Home Again!

Log Barn with Silo, 12 x 16

For the last two weeks I have been painting in the mountains and having a blast! The first week I was in Tabernash, CO (near Winter Park) staying with dear friends who not only hosted me but also took me to some great painting spots. This old homestead barn is in a remote corner of a big YMCA ranch. A big family of marmots lives under this building and they watched me the whole time I was painting... keeping guard I guess.

Gone Paintin'

Window to the Hills, 30 x 30

This is the invitation painting for my upcoming show at the Annarella Gallery, in Georgetown, TX. Twelve paintings will be on display for the month of September. The opening is Friday, September 5th from 6-8pm, and coincides with Georgetown's monthly "First Friday" celebration where all the stores stay open late. It's a wonderfully historic downtown and a lovely, unique gallery. Hope to see you.

I am currently off on a painting trip to Colorado and Montana (along with a few days in California for the wedding of a dear cousin). I will start posting the paintings when I get back on Thursday. Until then, best wishes to all.

Abundant Blessings

Perissos Vineyard, 6 x 10.5

A week or so ago I posted a drawing I had done for a local charity and an amazing thing happened... I got a commission to do a drawing for a new wine label for Perissos Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country! Their web site explains their name, "Perissos is a Greek word found in the Bible meaning exceedingly abundant, beyond what is expected or hoped for. It is our sincere desire and intent that our wines live up to that description. However, it is our lives that we feel have been blessed exceedingly abundantly by God -- We have been blessed richly and are so grateful, thus the name Perissos."

I love that - I am blessed to be a part of it.

Another one from Georgia

Calm Before the Storm, 12 x 12

It rained on and off the day before Tropical Storm Fay moved up into Georgia. Then, in the afternoon, the sun finally shone through the mist with a warm glow. There was plenty more rain and wind yet to come (in fact, I left a day earlier than expected to escape the oncoming torrent), but this was a welcome interlude.

Painting in Georgia this week

Just Around the Bend, 9 x 12

This past week I went to St. Simons Island, Georgia to visit my in-laws and got a couple of paintings in before Tropical Storm Fay made her way up the coast. The predictions seemed to change by the hour; now it's coming, now it's not... But every time the sun came out my mother and father-in-law would push me out the door to seize the moment!

Thursday at the Easel

Still and Quiet Morning, 8 x 16

Today I painted with my buddy Tess (www.tesstraylorwalls.com). We were at the Austin Yacht Club, but we left out the yachts and focused on the gorgeous reflections. You just have to paint what grabs you. Don't get me wrong, the boats were great, but that peninsula in the distance with the light beaming through - that is what it was all about for me.

And now for something completely different...

House on Marshall Lane, 8 x 10

A friend of mine asked me to do a drawing for Hospice Austin's fundraiser invitation. (This home is the location of the fundraiser and the owners will get to keep the original drawing. That's pretty cool!) Although I always sketch before painting, I do it for composition purposes and to get the shapes and proportions in my eye. I rarely do a finished drawing these days, so this was a challenge and out of my routine. And it was fun... I highly recommend taking a challenge and getting out of the routine!!!

Across from Windy Point

In the Coolness, 12 x 12

Last week's paint out included a bit of a hike out to the water... I think we all wondered if it would be worth it. But standing in the shade at the edge of Lake Travis we were graced with a constant breeze and a beautiful view through this crooked little tree. And then we jumped in the lake.

Last Day in Costa Rica

Storm Cloud in the Distance, 9 x 12

On the last day I overheard a young girl tell her parents, "I love how we can be sitting here on the beach in the bright sun, and right across the water we see a thunderstorm; something completely different." She was so right... doesn't everything look beautiful from a sunny beach? I guess that's why we love vacations.

Playa Prieta

Secluded Beach, 9 x 12

Crystal clear turquoise water, sunlit red rocks, empty quiet beach... paradise.

Offerings of the Season

Light and Mist, 9 x 12

It's the rainy season in Costa Rica and it rains almost every afternoon. Sometimes the rain continues into the evening, but sometimes it's just an afternoon shower and the sun breaks back through the mist and fog. On this particular day as the rain lifted there was soft color in the sky and a ribbon of intense light on the horizon - it was heartbreakingly gorgeous.

Miguel's #1

Sea Cave, 9 x 12

When we first got to Costa Rica, we had the good fortune of riding a hotel shuttle with the local golf pro. Hearing about my quest for compelling painting sites, he immediately offered to have his course manager, Miguel, take me to all the best views at the golf course. This is Miguel's #1 favorite spot just off the 18th hole - a shady clifftop overlooking the ocean with Howler Monkeys in the trees.

Costa Rica!

Papagayo Cove, 12 x 9

Bill and I just returned from a relaxing week in Costa Rica, on the Papagayo Peninsula in the Guanacoste region (aka northwest corner). We had a great time - I was thrilled to be able to paint almost every day and will post the results over the next few days. It's beautiful country, and a friendly country. PS - We snorkeled at the underwater coral reefs near this point... muy bueno. :)

Rain Down

Scattered Showers, 12 x 12

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There is nothing quite like oncoming rain - looking across the lake, feeling the wind pick up, and knowing it is headed this way. I watched this one blow in a couple of weeks ago and had to paint fast while it was still in the distance. But it was coming in fast...

