Winter Farm Shed

opaque watercolor

7" x 10"

landscape

It's getting close to that time of year.  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and will now be getting ready for Christmas....Hope this will help you get into the spirit.

Pumpkin Patch

watercolor

7" x 10"

landscape

We finally did get some color but I didn't get out as much as I wanted.  I did get some fall photos of 2021....last two days we had lots of winds so most of the leaves are on the ground.  I am working on my gouache paintings of the sketches I did in my sketch book (with a broken arm).  But I am having fun.

Have a great weekend.

Fall Around

gouache watercolor

7" x 10"

landscape

$100

Went out on a photo shoot yesterday.  The sun came out for a bit and it is supposed to start getting cold.  Thought I better take advantage of the situation.  Well...it was a good idea, but then the sun went away and it started to rain.  I still took a bunch of neat photos, mostly of barns.  As I was just downloading them, I decided I just may have to start another sketchbook of barns.

Path Into Winter

watercolor

7" x 10"

landscape

$100

The last few days it has been in the 60's.  It has been awesome.  Wish it could stay this way all winter and we could still have snow.  I am in no hurry to get that white stuff.  I can see it on the Hallmark Channel while watching Christmas movies.  lol.

The colors are finally changing here in Indiana.  Hope to go on a photo shot this week.  Enjoy the beauty of FALL....but don't fall.  one more week before i get my air cast off.  I am sure I will have physical therapy to attend.

The Golden Season

 watercolor

 7" x 10"

 landscape

 $100

Here is #2 in my gouache watercolor paintings.  I am painting these

on a mixed media board.  These are exciting to paint.  New type of 

board and opaque watercolors, where as I have been using transparent

watercolors for 50 years.  I will continue with transparent watercolor

when I can go back to using two hands....don't FALL and break anything.

Enjoy the fall.  I wish we would get another warm spell since I missed 

the last one.  Not a lot of color here in North wWst Indiana yet.  Sure hope

we get more color.

A River View

 gouache watercolor

 7" x 10"

 landscape

 $100

 Since I had this fall 6 weeks ago, I haven't been able to paint my usual watercolors with one hand.  So I completed a whole sketchbook in pencil and now I am painting some of my drawings from the book. The book is on barns and this is not in the sketch book...hence, no barn.  It's fun to try new mediums now and then.

Have a great fall weekend and Happy Halloween... May all you candy be chocolate.

We Need Rain for the Grain

watercolor

14" x 21"

landscape

$150

Silos have really come a long way and so has the farming industry. Remember the wind mills you used to see with old barns....once in a while i can still find one.  Now we have turbines. I live about an hour and a half from turbine farms.  They are amazing to watch and see fields of them.  They are huge.  But you need a windy day to see them in action.

The Industry of Farming

 watercolor

 14" x 21"

 Industry

Out again on a ride with my hubby,  I really enjoy going for rides in the car...like a puppy.  As he is driving through the country I am trying to take photos.  It's been harder these past 5 weeks with a broken arm. It's amazing when you realize quickly how you need two hands to do most things.  It really makes me think about wounded warriors and first responders who have lost limbs. God Bless them all.

Rain at the Pier

 watercolor

 14" x 21" 

 cityscape

 $150

This is what a rainy day looks like in Chicago...just like in your city.  lol.  Right now it is raining again.  It started during the night and it's going to be raining for a while....in fact, they are calling for the Little Calumet River to flood.  May crest Monday or Tuesday.   Stay dry and have a great wet weekend.  With all of this rain the leaves will fall before the colors change.  Glad I have an Artistic License.

Angel on Deck

watercolor

7" x 10"

floral

Well it's been a crazy 5 weeks after my fall when I went out to do some plein air painting.  Think I should just remain a studio artist.  I am so far behind  posting here.  Hard to type with one hand.  I am getting better but I think I have a ways to go.

Since it was to hard to paint during that time I have been doing a sketch book of drawings of barns.  I found a bunch of old photos of mine from the 70's, 80's.

Haven't seen these in ages.  It was really a great find.  I ended up doing 37 drawings in this book.  It was fun studying composition and making things up.  I really liked how it turned out.  Now my goal is to turn these sketches into paintings.  Watch for them.

 

Columbine

 watercolor

 7" x 10"

 floral

 these are some of the first flowers that i see in my gardens in spring.

peony

watercolor

10 " x 7 "

floral

here's another floral from my garden.

