Orchard Blossoms

With the beautiful weather West Michigan experienced this past week, I was able to paint two more times in the orchards. The apple trees were just starting to blossom, so I chose plum and pear trees, which are the first to bloom. This is a progression of the painting session which took about two  hours.

My subject, a plum orchard.

A wash of transparent oxide brown and yellow ochre. Then massed in the trees with middle value grays.

I left out some of the grass area, condensed it, to add the road for more interest on the left side of the composition.

I spent a considerable amount of time, probably too much, on the tall back ground trees and the negative space of sky holes.

My palette consisted of T.white, cad yellow lt., yellow ochre lt.,  cad.red lt., Aliz., ultra blue, cerelean blue, viridian, transparent oxide brown and maganeze violet.

Plum Blossoms, oil, 9x12

A Successful Show in Kentucky

Under the Weeping Cherry, SOLD

Pear Blossoms and Bee Box, SOLD

The weather was chilly, but the sun helped to keep us warm. Overall, the show was a success with some nice sales to my collectors. The St. James Court Art Fair is a large juried show with artists attending from many states. We enjoy the southern hospitality and love staying at the Gallery House B&B! Thank you Gordon and Leah!

Awaiting Fields, SOLD

Garden Brilliance, SOLD

Peony and Nectarines, SOLD

Nectarines in a Silver Bowl, SOLD

Sunflower Field, SOLD

Leelanau Plein Air

I took a painting trip to the Leelanau Peninsula for four days at the end of June. All the paintings below were painted en plein air. I also did a demo painting in front of Treeline Gallery on that Saturday (see below).

Boathouse at Lake Leelanau, oil, 6x6 SOLD at Treeline Gallery

Cherry Blossoms and White Pine, oil, 12x16, $900.
The painting was started as a demo from a previous plein air study and a photo of the orchards in spring. The demo was at the Treeline Gallery on June 30.

Fish Town in Morning, oil, 9x12, $650. at Treeline Gallery

Fountain Point Boathouse, oil, 6x8, SOLD at Treeline Gallery

Lake Leelanau Boathouse, oil, 9x12, $650.

Leland Boathouse, oil, 6x8, SOLD at Treeline Gallery

Leland Falls, oil, 14x11, $850.

The Bluebird, oil, 9x12, $650. at Treeline Gallery

The Whaleback - Leland, oil, 9x12, $650.

View of North Manitou, oil, 6x8, SOLD at Treeline Gallery

Orchard Blossoms

A Farmer's Orchard, oil, plein air, 11x14

Old Pear Orchard, oil, plein air, 12x16

This is the scene for The Farmer's Orchard painting. I think these are apple trees...but I may be wrong because they were in blossom before the large orchards of apple trees across the street. Of all the years I have been painting in this area, I have never painted this viewpoint with the barn behind the trees. I like it.

A photo of the easel and orchard in the background.
The blossoms were just coming out full force last week. The twisted old pear trees are about 60 years old and I return to this orchard every spring to paint.

Plein Air in October

More plein air work during the Indian Summer we had here in West Michigan!

Lake at Ox-Bow, oil, 8x10
Painted from a dune at Oval Beach, looking east toward Ox-Bow.

Cornstalks and Pumpkins, oil, 10x8
Painted at Klein Cider Mill and Farm on Tuesday. One of the last warm days this month!

Farmyard Conversation, oil, 11x14
I have driven by this farm many times and finally decided to ask if I could paint on their property. I will definitely want to come back to this farm. I can imagine how it will look in the winter!

Pasture with Black Angus, oil, 11x14
This is another favorite painting spot that I just keep coming back to!

Maples and Fields, oil, 11x14
The fields are strawberry plants. I was attracted to the shapes and the contrasting trees in the distance. I think this painting could have been more like 11x18. Will have to do another one!

Apple Orchard, oil, 11x14
This was a lovely day spending time alone near this apple orchard owned by the Brechting family.
Painting in a quite place with no distractions is the best!

October Orchards

"Apple Orchard - Morning", oil on linen panel, 9x12

Wow, what a beautiful morning to paint. Last week I went to Robinettes Orchard with two artist friends and we felt so fortunate to be there. The light was great and there was something to paint in every direction. I did two paintings with the help of an apple fritter and coffee. It was delish!

"Peach Orchard in October", oil on linen panel, 12x16

I loved this scene. The peach trees were just starting to turn a golden color and the morning shadows created nice patterns across the grass and hilly road. I had to paint fast to keep my initial inspiration as the sun rose, everything changed very quickly.