Access Road Near Amazon Slough 8"x 10"

I did this one a week ago. It is colorful but I think not quite so much as in the photo. I parked behind the tavern on Danebo. This access road runs between Danebo and Terry.

Amazon Slough, Looking East from Terry 8"x 10"

I am so glad I made it out today and think I might be able to squeeze in a painting tomorrow.  I painted over a used canvas and had some trouble getting it to accept the paint.  I think I'll avoid doing that from now on. As usual, it was a struggle but I just kept going and I am pretty happy with the result.  Wish I had put those two trees in the middle closer together to be more of a single mass.  That's how my sketch was.

Amazon Slough near Datalogic 10"x 8"

I was back at the end of Terry today painting from the bridge.  It got kind of windy and my umbrella kept blowing off so I had to do without at the end.  My first time to paint rocks which was fun.

Meadow at the End of Terry 10"x 8"

I was fairly happy with this when I finished but now I wish I had lightened the area of rushes that come forward and put some sky holes in the left hand tree. I do like the rhythm of the composition and I'm enjoying the colors that I added to my palette a few weeks ago: cad yellow deep, alizarin and cerulean blue. I'm real happy with this area for painting.  I'll go back again.

Where Terry Street Meets the Meadow 8"x 10"

Today I'm happy.  I had a hard time trying to make the colors for those distant trees.  Wiped them of a couple of times which probably contributed to me finally getting what I wanted.  This is a very nice, quiet place to paint.

Island Park Bridge 10"x 8"

I thought I had done pretty well but now I see things I should have noticed while painting.  Oh well.  I had a wonderful time.  I like the colors and composition.  Seems like a composition I could try again and in a very safe location which always appeals.

Little Pond near Ed Cone Blvd. 8"x 10"

I really struggled with this one.  The photo, unfortunately, favors the blue more than the real painting.  Maybe I should think about trying to push the blues a little bit.

Bend in the River 8"x 10"

This is a view my dad and I see when we sit on a bench at Maurie Jacobs Park.  Lots of geese and kids playing on the shore later in the day.

Garden Walkway 8"x 10"

This is our back garden walkway looking toward the neighbors' house and garage. I've not been able to come up with a composition at home in my garden before.  I'm pretty happy with it. That's a big perle d'azur clematis in the foreground and parsley gone to flower across the path.  So wonderful to paint at home.

Marina at Richardson Park 8"x 10"

My second painting Wednesday.  My first try at boats.  Very tricky for me but all in all it came out better than I had expected.

Creek at Richardson Park 8"x 10"

Seems like Wednesday is my painting day.  Nice to have some sort of schedule.  I had a lot of trouble doing those old cat tails. Actually the creek was pretty much filled with various sorts of vegetation so I had to make it up--not my strong point.  I did another in the afternoon--stay tuned.

Another Boxcar 8"x 10"

Well, Sunday on Garfield was nice and quiet.  Unfortunately the boxcars I started Thursday were gone and that area was too complicated to paint with all the trains they had there today.  This wasn't as good a composition but I think I would have been happy if I just could have done those electric poles better.  So
I 'm going to work on electric poles.  The boxcar was one of those open ones they use for lumber and I couldn't figure out how to do it.  I see what I did wrong and will do it better next time.
I scraped this one.  Mostly I'm just real happy to have gotten out to paint.

Sidetracked Boxcars 8"x 10"

I've been wanting to try painting some boxcars for the longest time.  Yesterday I was looking for S. Danebo and went the wrong way.  Discovered that Garfield is a goldmine of industrial paintings!  Unfortunately most of the trains are in areas that have no trespassing signs so I settled for this one which is at the end of Cross St.  Not really what I was thinking of but it was a really nice place to paint.
On the way home I discovered a scene that was almost exactly what I'd been thinking of.  Did a sketch, went home for a quick break and another panel (Dummy--always have extras on hand).  So I got started and it started raining.  Not too bad but enough that I had to get out the umbrella.  Got started again and the wind began to blow--really blow.  Blew my umbrella off.  It was blowing toward me fortunately, because twice it blew my easel into me.  I hate to be a sissy so I kept going but it was ridiculous.  The brim of my hat blowing down over my face, small rocks flying around.  Gritty paint.  Yuck!  I gave up, sadly, but hope to get back one day soon.

Driveway off Ricketts Road 8"x 10"

It was nice to finally get out painting again.

Bridge at Dexter Lake 8"x 10"

After I finished painting yesterday I saw this scene and did a sketch.  So I painted this at home today from the sketch but I also had a photo, which was very little help.  I did have the painting from yesterday and figured the colors were probably about the same.  I was pretty unhappy with it when I finished because it's not realistic and is darker than I wanted.  But now I'm liking it better and think it might be a good idea to go back there and try doing it from life.