Cala Lily

\

 watercolor

 10" x 7"

 floral

i had promised to get my blog up to date,  Life 101 got in the way,  I have been busy with some workshops that I was teaching.  Then we decided to have a garage sale so there was a lot of prep for that.  then the week before i went out to paint with some artists.  New environment so i fell.  of my !!  LONG STORY SHORT,,,,broken nose, fractured humorous, broken bone in shoulder, GLAD  it was my left arm. The scrapes on my knees, nose and forehead are healing nicely.

So i will try my best to catch up.  maybe i should just paint in the studio... hard to type with one hand,   Watch your step.

Foxglove

 watercolor

 10" x 7"

 floral

 Back to posting all of my flowers painting that are flowers from my garden.  There are just not enough hours in the day. Spent time delivering paintings to shows that I have gotten into...that is a good thing.  I am also participating in our town yard sale.  Oh my gosh.  That is a lot of work.  Finding stuff that you are ready to move on to someone else, cleaning it and pricing it.  Then you have to clean the garage ,,, that is also a good thing.  I have been painting some 1/2 sheet size watercolors of local-favorite subjects,  but I want to post these flower paintings first.  I already started getting some printed into cards.

Have a great week.  This is such a beautiful time of year....warm weather and new fall colors to paint with.  Enjoy each day.

Delphinium II

 watercolor

 10" x 7"

 floral

I wanted to do a little close up of the delphinium flowers that are yearly beauties in my garden.  This is the time of year when we must enjoy our gardens as summer is coming to an end.  I weeded the other day and it is still looking really good.  Gardens are a lot of work.  They are expensive to plant and time consuming to maintain...but they are little blessings when they are in bloom and they make great subject matter.   Take time to smell the flowers.

Delphinium I

 watercolor

 10" x 7"

 floral

Here is the second page in my floral sketchbook.  This is one of my favorite flowers in my front garden.  It was so amazing to see how tall that they grew this year.  After they bloomed, I cut trimmed them back and now I am enjoying the second growth.

The mums in my garden are ready to burst open their blooms.  I can't wait to see what colors they will be.  One I noticed is yellow.

Angel on Deck

watercolor

7" x 10"

floral

I always wanted to paint a collection of watercolors of the flowers in my garden.  Last year I did a few plein air studies.  I probably post those last year.  This year I made a special sketchbook just for these paintings.  They are painted on various types of watercolor paper.

This is my deck table where I enjoy sitting and enjoying each day.  I used to laugh at my mom and gramma for having a gazing ball in the yard.  I had no idea what purpose it served?  I was told the birds like to see their reflections in the gazing ball.  Now....I do not want to tell you my thoughts on Gazing balls or how many I have.   Let's just say....they ALL look so pretty and the birds like to see their reflections in them.  lol.

Keep coming back to see what grows in my garden here in Indiana.

 

A Sunny Day

 watercolor

 10" x 14"

 landscape

On the way through Indiana on a photo shoot I came across this beautiful  house with this lovely landscaping.  I am sure I added a few extra trees and flowers...did I add the fence, too?

Enjoy these last days of summer.

"Refinery"

"REFINERY"  watercolor

14" x 21"

industry

 "AMOCO"  watercolor

 Industry

These were my two entries that were accepted into the 97th Hoosier Salon Annual Juried Exhibition.  The opening was Aug. 19 at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.  It was an exciting night.  My painting Refinery won 3rd place in watercolor and it also SOLD that night.  I was happy to get these two paintings into the show, but the award and sale were icing on the cake.

Special thanks to the judge, sponsors, committee and  collectors. The show runs till Oct. 24.

End of the Path 30/30

watercolor

9" x 12"

landscape

Yes, this is the end of the path.  I have decided to post 2 paintings today.  These last 30 paintings were from a 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  These were done back in April. That shows you how far I am behind on posting on my blog.  I guess I am just busy painting.

What will I post next time.....come back and see./

 

Up the Road

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 landscape

It's summer now....and I hate to see it go. but I know fall is right around the corner and it will be time to get out a different set of colors for my palette for fall paintings.   Hopefully, we will have a colorful fall this year...or I will just have to use my artistic license and paint the colors that I want.

Have a great weekend.

My Yellow Tulips 28/30

watercolor

9" x 12"

floral

Last fall I decided to plant a bunch of tulip bulbs in the late fall.  I was hoping this would brighten my days in the spring this year.  Little did I know...everyone thought the same thing.   I could not find any tulips.  I did find the last they had at Menards//.... only yellow ones and no bag was the same.  I think maybe only 3 bags were left.

