Bernheim in Winter

Bernheim in Winter, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 6x9"

OH Happy New Year! On top of everything that I have going on (it's great to be busy), I have decided to enter another 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I am going to paint, unless otherwise noted, on gessoed watercolor paper.  It is an interesting and less expensive surface to paint on during the challenge. I may not paint all thirty but the spirit is willing. With preparing for an exhibit, a show, making frames and working on the ARTwheels Mobile studio/gallery camper, I have had little time or energy to paint. So I wanted to start this new year off with a reminder for myself that I can do it ALL!!

Yesterday, Hugh and I delivered many boxes to the Polvino Art Center in Nicholasville, KY for my solo show that will open January 8. The opening is from 5-8 and I would love to see all your smiling faces there!
After we left the gallery we walked around historic Nicholasville. Nicholasville is close to Danville, KY where I attended college, and way back when, it was know as the place where the college students went "over the hill" ...a.k.a - went to buy booze.  How different it looks in the daytime!! :-)
We spent some time in an antique shop and had a lot of fun looking at elements of history. I bought a fedora, and a beer stein (speaking of booze) from my favorite city in all of Europe.

          

Roundabout

Roundabout, oil on gessobord, 5x14"

The day after Thanksgiving provided me with the perfect weather and opportunity to paint outside. There is no better gift I can give myself.  This is a diptych of two 5x7" paintings.  The lake at Bernheim had some beautiful grey pockets of light floating around while I worked.  The background reeds and feathery plants hugging the far shore were made up of beautiful golden slivers.

Big Prarie Meadow

Big Prarie Meadow, oil on gessobord, 5x7"

This is a quick "sketch" if you will of Big Prairie Meadow, an area of Bernheim Forest and Arboretum that is filled with wild grasses, wild flowers, butterflies, various species of birds and forest rodents, and is the home to quail! It is also filled with sunshine most of the day. When I set my easel up on a hilly overlook this particular morning, a controlled burn was taking place at the farthest point away from where I was. I chose not to add it too the painting because it would have been confusing. But it added beautiful wafting silver smoke in the distance to the already bright and colorful landscape.

Lakeview

On Sunday, the weather in Louisville, KY seemed to cooperate for the first time in 2015. Really!
So what's a painter to do but paint...outside where it was perfect.  I actually took the photo above of the lake only, after I had finished my painting.  The easel photo was taken after the ground was put on.  The light changed each minute I was there, but it was all a wonderful experience. Even though they did not make it into my painting, the clouds were the best part. 
Here is what I came up with:

Lakeview, oil on gessobord, 6x8"