Lakeside Poplars 8"x 10"

I wish I had been able to do a little better with this but now that I am painting more often I'm hopeful for progress.  I do like the composition real well--the amount of light and dark.
I was at the Lowell Bridge where I had heard people had been painting.  It was an awfully public place and I didn't want to stand down on the walk way and paint the bridge but I liked this scene looking north.  There is a view of the road just to the right of this scene that I would like to try another time.

Golden Gardens in May 8"x 10"

Yesterday afternoon the plein air group met at Golden Gardens.  It was a lovely warm day.

10th Alley off Polk 6"x 8"

I saw this scene when I was walking my dog a couple days ago.  I tried to follow a technique Victoria told me about where left over paint on the palette is used as a base for the mid values.  It seems like a really nice way to tone down bright colors.  Also added Alizirin and pthalo blue to my very limited palette and am real happy to have some more lively colors going on.

Columbine Studies 6"x 6"

Since I had so much trouble with the columbines yesterday I decided to do some little studies.  I was thinking most about how to make the lighter color of purple.  Just adding white seemed to cool it too much so I thought I'd try more pink.  I think that worked.  I would like to have done each one in 10 minutes.  It took 50 minutes for the first, then 30 min, and 25 for the last 2.  I think the drawing improved as I went along.

Columbines with Euphorbia 8"x 8"

It's been so long since I've painted.  I was pretty unhappy with this so I scraped it off.

Primrose with Citrus 9"x 12"

I still used lots of paint, as was my goal, but it keeps getting tighter each time.  Shucks!  Well,  I hope to try again next week.

Citrus with Carnations 9"x 12"

My second attempt at painting a very busy still life with lots of paint.  I had to put in a second day.  So many things that I wish I could have done better but I am very happy that I made the effort.

Onions on a Copper Plate 9"x 12"

I haven't had much interest in doing still lifes but I saw some of Eric Jacobsen's using really thick paint I got excited to try that.  I really enjoyed it!
My life has really changed over the last year--looking after my dad and some medical stuff but, once again, I am hoping I can sustain an interest in painting.

Wintry Afternoon in the Whit 6"x 6"

There was a big snow storm on Friday but I couldn't get out to paint until yesterday.  There was still quite a lot left.  I love this!  Painting in my car is great!--except for sitting for so long and having to find a good composition from the car.  I love the privacy of it.

Lawrence Street in the Whitaker 6"x 8"

I am having so much fun painting in my car/studio!  Clamping the panel holder to the steering wheel worked out great.  I don't really like the paper palette so plan to get a piece of plastic cut to fit  the box.
I made quite a few mistakes in drawing and value but still, I'm happy and so excited that I can paint outside in winter.  It topped out at 47* when I was finished and I was nice and warm the whole time.

Trial Run 6"x 8"

I've been wanting to see if I can paint while sitting in my car because I'm just no good at cold weather.  It was pretty messy and cramped.  Tried to use my Easy-L paint box on my lap but the seat wouldn't go back far enough so I had to do it kind of sideways.
I plan to try again with a tiny paint box my husband made for me when I first started painting outside. I much prefer standing but I'm going to try to figure this out so I can paint outside this winter.

Persimmon on a Flowered Plate 6" x 6"

The starlings have ravaged the persimmon tree but I have several on the kitchen window sill.

Japanese Shoes 6"x 6"

I've really liked paintings women do of shoes but I'm not the kind of girl who has cute shoes.  But I do have these little Japanese shoes from when I was two living in Japan.  They are a block of wood with a straw sole. They are lacquered and have cranes flying around on them--way too complicated.  The block of wood is hollowed out and each shoe has two little bells in that spot.  Not sure of the function of that little brass knobs in front.  Maybe it protects the lacquered part when you walk.

Persimmon on a French Plate 6"x 6"

Today my goal was to use thick paint, try not to fuss too much over the accuracy of the drawing and to put down decisive strokes.  I would like the drawing to be better but I think sometimes, for me, it's better to just get on with it.  I love the blue color on the plate.

October at Bond Butte Pond 8" x 10"

I have painted a few times lately but the results have been so bad that I didn't bother posting. Today I'm real happy with this one.  It even looks a little better in real life.
I wanted to work on painting distant hills, getting a much lighter value but still having some attractive colors.
Bond Butte Pond is my new FAVORITE place to paint.  I hope we'll get a few more good days so I can go back.