Explore Park Fall Plein Air

                                                          6 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Yesterday a group of artist friends and I went to paint at Explore Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 115 in Roanoke, VA.  I really enjoyed being with the others and taking in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and the expansive countryside.  I only had time to complete this painting, however, because the weather changed from a cool, sunny morning to a cold, gray, windy afternoon.  I wore my husband's windbreaker jacket and came home with more paint on it than on my Gessobord.  I seemed to rest my entire arm in the Titanium White on my easel and then (due to the cold) wrap on arms around my body...I had paint all over it.  So...Really, I completed two paintings.  One on the Gessobord and a white abstract on a navy background.     

Beach in Fall

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

While I was painting this, I kept thinking about the Eagles song "Boys of Summer."  "...Nobody on the beach..."  In my opinion, after the boys of summer have gone is the best time to be at the shore.  Just you, the gulls, and the mighty ocean.  A quick study that I like a lot :-)

Winter Morning View

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

The same view as the previous post, but from last year on a cold morning after some overnight snow.  I'm extremely excited that summer is over and my favorite season is beginning.  I can feel the change early in the morning.  There is a chill in the air, and everything takes on a different smell...if that makes any sense.  Today is the Fall Regatta here at Smith Mountain Lake.  My husband is getting ready to head out...sun block lotion in hand.  I hope to get some good paintings out of it.  The weather is just perfect.  Hope you all have a good day as well, and thanks again for checking in on my blog. 

Smith Mountain Lake Fall Morning Haze

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

 



This is a different angle from my studio window of Smith Mountain Lake.  Most early mornings the lake gets a wonderful haze, and this particular morning there was a yellow cast to everything.  This seems to happen each Fall, and this year in particular it appeared earlier than usual.  The weeds and grasses down by the water turn all different colors as they begin to die.  I must admit I did push the palette a little, but what are all those different paint tubes for ?!

Foodie

6 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

I have painted this man before in pastel, but I thought it would be fun to paint him again in oil.  I think he is one of my favorite subjects to paint.  I'm not sure why, but I think it might be the intensity he had at the buffet table.  He obviously takes his food seriously.  I caught him at one of my art show opening receptions and have seen him a few times since.  The odd thing is that he is usually wearing similar clothing and is usually at the buffet table when I see him.  I've grown attached to this man, stranger though he may be :-)

Quality Time

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Sometimes things just work out, and this painting just happened to "appear."  I think it had something to do with a passion for painting it.  There are days where I go into the studio to paint, but don't have a real desire to paint what I had planned.   Instead of forgoing the subject on hand, I forge ahead.  These paintings usually don't excite me when I'm done.  Not always, though.  Sometimes I get a wonderful surprise.  I really like this painting!! 

Sale at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Art Show

SOLD

I was so very pleased to find out that my painting, "Stuck Up," was sold at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine recently.  The painting will hang until the end of the exhibit so if you get a chance and are in the area, stop by and see all of the artwork on display.

Smith Mountain Lake Sailing

SOLD

6 x 8 Oil On Gessobord

I'm in the middle of a painting that is driving me crazy and I needed to get away from it for a little while.  I walked away and looked out my studio window just as these two sailboats were going by.  The shadows and really bright sun made me grab a gessobord and paint the scene plein air (or "studio air" since I was inside :-)  A fast and furious little painting because I had to catch the boats before they passed out of view, but I think it shows the brilliance of the day, and that was what I going for.  Normally, I would go back and refine certain things, but I am going to leave it as it is...A moment on a Thursday....

Rocks, Clouds, and Sea

                                                                       
                                                                        SOLD

6 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Every year at this time we are on our way to meet up with other artists on Monhegan, so even though I'm sitting at my computer right now here at Smith Mountain Lake, my mind is checking into the seaside hotel and preparing to get the ferry over to the Island.  This is the view from Fish Beach, although I've moved a few things...It's nice to have such power :-)  Hope you all have a great Labor Day.