nest

                              7x11

Having trouble remembering where I got the ref photo for this, but I am pretty sure it was from one of Val Webb's classes. Val has a number of great classes in different subjects and mediums.

I thought the nest would be hard to paint, but it was fun.

The eggs, which I thought would be easy, gave me the most difficulty!

visiting friends

                           12x12

.                          10x14

Visited my dear friends Mike and Lisa this weekend. Lisa and I talked knitting and yarn and made blueberry jam. Mike and I finally did some painting. We set up these still lifes and dove in.

Also got in a nice paddle on the Mullica River.

The 10 minute version:

catbirds

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I love catbirds; they're so elegant. Every year a few nest in my forsythias. 

Going to use one of these for another bird on a flowerpot painting.

plein air

                             12x12

.                          10x10

Nice day today: coolish, breezy. Hurrah.

My friend Gina and had breakfast while we looked through a couple of Andrew Wyeth exhibit catalogs--one on abstractions and one on botanicals.

We both wanted to try to paint differently than we usually do ... I wanted to do more mark making and leave more white.

The subject was not easy: I tried to simplify but things kept catching my eye.

Plus we were painting in a nearby Fish and Wildlife preserve and when we got there, there was a bulldozer clearing a huge swath of land next to the path--many huge trees uprooted and stacked like dead bodies.

Everyone we talked to was as upset as we were. Word is they'll be building 40 houses there!

Why must they take down every tree!

My dad said: because it's cheaper.☹️ 

Here's my 10 minute painting. Not something to hand: a northern Vermont scene.

10 minutes

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Yesterday, and, below, today, a glass of sedum.

.                             10x12

10 minutes

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As I kind of expected I would, I quickly fell off my intention to spend 10 minutes a day painting!

A geranium bloom and a block of hot press paper I want to finish off inspired this return to the practice on Saturday.

And here's Sunday's, which took exactly 10 minutes with no drawing:

.                               8x12

Trying to keep to Celia Blanco's practice of painting things that are to hand.

classwork

    5x8

A couple of small paintings done painting along with a pre-recorded Birgit O'Connor class on waves.

The top one ... I was surprised when I photographed it how intense the color was; I used a lot of thalo blue, which I don't often use, despite loving the color and transparency. I like the way it turned out though.

Did it again on hot press paper but it didn't turn out as well.

Below: a couple of photos from Friday's kayak. There were five ospreys on that nest when we were heading back to the dock! Successful parents!

plein air

                            9x12

.                             5x5

.                            5x5

It's been so hot we haven't done any plein air paintings ... Or biking, gardening, or kayaking!

But it was 70 degrees this morning so we finally got out for a couple hours!

Did a couple of small sketches to try to get in the swing ... Then one slightly larger.

Mostly was just great to get out and paint!

sketch

                            6x6

A local farm market had limelight hydrangeas on sale and, since they do pretty well in my yard and I had been meaning to replant a messy corner. I picked up three. Planted them today.

A few little bits snapped off and they looked so pretty I thought I'd try to paint them.

Painted this on hot press paper, with no drawing ... I tried to just work my way around.

more iona

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More Iona studies inspired by James Potter's YouTube video.

wetland

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Another lesson from a Birgit O'Connor class, this one on loose landscapes.

It's fun to paint like this: I don't worry so much about the outcome and keep trying to react to what's on the paper.

As you see there's some problem in the middle of the sheet: failed sizing? Mold? Idk.

sunflowers

                                                                       9x12

I have a few lifetime-acess Birgit O'Connor classes that I haven't completed, so when I'm looking for something to paint. I pull up a lesson.

Brigit's classes are very well-produced and thorough.

This is from a class on painting wet and loose.

Didn't get wet enough, and next time bigger might be better.

iona

8x10 sketches of Iona.

We didn't go to Iona when we were in Scotland this past spring, but watching James Potter's YouTube video on Iona has got us talking about another Scotland trip: Iona, Mull, the Small Isles, Glasgow. Maybe a ferry to Northern Ireland. It's fun to plan, dream.

ospreys

                            8x10

I painted this photo before. This was actually my first attempt; I abandoned it, left the forward bird mostly unpainted, because I didn't like the way the nest was turning out.

Pulled it out and finished it.

The nest isn't what I pictured, but it doesn't bother me anymore.

                               11x15

A painting I started last year and abandoned because I didn't know how to fill all the space! 

Thought it might be salvageable. Added the Prussian blue wash at the bottom; thought maybe more yellow.

Think the edges on the lemons are too uniformly hard. Will try to soften them ...

My folder of not-done paintings

studies

A couple of quick, smallish studies; trying to stay wet and focus on big shapes.

I've been inspired by the watercolors of Dave Gloman. I don't know how he does what he does but I think

* Understanding color,

* Seeing big shapes, and

* Wet washes and glazing

Are all at work.

I obviously have a way to go... But it is fun.

wren

                             11x15

Another bird on a flowerpot, inspired by the class I took with Megan Swoyer where we painted an American goldfinch on a terra-cotta pot.

too late

                              16x20

I started this back when my amaryllis was in bloom, in December.

Had left a couple of petals unpainted and decide to just try to finish it today. 

But I left it too long: the paper has become uncooperative. I don't know what happens; maybe the sizing deteriorates?

10 minutes

Three days of 10-minute sketches