buttercups and long grasses

I have a small infatuation at this time of year. Buttercup time.

Walk into the Woods

This is also from my buttercup/green series. It is my favorite so far. I must say I missed blogging when I was on a forced "vacation" but it made me realize that I spend way TOOOOOO much time on this computer. Time I would rather spend painting. Now that I am back I will be thinking about how i will deal with this...later. Back to work.

May 12, 2008 All Quiet at Riverbend and Ode to the Dogs

All Quiet at Riverbend, 8 x10, pastel and watercolor on marble dust board
Good news, I was invited to compete in the Plein Air event at Riverbend Park on June 7th. I am thrilled to be one of the 30 juried artists. What a group of amazing, accomplished artists they are!
So, yesterday I visited Riverbend on the Virginia side of the river. Beautiful, quiet. I started the watercolor portion of this painting there and finished the pastel today in the studio.
Finished, 15x 15, pastel and watercolor on marble dust board.
I made the necessary changes. Done!

May 10 and 11 Buttercups for the Dogs (Ode to the Dogs)

17x17, pastel and watercolor on marble dust board
When I worked at this field on Wednesday I found out I had placed myself on the neighborhood dog run. I can be oblivious sometimes, but it is hard to ignore dog after dog running up to me and coming to a fast halt. Each dog looked bewildered ( What is this stuff in my way???) So this one is an ode to all the dogs in the world and their wonderful companions.
This is a studio piece from Wednesday's plein air work. It's almost done. Worked on it all day yesterday and today. I decided to take time to do bigger pieces, therefore I may post less often.
Happy Mother's Day!

May 7, 2008 Bloomin' Buttercups

8x10, pastel and watercolor on marble board
Fields are my favorite thing to paint (fields and the river, I guess.) I think I like them for their beauty and the fact that they have no "structure." I get the build the structure through lights and darks.
This is a field on West Beach Drive, near the school where I teach. The buttercups are blooming. Yay! This is one painting that I think may become bigger in the studio.