Crabapple Blossom Glory

This was done from a photograph of a crabapple tree in my daughter and son-in-law's backyard. The tree has since then been chopped down. They wanted something to make a statement in their living room and since she's celebrating a big birthday I wanted to have it finished. The trouble with it sitting around here is that I can't help but fiddle with it. hope this will do the trick!

Happy Birthday!

Birches and Phlox X Two

There, I took out that tree. Have to keep telling myself, "Just because it was really there doesn't mean you have to keep it in the composition." Now I am struggling with that rock or is it a big liver, or maybe "haggis".

Birches and Phlox X Two

Tried to use two sketches made the same afternoon in two different painting spots. I can still hear the bees and mosquitoes buzzing around my head. Wonder if that crosswise tree should be edited out.

Birches and Phlox

I wanted to give the impression that one could just walk right into this painting and therefore played around with the front birches and the back phlox. Got the old palette knife out and slapped some paint on the trees-quite a lot of fun. Will have to try that with more attempts at trees. The day this was painted was a lovely spring afternoon and I was sitting on my chair looking up at the phlox and trees. Idyllic, except for the black flies! Wasn't too sure about trying to recreate from a sketch but it's been a good experience.It does emphasize the importance of setting the mood in the initial sketch.

Sunshine Tulips

Rained out again! Kudos to those who stuck it out yesterday-must have been wet,wet,wet!

Here is a bit of colour for the day! Worked on it a bit last night.

Birches and Phlox

I tried this panel from a small sketch quickly done last spring, when the sun was shining. A family member liked the colours-just wonder if I can pull it off to make two that were done on the same day but different subjects and have them look right side by side. Stayed home to paint today. Hope tomorrow works with the babysitter.

From Lean-to Looking North

The Forecast is for rain again this Tuesday-may be painting from the barn or at home. Will try to look at the bright side. Ha, Ha! This is a real test of commitment.

Forsythia

It is a gloomy, rainy Sunday and I thought to repost this painting to add a little brightness to the day. Looking out the window at my garden, I note the perfection of the closed tulips and the cloud of colour from multiple blooming trees. The magnolias, cherries and plums are all showing glorious bloom with the admiring audience just glancing at them from their car windows as they drive by.

Dusk from the lean-to

Had to fins shelter from the rain and this was my view from the lean-to amid the hay and sheep manure. The setting sun was putting on a wonderful show with mixed cloud cover.

Barns Late Spring Afternoon

Old farm buildings in the landscape of the farm where we on Tuesday afternoon and evening. This painting just seemed to flow with broad strokes to get the effect of the late spring afternoon!

Ontario Cottage

Well, we were able to paint again yesterday and it did start out beautiful! Decided to tackle this beautiful old farmhouse which is hidden from sight in the summer by grass and trees. The garden shows evidence of once being loved and cherished. The house was built from the red brick which age has mellowed to a warm faded sienna and the trim along the sides and above the window is now a soft beige. The original shutters are still evident on some of the windows. As you can see, from the painting, the front window on the left has only one. The other is probably lying in the garden below it. Can't wait to see it with the crabapples blooming! Enjoyed the day of painting even though it rained a bit in the evening and later found shelter in the barn from the wind and rain.

Crabapple Blossom

Wow! This weather we're having is so beautiful and everything is springing into blossom at once. This is the time to stop and not just smell the flowers but get a good look at their intricate beauty! Whites are not just white and-ohh so many pinks, greens and yellows!

Tulips RBG Mag.

I worked on this at a small show this saturday. Had some fun and got most of a painting done. It was from a photograph on the front of the RBG Magazine. My interpretation. (Someone asked me if I painted the picture on the cover!) What a beautiful day! So much more appreciated after all the gloomy one. Deo Gratias

Farm Equipment

The final painting from Tuesday's session and the quickest done on a little piece of gessoed 1/4" plywood.

Old Willows

This was the second painting done Tuesday. Another view from the shelter of the old drive shed. Water, water everywhere!

White Pine Andy's Farm

Well, it's Tuesday's art class and it's raining again. We went out and painted anyway which made us appreciate the wonderful colours present when there's a lack of sunlight. Everybody found themselves a spot in one of the barns, which worked great but I did get very cold by the end of the class. The first painting that got me going was of this beautiful white pine which is leaning in the wind and will probably fall over some day, what with all the wetness. The paint took forever to dry which was great because it could be treated like oils. Great Evening!