Song of Green and Blue

about 10x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

Dang! That sky just snuck its way into the painting...I just couldn't resist this time! Maybe tomorrow I will go back and resist.
Dude of the Universe-chillin' on the porch...for Jala
Isn't he adorable?

Path through the Daisies

about 6x6 pastel and watercolor on board $100. plus tax and shipping Sold
Today was a day of socializing and selling my work at my school's Fall Bazaar. Thank you to all the wonderful, supportive parents and enthusiastic young artists (children) of Lowell School who stopped by to chat. Finally when my day was done, it was time to paint. After looking at many of my field paintings all day, I had this one on my mind.

August 13, 2008 The Lush Green Beyond

11x14, pastel on board
The river wears her lushest, deepest greens before the Autumn change.
Dark against light and color vibrations, those were today's challenges.

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.

August 2, 2008 Sweet Escape (diptych2)

13x21.5 pastel on board 13x10.5 each individual piece
Just disappearing into the warmth and luxuriousness of a summer day, that's what this painting is about. Can you feel it?
I said I would write more about 25/75. Actually it's 2/3 and 1/3, those are the proportions of light to dark passages in a painting.

July 31, 2008 Silver Queen

7x14 Approx. pastel on board
You never know what the river will bring. This morning I was greeted by about 25 huge turkey vultures sitting on the bridge and even more on the branches in the river (note the distant branch on the left.) The river's color was silver, therefore, silver queen. I believe the river is a she; strong, changeable, lovely, and irresistible.

July 30, 2008 River Glass

approximately 17x12, pastel and watercolor on board
This morning was a real hot one by the river. It was only 8:30am and 95 degrees. That kind of heat and stillness brings a special kind of calm and beauty to the river. It's only me and the birds and butterflies. It's worth all the sweat.
Can you feel the very still heat in the painting?

July 24, 2008 Sweet Tooth

7x9 pastel and watercolor on board
Back to the river is like filling my sweet tooth again. So satisfying.

July 18, 2008 You are My Sunshine

7x7 pastel on board
Today back in the studio Richard talked about the "concept of a painting." Armed with my tools of composition, value, atmospheric perspective, and color harmony I returned to my field to create another painting. Like the words of a poem resonate with our feelings deep inside; a painting has that same honorable goal. How do you feel when you look at this painting? Feel free to add comments on my blog I would love to hear from. you.

June 28, 2008 Great Falls on an Early June Morning

7x14, pastel on marble dust board
I knew that I would be traveling and posting would be difficult so I did some "illegal spares."
This one was done on Thursday at 5:30 am in Great Falls Park, Virginia. The sun was very low and there was a hazy atmosphere it was determined to penetrate through, on the right. It was a VERY ambitious painting to try to finish that morning. Almost complete, I brought it back to the studio for the final touches.

June 26, 2008 Rhapsody in Blue and Green

9x11 pastel on paper
Today was a plein air double, but this by far was my favorite. Riverbend is oozing lazy summer.
I had an idea that I need to learn to row a boat so that I can have a river studio (in the river/a la Monet.) This idea came to me when, after finishing my paintings, I kayaked up the Potomac. Then I realized the one amazing view I need to have is the one from the water. Doesn't that sound good?

June 25, 2008 Tree Halos

7x10 pastel and watercolor on board
Summer is here in all her glory. Warmth in the river colors, still water, rocks peeking through water; they are all signs of summer's river glory. This was my second painting at the river today (about 10:30am). The light is making tree halos as it rises higher in the sky.

June 24, 2008 Amber-haired Goddesses on the Hill

10x10 oil on linen
I feel fortunate to have Kate and Natalie as my nieces. This weekend I got to know them through long walks and trips to Starbucks. On many of our walks I took many pictures of these young, amber-haired goddesses on the hill. They are twins so they have a special bond. I tried to portray that, along with the beauty of those summer days. It was a great weekend visiting family. Thanks everyone!

June 10/11 2008 The Gorge

6x8 (i think) oil and pastel on mounted paper
Once again I was asked, "Is it really that color?" I guess the answer is yes and no. If I were to walk/swim all the way across the gorge and examine the colors up close the answer would be no. But I don't need to do that, nor do I want to. The purpose of my painting is to record an emotional response that is fused with the impression. Pink/gray rocks do appear this color in the late afternoon sun. The feel of the hot gorge and blazing light shows the feeling of optimistic summer is in the air. That is my gorge. What is yours?

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!