Last leaf of fall

When walking, looking for something to sketch, I sometimes bring my camera to capture scenes that I don't have time to paint, and I also love to pick up various items to bring home to draw or paint. This was one of those days...it was a warm afternoon as I walked searching for little treasures. I found this little branch, still holding the caps from the acorns. I took it home and painted this little viginette. I really admire botanical painters, and I don't do as well as some that I've seen, but I had a great time that evening painting this picture! I hope you enjoy it as well.

Make Art

Chute Pond, oil 6 x 8", plein aire

Sometimes I wake up in the morning, and all I can think about is doing art. I love it...truly love it. If I didn't have to work, I would be one of those scruffy looking artists...who didn't look as if they changed clothes in a while...full of paint and obsessed with my current project, or dreaming about the next one, or the one after that! I LOVE looking at nature, walking, driving. I see HUNDREDS of paintings in my head as I pass by. In the precious moments when I can stop and create, I feel like I've discovered a treasure, blessed in the fact that I have the time to stop and try and capture my find on paper or canvas.

Last night it was the first frost in the Northwoods. This morning as I awakened under two blankets, I found my backyard covered with shimmery silver frost. I don't think my summer flowers will be around for long. My herbs will need to be harvested tonight!

This weekend is supposed to be glorious---warm, sunny. I will be out there painting more fall colors. Housework? What is that???? It's going to be a painting weekend for me!!!

Fall's Fast Change

Fall Fields, watercolor in w/c Moleskine

Fall is the time of year, if you don't stop to enjoy it, it's over. Sometimes I wish I could pack all my art materials and just paint the fall away. The leaves change rapidly here, one day there is no color, the next, the trees are ablaze! This field was on the way to do my errands, so on the way back, I pulled over on the shoulder and painted this little abandoned barn, set right in the middle of a soybean field, turned a golden yellow.

When I came home, I was still hyped about painting, so housework abandoned, I went out exploring what had changed on the ranch. I found this little path to the barn in technicolor! So, I took out my equipment and painted this little sketch until my fingers were so cold and the light was leaving. You've got to grab the gusto when you can! (Wasn't that a beer commercial????) Hope all you artists, naturalists are out there...gathering to your heart's content! Enjoy!

Fall Path -- w/c in Moleskine sketchbook

Remember

It was a crisp fall day, much like the one today--the leaves had begun to turn, the sky was bright blue, the ranch was quiet with the vacation and hay season over, logging to begin....a moment to breath. Then, the unthinkable happened. It happened to all of us.....every corner of this earth morned with us, felt our pain. As I watch the ceremonies marking this day, I am thankful I did not lose someone in that day of horror....that my life would be forever linked with this one day. My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones...I hope they can feel a nation standing beside them in their never ending grief. This is a day I will never forget.

Welcome to My Blog

"First to go", watercolor sketch in Moleskine W/C sketchbook

We are already beginning to show signs of color in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. The first plant to turn are the forest ferns, which look like a blaze of fire on the forest floor. This was painted this morning using my little Cotman watercolor field kit and Niji waterbrushes. This little path leads into the forest behind our home and circles the lake.

For an introduction, I have always enjoyed reading blogs of other artists, but have been a bit shy about posting my own. I thought this would be a great way to show my friends and readers what I have been doing.

I enjoy painting plein aire and am currently in love with painting in my little moleskine watercolor sketchbook. I also paint in oils and pastels. Sometimes I even bring my acrylics out in the daylight...but I usually work in acrylics in my studio. I try to do some art each day, even if it is just a sketch from my window.

Before living in the country, I was a total city person. Loved going to coffee shops and museums. Ok...I still love those things, but there was the lure of being able to see things that I could never see in the city...deer grooming their fawns, bears with their cubs, even little things like the habits of chipmunks as they procure our sunflower seeds for the winter.

I hope you enjoy reading of my adventures in art and nature.