Riverbend Shadows

My fixation with rocks and water continued with this foray to Riverbend Park. With my son next door in a Great Falls camp, I could spend the day painting.

Even though it is of rocks, I find it delicate and sweet. It shows some Poly influence for sure.

I find oils difficult to photograph; I was spoiled by pastels. I'll give this another go on another painting photography day, as it is much prettier, flatter, and more unified than it photographed.


Oil on canvas, 12x6
(Private Collection)

Sounds of Shenandoah

Camping and painting go hand in hand. Camping along the Shenandoah is inspiring.

This was the view from my campsite. And the sounds lulled me to blissful sleep at night.


Oil on cotton canvas, 8x10

Oine Road

I wasn't supposed to be here this day, but I made the best of it.

Facing and painting a sunset while using a canvas, which conveys the light and is very distracting, made me a firm believer in the use of canvas panels and Gessoboard.

Oine Road, a country locale, was actually a hopping strip. I routinely held on to my hat and easel as large chicken trucks thundered by. The drivers were so considerate, slowing down and even using the opposite lane.

One thing I like about this painting is how it transforms at a distance. Step away and the values take over to provide contours and depth. In fact, for a while this painting was called, "Best at at Distance."


(photo being corrected)
Oil on cotton canvas, 11x14

Natural Bridge Morning

As we returned from my son's week of camp, I wanted to take the long way home. We stayed at Natural Bridge, a lovely and gracious facility. We also went to the nearby Natural Bridge Zoo, the best petting zoo we'd ever been to. There are some silly things to see, too, as well as caverns. We did most of them.

The first night there we went to the evening program, a light and music show about Creation, which is included in the regular ticket. I got to scope the lay of the land and returned the next morning to paint the scene. Although I'd been doing oils exclusively for a few weeks, I decided to do a pastel: less gear to haul and less time to complete. My 10yo son brought his harmonica along, so we charmed the crowds for a couple hours.


11x14
Pastel on Wallis

Tanner's Ridge at Big Meadow

My son attending camp several hours away in the mountains had the added drudgery of having to drive there and back twice. However, with my love of plein air painting, I turned it into several productive trips.

I painted a hand full of scenes as I came north on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Roanoke. Yet I knew that I wanted to paint the rich yellows of a meadow and drove through onto Skyline Drive to Big Meadow. I fell in love.

This is Tanner's Ridge on the back side of Big Meadow. It delighted me to see sky all the way down to the ground. A very windy day, I made generous use of bunji cords so I wouldn't play Mary Poppins. This is a 12x16 oil, a large size for me. It was completed in the field.

A cyclist came by and visited, calling it, "pretty." A while later, a boy in HS stopped and also called it, "pretty." I find that very charming, especially considering that they were my only company for the day on this brisk ridge.


Tanner's Ridge at Big Meadow
12x16
Oil on canvas
SOLD

Locust Cove

We met at a party in Maryland on a large creek close to the Chesapeake. My son came along to fish and our host provided us with bushels of blue crabs.

I brought my pastels and went early to the event to paint before dinner. Working alone in the midsts of socializing suited me, although I did have to take breaks to thread worms on hooks! Each cast, sprayed us all with water. Pastels are picky, but they recover.

Although it wasn't finished on site, it didn't take much to finish it in my studio. It serves to show one reason I like to paint: as reminders of pleasant days.

PS - Friends entering on this page, please visit the main blog for more eye candy.

Locust Cove
Pastel on Wallis
8x11
SOLD

Waterford Workshop

May 31 and June 1, I attended a Sara Linda Poly workshop near Leesburg, Virginia. I decided to begin in pastels and did them on Saturday. Sunday, I did my first plein air oils - which won't be pictured here!

The residence which housed the workshop was quite scenic and large. The mahogany-floored back porch was large enough to hold close to 30 artists, their easels and supplies. Straight back from the house was a field and hill, often dotted with horses. When the rains did come, the half dozen horses stood still and silent in formation off to the right of this painting.


Storm's a Comin'
Pastel on Pastelboard
8x10
SOLD

Several out buildings were located to the left of the back porch. It was thrilling when the rains did arrive, as the sky had been quite dramatic. I pretend this is an apple tree, as that seems to suit.

Rain Begins
Pastel on Wallis
8x11
SOLD

Lily Pads at Green Spring Gardens

I was in a plein air class with Sarah Linda Poly through The Art League in Alexandria. Everyone else was working in oils; I'd barely begun my journey in oils and was the lone pastelist. The exposure, however, was perfect for my training overall.

Because massive, close in clumps of foliage blind me, I wandered around the pond area and wound up looking down instead for my source. The reflection among the lily pads spoke to me. It was completed on site.


SOLD
Pastel on Wallis Belgian Mist, 14x11

Belle Haven Point

Today's class was on atmospherics, one of Sara Linda Poly's specialties. Early mornings were foggy and, as often happened, it would get hot and humid afterwards.

This vantage is from the far end of Belle Haven, looking down the Potomac toward the Chesapeake.


Pastel on Wallis, 4x11

For starters, this image is available here.

Belle Haven Secrets

Again as the only pastelist in a Sara Linda Poly class, I imparted my own style on the rest of the class. Pastels have been around for a long time, but there are so many misconceptions. It is fun to serve as an educator and advocate for this beautiful medium.

This is the right side of Belle Haven Marina, that which backs to the nature preserve. I found the solitude very tranquil as I tried to make the tangled mess of vegetation in the Potomac charming! (Now you know the secret.)


Pastel on Rust Colorfix, 8x11