Hill Country Paintings

 I made this small group of paintings, and they have all ended up at our Hill Country home. 

I can take no credit for the Wild West wall. 100% Sam! 

Avoiding overpainting

I'm the queen of overapinting, the mistress of myopia. I just watched a video on how to improve one's oil paint technique-- although my preferred medium is acrylic. And dang, I've been approaching it all wrong! Never mind. I can correct henceforth. 

Never mind that my people are all elongated like giraffes. At least they don't look Neanderthal. 

My husband looked yesrpterday and asked, "Are they naked?" No, no, that's the under painting! They will be fully clothed when finished.

Her goes the redo of my other River picture. I need to soften the sharp edges ands broaden the strokes. 

A Neutral Beginning

Beige and blue are the background colors here. This is soothing, not exciting.  A calm river on a hot summer day. . . a welcoming doorway into cool, enchanted spaces.  Even a desert can be restful with the monochromatic blending. The sky has a washed-out look over the sparkling sand. 

I paint in order to calm myself down and escape other tasks.  There are always dishes, laundry, and lesson plans.  For the same reason I read mysteries, I paint.  It's an escape into another land, another life.