the gray beauty of late winter

After the snow comes the rains and then more rains. The fields are overflowing and it leaves a gray beauty.
Question- how reduced can it be and still create the magic?

moving water and student show

Moving water is always a huge challenge. It's always changing and it has reflections from the land and bouncy mirror-like parts on the white water. To me it helps to divide it into warm and cool: what is in shadow and what is in sun?
The rocks are a perfect resting point from the greens. The oranges and violets make it sing better.

BTW Three of my most talented young students had their first show at my studio yesterday. They have been working for 3 years and their dedication is obvious in their work quality. For this show they not only created the work but they learned how to frame it and wrote their first artist's statement.

one plein air trap

10x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart
One trap plein air painters can become victim to is the hunt. What I mean is searching for the "perfect place" to paint. Beauty is made. It's made by the artist. As I say this I admit that I am going to Washington State for the next month - to paint. In order to earn this I have been forcing myself to paint within a mile of my house. This is part of my streets are rivers series.
While in Washington I will be participating in Richard McKinley's plein air boot camp. Starting this Saturday I will have 3 intensive days of painting and taking in the amazing knowledge of Richard. Next, there are 3 processing days where I go off on my own and work, then there are 3 days in the studio consolidating and making resolve. An amazing time! Of course while I am not in boot camp I will be constantly painting. This month of work is like stocking up on the winter  oil for the furnace. Yipee!
Gotta go pack!

oops, I forgot......... I remembered to take a photo for the watercolor underpainting for PB.

Geese Glow at Twilight

6 x6 pastel and watercolor $100. plus tax
On the way to the reservoir I was shocked by the view of this field. It had the foggy glow of early autumn. And finally geese! So off the road I went.
I want to add thank you to everyone for taking the time to visit my blog and support me with your thoughtful comments. What would I do without you?

Distant River and Sacred Moment (finished)

distant river:10x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus ship and tax
sacred moment: 15 x 20 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper (commission)

I finished two pieces in the studio this morning. The top one is a plein air piece that I began last week on a warm afternoon at the river. The concept was grand distance; an idea that sits in my mind each day.
The bottom one I have posted before, but now I am finally satisfied.

I want to add a few of thank yous:
1. to Richard McKinley for his amazing blog-pastel pointers-see the link on my side bar. Whenever I am lost I go to that. This time his blog is helping me take better photos of my work. Thanks Richard!
2. to Casey Klahn, Rose Welty and Katherine Tyrrell all amazing artists who have recently posted great information about blog improvements (note my new format). Check out their link on my side bar as well. Someday I will learn how to insert links into text:-)

Metamorphosis of a painting (unfinished)

15 x20 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
The river today was quiet, still - broken only by the sounds of bluebirds, woodpeckers and cardinals. After a long walk with my husband Paul, I returned to the studio with a stillness in me. So, of course, I went back in the studio. I felt that I knew what to do on this painting. Sometimes the best thing you can do as an artist is to stop and let the painting sit with you. In this painting I am aiming for peace with a little tension.The peace is in the Maxwell Parrish blue and still water. The tension is with the opposing pieces of land squeezing. It is still unfinished, but closer.
I must say I love this period of time while painting - when my only job is to listen to the painting. Forget the preparatory sketches and studies it's just the two of us!

Dogs by the Creek, Winter

9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.
The rain stopped for now and the creek is filled to the brim; no rocks are showing. Today I stayed close to home and painted at Rock Creek. While I stood there painting I watched a buck and doe swim across the creek. I must have been very still because they didn't seem to notice me and swam right towards me. What an amazing treat! Later two dogs came and stood on the opposite beach. The golden retriever presented and step of color (orangey tan) that joins both pieces of land. Oh the joy of being outside with nature!

Sacred Moment

about 6x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.
Working from photos is not a preference of mine. Plein air and working from my plein air paintings is my choice. That being said....today was pouring rain and I need to begin a commissioned piece on this theme. Yesterday's photos were my start. Many people have asked me about photo use so that is why I have posted the photo and the small painting so that you can see what happens. The photo only starts it and then the painting tells you want to do. Today I was warm with my favorite arias (Ave Maria/Andrea Bocelli) playing in the background, a hot tea by my side. Total decadence.

September 7, 2008, Rock Creek, After the Hurricane

7x8, pastel on board, $100. plus shipping and tax
Yesterday we had the remnants of hurricane hanna, which means everything is covered in a couple of inches of mud. The rivers and creeks overflowed their banks. To paint this one I stood in 2 inches of soft mud. It's amazing how immediately after the storm the sun came out and made it all better.
Greens, hard stuff.

March 9, 2008 Summer Shadows on the Path

6x18, pastel and watercolor on board
I was cleaning out old paintings and I came about this one. It was done this summer on one of those sultry hot Washington afternoons. I never finished it. Today it was obvious what I needed to. I took out a tree and changed the shadows...better.
I have many more rainy paintings in my head. But today, with the check from the gallery I am going looking for a car. The one I drive is a Honda, 1990. It will last forever, only it does not fit my bigger paintings. and I can not take it for my long trips. So with my check from the gallery I will go look at a Subaru forester., maybe it will be from this century!