Blue Ridge Parkway IIV

This was painted early one evening last week up on the parkway right before a big storm came from the south with lightning and thunder . . . I got out of there quick! Below is what it looked like as I turned to my left with the clouds catching the light, it got very DARK FAST.  12" x 36" oil on canvas, framed $400  SOLD

Two Chairs, Veritas Vineyards

Last week I went painting with my new friend Ida Simmons to Veritas Vineyards in Afton. We plan on going back . . . I am trying to organize a few painter-outings at least once a month going to a variety of locations.  8" x 10" oil on canvas, framed  SOLD

Spring View from King Family Vineyards

Very spring colors from the view across King Family Vineyards to Yonder Hill Farm. 22" x 48" oil on canvas, framed  $1050  SOLD

Hidden Valley Spring House

The Spring House was a fun place to paint, very old of course and I was completely drawn to it. Started one from another angle, will work on it later on. Will take this up to the Wintergreen Memorial Show this weekend.  8" x 16" oil on canvas, framed  $195. 

Carmel Beach III

Here is a study I did in the studio since I have been back home  . . . on a rainy day. Such fond memories . . . 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" oil on board, framed $185   SOLD

Two Small Point Lobos Paintings

Jumping back to California, here are two small paintings I did in the studio. Hope to do a few larger paintings from Point Lobos. Painted on RayMar panels, 4" x 6".
Will be up at Wintergreen this weekend for the Memorial Day show, come on up if you are in the area. It's outside and offers art, music and wonderful food and local beer.

Hidden Valley, Two Barns

Just spent the weekend in Warm Springs at Hidden Valley Bed and Breakfast for my birthday weekend with my husband! It was the location for the movie Sommersby and these are two buildings of three that were added for the slave quarters. Below is the old house where we stayed.

Hillside and Water Study

Another study from the beach looking across the lagoon to the opposite side . . . Oh to go back!   5" x 9" oil on treated paper.

Water & Rocks Study II

I must say how much I enjoyed the challenge of painting the ocean and beaches at Carmel. It had been a long time since I had days in a row to study and paint the Pacific . . . even the chance to paint the Atlantic off Virginia, which looks SO different, I don't get to do often. I don't remember which day this was, they have meshed together . . . 9" x 12" oil on paper, framed  $200.

Someone asked how I was framing these paintings . . . here they are! They are at http://cvillearts.org/

Carmel Beach II

Another study with colors of the beach and water, but a different time of day, made simple!  8" x 8" oil on board, framed $150, SOLD

Carmel's Evening Beach

Just remembering how nice it was to be on that beach in the evening and be able to PAINT! Plus have my friends around, lucky me!  . . . 
9" x 12" oil on treated paper, framed $200

Carmel River Painting

This is actually the painting I did on the first evening we were at the Carmel River Lagoon Nature Preserve. The houses are partly hidden into the hillside across from us. Susan discovered one day how to get over to that side while Carol and I where at the convention. Next time I will go there and paint looking BACK at the beach, oh yes, there will be a next time!

The Painting Group

 

Here is the crowd of painters that came out in large flocks on Sunday morning to the Fisherman's Wharf, right near the Marriot Convention Center. We decided not to paint there but wondered around meeting some of the painters and enjoying the interactions. We then went off and painted in a bit quieter spot. It was an amazing weekend!

Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds

Can you imagine 525 painters going together to one location to paint? Well, some by bus, some by car with lunch prepared for us when we arrived! Here is my painting from the day we spent there . . . I will re-photograph it soon . . . I only regret that I didn't have more time to wonder around and see everyone else work. 9" x 12" oil on treated paper., framed  $200

Evening Beach Time

 

This was one evening before dinner that we all set up along Carmel's Beach . . . the photo was taken afterwards so the lighting is very different. 8" x 10" oil on treated paper,  SOLD thanks Sarah!

Distant Bank, Carmel

We agreed we could never get tired of painting in Carmel and wish we were still there painting. This is from one of the late afternoon paintings looking back on a ledge of a cliff hillside . . . but don't ask me which direction I was facing!  8" x 10" oil on paper, showing the color of the treated paper.

Water Study

A little study of the rocks and water at the beach in Carmel, again such a special place to paint.  6" x 6" oil on board.
Here is my favorite photo from that day but not where I was painting, this is at Carmel River Lagoon & Wetlands Nature Preserve.  NFS

Carmel, Wine & Cheese!

 We painted every evening in Carmel and enjoyed our wine and cheese each night! Here is my painting on the easel  . . . with Carol Mitchell in back and Susan Greaber in front. Check out their sites on line to see their style of painting.

