Fog Rising

Fog Rising
8x10 Acrylic on canvas panel

My husband and I went to the Natural Arch in Parker's Lake, Ky. over the weekend to find the arch surrounded by fog. It was approximately 10:00 a.m. and the fog was almost lifted.

'Blue Hole'

8x10 B&W study Acrylic on panel

My husband and I went to Rock Creek yesterday to enjoy a beautiful day at the water's edge. The temperature was mid-seventies and sunny. One could not ask for a better day. I brought my field easel and acrylic paints just in case a scene called to me to sketch. I am glad I did...

'Blue Hole' is one of the camping spots along the lower end of Rock Creek that was recently upgraded earlier this summer. The upgrade is very nice, however, before they upgraded the site, I took some photos that may well make a great reference for a studio painting of how the site looked naturally.

With my backpack and easel in hand, I walked down over the small hill past the rock fireplace to go down to the water. It was there that this view caught my eye. I set my pack down and set up my easel to paint. This is a relatively quick (about 2 1/2 hours) black & white sketch using my acrylics. I plan on doing more quick studies like this one. Eventually, I will move on to applying color to these sketches while working en plein air, but for now I am concentrating on the light and dark values of a scene.

Today, I have finished a portrait. Now, I need to work on finishing 'The Stearns Sidewalk'. I have learned so much from doing demonstrations. It has actually guided me to work with confidence in a more accurate direction. The time spent while demonstrating is very unlike my work time here at home. At home, I catch a few minutes here and there. My two boys can be very demanding of attention. Soon, they will be going to school for the first time and then I will have a longer stretch of time to work. Hopefully with the same mindset as demonstrating. Though, initially I think not. I know I'm going to miss them.

A Walk Through Stearns

On Monday, June 22nd, I ventured out to downtown Stearns, after a morning rain, in hopes that a scene would catch my eye. As I leisurely walked the length of the sidewalk from the Museum steps to the end where it is breaking away across from the depot, I felt the rise in humidity from the rain. I took pictures of various scenes along my walk down to the end. I feel a need to say " Look back to the steps one has taken, there... can be a beautiful view in a new perspective". When I turned around to go back, the wet sidewalk was glistening in the shade near where I was standing. The sun had already dried the sidewalk in the far distance creating great contrast of light and shadow. I kneeled down and composed a photo. I began my work of 'The Stearns Sidewalk' earlier last week changing my work habits and pushing harder to complete the underapinting so that I could begin adding color for my demonstration at the Stearns Museum for the Homecoming and Heritage Days in Stearns, Kentucky on Saturday the 4th. This is my progress...





I demonstrated for three hours meeting and talking with some very nice people and old friends I haven't seen in a long while. I feel my work progressed nicely in those three hours.



When finished, I will post the completed work. Thank you for viewing. And thank you to those who stopped by Saturday and visited with me.

Rock Creek is Finished

Working these past days with my acrylics has been a bit of a push the darks and pull out the lights relationship, and now, here it is, my finished work of 'Rock Creek'.
I hope everyone enjoys.

The Front Gate

Night before last, I visited 'the farm' in a dream. I was transported to 'The Front Gate' where I walked around remembering how I loved to see this view everyday. Remembering back to my school days, I would ride in the front seat of the bus eagar to step out onto the gravels of the road leading to home. The walk was long and up hill, but I didn't mind. There were times I would rush home to watch 'Little House on the Prairie'. Then, there were times I would poke along with my nose in the air taking in a variety of farm smells. I could smell the cattle, the crabapple trees just to the right as I start up the hill, the wet earth after a drizzle of rain, the corn in the corncrib which was not too far from the left side of the road at the top of the hill, and many other distinct farm fragrances. Turn around...The view is as if one is a bird flying high in the sky. I could see for miles and miles into the distance. As a child, I was on top of the world. This was home. What a wonderful memory. Even more wonderful was the dream taking me back to visit.
I felt a strong need to paint this 5"x7" scene of 'The Front Gate' and road leading to what was once my home.

Work in Progress Continued

Today I was able to do a little more work. While increasing the richness of the colors, I darkened the shadows to define the elements of the scene. I am trying to keep the atmosphere hazy as one would experience on a humid summer day. I still have the finishing details to work in. We'll see how this one turns out.