Larkspur Farm summer 2007

Plein air season in the NW is almost here! We've had a particularly wet gray spring, so when the sun comes out we stand blinking like moles come out of our holes.

I'm counting down the days (38) until I get to spend a long weekend painting in Southern Oregon at a Plein air workshop. Meanwhile I'll be getting my gear ready, which is almost as much fun as the painting. It's a challenge to organize materials and gadgets to make the set up and painting easier and fun.

More from the Garden

As always the task with painting fresh flowers is they whither, droop, drop petals etc. So the tried and true "back to front" type of painting is set aside and I must go directly for the flower that will change the most quickly. The other challenge is to ignore the details and concentrate on the larger forms. Big shapes first.

More works in progress

These are some landscapes I'm working on in the studio. It's exciting to try and recreate a moment in time. I close my eyes and try to remember the way I saw it in person. Inevitably there is so much that isn't picked up by the photograph. Each of these paintings has had the first pass and now there will be layers of adjustment trying to get the atmosphere and depth to feel right.

It snowed yesterday! Late April OMG

I'm choosing to ignore the snow on the ground which has no business being there in late April! So we'll think SUN!!!

Back to the studio to paint away the day.

Still in progress

This is one of those paintings that I love and hate at the same time. Some of whats happening in the rendering of the blossoms feels right but the overall composition is odd. I haven't given up but this may be one of those paintings where I learn a lot but don't feel satisfied with the end product.

3 Boats in a Box

I collect funny little toys that make me smile then arrange them for a still life. I like to think of them as having conversations and we're onlookers to the interaction. These guys are preparing for an adventure.

Bleeding Hearts and Forget-me-nots

I love all the color thats popping out in my garden. Now if the sun would only decide to shine it would be perfect!

Tulips Work in Progress

Now that the markets have fresh flowers I am painting them again. The challenge is to get as much information down as possible before the blooms wilt and drop their petals. Usually I try to work the painting up in layers but with this subject matter I head straight for the blossoms then go for the setting. As soon as the most recent layer is dry to touch I need to glaze over the little white pot so it's not so bright.

Spring Hooray!

The sun is shining this morning and I'm determined to spend as much time out in the garden as possible. Yesterday my two dogs, yorkie-poos Mop and Scooter, were in the corner of the yard sniffing and barking madly. I bent down to pick them up and bring them inside and just as they were safely tucked under my arms a little brown mouse poked his head out of a very tight place then made a run for it. Now I know what the dogs were so excited about!

Waiting for the sun...

I was actually able to spend time in the garden weeding today, so good to be out in the sun. This has been a particulary dreary spring, so sitting in the garden with the sun on my back was lovely.

This is a portrait of my daughter Ellie. She is one of my favorite subjects to paint.

April showers...

I LOVE fresh strawberries. This year I hope to grow some in the garden, nothing tastes like fresh fruit and vegies just picked!

The Rain Cleared Out!

I was finally able to get out and photograph some of my latest work. These two were finished last week. I had somewhat of a breakthrough and was able to make the foreground more interesting.

Japanese maple detail

It's raining again... Spring in the NW can be particularly trying. We are tired of the gray days and ready for warm weather. I have paintings ready to photograph but must wait for the rain to stop so I can set up outside. Which brings me to my greatest challenge as an artist, PATIENCE. I have had the habit of rushing through to finish paintings and it shows, particularly in my earlier work. Now I am trying very hard to slow down and consider each layer of paint, each pass with the brush.