studies of the Autumn scene on 4x6 wallis paper mounted on board. I will post the second one tomorrow. I tried to be loose and spontaneous and to capture the essence of the scene.

Lotus Blossom Miniature Painting

Here is a little 2.5 x 3.5 study I did of a lotus blossom. I think I'd like to paint this larger. I will be having a workshop later this summer on painting water gardens to tie in with the High Museum of Art's Monet exhibit. As soon as I get back from New Mexico I will be working on the plans for the workshop. I am leaving today for my trip but bringing my laptop....I plan to post as often as possible so stay tuned for trip reports!

Sanibel Island Painting

'Palm and Periwinkles' 8x10 pastel

I had fun last night paintng some beach scenes. I was going for some Southwest landsscapes but I figured I will have my share later this week when I get to New Mexico. It' been awhile since I painted the beach and it is always fun!

Blue Cornflowers and Daisies Pastel Painting

'Moody Blues' 5x7 pastel

I like the way this moody sky works with the blue flowers. I think I need to get ready for some moody weather. I am watching the forecast for Santa Fe this week and they are calling for thunderstorms and showers. I like moody skies but I could do with out rain. I hope the forecast is wrong!

Time for Wildflowers

'Time for Wildflowers' 11x14 pastel

Our highway medians are beginning to bloom! I love that the Georgia DOT has a wildflower program. Too bad the flowers weren't easier to get to for photos! I used the watercolor 'splash' technique on this one. Click on it to see the flowers in more detail.

Dragonfly Painting

'Dragonfly at the Pond' 8x10 pastel

It was fun to go through the photos I took of dragonflies last summer. I had forgotten about them! I need to get over to my neighbor who raises dragonflies for macro photography. I'd love to take some close-up photos! Today was a busy day for me as I have to have all of my things for New Mexico packed by tomorrow. My friends are driving out and leaving before me. The good thing will be flying with no luggage! I am getting so excited for this trip!

In the Water Garden

'In the Water Garden' 5x7 pastel

I had fun last night with some more pastel with watercolor. I just love the freedom and chance for happy accidents . Every painting is an adventure! These water lillies are from pictures I took last summer up in Franklin North Carolina. I hope we get to go back this summer!

Thrift and Rocks

'A Spot of Pink' 5x7 pastel

I tried painitng a clump of Thrift a few weekes ago on a plein air outing without success. So when I found this photo...is this Hollys? I knew I had to give it another try. I loved the way the light was hitting some of these flowers and how they seemed to emerge from the rocky bank.

Poppy Field ACEO miniature painting

Today's mini is just 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I have the best husband! He saw these poppies on the side of the very busy Atlanta Interstate and found a way to snap some photos for me. I am working on a larger version using the watercolor splashes which I will post soon.

Miniatures in May!

'Apple Tree in Bloom' 4x4 pastel

For the next week I plan to post some of my mini paintings. They will be 4x6 or less. I do these minis often for a change of pace or sometimes as studies for larger paintings. This little one I am posting today is 4x4 and was a study I did for a larger Apple tree painting.

Sunflowers for a Change

'The Sunflower Patch' 8x10 pastel

This little patch of sunflowers were at the edge of the wildflower field I've painted many times...but I haven't yet painted the sunflowers! I don't know why because I just love sunflowers. Now I'd like to work with this scene and get some different points of view. That would be a good project.

Yellow Poppy Painting

'Bessie's Poppies' 5x7 pastel

Here is my studio version of the yellow poppies I painted yesterday at my Plein Air Workshop. I used my plein air painting and a photo to do this one. I'm not sure which one I like better! I meant to ask Bessie what type of poppies these are so if anyone has an idea....let me know. They are small and very delicate and very pretty.

Plein Air Workshop Report

Yesterday was my Plein Air Workshop and we had a great day! The weather wasn't looking too good and I was ready with 'Plan B' but just in time for the workshop the clouds cleared and the sun even came out! We were fortunate to be able to paint in Jayne's neighbor Bessie's beautiful garden. Everyone did some great little paintings and I hope will be encouraged to get outside and paint more often! This is the 5x7 demo painting I did of Bessie's beautiful yellow poppies. I love poppies!

