Rose Colored River

8x8 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

Another one from Riverbend. It's funny how the river appears pinkish when the when the light hits the muddy river. This view was soooooo confusing which actually made it easier. No drawing just shapes.

If you are a plein air painter or collector please take a moment to take this survey from the old Plein Air magazine- www.pleinairmagazine.com
Hopefully it will resurface.

Daybreak thru Fog

8x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
This morning was the Riverbend Plein Air event . It finally stopped raining after 3 days of rain. The river was full and muddy. The light was quiet. I began about 6:00 am and after much deliberation headed out to one of my favorite spots. It was actually so muddy beside the river that it was slippery.
I made tiny strokes of warm and cool colors sparkle together at the tip of the island, while large swaths of color stretch acroos the mass of trees and water. One area holds all the mystery. I liked it .....the judge didn't.....oh well. Next time.
This is the best photo I could get on the spot...sorry.

Tip of the Island

8x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
It's raining outside...which is one of my favorite weather conditions to paint. I parked myself under a dense tree with my humongous umbrella. First question : why did you choose this spot? Answer, I loved the place where the warmer, close mass of trees (the island) meets the far away land. Make certain that area has the detail. Refrain from uniformity of detail. The chant still is warm/ cool, dark /light. It took forever for the watercolor to dry, so I dove in a little early. It taught me a new way of utilizing slightly damp pastel:-)

Riverbend B&W Sketches

the path near adjoining trails
view 2
field to the river/glow of river in distance

The Riverbend Plein Air Paintout is this weekend. Riverbend is one of my favorite places to paint. Quiet, birds singing, field and river....what more could a girl want? I feel so lucky that it is the location for a paint-out. This year I have decided to approach it differently. I know the landscape at Riverbend intimately. But when it is a competition I become very nervous. So this time I have been not only doing my warm up color studies, but also black and white sketches so that I can establish a strong composition in my head, before even arriving on site. Having your painting in you head is soooo important. Here are a few sketches. Which do you prefer?

Rays of Summer

12 x 12 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
Ah...summer, the nats are out, the humidity strong. The light was streaming through the trees in streaks and dabbles. I really do love summer in DC. This morning at Riverbend was soooooo quiet; I could even stand right in the path and not one person came by me. With this one I chose my focal point and then played light/ dark, warm /cool all around it. Darks are transparent..lights thick. It felt good.

Winter Trees at Riverbend

10 x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus shipping and tax

Vibrant color in the underpainting makes me take more risks. The finished painting is actually with stronger color; the jpegs are dulled. (gotta work on that)
This painting is from yesterday at noon. The winds started to whip up and this morning they are wild. For a pastel painter that can mean another risk-a toppled easel with hundreds of dollars of perfectly-selected pastels broken and on the ground:-( Therefore the indoor studio calls.

Winter Gold

about 9x11 pastel and watercolor on Wallis paper $100. plus shipping and tax
The light of later afternoon begins early-about 3:00. I love the way the golds of the sky meet the beautiful violets of the bare trees.

Golden Glass/ November

10 x 10 pastel on watercolor on Uart paper, for sale at open studio
19 degrees this morning so I decided to wait until the mercury reached a balmy 40. River Bend Park was beautiful (as always). The light was low and golden with a hint of melon and the water was glassy.
The tricks to painting in the cold: long johns, car heater nearby, thermos of hot chai, and many layers of clothing. I wonder how long I can last outdoors this year ...I don't want to stop, no matter how cold I get! It seems like the light only gets better as the days get colder! Anyone want to venture a guess as to when I'll have to retire to the studio?

Silver Song of Many Coots

10x10 pastel on acrylic and watercolor $100. plus tax/shipping
I deleted yesterday's post because I didn't even want to look at it. Then I spent most of the rest of the day and night preparing for my upcoming open studio.
Today I was out at Riverbend and in just one day the landscape has changed tremendously. It is winter. The light is silver and the gold understory has blown away. I met a couple and we shared the moment of watching about 125 coots. The birds seemed to be resting and fueling up as they continue their migration south. I struggled to paint this new light. How do you make a silvery light...without using silver? (and with cold hands?)
As a sideline, I looked up coot in the dictionary and it has two definitions. It's either an aquatic bird (which these were) or an old unreasonable stubborn person. How did they get those two very different definitions? Go figure!