Perseverance

Gray Day, Blue Awning, 12 x 12

In spite of the increasing threat of rain yesterday (thanks to Hurricane Dolly on the coast) a few hardy souls gathered for our Thursday paint out at the Elisabet Ney Sculpture Museum grounds. Three times we closed up our paintboxes and ran for cover as showers blew through. Our reward for not giving up was a moment of sunlight and some small patches of blue sky before the big rains came later in the day.

Speaking of cool Austin pools...

Poolside at Barton Springs, 16x12

So my sister from New York was wondering if Deep Eddy is the same pool as the one in "in that big park with the great lemonade?" No, we have TWO really amazing pools in Austin!! This painting is from the other great pool - Barton Springs in Zilker Park - also spring fed and 68 degrees year 'round. Right at the pool entrance is a bronze sculpture of 3 old legendary Austinites and a plaque quotes one of them, "I wish you might be here and go with me on a sunny afternoon... Everywhere it is beautiful..." See you soon, Erin... :)

Saturday Morning at Deep Eddy

Summer Wheels, 12 x 12

Did I mention that it's hot here? Today we painted and then swam at Austin's well-loved Deep Eddy Swimming Pool. According to the web site (www.deepeddy.org/pool), it is the oldest swimming pool in Texas and began as a swimming hole in the Colorado River where "cold springs rose from the river banks and a large boulder formed an eddy." In the 1920's, the pool was concreted in and at that time featured cabins, zip line, a Ferris wheel, and even a diving horse! The bathhouse in my painting was originally built during the Depression-era. And Deep Eddy today? Still spring-fed and 68 degrees - so nice.

Painting Adventures

Morning Haze, 12 x 16

People often have advice and stories for plein air painters... Today, I was just getting ready to paint this scene across the lake when some park maintenance guys came through. One of them came over to me and said, "you'll be fine here." I smiled to myself thinking how nice that was that he was concerned for my safety. Then he continued, "we've only ever seen small snakes where you're standing. The big ones are up on the hill behind you." No snakes today, I am happy to report.

91 Degrees and Some Clouds

91 Degrees and Some Clouds, 12 x 12

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The Texas sky has been amazing these last few weeks. Last Wednesday I was driving out to paint from this beautiful hillside where I knew there was shade. The daily weather report came on the radio, "91 degrees and some clouds". Well I was looking at the clouds and these were SOME clouds! She should have said, "91 degrees and unbelievable clouds... or 91 degrees and clouds are taking over the sky..."

McKinney Falls

Clouds Over Swimming Hole, 16x12

Rock Ledge at the Falls, 8x12

On Thursday our Plein Air Austin group met at McKinney Falls - it was gorgeous and pretty comfortable for those of who stayed in the shade. And jumping in the swimming hole was the ultimate cooldown! Barbara Haviland from Beaumont (http://www.bhavilandfineart.com/) joined us and we loved having her (and her husband Sam who brought snacks and helped carry things.)

Summer in Austin

First Watch, 12 x 12

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Dappled Pink, 12 x 16

I am finally getting back into the swing of things after my big show at the Davis Gallery (still up for one more week.) After taking a little break, getting out into the field with paints is pure delight. It's pretty hot here in Austin, so we have to stay close to water and yesterday my painting group went to a local park with a little neighborhood pool. These two paintings are of Reed Park... a lovely spot in Tarrytown.

St. Simons Island, Georgia

Vegetables on Frederica, 12 x 16

Marshland Waterways, 12 x 16

Oceanside Gazebo, 16 x 12

Old Fish Camp at Village Creek, 12 x 16

Shrimp Boat Reflections, 16 x 12

Shrimp Boat at Rest, 12 x 16

In April I took a painting trip to St. Simons Island, Georgia where my in-laws live and where we have spent many wonderful vacations. The week included a 3-day workshop with the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (http://www.pap-se.com/) where I worked with 3 gifted teachers/painters: Gavin Brooks, Roger Dale Brown, and Larry Moore. After the workshop I painted around the area for 3 days with my good friend Alyson Tucker, a fabulous painter who lives on the island. These 6 paintings are available at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery (http://www.andersonfineartgallery.com/) on St. Simons. It could not have been a more wonderful week!

Plein Air Sampling

Cliffs in the Chisos Mountains, 12 x 12

Casa Grande, 12 x 16

Springbreak Sunbeams, 12 x 16

Pathway Study, 12 x 16

Morning in the Hills Study, 12 x 16

Morning Silhouettes Study, 12 x 16

Peace Like A River, 16 x 12

Great Salt Pond, 12 x 16

Swimming Hole at Bull Creek, 12 x 12

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Sun Setting on the Marsh, 12 x 16

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Dutch Mountain Enchantment, 12 x 16

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Beach Grasses, 12 x 12

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Misty Morning on the Lake, 12 x 12

Shinnecock Bay Wetlands, 12 x 16

Above is a sampling of the plein air work I have been doing over the last 9 months. I am still trying to get into some sort of blogging rhythm that synchronizes the painting, photographing, uploading, cropping, and posting routine. I had this idea that I would post them as I paint them... doing it this way is a little like drinking from a fire hose. :)

My first attempt at blogging...

My goal with this blog is to post my current work on a regular basis as a supplement to my online portfolio, which is costly and time consuming to update. The idea that I am running with here is that there is a certain accountability associated with committing to making regular posts. I am inspired and energized by my daily painter friends who literally paint and post each and every day. Wish me luck.