"Catching Up On The News"

Oil     6"x8"     Canvas Board 

Here's another in my new beach series. This guy was so perfectly symmetrical that the composition might have been a bit boring with only him in it. I decided to include a couple of his fellow beach folks and break up the negative space a little. I like to try and catch the original feel of the scene, but things inevitably need to be edited, moved around, and colors altered to make a better composition. So many decisions, but so much fun.

"Lost in Conversation" - SOLD

Oil  6"x8"  Canvas Board  $75

I'm having a lot of fun with the oil paint and trying out some different subjects. I haven't painted people in a very long time, but I think this will be the first of many beach scenes. People lounging on the beach have such natural poses and are surrounded by all kinds of interesting paraphernalia that they've lugged with them...coolers, umbrellas, bags, towels, toys...the possibilities are endless. These two seemed to be having an intense conversation, and I enjoyed speculating on what it was about as I painted them.

"My New Bike"

Oil  6"x8"  Canvas Board 

I've been painting exclusively with acrylics lately, but I've decided to try oils for awhile. I signed up for a plein air oil painting workshop in Minneapolis in June and, in order to get the most out of that intense week of painting, I need to get comfortable with oils again. There are things I like about acrylics but, after doing this little painting of my new bike, I'm thinking there are a lot of things I like about oils. This was fun!! and I can't wait to paint something else.

"The Road Less Traveled"

Acrylic 6"x8" Canvas Board 

This is a close-up version of a painting I posted last month. I love the way the shadows interrupt our view of the road as it dips down and then starts uphill beyond the trees. These country roads are everywhere out in the farming community where I grew up. There's always grass growing down the middle, and they become a little overgrown like this one. But they never fail to make me gaze down them as far as I can (just like in Robert Frost's poem) and wonder where they lead.

"Shadows, Early Spring"

Acrylic  6"x8"  Canvas Board

I did this little painting of the view from Mom's deck Saturday afternoon as the sun was sinking low in the western sky. I only had about an hour before the light changed too drastically to continue. It's the same view as the summer version I posted awhile ago called "Sun and Shade." I'm including that one here, too, so you can compare them. She's got this great view through the trees of the far-off rim of the valley. The white accents in the center of the spring painting are the downtown buildings you can also glimpse through the trees. This was a very quick study, but with every painting I do outdoors, I think I get a little more confident about how to begin and what to leave out and when to stop. And it's just a lot of fun.

"Country Church" - SOLD

Acrylic  6"x8"  Canvas Board 

I've been planning to paint this little church and its hillside churchyard for a long time. Last Labor Day, I set out to paint it on location, en plein air. In spite of my determination, I was no match for the wind which was gusting to about 35 mph that day on the prairie. I managed only a little study while holding on to my easel for dear life. I had to settle for taking a few pictures and painting it back home in my studio. I can't begin to describe in one brief blog entry what a special place this is to me...for all the happy memories and sad memories, the Sunday School lessons and Christmas programs, the wonderful old hymns and beautiful stained glass windows. Easter, the celebration of God's incredible love for us through the death and resurrection of His Son, just seemed like the right time to post this little painting. Happy Easter!