Colorado Scenery

This summer, I saw a lot of beauty in this state north of Texas. My next effort will be to paint some of those sights.

 See how blue the sky was?  It looked an improbable china blue.  Quite lovely. Dang, you can see my car window in this one, sorry. Below you see two views from  Pike's Peak

Canvas Size

I started this painting of a Florida beach quite some time ago.  It was a different challenge to fill such a large space in any kind of interesting way.  The shape being so oblong, I messed around with trying to fill in the blue without overwhelming the space.  This one is about 24" by 48". 

When I was finished, Sam really thought it needed some focal point. So there.  A parasail.  And golly, I'm going to have to practice that, because it ended up a little lame. 

Now, I'm working on some itty bitty canvases.  The challenge there is to be bold enough without underwhelming the viewer.  

On the other hand, this one is 8X10. 

Not a masterpiece, but it conveys the message.  My main goal is to get my reading students to put their thoughts into words and pictures. 

Prints Available

Swimming hole

I'm continuing to work on people.  People are difficult!  Yes, yes, people in real life are trouble.  They make drama.  They are vain and self-absorbed.  But people as a subject also presents a difficulty.  They have minds of their own.  The girl in the red tank top was supposed to be a chubby grandma (like me) indulgently looking toward the larger group.  She ended up looking toward shore, closing off the group, but choosing to hold back from the group. The finished painting is not so yellow-green as it appears here.

To see the finished product: Order Prints, Swimming Hole 

She partially regrets being here.  She doesn't like it that her cell phone is in the truck, and her boyfriend is probably texting her right now.  He wasn't allowed to come along.  But she is enjoying the water and the noisy little kids more than she'll admit. And for this minute, she is swept by the surprising peace of the water and the shade of magnificent trees.

People tubing

I have been working on this set of cypress trees in the Frio River since the beginning of June.  It's a nice, tranquil scene.  Too tranquil. 

I asked K. to critique, as it just didn't suit me somehow.  This is where a good critic can inspire a person to achieve new heights--or can just tick you off.  It takes thick skin to grow in a craft whether it involves baking, sculpting, painting or dancing. If you just want positive feedback, ask your fans.  If you want a real opinion, ask someone who is not particularly artsy who has contrasting tastes to yours. 

At any rate, K said that it was  boring and needed a mountain lion or some people splashing. 

"How about some tubers?" 

Tubing is what you do in Texas in the summer if the rivers are up.  If they're down, you throw rocks into the muddy puddles or feed the deer or hunt for arrowheads.  Usually, there is water in the Guadalupe or the Nueces even if the Frio is down to a trickle.  It's not a very big river.  

So, here are the beginnings of my people.  The tuber on the left I made too big to start with.  I had to use water and a paper towel and scrape the paint down. 

So I'm adding a little color.  There is no need to paint in eyes and other features.  I just hope to get lifelike proportions and shadows! 

K is the most brutally honest person in my life.  Sometimes when I ask whether an outfit matches, she says, "Not on this planet."  She blinks rapidly as if the color combo hurts her eyes. Fortunately, we laugh a lot at our own pretensions.  It's a blessing when there's friendship in the family. 

Sweet and Innocent

When we got together for a paint day, we set the stage.  Flowers, ice cream, vegetables, chips, and hummus.  Acrylics, watercolors, canvas, and instructional books.  

Judy brought flowers with her--eucalyptus and clover, I think. The fragrance is innocent and fresh. The blossons are dainty. 

I quickly sketched in paint.  I intended to go back later and layer thick dabs of paint on. My daughter J said, "No, Mom, it's pretty just like that!  I can't take it home today because I'm taking the other two.  I want it."  I guess I'll have to do a larger one for me and give it the Van Gogh treatment. 

The still life is not my best subject, but these flowers were in my favorite color.  Reminded me of raspberries. 

School Projects

It's time to spruce up my classroom.  Since I usually teach ELA in some form, I've gathered some of my less-favorite works and painted words on them for inspiration. 

I have a little more work to do on them... I'll hang them on the wall in my new classroom tomorrow.  Students, even shy students, will always talk about painting.  

It's so funny how different people react to different paintings.  Julie implored me to stop painting, already and "just leave that one alone."  So another half-finished landscape went home with her, before I painted it to death.  

Well, maybe one little addition to the Dream piece:

This fall painting of the Frio River went to a buyer by UPS today: 

It's so gratifying when someone likes your stuff!  

It takes me hours and hours, and sometimes, I add too much.  Then some scene I really love takes a short time, because I walked in the shade on that path. . . saw that light...can still feel the ambience from the day we spent at that lovely spot.. 

My friend Judy came to paint today.  This wonderful woman brought her watercolor paints, a guidebook, and in one hour, she produced a magnificent stormy sky and wintry landscape.  I didn't take a picture, but will post it later when I get a copy.