Into the Sunken Garden

Into the Sunken Garden
Oil on panel, 16x12
Stems Plein Air Event

As soon as I walked into this back yard, the sunken garden was calling me.  I first did a detailed sketch with my pastel sticks.  With so much in the garden that I wanted to include, I needed to have it mapped out correctly before laying in the paint.  The peonies were down to their last few petals on sight, so I brought back the full bloom while I painted.  The columns, statue and birdbath added so much to this intimate garden space.  There are two beautiful iron chairs back towards the picket fence, and a little footbridge behind the peonies on the left.  It is truly a wonderful space to spend a warm afternoon - and the fresh, cold lemonade was icing on the cake!  Painting number 515 in 515 days.  I have a sunrise paint tomorrow at the Deanna Rose Farm - so I had better get to bed!

First Blush of Spring

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First Blush of Spring
Oil on panel, 12x9
Augusta Shore Paint Out

This very rainy day was a challenge to find places with enough cover to paint from.  In fact, I heard it rained 5+ inches on this day!  My first painting had been done from the front porch, pushed up as close as I could get to the house.  For this one, I was in the garage with the door open - until the rain was blowing so hard we had to lower the door until it let up a bit!  I have never painted in such a heavy rain!  That is the fun of plein air - you never know what kind of weather you will get!  This is painting number 117 in 117 days :)

Birdbath at Sunrise

Birdbath at Sunrise
Oil on panel, 11x14
not available

So, this is day three of the Augusta Plein Air Festival, and I painted this one at the Sunrise Paint at Frisella's Nursery.  The morning was SO cold, and the wind was absolutely biting!  Frisella's was so gracious to allow us to paint in the greenhouse!  Surrounded by garden beauty and flowers, it was hard to narrow down a painting subject!  Two scenes from outdoors were also calling my name - but the wood stove and a warm place to paint won the contest!  This was my first painting of the day - and thoroughly enjoyable!  I could paint the gardens in all their glory all day long.  I love the color and movement, the breath of life that flows through the foliage and flowers.  We next did a little scouting for paint spots before heading to Balducci's for the Sunset Paint.  I will post that painting another day.  This is painting number 106 in as many days.  I'd better get to bed - I have another sunrise paint in the morning!

On location