Leaf Showers

11"x14" oil

We had a spectacular fall in the NE and then had a huge wind storm.  One day I looked out the window and saw the leaves blowing across the back yard and wanted to capture what I saw from memory.  I spend a few moments studying the big pieces of composition and note the values and colors.  The blue of the sky and water are much less colorful in the painting...more of a whitish gray with a tint of blue.

Autumn Crossroads

7"x7" oil

This was a challenge for our art group for this month.  We are having a meeting later this month and will share our results.  It is from the center of the crossroads in Chittendon, VT.  Like so many Vermont towns, it is a lovely community made up of crossroads and various  roads winding through the mountains.  One of the coolest PK-8 community schools is located here.  It is an old school built in 1933 that has been added to in an architecturally consistent way, maintaining its charm.  It has a fabulous playground that has a premier view of the surrounding mountains.  I think the kids must adore playing in this environment. 

Lost and Found

11"x11"  oil 

I called this one "Lost and Found" because it is another resurrected painting from my box of failures.  I do think that failures or wipe-outs are good educational tools but it is also fun when I can salvage them.  I originally painted this plein air but it didn't have any punch which was so disappointing because it was such a lovely place to paint on a cool, but sunny day.  This has a nice play of tight and loose which is nice.  I am not very good at painting architectural features accurately and also with a fresh looseness mainly because I can't draw a straight line.  Have you ever heard that phrase?

30-30 Challenge #28

2"x4.5" acrylic SOLD

This is an image I have wanted to paint for years, but never got around to it.  I took a photo when visiting Florida (my birth state) because I was so blown away by a garden filled with orchids.  They provide the image of such interesting structure.  I love how they smell and how they make me feel and I have the perfect place to grow them indoors, but I won't because I could not bare to kill them or let them die, and that is a very likely scenario!

30-30 Challenge #27

2"x4.5" acrylic  SOLD

I have to remember to plant zinnias and cosmos next year.  They offer such easy to grow options that create such a beautiful design through the summer and into fall.  What I really liked about painting this one is the patterns of the flowers, stems, "leaves" and buds.  Pattern is so important in paintings and I sometimes forget that, and then other times it becomes the theme of the painting.

Still Life 9

8"x8" oil

I think I am about done with this series.  I may do a couple more, but I am thinking about my next project.  I am currently working on these, a series of portraits of kids and families, and I have been thinking about a series of abstract landscapes I want to do.  Today I was listening to a classical radio station and they were featuring a violinist and quoting this musician about how he came to the understanding that thinking about his performances in terms of being the best or not good enough limited his ability to fully experience his art form.  He realized they were never as good as they could be or as bad as he thought they were so he quit designing his programs around these ideas and just started to enjoy his own work.  I think this applies to so many aspects of our lives.  We tend to live in a state of comparison and we need to free ourselves to do what we love and share it with others.  So this is for you in hopes that you get some enjoyment from looking at it!

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Look Up! 5x7" acrylic

One of the most exciting parts of the season is to get out in the woods and look up. I love nature's abstract composition. #91