I planted them and they were really pretty this Spring.  Tulips are not expensive so I would advise you to plant a few so you will be surprised in the spring.  I will be purchasing more this fall....but very early.

Have a great weekend. 

 

It's Flower Time 27/30

watercolor

9" sx 12"

floral

Today's painting shows a variety of flowers that were in a bouquet.  Nope, these are not from my garden...those will be coming soon.

Refinery 26/30

 watercolor

 14" x 21"

 industrial

This is a typical scene that I can see near by.  I am not too far from Lake Michigan and we have so many mills and other types of industries.

This is one of two paintings that I had gotten accepted into the 97th Hoosier Art Salon Annual Juried Exhibition.  The show is at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.  It opens August 19 at the awards presentation.

Grape Hyacinth 25/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 floral

These are some of the first flowers to pop their little heads up from a winter's sleep.  My mother-in-law gave me these years ago and I am happy when I see them appear each year.  Wish I had more.  I don't recall seeing them at the nurseries to purchase.  They looked great with my yellow tulips this year. They do not last very long....flowers need to last longer...they get expensive when you purchase a lot of them.

Bleeding Hearts 24/30

watercolor

9" x 12"

floral

These are a favorite that grow in my garden.  I think I planted these when we first moved into this house 33 years ago.  Back then I didn't know what they were or that they would become so big and come back each year.  They have been a joy to watch them grow.

 

White Lilies 23/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 floral

 I love summer and all the beauties of it's flowers.  It was a glorious day and I spent a lot of it weeding and cutting back my flowers.  Things in the gardens still look good.

Enjoy the rest of the summer....

Summer Bouquet 22/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 floral

 It's hard to believe that summer is flying by and the gardens are beginning to change.  I hate when that happenes...but....it will be fun to start decorating for fall.  

My mum plants are beginning to get little buds on them..  Need to find some pumpkins and a scarecrow.  I know this sounds early for this...but if you don't buy that stuff now...when you are going to want it you will not be able to find it.

Also...it is time to start buying back to school supplies...  yay.

Enjoy your weekend.

Notre Dame 21/30

 watercolor 

 9" x 12"

 landscape

During the pandemic things were a bit slow so we decided to take a ride to the east side of the state to visit at Notre Dame.  it was very quiet since it was either a break, lockdown or zoom classes.  We did see some students.  it is such a lovely campus and the trees are plentiful and so pretty.  I will make sure to go back in the fall.  Note to self....make sure there is no football game when I go.

Magnolia 20/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 floral

 I can't believe how far behind I am in posting these 30 in 30 days watercolors.  I did this challenge way back in April.  I have painted so much since then and I have also entered some shows and was very happy to get into them.  That called for a few trips to Indianapolis which is almost 3 hours away.  I am at the top of the state of Indiana...I am about 35 miles south of Chicago.  I should be entering Chicago shows.  Also had Park Full of Art which has been going on for 46 years...I have been in every one.  I am the only person to have done this.

Currently I have been working on a sketchbook of watercolors of flowers from my garden.  That has been fun and the book is looking really neat.  I will be posting those painting after I get done with these 30/30 paintings.

Enjoy the rest of summer....it is going by so fast.

Shops in the Woods 19/30

watercolor

11" xc 14"

landscape

Happy summer.  I hope everyone is having a fund and enjoyable summer.  I just can't believe how fast it is flying by.  School supplies are out.

These are still paintings from  my 30 day challenge that I did in April.  Sorry for the delay.  There were a lot of shows going on and prep for them.   I'm back to doing workshops at our local frame and art supply store.  That is going really well.  In fact, I will be doing the demo prep for that.  Giving a demo and hands on workshop for a local art league this coming Monday.  Have to do my samples for that today.  

There's never a dull moment at my studio,   Happy painting or whatever you have planned for today.

 

Afternoon Walk 18/30

watercolor

10" x 14"

landscape

This is a local scene early in the spring.  I can't believe that it is already July.  Where is time going..  Hope you are all doing well and had a great 4th of July weekend.  Now to wind down from the celebrating and get back to work.

I just received an email saying that I was accepted into the 97th Annual Hoosier Salon Show.  This is a big show held in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana.  Currently, I am in the Indiana Watercolor Society's Annual Juried Exhibit.  Looks like I will be heading down to Indy a lot.  Indiana wants me.  lol

Have a great week and may it become a creative week for all of you.

 

Dusk 17/30

 watercolor

 10" x 14"

 landscape

 Happy 4th of July.  Hope you are celebrating our freedoms that were fought for   us.  We are so blest.