Daisies at the Lake

'Daisies at the Lake' 5x7 pastel

I found these little daisies in the parking lot near the lake we go to in North Carolina. I am always ready with my camera to capture any unexpected photo op! The weather held out for my plein air workshop today and as soon as I upload the photos I will post them along with a report.

Mountain View

'Mountain View' 8x10 pastel

On a trip last summer to Franklin North Carolina with my friend Jayne, we were compelled by this view to pull over. It was actually someones driveway. Talk about a house with a view! I loved the Queen Anne's Lace growing near the old fence. You know you have a great travel companion when you both want to stop at the same places. I can't wait for my next adventure with Jayne and Holly....2 weeks in New Mexico!

Carolina Seashore

'Carolina Seashore' 5x7 pastel

This could really be anywhere on the Carolina coast. It is actually from a photo I took in South Carolina. I had a conversation recently with a collector about painting names. She was interested in a painting from a certain location but couldn't find one in my gallery. I did actually have some but they didn't have place names in their titles....which leads to an interesting dilemma. Should an artist use the place name in the painting title or should the viewer decide if the painting speaks to them and reminds them of someplace? If the painting had a place name would a collector not purchase the painting if it wasn't a place they knew? I guess in the end it might depend on the place. If it is a very specific and unique place, the place name in the title wouldn't really matter.

Koi Pond Painting

'At the Koi Pond' 8x10 pastel & watercolor

Here is another painting with pastel and watercolor. I thought that the koi would be a perfect subject for the technique I have been playing with. It's hard to know how much watercolor to splash to get the right effect but that is what makes it so much fun! This will be a good subject to experiment with this idea some more.

Poppies for Mom!

'After the Rain' 8x10 pastel

Here is another pastel painting with watercolor. I think the splashes of watercolor gives the look of raindrops in the garden. I am planning on doing a companion piece to the dandelion fairies....dandelions in bloom. Look for that one soon!

Dandelion Seed Head Painting

'Make a Wish' 8x10 pastel

I found a great reference photo of dandelion seed heads on wetcanvas and wanted to paint it. I also tried a new technique that an artist shared on wetcanvas in the pastel forum. She had painted the neatest bird painting and her background gave it such an interesting look. I am not exactly sure how she did it. All she said was she painted with pastel on tinted paper and when the pastel was 1/2 done she covered it and splashed on watercolor with a loaded brush. So what I did was a watercolor underpainting and just painted the dandelions with pastel, covered them and then shook a loaded paintbrush of watercolor all over the paper. I finished up with a bit more pastel. It sure was fun!

Wildflower Field 5x7 pastel

'Summer's Bounty' 5x7 pastel

I hope to have my own wildflower meadow someday. I have one started on part of our land up in North Carolina. I am reading about it and know it will take a few years to really get going but at least it's a start. I would love to be able to set up my easel and paint my very own meadow someday!

Oregon Coast Wildflowers

'Color for a Gray Day' 8x10 pastel

Several years ago we went on a 20 day trip around the Pacific Northwest. It was an awesome trip! I was going through some of my photos and this one called out to be painted. This is the view of Cannon Beach from Ecola State Park in Oregon. I remember it being a chilly gray July day but these flowers added a touch of color. I need to repeat that trip!

Close Up of Queen Anne's Lace

'Closer In' 10x8 pastel

The Pastel Journal has a feature called 'Creative Spark' which presents a challenge to artists to help jump start their paintings. This month's challenge is by Jimmy Wright who paints the most wonderful sunflowers! His challenge was to take one of your paintings and use it to create a new paintng that will be able to stand on it's own. What a fun idea! So I took my painting 'After the Storm' and decided to move in closer and focus on just a few of the flowers....a real 'bug's eye view! This was a great challenge and I will be doing it again!

Opening Tonight!

If you are in the Atlanta Area you may want to check out this exhibition of Georgia artists at the Abernathy Arts Center. My painting 'After the Storm' was accepted. I am looking forward to the Opening Reception tonight.