Texas Rose

11x14 oil on panel - nfs

This past weekend I went to the Texas Coast - Rockport/Fulton area - with Plein Air Austin. We had 10 artists attend the retreat and enjoyed the challenge of painting some really tough subject matter in some equally tough conditions. The wind was up, to say the least. The oystermen on these boats didn't like it any better than we did. This boat was begging to be painted with the afternoon light hitting the one side. My friend Terri painted along with me - here she is at work on her beautiful watercolor.

It was really cool to be alongside the working docks and watching the boats come in with shrimp and oysters. They would offload them directly to a waiting refrigerated semi for overnight delivery I bet. "Texas Rose" was the name of the red boat, but with the wind, there was no way I could paint a straight enough line to try to get that on the bow.

Bucket-Fulls

9x12 pastel

I haven't worked in pastels since taking Margaret Dyer's workshop in March. I got a few ampersand boards (which I really like) and I got some more colors as I needed some more interesting dark colors. And since I've been working away diligently on my June show, I thought I'd take a break and play with pastels for a bit. This is a work in progress, but its coming along. My favorite part? His ears! :-)

This weekend I am heading for our Texas coast with Plein Air Austin folks for a painting retreat. It will be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to some interesting new subjects to play with as well as all the camaraderie of hanging out with a bunch of accomplished artists.

Peony Tea Room

14x11 oil on panel

Available at Castle Gallery for the Living Color show, opening May 11.

This little tea house has been the source of much inspiration for me. I need to get back to Fort Wayne for another visit! The restaurant is in a beautiful historic home not far from Castle Gallery and they serve a lovely traditional English tea.

Promenade - WIP

Wow - was it only two weeks ago I painted? Seems like months. We had a trip, we brought home some exciting viruses, and I've been nursing everyone and exhausted otherwise. I managed to stay well, thank goodness. I finally got everyone well and out of the house and managed to paint this week. But what a struggle! Its like I forgot how. Its amazing how a little time off can make the brain and the body forget. I thought by trying a simple subject and using my timer that I'd be able to step right in. But it didn't work. I made mud and couldn't figure out how to mass things in and then work them into nicer shapes. So I went back to the drawing board, literally. I had to lightly draw the whole scene on my panel and color in the lines practically. Its more like putting a puzzle together. And it was rather meditative.