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! 

Spring Bluebonnets

This painting was easy and lots of fun. As usual, I agonized over the cow. Or steer, since it has horns. Obviously, I wasn't raised on a ranch but in the hills of Pennsylvania. I find myself delighted with all the bragging rights inherent in Texas, and enchanted with the scenery. 

Finishing Christmas

I'm finishing some projects. Over New Years, we stayed in Leakey, Texas.  It was so cold, wet, and rainy, that we spent the entire time watching John Wayne movies, football games, and for me, painting.

Prints of Ligonier on the square are available: 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/town-square-at-christmas-beth-waltman.html

The original, 16X20 acrylic work on canvas, can be purchased for $150.  

Please contact through the link. 

I really enjoyed doing this painting.  When I was a child, the "Diamond"--the town square--was decorated for Christmas. White lights twinkled in abundance. A nativity set was always prominently displayed. Just driving around the area, especially when a soft snow drifted down, was a trip through Wonderland! 

     So when I began this, I used Liquitex Basics light blue violet to sketch it in.  Obviously, I need to work more on architecture and perspective.  But the moment of nostalgia caught me, and I worked feverishly until it seemed complete! 

Prints of the Frio River in springtime are available: 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/spring-river-beth-waltman.html

The original, a 12X14 on canvas, can be purchased for $75. Please contact through the link. 

Originally, I had this started as a watercolor. Watercolor just is not my medium.  So yesterday, in the interest of finishing projects, I set out experimenting.  Finally got the amazing blends of colors that showed in the photograph on this day.

Prints of "This Tree, Mom!" are available: 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/this-is-the-one-beth-waltman.html

The original is for sale for $100. Please contact through FineArtAmerica. 

Deserts and Hills

I've had a lot of fun already this Christmas Vacation.

 

 

I'm fairly happy with this Frio River painting.  I would like to put some kids playing on the bank, or maybe some deer.  Or wild turkeys. Maybe a small dragon! Or a stegasaurus.

 The painting above is a whimsical moon to hang in my friend's bathroom.  It needed to match Lowe's "Coral Passion" shade, so I hope we covered that!  There are metallic bronze highlights on the branches.

I've perched the paintings on my piano on top of the fake greenery.  Nice effect, right?

 When you set up your paints, carefully order the placement of your coffee cup.  There is a little Hunter Green floating in there!

Cactus Textures are just wonderful. I love the shades and the beauty combined with the prickly quality.   

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.