edge of the world

 9x12 pastel and watercolor on marble dust board
To create this one I used an old, discarded board. It had an underpainting, I think it was oil. For some reason the board was so porous (gessoed marble dust was on it) so I struggled to cover the other painting. It made me only paint the large shapes and paint them with thick watercolor, almost like oil. (It's funny how the gap between the medium is beginning to close.)
The color of the grasses first attracted me, but then upon looking I was most intrigued with the way the trees and the edge of grass met the distant mountains.

Today is the "quick draw" event. 10-12am pick a place in the town center it work...with and audience. Yipes.

summertime when the livin' is easy

9x12 pastel and watercolor on marble dust board
One of my favorites in a long time...yay! and under pressure! When I visited Cumberland last week I saw this view. It was rainy that day but I could still imagine the possibilities. Yesterday morning I was delighted to see it filled my every dream!
Two songs played in my head as I painted.
"Summertime...when the living is easy, fish are jumping...." Do you know that one?
But then there was the intruder song... "Little bunny foo foo running through the forest, picks up the field mice and bops them on the head."
Which song helped me paint that we will never know. I must be slightly crazy.

A big thank you to all my blogger friends for all the encouraging comments yesterday. I feel like I have company when I am here! Back to work now... the sun has almost risen.

same place, different painting: and great news!

More studies of the river, different paper, this time I used Uart 400. I like the glow in this one better. The paper did not fight the watercolor like the Wallis did.
One little piece of good news that I am delighted to share with you (especially after yesterday's mini frenzy) ...... I was accepted into the week long plein air event  Mountain Maryland Plein Air (western Maryland), June 1-6th. I can't WAIT!!!!
Oh and one more thing, I will post all my paintings (the ones for the show)  on Sunday. By then I will have made my "decisions"... but still, no doubt  questions will remain. Place your votes then. I will bring them to the framers Monday afternoon.