Blog

Spring came early this year. The bluebonnets were out in February and will probably be spent around here before April. This was painted years ago from a plein air I did at Hollee's farm in April. The fields beyond the fence were covered with bluebonnets, but that day, I was seduced by the corner of Hollee's garden. The little green path, in dappled light, led my eye straight up to the twisted tree and the fields beyond. That tree is dead and gone now as time keeps moving and life changes us all. However, this is the time of year to get out in nature and paint all the beauty of Spring in Houston right now. I am planning to take the Art Class plein air painting soon, before it gets too hot. We need to grab beauty when and where we find it! Today it's all around us, and for that I am grateful!

It's hard not to be a sucker for bright color, but sometimes, to build drama, you can use the dark shapes of the composition to increase the effect of the light. This is one of my favorite paintings, painted at Rienze Shade Garden in March. I did a couple of plein air studies for this painting, going back again and again. I am in love with a formal garden edged by boxwoods, and the pop of light on the pink azaleas got me coming back for more. The light leads you through the composition, entering at the top of the painting, down to the azaleas, and wandering out with softer light on the boxwoods at the bottom. I decided that the fountain was not my focus, and instead made it the light on the Azaleas. Houston in the Springtime can be magic!

After painting all those babies using photographs, I wanted to paint a face without one. Alas, I didn't have anyone to model for me, so I swiped my makeup mirror from the bathroom and set it up on my easel. After looking at my old face for a minute, I thought I would just paint my eye. I started with the pupil, making it twice its normal size, and expanded from there to fill the canvas. It was good to examine all the colors of skin you can see when painting from life. Now, you might ask, why would I want to do this? I don't know! Maybe my grandchildren or great-grandchildren will see it one day when I'm gone and think. Behave! Nonie is watching!

If you would like to keep an eye on your family as well, email me here!

My sister has an old camellia bush in her garden, and every year, as soon as we have a break from the cold, that bush gives us lovely white camellias! And if that wasn't enough, they usually bloom around our Birthdays! What a treat! The older I get, the more I appreciate the little joys of life. I hope you find this little painting Joyous! Happy Birthday to all the Pisces out there!

Meet Holliday. She is 2 years old, and she is a force to be reckoned with! This is another Baby Shower present for a dear friend. I continue to be blessed with the chance to visit these little people as part of my day. Holliday is all business. She is busy from morning until night. Her Grandmother says she loves tea parties, her dachshund, "Tiny", dancing, singing, art, and clothes. Really, anything where she is in constant motion. Her parents are having another baby in a few months. God help them all!