Bleu Lavande

8"x10"It

This painting was done at the Beu Lavande farm near Magog, Quebec.  It was a beautiful day when I arrived and set up.  Then I realized I had forgotten some really important colors, so I did what I could.  As I was working on it, dark stormy clouds suddenly moved in over the distant hill.  Quickly I packed up and made it to the picnic shelter before I got soaked.  My painting however was quite altered by the rain which quickly turned into hail accompanied by fierce winds.  I made a new friend with a young woman playing the harp until the noise from the storm drowned out her music.  Finally I headed home in torrential rains, dodging downed branches on the road.  When I crossed back over the border the US customs agent was unnecessarily rude.  He accused me of lying when I told him I hadn't bought anything.  I guess he never encountered a plein air painter.  I showed him my painting supplies.  I get the importance of vigilance at border crossings, but being rude because you have the power is just not OK.  The Canadian crossing authorities had been very friendly, thorough, and told me to have a nice day.  Something is wrong with this scenario.

6"x6" oil  Oh Irene!  SOLD

This is from the hurricane Irene which devastated Vermont a few years ago.  It was pouring down rain and the river was a raging mass of mud, rocks, logs and other debris from bridges and structures it had swept away.  This is not far from where I live.  The barn has been converted into a home.  The river-side balcony is on the second floor and the water was washing over it. Scary...exciting and sad all at once.

Loading Pumpkins

11"x11" oil

Wrong time of year, but I have been wanting to do this painting for a while.  The beauty of painting from photos is that you can capture the image any time you want.  Also, there is the advantage of not having to haul an easel, paints, etc., etc., around with you.  The disadvantage is in not being there in the changing light with the sounds of nature and wind and breathing in the beauty of the experience.  When I paint from photos, I use them as inspiration and almost always change them by adding things or subtracting or rearranging.  I am grateful to feel confident to do this now.  When I first started oil painting I was a bit nervous about adding or subtracting.  Now it part of what I look forward to.  It is the exciting part. The setting of this painting is a local sugarhouse.  I will let you use your imagination to guess what I changed about it.

Gourd Painting acrylic

I also painted this gourd, which I will now varnish.  It is about 15"  tall.  I did one last year and I really like painting these, so I might make an effort to get more.  They are gooseneck gourds which is why I painted it like a weird bird.  The design was inspired by my love for my family with symbols which give a nod towards some of the things we love doing together.

Sarah's House

11"x14" oil

This was a commission I did a while back.  It was challenging because I was working from numerous photos that each only showed a part of the house and none directly from the front.  Also I created the autumn atmosphere because there were lovely deciduous trees around the property.  This house has been in their family for generations and they graciously sent me a very early rendition in a folkart style where all the trees had been cut down to build the house and barns.

Goats View

6"x6" oil

These goats looked as happy as any goats I have ever seen.  I am not sure I could correctly describe what a happy goat looks like, but they sure looked confident, well fed, and like they got a lot of attention.  I don't think they are the easiest animals to have around, but they sure are fun to watch.

Barn in Early Spring

This is Furnace Brook Farm barn in early spring with the hillside budding out in a soft magenta and the crabapple tree, not yet blooming.  This is one of those quintessential Vermont landscapes.  This farm has a very interesting history, which you can read about here.

11"x11" oil

This is a view to wake up to!

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Weston

9"x9" Oil

I did this a while back for the DPW challenge to paint water.  It was also something fun to paint on a day when I was really stressed.  It is right next to the Weston Playhouse in Weston, VT.  I am noticing that my image is not quite straight.  The waterfall has a horizontal top...believe me.  It is the photo that is off.  I love the colors of this. The blue seems almost too blue but when the sky is really clear that is what you get here.  This is a lovely spot, and the Weston Playhouse is really a wonderful theater.  Weston is a destination spot and has lots of fun places to visit.
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Early Mud Season 8"x8" acrylic on canvas, landscape #350

SOLD

Morgan's Horses acrylic on canvas, landscape, 8"x8" #349

SOLD

Eggs For Sale acrylic on canvas, landscape 8"x8" #347

SOLD

Disappearing Landscape Acrylic on canvas, landscape, 8"x8" #346

SOLD

Retirement acrylic on canvas landscape 8"x10" #345

Mini-Landscape oil 3"x2.5" landscape #344

This is the smallest painting I have done in oils.  Fun, fun, fun!