American Ruins

Finally got a chance to get out and do some plein air last weekend! I am an accountant in my daily life, so the past couple of months have been pretty hectic for me. Last weekend I designated it, “Art Weekend” and took off work for a 4 day weekend! This little sketch was done in Porterfield, Wisconsin—it was part of a pig farm—with the pig shelter to the left, the silo with food to the right..farther to the right, which I left out, was an old three story, brick smoker. I loved the gray colors and the dark red of the brush. Snow is beginning to melt here—so there was plenty of brush of different colors to paint. This was done in my watercolor moleskine, which is almost filled! I used my Koi Travel Kit along with a Niji waterbrush. The kit was really nice, love the colors it has!

Blogging note: I apologize for no blogs for awhile. I have gotten a new computer with Windows 7, so it took me awhile to move everything and learn the new system, which is really nice! I will try and be more consistent in my blogs! I promise!

First Flowers in the Northwoods

Hidden Hole, plein aire watercolor 5 x 7"

After a long winter, and this one has been particularly long, finding the first wildflowers are always a treat for me. These are the first to bloom here in the Northwoods are Marsh Marigolds. As soon as the swampy areas thaw, this little yellow beauties pop up all over swampy or wet areas. I love to see and paint them each Spring. It heralds Spring, along with the songs of the birds! More in May we are treated to another spectacular presentation of trilliums. More on that later...I'm going out for a walk!

Confessions of a Sunday Painter

Ready to Roll! 9 x 12 oil on masonite panel

I am a Sunday Painter. I am not ashamed...I feel priviledged to have found something that I adore, love, can't live without. I relish my short times to paint....and am sad when I can't--due to whatever reason. Sometimes, though, I do enjoy imagining what my life would have been like if I could do art as a profession...like Rembrandt or Vermeer. What would it be like if I could study a flower for the whole day? How would my art be different if I could concentrate on it...doing countless sketches every single day??

A couple of weeks ago Ovation TV had day long specials on different artists. How Rembrandt went to autopsy's to study the human form. How many of them did he study to be able to make portraits so beautiful? How did Renoir feel when his parents were proud when their son decided to become an artist--not worried that this was "just a hobby"?

Do not get me wrong..I do not regret going to college and becoming an accountant. I was a single mother and raised two children by doing this job. I love the job that I currently have--the people I work for are wonderful and I get to live on a 4,000 acre ranch all year with countless inspiration and the time to endulge in my heart place....and that I have found is art. I don't know if I will ever be "any good" at painting...get into any real shows, hob nob with the "real" artists. etc. But all that doesn't even mean anything to me anymore. I love my process of dreaming and thinking of where I will be painting, organizing my tools, planning when I will be able to go, looking forward to the experience, getting out there and just painting...not thinking about anything else. No dishes, no laundry, no work...just painting...and what I am experiencing in nature. That is enough for me. I then begin again...dreaming of the next time...and it starts all over again.

Been Too Long

Life sometimes gets in the way of art. This was my case, unfortunately neglecting my creative energy. I also broke my right hand, which left me pitifully typing with one hand! I did this small painting today--broke out my oils. Woke up this morning to a lovely backlit scene right outside my window. Although it's not really plein air, I did paint it through my window, but did so in my comfy pj's and cup of coffee. It felt so right to be back at painting after such a long absence.

Snowy morning, 4 x 6" oils on panel