Early November at Riverbend

about 7x11 pastel and watercolor on uart paper $100. Sold
This is another try at the same Riverbend/Potomac river scene I painted on Sunday. I changed to format and realized that I think I prefer the square.
Remember to vote... it's important!

September 12, 2008 Moody Invitation

11x14, pastel on board, $300.
I absolutely love when the river is moody like this. It's one of those places you can paint over and over, always finding a new perspective.

August 31, 2008, Silver Light

9x12, pastel on board, $200.
This morning the river was silvery. Even though it was warm you could see your breath. A hummingbird was buzzing behind me and the light was bouncing off the river in front of me. How does a mere painter paint all that? Silver light was the essence.
It feels great to be back to my normal rhythm of daily painting. Last week I needed to work full time to get ready to begin a new school year. During the school year I work part time teaching art to young children. While I do love teaching, I wish I could paint round the clock and never have to move away from my painting thoughts.
Oh, by the way, good news, yesterday's painting won first place in the plein air event. And to think I almost didn't submit it!

August 24, 2008 Branching Out

about 6.5x8 pastel on board, $100. plus shipping
I am back home again to the place I love best, the river. The subtle changes that took places while I was gone signify Autumn. The river is very low, the golds are appearing and even the insects sound different.
Long ago, back when I lived in Connecticut this tree definitely would have had a rope swing tied to it. I guess that is not possible in a county park, but one can dream.

August 16, 2008 Floating Island

6x6, pastel and watercolor on board $90.
Today is a travel day for me so I painted 2 yesterday. I like the way this one is very abstract yet real. Isn't there a dessert named Floating Island?

August 12, 2008 Beckoning

9x12 pastel on board
The glory of Riverbend Park (in my opinion); this time I decided to compose it on a more dynamic vertical. This particular view always beckons me towards that veiled light deep inside the trees.

August 11, 2008 Once Loved Field

5x7, pastel on board
Once a working field, now an wild meadow, this lovely little field was in the back trails of Riverbend. Sorry I forgot to post yesterday....I'll post two today.

July 26, 2008 Smooth Operator

6x10 approx. pastel and watercolor on board
The river...so what else is new?

I began a new studio piece this afternoon. It has really been in the works since sometime two weeks ago. A field piece, based on "Longing" and "Dreams Are Made of This," it will be dedicated to my Mom whose birthday is this week (had she lived.) Mom died of cancer 9 years ago and I still miss her terribly. I hope to auction off the piece and donate the money to cancer research. More on this piece as it develops.

July 25, 2008 View from Stone Beach

8x8 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
I am trying a new paper... ..very sensitive. It was like dancing on velvet. The watercolor went on a little dark..but the pastel spread like butter on top.
I love the abstract composition in this one. In addition I like the play of the opposing forces - the calm river and the tension the square format brings to it.
I love to paint!

July 8, 2008 Songbird Paradise

9x12, pastel on paper
What a day it was! I treated myself to Riverbend today. It was a hot, sultry morning. The moist, thick air was filled with a medley of crickets and birds. All of a sudden a series of strong breezes/winds gusted by the river shores. Pooof! My umbrella took off, into the river. Filled with air it raced across the top like a skilled water-skier. Now, mind you this was the best umbrella set-up I have ever had and I am thankful that it was not attached to my easel. (It would have dumped over hundreds of dollars of pastels!) Was I going to stand and just watch this happen?!? No way. In the water I went, straight after that umbrella set-up. Well, that water got deeper and deeper, finally I was up to my chin. Then, I snagged that rascally, run-a-way umbrella. In the end I took home the umbrella, but unfortunately my cell phone was in my pocket and it did not like being submerged. Oh well, at least I didn't meet the snapping turtle head on!
Oh, as for the umbrella....if you are a plein air artist, it's called the Shadebuddy from Dakota Pastels (dakotapastels.com). It's the best!

July 5, 2008 Stillness in the Morning

8x10, pastel and watercolor on wallis
Riverbend, in all its moody beauty.
I am working on water, understanding it.