Orchard Hill

Today was a beautiful day for plein air painting. This is my start for the first painting of the day. I am painting on a linen, oil primed canvas mounted on gatorboard, made by Signature Canvas. I like their products! It is 11x14. I used a light wash to mass in the big shapes of the composition.

This second photo was taken after I painted in the sky with mixtures of cobalt blue, white, cad. yellow light and yellow ochre. I also started on the tops of the background trees.

I finished the painting, and it was a good thing because it was about noon and the sun had changed the shadows. I will post a better photo of the finished painting tomorrow. I also worked on a 9x12 painting of the same orchard which I will post in a few days. Tomorrow may be another day for painting outside so I will head back to the orchards before the blossoms are gone!

Covered Bridge in Ada

A week or so ago, I drove to Grand Gallery in Ada to pick up some work to exchange for my show this month, opening May 14. I  had along my painting gear, hoping to squeeze in some painting time. My plan was to paint somewhere on the way home, but my eye kept going to the covered bridge down the road. The morning light on the budding trees was a good backdrop for the bridge, so I made a quick decision to just go for it and see what I could do. This first photo shows part of my easel and the bridge in the background.

"Covered Bridge in Ada", oil on panel, 12x12

Come to the my painting demonstration on Thursday, May 6 from 5-8 pm

at the Grand Gallery in Ada, MI - see the web site at bottom of blog page.

This painting will be there and at the opening of my show on May 14, reception 5-8pm.

Spring Chickens

"Chickens", oil/linen panel, 12x16

This past Thursday morning was warm and the light was wonderful. I painted with the Thursday plein air group at Cutler Farm. After walking around a bit, I decided to paint the chickens and their coop. It was a challenge to try and capture the chickens as they walked around, so while I painted the buildings I was on the lookout for a chicken standing still so I could quickly add it in with a few strokes of paint.

My easel set up with the completed painting.

Spring Delight

"Spring Delight", 24x30, oil, 4/2010

I normally don't post so many blogs on the same day, but I finally was able to photograph the new work from the past three weeks or so and this painting is fresh off the easel. Unfortunately, the colors look a little washed out in this image of the painting. This piece actually has a nice variety of colors with great atmospheric perspective, so I am happy with the outcome.

This painting is now at DCF Gallery. See the link below or on my web site.

Morning Tea

"Morning Tea", 14x11, oil on linen panel, 4/2010

Maria has a yard full of daffodils and generously gave me several bouquets of daffodils and forsythia to decorate my tables for a family dinner I gave last Sunday. Naturally, I could not let the bouquet go to waste and just had to paint them as the morning light came in through the studio window. A sure sign that spring is here!

American Gothic

"American Gothic", 12x16, oil on linen panel, 4/2010

Yes, this old house has character and has seen lots of history. It has to be one of the most interesting houses I have come across with vines growing in and out the broken siding and porch roof. The windows are partially boarded up on the inside yet glimpes of furniture remain inside. The rolling hills surrounding the home yield rows of grapevines, the perfect crop for this area around Fenn Valley.

This painting came about from a paintout with the PAAWM painters meeting at the Fenn Valley Winery. It was a warm but very blustery April day, enough wind to blow over easels.

Summer Daze

"Daydreamer", oil on linen panel, 16x12

My daughter posed for me while we were taking a beach walk last summer and I love how this painting turned out, especially after I framed it in a beautiful wide gold plein air frame. It may be hard to sell this one!