26th World Wide SketchCrawl

Texas State Capital Building, 8 x 8

(Interrupting my Davis Mountains trip postings; back to that tomorrow.)

Today, Plein Air Austin participated in the 26th World Wide SketchCrawl. This is a drawing phenom where artists around the world pick up their sketchbooks and just sketch - and crawl - and sketch again. Then everyone posts their drawings. The global aspect is fun. After drawing all morning, we celebrated with a fabulous lunch outside and passed our sketchbooks around the table. These are my sketches... and you can click HERE to see other drawings from our group. Many thanks to Robin Cheers and Kate Merriman who organized the event! We had a great time.

Down Tenth, 5 x 7

Ninth Street Alley, 7 x 8

State Theatre, 7 x 9

Patio Shadows, 5 x 6

Flaxen Field

Flaxen Field, 12 x 12

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The area surrounding the Davis Mountains is very rural - farm and ranch land. These pale, winter grasses fill the fields as far as the eye can see. I loved the contrast against the dark tree line and mountain range in the distance. I am not sure I caught the feeling of it, but the barn seemed totally hunkered down in the middle of it all.

Dusk

Dusk, 6 x 8, SOLD

The ranch where I stayed in the Davis Mountains was a great place to catch the light as it began to change at the end of the day. I was particularly interested in this nearly silhouetted tree form against the evening sky - it seemed to be glowing in the warm rays. I think I will be painting those skies for awhile.

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Tin Shed

Tin Shed, 12 x 12

The town of Fort Davis is really small and it has some really interesting streets and alleys. Driving through the neighborhoods, the strong patterns of light and shadow on this tin shed caught my eye. There was also a good vantage point across the street where I could park my car and set up my gear (an important component, believe it or not.)

While I was painting, the owner of the shed drove up, gave me a nod, and went inside. Minutes later, he came back out and drove around the block, clearly to see what I was doing. He didn't stop, he just took a long look and quietly went back in his house. It's funny how different people react; sometimes they stop and chat, sometimes they ignore me completely... I think this was my first "drive-by"...

Side note: Thank you Sally Dean and M.F. Bruno for the Sunshine award!!!

Mountain Morning (and SNOW in Texas!)

Mountain Morning, 12 x 16

I just got back from a plein air painting trip in the Davis Mountains (west Texas) with painting buddies Jill Carver, LaNell Arndt and Kraig Kiedrowski. It was fabulous to get away, totally off the grid, with no agenda but to paint! My drive home today included eight hours in a snowstorm! AND, the little boys next door had made this happy snowman in our yard to greet my arrival!

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Texas Snowman

Pink and Exotic

Pink and Exotic, 7 x 5, SOLD

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I have searched for a name for this sturdy little flower, but the closest I can find is that it may be in the Etlingera family. I know, not your common, household name. Some look a little like this, but many go another direction completely so I am not really sure about it. Not that I have to choose, but it's my favorite of the bouquet...

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Heliconia Plant

Heliconia Plant, 7 x 5, SOLD

You see these growing everywhere in Hawaii... and apparently they are related to bananas. They really come in many shapes and sizes, and this pretty pink one is a beauty!

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Ginger Blossom

Ginger Blossom, 7 x 5, SOLD

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My sweet husband brought me the most beautiful valentine bouquet this weekend. Its big exotic blooms just screamed out to be painted, and of course, made me feel very loved!

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Stormy Weather

Stormy Weather, 6 x 8

Rain and cold have been the norm around these parts for the last few weeks. We have had to cancel several outdoor painting excursions due to what the weatherman calls a "wintery mix". Yes, we are wimps for complaining at all, but today the sun finally came out and it was quite wonderful. AND we have water in the lakes again - so good!

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I also want to thank Julie Davis and Roisin O'Farrell for giving me the Sunshine Award for positive and creative blogging. Thank you both so much, I am very happy to receive this!