Distant Hill at Carmel, CA

I am painting just a small slice of this view at Carmel River Lagoon and Wetlands Nature Preserve. There is also a beautiful beach connected to this, plus parking! We painted around this area several times and depending on the day and time, always had a different view.
6 1/2" x 6 1/2" oil on board, $95. Will be at http://cvillearts.org/

Painting in Carmel, CA

Painting in California was great fun and seeing 525 other painters at the Plein Air Convention was amazing indeed! My friend Susan Greaber from Baltimore and a new connection with Carol Mitchell was really fun as we painted every afternoon or evening after the events. The convention took place in Monterey but we ended up painting mostly in Carmel because it was protected from the wind and cold. I did not take enough warm clothes! Will try to post one painting each day with a photograph or two to tell the stories.
I can't find the correct photo for this first painting, but it was done in this general area of the Carmel beach. 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" oil on board, need to find frames for these painting!  SOLD

Synergia Opening Last Night

Lots of fun last night at the opening . . . thanks to everyone who came out!

Kelly's Paintings

Two 8"x10" paintings for Kelly one as a wedding gift . . . thank you Kelly!
I have been sick with the flu for over a week, but now feeling better, I have been missing my painting days.
I can't believe I catch a plane tomorrow morning for California and will be away 12 days. I will be participating in the Plein Air Convention in Monterey with about 500 painters. Will be posting about it later on. Also visiting with my son in San Francisco and staying with my brother, a high school friend is also joining me . . . Should be a ton of FUN!

Old Rag Mountain

This painting is for Paul and his family just south of Sperryville, Virginia in Rappahannock County. I was lucky to have a 60 degree day last week to go up and paint on location at their wonderful home. I still need to do a tad more  . . . 24" x 36" oil on canvas, framed,  thanks so much Paul! 

March Snow!

We JUST got our power back on after 3 1/2 days! Very heavy snow and so many branches down, we spent a lot of time outside cleaning up. Snow almost all gone . . . we have a wood stove, gas cook stove and two 55 gallon barrels of water from the roof, so we managed OK! Didn't paint any but got about a dozen canvases stretched and ready to go! Painting up near Sperryville tomorrow for a commission! Suppose to be near 60 degrees!

Alison's Painting

I have been busy lately with Alison's commission! This is a very large painting and I have been having a hoot painting it  :  )  Since the weather has been crummy I have been in my studio painting away. She LOVED the painting! Thanks Alison!  32" x 72" oil on canvas, framed.

Pond and Peach Trees

 

The pond across the road from our house, which I love to paint, was an easy pick this afternoon when the temperature rose to 63 degrees with cold on it's heels. The peach trees are in the distance and the pond is full after the rain, ready for spring!  8" x 10" framed  $150.

Morrowdale Farm

This was started one day this summer as a plein air painting and was put on the back shelf . . . had fun finishing it but must say I exaggerated the mountains a bit, do you think they mind? Morrowdale Farm is off Garth Road and I joined Karen Blair's class for the afternoon. Check out her site http://karenblairpaintings.com/
16" x 40" oil on canvas, framed SOLD

Virginia from the Air

A few years ago, a friend took my husband and I up in his two seater plane (one at a time) and this is from a photograph from the air. We also flew over Monticello and I am hoping to paint that one, one of these days.  36" x 48" oil on canvas, framed  $1,900.  SOLD, Thanks Tommy!

The Inlet

A new studio painting that I have been working on lately . . . . just framed it too!  30" x 40" oil on canvas, framed  $1,400, SOLD thanks Eleanor!
Also, I just up-loaded my schedule for 2013 . . . . I still hope to squeeze in a few more things but really, it is QUITE FULL!

Mirador Farm III

Just re-posted this since I changed it a bit . . . . Studio painting that I have been working on for a while and will be in a show at King Family Vineyards in March and April. You can't see the pond from either roads, so I got permission to go and take photos. Large painting, . . . I only have one wall in my studio that big! 24" x 70" framed $1,800, SOLD

Study of Blue Ridge Parkway, II

Second study I did while the weather was bad and worked from images. It is fun to remember being in a location and then painting what is most in your memory. I often will study a photo, turn it over (not looking again), paint what is most important . . . . 7" x 8" oil on MDF board, framed $95  SOLD

Stream and Mountain

A Studio painting from a photo taken in early fall this year. I was under the weather for the past week and so worked on this on and off to pick my spirits up!  16" x 20" oil on canvas, framed  SOLD thanks Pam!

Study of Blue Ridge Parkway I

A small study from the parkway that I did recently . . . have a second one coming soon.
8" x 8" oil on canvas, framed  $125

Blue Ridge Parkway VII

I do love to go back up on the parkway to paint as often as I can, I always can find a different and new spot. This one is farther south past Raven's Roost and was started this fall, just now finishing it.  12" x 24" oil on canvas, framed  $300, SOLD  thanks Nina & Ken!

Summer Pond

Happy New Year to everyone! . . . . Well, I have been busy with family and friends since December 18 when my son flew in from California, and just yesterday our other son and girlfriend left. That is 20 days NOT PAINTING, I am now ready to jump in and get started with many projects and plans for this new year. I am still working on my schedule and will up-date that soon.
This is a painting from a study of a pond near by that I did this summer.  8" x 8" oil on canvas, framed $125.