Morning Stillness

Morning Stillness, 9 x 12

A quiet pool sits above the upper McKinney Falls and trickles into another pool below. As I hiked down there yesterday morning, this scene caught my eye. I loved the way the angled light hit the grasses and bush in the foreground. I don't think I quite got the glow of it in this painting, but it is stuck in my memory! Now I am off to paint for the weekend with Plein Air Austin friends in Granbury, Texas. How great is that?

Outer Pasture

Outer Pasture, 12 x 12

When I was up in the Chicago area a couple weeks ago, I added a leg to Minnesota to visit my college roommate on her farm. I was unable to paint while there, but did take some pictures. This is one of many pastures in their beautiful rolling hillside. I must go back and bring a few supplies next time!

Marina Cove

Marina Cove, 12 x 9

Memorial Day Weekend is kind of the kick-off for summer boating everywhere. Our little local marina was all cleaned up and ready for action on Thursday afternoon when Plein Air Austin met up to paint there. The "hush" in this cove probably won't return until September!
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Happy Memorial Day!

Golden Creek

Golden Creek, 8 x 6

Yesterday was another great day to be outside painting... however, I had to start over 5 times! Some days it's just hard to get in the groove. I hate leaving on a bad note though, so I kept at it. I finally got it together when I decided to pull out a small panel and just do a "study". That small mental shift made a huge difference!

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And thank you, Julie Davis, for the Kreativ Blogger Award! It's a great honor and affirmation!

Hamilton Pool

Hamilton Pool, 12 x 16

Hamilton Pool is a bit of a drive out to the countryside. It requires a steep hike "in" and an equally steep hike back "out"... but the trip is SO worth the effort. This pool and collapsed grotto was formed by thousands of years of water erosion; and when we are not in a drought, a 50 foot waterfall spills over the top of this canyon. Before the 1800's, Native Americans lived in this natural shelter because its water and lush plantlife; and its beauty no doubt.

While I was painting today, another visitor played his wooden flute from inside the grotto. The melody bounced off the canyon walls in a gorgeously haunting way. It was magical!

Lost Canyon

Lost Canyon, 16 x 12

Today was a beautiful, blue sky day with cooler temperatures after our weekend rain - perfect for painting. I met up with my dear friend and great painter, Julie Davis, at a wonderful canyon land that runs through town. This path leads to some beautiful sunning rocks in Lost Creek - a popular hangout spot for the teenagers at this time of year.

Fiesta Gardens Quartet

Fiesta Gardens Quartet, 5 x 7 each

Friday night I participated in our most fun, annual art event here called "fiveXseven -Art Splurge and Exhibition". It's a big fund raiser for Arthouse, a contemporary art space in downtown Austin. Local artists donate pieces in a 5x7 format (2-D and 3-D, in every media imaginable) and these are sold anonymously for $100 each. We sign the paintings on the back only; and each is solely identified by a removeable label next to it with a number on it. The artists are only revealed to buyers upon purchase. The mystery and surprise adds to the fun.

What makes it really special, and a little crazy, is how the paintings are purchased. On opening night, attendees have an hour an a half to look around. This year there were 1500 pieces donated, so there was SO MUCH fabulous work to see. It's truly overwhelming! Then, right at 9pm, there is a countown to the buzzer... and everyone snatches the tags of the paintings they want. There is serious stalking and hovering; lots of bartering for position; and some all-in-good-fun grabbing. It's quite a scene.

Anyway, these are my "fiveXsevens", and I am happy to say they all got grabbed (except the last one, which was held back for the road show that goes on to Dallas and Houston.) I also did a little grabbing of my own - the barracuda in me comes out at this event! :)

Fiesta Gardens - Dawn, 5 x 7

Fiesta Gardens - Midday, 5 x 7

Fiesta Gardens - Dusk, 5 x 7

Fiesta Gardens - Evening, 5 x 7

Revisiting Canyon Road

Revisiting Canyon Road, 30 x 30

Last week I had a good-sized block of studio time available, in which I painted this 30x30 version of "Canyon Road" (posted 5/5). My goal with these larger pieces is to retain the simplicity and freshness of my original field work, as well as to let the new piece "morph" in it's own direction. My approach? Same process, bigger brushes, way more paint and LOTS of backing up!

