Spring Pasture

Another little study of a North East Texas landscape that I am currently exploring. I don't know what it is about hay bales but the do attract my attention.

Sharing Joy

I'm still painting this little girl. I love being around my family and friends and painting them. They interest me still and that is a reflection of how I view home and where I came from. Cousin Brenda had bubbles for the kids to blow during our recent semi family reunion. The bubbles didn't photograph well but they were fun to watch float.

As Summer Settles In

Getting myself prepared for the long hot days of summer here in Texas. Of course I plan a few escapes to California to survive.

Miles Study

The charcoal/graphite study that I worked on before the small watercolor. I worked in my Toned Tan sketch pad. This young fellow was fun to draw as well as paint.

Grazing In The Grass

I love painting cows and hay bales. Its the country girl in me. This is yet another landscape from the Sulfur Springs, Texas highway. I worked on a surface coated with Golden's coarse pumice gel. The under painting was gouache.

Miles Watercolor

Miles is the son of Kim who offices next door to me. He has the best eyes for painting. The initial study is in charcoal and white pastel in a larger format. This one is now in their collection as I offered to paint him.

The Beard

A drawing study for a future pastel painting. This is a family cousin with a distinct beard.

Line of Bales

A study for a pastel I have in mind. Its from my photos of the Sulfur Springs Highway. I have never seen hay bales like this.

That Smile

Another painting of one of my many nephews. I worked on a surface that had both fine and coarse pumice gel. The surface ate up the pastel in places. Pastel pencils were used for most of the rendering. I still want to tinker with the eyes and ears a bit more before I call it done.

Floating Neighbors

Floating vessels always challenge my painting eye. I tend to paint in too many details. I think you can say more with less. I will paint the scene again in another medium. The pier is in El Granda, California the locale of the Princeton Seafood Company. Its one of my favorite places to have lunch.

Blowing Bubbles

The current drawing maybe done.

Current Drawing In Progress

I'm currently working on this drawing. Its inspired by a young lady blowing bubbles at a recent family event. It was hard to photograph the bubbles they were blowing but that wont stop me from adding them to the final paintings.

Garden Party 2

Another take on the flower garden on Town Lake here in Austin.

Bountiful

I started this painting with my best art critic Pam. I was at a point in which I thought the painting was finished. I took it outside to knock off loose pastel dust. Pam was outside weeding and pointed out an obvious weakness. I went back inside and made some suggested changes. It's great to have a second set of eyes around. This is the larger version of what I have been exploring all week in smaller paintings.