Monday Morning

7 x 4 1/2 inches, oil on hardboard

This is a view from the same general area as my two previous plein air paintings. While I was working, I periodically heard the mooing of unseen cows which only added to the already idyllic scene.  I think two wandered into that far left meadow just as I was leaving.  I'd like to go back and paint this spot again.

The Stare

3 1/2 x 5 inches, oil on canvas panel, 2011

This is one of many male Boat-tailed Grackles that inhabit our city. I'm endlessly fascinated by their intelligence, confidence, and beauty.
I painted this last spring.
(sold)

Thistles

7 x 4 1/2 inches, oil on hardboard

This morning's plein air adventure took us to the same spot as last Wednesday.  My initial intention was to do a painting of a single thistle but instead, I found myself lured by this scene.  
I attached a tiny bungee cord to my panel and it held up perfectly in the wind---no flying off to land in the dirt today!

Sky

3 1/5 x 5 inches, oil on canvas panel, 2011

About this time last year, I painted this small study of the sky seen through the canopy of trees.  I did a series of them and this one was my favorite.
(sold)

Out in the Field

4 1/2 x 7 inches, oil on hardboard

My youngest son and I went on a hike this morning.  I set up a place to paint and he laid out a blanket from which to catch butterflies, play on his Gameboy and draw. Pretty idyllic even when the wind picked up and blew my panel face down in the dirt!  I had to wipe a bunch off but I think I was able to salvage it.
I could have stayed out there all day.

Peach Blossoms

This morning I found on our Loquat tree two sweet ripe loquats beckoning to be painted.   I went inside to do a few things and gather my materials to paint.  Earlier, I had told my boys 'don't touch the loquats until I get to paint them'. Well, while inside getting prepared, my boys were outside playing and 'forgot' and ate my loquats.  Sigh...

There's still loquats high up on the tree.  Maybe I could sacrifice a little branch and paint inside---later, if the mood returns.

This is one of the peach blossoms paintings that I did last spring.  This year the flowers came and went before I got a chance to paint them.  The young peaches are already the size of walnuts.

3 1/2 x 5 inches, oil on canvas board
(sold)

Past Poppies

7 x 5 inches, oil on Crescent board

Another of my pre-blog paintings. This was last April's poppies. 

Recovering from a bout of food poisoning this last week, hope to be back to painting soon.

(sold)

Glass Pitcher with Purple Heart

 
5 x 7 inches, oil on canvas board

This is from a series of small paintings I had done before starting my blog.  I really like that glass pitcher, it belongs to my mother-in-law.  I just borrowed it again with some new paintings in mind...

Young Pods

5 x 5 inches, oil on panel