Lily Pond

Lily Pond, 12 x 12

I have been "missing in action" for a few days - and felt a bit rusty today! (It doesn't take long!) I just got back from a fabulous weekend at my Wheaton College reunion outside Chicago. It's always great to see dear friends and revisit old stomping grounds. A big highlight for me was meeting with Joel Sheesley, my favorite art professor and incredible painter. Life is good!

Lakeside

Lakeside, 6 x 8

Here is another painting from my road trip last weekend to Canyon of the Eagles Park, on Lake Buchanan. There really are eagles there. Bald Eagles nest, live and enjoy full protection in this wonderful sanctuary. Early in the morning, I could see them soaring above the lake.

Click to purchase $120 + $12 s/h
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Canyon Road

Canyon Road, 12 x 12

Last weekend I went to the Canyon of the Eagles Park for a women's retreat with my church. I had heard it was a beautiful drive out there and a great location, so I packed my bags with easel and brushes, and painted my way there. A new road always offers up unplanned gifts; and spontaneous stops are so much fun.

Poppies, Poppies...

Poppies, Poppies, 12 x 12

Poppies really are seductive - they kind of captivate the unwitting passersby. These red ones at the botanical garden today reminded of that scene from the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy Gale is lulled into a deep sleep in a poppy field. In my head I kept hearing that cackle, "I'll get you, my pretty!" That used to scare me so much! :)

Grapetown Barn

Grapetown Barn, 8 x 6, SOLD

Normally, I work from small outdoor studies to paint larger work in the studio. This one was just the opposite. For this small piece, I cropped way in on a larger plein air composition that included too many elements and lacked overall focus. It is so important for us painters to keep asking ourselves, "what is this painting about?" This barn was the story, and I should have gone straight for it the first time. :)
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Rolling Hills

Rolling Hills, 8 x 6, SOLD

The Texas Hill Country has many ranch roads that are very inviting. However, conventional wisdom is that a cattle guard in the road is the same as a gate; and crossing over it is equal to tresspassing. It is private property after all. These rolling hills were just beyond one of those cattle guards. I resisted the urge to go any further... though it was tempting!



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Quiet Rest

Quiet Rest, 12 x 12

Down a country road in the little town of Hye, Texas, I found these cows resting in the shade. Of course, as soon as I started painting they got up and ambled off into the pasture! Not the best model behavior - luckily I had some sketches to fall back on!

Blue Barn

Blue Barn, 12 x 12

I spent this weekend running back and forth between a paintout with the Outdoor Painting Society in Fredericksburg and my home, where my husband is recovering from shoulder surgery. (He is doing great and on the mend, by the way!) I spotted this abandoned tin barn from the road and made a quick U-turn to go back and paint it. The menacing sky... the rusty old structure... the warm flood of light... it was too good to pass up!

Upper Falls

Upper Falls, 12 x 12

We are having a bit of a drought here in Texas so the falls at McKinney Falls State Park are pretty small right now. At the upper falls, this little tributary spills into that wonderful swimming hole I was talking. I would like to see this place when the water is raging. It will happen - it will eventually rain here... a lot. And then we have flooding.

Come to the Water

Come to the Water, 16 x 12

April is the best month for plein air painting in Texas because of all the glorious spring color and the relatively cooler temperatures. However, today it heated up into the 90's! I spent the day painting at McKinney Falls State Park just outside of Austin, and was so thankful for a bit of shade to take shelter in. This natural swimming hole is formed by Onion Creek pouring over wide limestone ledges. It's a pretty cool place. I'll post my painting of the falls tomorrow.

Morning Lantana

Morning Lantana, 6 x 8, SOLD

A week or so ago, my class painted in a park by Lake Austin where wild pink lantana was in full bloom. I didn't paint that day, but I stared at this view on and off for a couple of hours, breaking down the elements in my mind. I am hoping to go back while the pink is still there, but used a photo reference in my studio for this small piece.

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Sea of Wildflowers

Sea of Wildflowers, 8 x 6, SOLD

At this time of year, even some parking lots in Texas shimmer with the color of wildflowers. This was a gully next to the beautiful parking area of Lady Bird's commemorative wildflower center. Of course, it's filled with color and texture! I did delete a few cars from the upper ridge but that is what editing is all about! :)
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Follow the Eastern Path

Follow the Eastern Path, 6 x 8, SOLD

I had great plans for posting every day this week and then my days got hijacked. The unexpected happens and suddenly, it's already Thursday! But enough about that, here we are back at the Wildflower Center. On the Eastern side, the trails lead through a flatter, lower terrain. And you guessed it, wildflowers abound! Happy spring!

