Garden of the Stars-Fountain Dreams

The last two days I've been painting in paradise!  This location called to me yesterday, but I could only stretch here.  Waiting for the light to be perfect, I jumped in quickly with paint, following yesterday's sketch for my composition.  I love the geometry of this scene!  All those curves and columns with their hard edges accentuate the very fluid moving water!  Yum!  This is going to be one of those places I paint again and again!  I think I'll paint a large one for my house!  Painting number 1708 in 1708 days.

oil on panel, 12x9
on display at Starlight Theatre
purchase here

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!