I made this little painting in the spring at the botanical gardens here in Austin. I was working in the center garden as you enter. I used red Canson paper as my surface.

Owl Nest

I spotted this "screeching house" while Pam and I were hanging out at the botanical garden. I was attracted to the way the light kissed the leaves and the side of the structure. I completed the sketch on site and added paint later. The garden has grown even more luscious due to the drought ending in recent years.

Garden Path Austin

The preliminary work and structure of this painting were generated in the botanical gardens here in Austin. I worked with a Pentel brush pen on a copper panel. I liked the light and the flower bush in the background. I later added color from memory.

Deep Still Water

This scene is part of a river near Jenner, California, I was attracted to the rock formations and the colors in the water. We stopped on the side of the road for me to take photos. I recall it was near an old bridge.

Sketchbook share.

Garden Sketch

I took a few days off last week and spent some time painting in the local botanical garden. The rains we have had have really boosted the gardens. The elephant ears were huge and the flowers were just amazing. Having been through a drought here for quite a few years, it's a joy to see what water can bring.

Sketchbook share.

Austin Spring Light

This painting is finally ready for a new home. When you paint on copper you have to make sure that the painting is protected from the elements. When dry, it has to be treated with a combination of Galkyd and odorless mineral spirits. I made this painting at the botanical gardens here in Austin. One of many painted there. I was attracted to the spring light on the path and trees.

Sketchbook share.

Pond Painting 1

I am probably going to break one of my rules with this painting because I want to go back and clean up some areas. Part of me says stay with the energy that I got on site. The other is wanting to tame it a bit. I will keep you posted. This is the painting that I did in direct sunlight over at the gardens. My shirt was drenched with sweat when I stopped.

Aggressive Floral

The second painting from last Sunday's visit to the gardens. I was painting while this lady told Pam and I her story. I know for sure that I can talk while painting. Maybe that is evident in the painting and I just don't see it yet. We were sitting in the shade because I had to cool off from a painting that was done in an hour of full on sunlight. I actually drenched my shirt completely. Luckily it was made of tinsel which drys fast and breathes.

I'm starting another sketchbook.

Pond Painting 2

I painted this painting in the botanical gardens on Monday. I had shade for the entire painting session and I didn't get run over by cars. I used a silk surface that I purchased many year ago. The pond was amazing with blooms and shadows for me to play with on a very different surface than watercolor paper. I hope you like these ventures out of my norm.

Botanical Vines

As I was painting this, mosquitoes were eating my lower legs up. I forgot the cardinal rule of always having bug spray. I did enjoy myself and I left with a feeling of peace that day. I spent a few hours in various places. I plan on a visit this weekend to the trail (Hike and Bike) and the garden.

Poppies and Lupines

I did this little painting over at the botanical gardens a few weekends ago. They had yet another wedding taking place. Members of the wedding party were walking around the gardens after the ceremony. While I was painting, twin girls and their brother started watching me paint. After a while, their parent and some other adults joined the audience. I had fun talking to the children about what I was doing and what types of tools I was working with. Their mother had to pull them away. That made me smile because children are honest about what they like and don't like.

Insect Bites

I broke a cardinal plein air painting rule on my most recent painting session at the Austin Botanical Garden. I didn't apply insect repellant. I did a preliminary sketch in my toned tan sketchbook in gouache (below). I then did another version on gesso coated Masa paper. That version is posted above.

April Flower

I did this little painting at the Austin Botanical Garden two weekends ago. There was a wedding, a meetup group of sketchers and the usual garden enthusiasts. I worked on masa paper wrinkled and covered with a few coats of gesso. I used both watercolor and gouache.

I went home this past weekend because I have to try a case the day after Mothers Day. It was a good time spent with the family. On Sunday we cooked and hung out at my youngest sister's place. The light was beautiful in the morning and afternoon. At one point my niece's daughter was painting with me. I think she had fun. This image is from my sketchbook. I really should have posted her paintings but I didn't have time to photograph them.

Poppies on Masa

Lately I am at a loss with respect to confidence in my work. I have been painting a lot and should be posting daily. But, I start looking at the work and I feel like it isn't worthy of posting. I guess I'm going through something. The surface is Masa coated with gesso. The flowers were poppies from the botanical garden here in Austin. I worked from a sketch done on site.

Matrimony

This is the wedding painting that I referred to in an earlier post. I loved drawing the ceremony and everyone stood still. The colors and outfits were amazing. One of the men in waiting (I don't know much about weddings) bought the painting for the groom. I also took a few photos that I should paint too. I used my graphite water soluble pencil to make the initial drawing. Before I left the garden I put in the darker greens. I finished it later at home.

2 Poppies

To get the textured surface I wet the Masa paper first and balled it up. I then spread it out to dry. Once dry I added Gesso to both sides to solidify the texture. I chose to use the long format because a Facebook friend mentioned that the original plein air sketch reminded him of Oriental paintings. I need to get back to the garden before it gets too hot here.

Welcome Spring

Pam and I were visiting the botanical gardens last Sunday. This is one of the last paintings I was able to get in before we had to leave. I was actually sitting in the parking lot and had to move a couple of times to let cars pass. I used one of my Strathmore Artist tiles and a variety of pastel brands.

This is a sketch I did while waiting in court. I called it "Impatiently Waiting". I don't think that anyone in court patiently waits.