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Western Ridge

Western Ridge, 6 x 8, SOLD

I spent this morning painting at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower which today was full of people. It's bluebonnet time and lots of kids were out of school. In addition to formal garden spaces, many trails lead out into the surrounding acres. I found this quiet spot at the beginning of one of those trails.

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Honeymoon Cactus

Honeymoon Cactus, 12 x 12

I don't know the real name of this plant, but one of my painting buddies dubbed it the "Honeymoon Cactus." On their honeymoon, her then-new husband carefully broke an ear off a plant like this and took it home as a momento. They stuck it in the ground and it became a huge plant. Though the young honeymooners have moved several times since that first planting, each time they took an ear of the cactus with them, and started another plant at their new home. I love that!

Loquat Clusters Trio

Loquat Clusters Trio, 16 x 48

Loquat Clusters 3, 16 x 16

Here is the Loquat Trio... in the last two the fruits are more ripe and deeper in color. I kind of like seeing them altogether. They make a happy little group!

...And now the birds can come on in for dinner; I think I am done.

Loquat Cluster 2

Loquat Cluster 2, 16 x 16

My loquats are still covered with fruit! Even though they look ripe, obviously the birds are holding off. These luscious clumps of fruit have continued to beckon me, so I took another swipe at them today. I decided to make a little series of three paintings to hang together. I'll post the third one tomorrow and then the group after that.

Mountain Adventure

Mountain Adventure, 12 x 12

This painting is one of two on display in the Nomadas Del Arte plein air show at the Southwest Gallery in Dallas (I included the other one in my last blogpost). The opening this weekend was great fun - especially meeting all the other fabulous artists who participated. This piece sold on Friday night, so I went home recharged, with a big smile on my face!

91 Degrees and Some Clouds

91 Degrees and Some Clouds, 12 x 12

This weekend I am participating in Nomadas del Arte, a juried plein air show at the Southwest Gallery in Dallas. This painting from last summer is one of two pieces I have in the show. The opening is both tomorrow night and Saturday afternoon; and the show will be up all of April. If anyone is in Dallas, please stop by the gallery!!!

Field of Blue

Field of Blue, 8 x 6, SOLD

You may know that Texas is known for it's Bluebonnets, a wonderful tradition started by Ladybird Johnson. Every spring we wonder if we've had enough rain (or maybe too much?) until we begin to see them lining the highways. We are always adding more because even though they are everywhere, it's never enough. Then come the Indian Paintbrushes and Winecups... it's wildflower heaven.

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Also, thank you Barbara Muir and Carol Schiff for giving me this "Passion for Painting" award! What an honor!These ladies are both wonderful painters - please visit their blogs to see their work!

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The rules of this blog award are that the recipient shares 7 things he/she is passionate about, and passes the award on to 7 other deserving bloggers.

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7 of my passions in life:

1) 30 years of marriage and looking forward to 30 more.

2) Watching my beautiful children become fascinating adults.

3) Nurturing treasured relationships in my life - friends, family, God.

4) Wet paint, a loaded brush and a smooth canvas.

5) Experiencing nature; both it's beauty and restoration.

6) Music of all types - the artform of my childhood.

7) Chocolate Icebox Cake on my birthday (grandma's recipe - yum.)

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7 fabulous artists to watch and celebrate:

1) Catherine Jeffery

2) David Westerfield

3) Jim Mahorney

4) Julie Davis

5) Karen Phipps

6) Mike Barr

7) Trish Siegel

Afternoon Highlights

Afternoon Highlights, 8 x 6, SOLD

The Austin Museum of Art School, where I teach, is situated on a gorgeous piece of property on Lake Austin. It's called Laguna Gloria because it's on a lagoon by that name. I can always find something there to paint... I loved the slanted light on this field and trees - it seemed to be coming in sideways in the pre-dusk afternoon.

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Shady Path

Shady Path, 8 x 6, SOLD

This weekend was a full one - I taught a plein air workshop here in Austin and had a fabulous time watching my students create wonderful paintings. It is so satisfying! It also always gives me the itch to smear some paint myself, so today I went back to one of our sites to paint this captivating tunnel of trees.

ALSO - many thanks to Katherine Tyrell for featuring my International Artist Magazine award on her March 29th blogpost on Making a Mark. Thank you for your support, Katherine!!

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