 I have been so busy in my garden.  It took a while to plant all of my flowers.  It   takes time to care for them...weeding and watering them.  But they are looking   so good and I have been able to do some painting of this years flowers   already.  Once  I  post all of these 30 day challenge paintings I will post the   flowers.

 Hope you are enjoying your summer.  Stay cool, stay well and safe.

 

Goping Out to Paint 16/30

 waterxcolor

 12" x 9"

 landscape

 Time to get out and do some plein air painting.  So get your painting buddy

 and your supplies and head out into nature...head out into your garden...Take 

 your studio outside.   Happy Painting.

Violets 15/30

watercolor

9" x 12"

floral

Another from the monthly (30 day)  challenge... This particular painting I will be teaching a watercolor workshop tonight at Hoosier Highlander in Highland , Indiana.  We will all be painting the same painting and I will show them step by step how to achieve this.  They hit  last month's painting workshop out of the part.  I was so impressed.  We will definitely have fun.

Next month we will be painting a landscape of a farm scene...so I guess you can call it a farm scape..  Sign up early since space is limited.

Have a great weekend.

Barn at Sunset 14/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 landscape

Here is day 14 of the 30 day challenge that I took.  either is is a bad photo or I am having a really bad eye day.  It's Friday.  Have a great weekend.

Tucked in the Woods 13/30

watercolor

10" x 14"

landscape

I'm still in the back woods of my in-laws homestead.  Love this place...

Hope you are looking forward to a great weekend.

Enjoy!!

 

Red Barn 12/30

 watercolor

 10" x 14"

 landscape

 At the beginning of spring, I captured this barn with my camera.  I like how

 the sun was hitting the front side of the barn....Paint Local.

All the Ducks in a Row 11/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 landscape

 Still painting at my brother in law and sister in law's back yard?  Woods.  This   was a fun day painting with the kids and visiting.  Hope they come back to 

 Indiana soon.

Out in the Woods 10/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 landscape

When your nieces and nephews come home to Indiana from New York to visit, you make sure to go to their parents house (brother and sister in law) and you spend the day with them.  I had to bring gifts of art supplies for the littles, and I made sure I brought paint for those that wanted to paint.    Pat and Liz have some nice woods in their back yard.  We all had fun.  Hope they come back soon. 

Daffodils 9/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 floral

Welcome Spring...these are the flowers that welcome spring into our gardens.  Were they in your garden?

Been planting my gardens.  Usually this is a 2 week project.  I was hoping to get this all done for Memorial Day, but it has been really cold here (and rainy) in Indiana.  The sun came out today and I was able to go out to a local green house and get another car load of flowers.  We won't say how many car loads I already picked up.  lol

Remember those who fought for our country and those that continue to do so.  Have a safe and enjoyable weekend with those you love.

Early Spring Day in Chicago... 7/30

watercolor

14"  x  21"

cityscape

It was such a lovely spring day in Chicago when I took this photo reference.  It was so nice to see people out and about again.   Chicago is such a lovely city,.

Crossing Over the Bridge 8/30

 watercolor

 14" x 21"

 cityscape

I enjoy visiting Chicago and taking photos...And I always have to stop at my favorite pen shop...Atlas Stationers.  I have never walked out of there emptied handed.  lol

Sun Star / Star of Bethleham 6/30

 watercolor

 12" x 9"

 floral

  

 While checking out one of my local garden centers I came across this plant.  I  am  not familiar with it.  I would have bought it, but it was early in the season and too early in the season to plant.  I always wait till May 15.

Talking about planting....that's what I have to do right now.  Gardening tip...Flower side up.

Pansy 5/30

 watercolor

 12" x 9"

 floral

Pansies are the first flowers that I purchase each year.  They are available around Easter and are a very hardy plant.  I have even had snow fall on them.  But, to me, they are a sign that spring is just around the corner....

Daisies

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 floral

 Yes...the weather is getting warmer.  It's almost Friday and the forecast looks   great for the next few days...time to start planting.  Can't wait.   But then, I am   committed to them for the next 4 -5 months for tender loving care.  Lots of   watering and feeding.  But they in turn, they will bless me with beautiful   flowers.   Hopefully I will be geting some exciting floral paintings.  Watch for   them...watch them grow.  Stay well.  Stay strong.

Clematis

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 floral

It's almost getting warm enough to start planting my 2021 gardens. Maybe in a week I can begin.  I have seen the perennials popping up in the ground.  The clematis is beginning to wrap onto my latticework on my gazebo....once I start planting, it will take about 2 weeks to complete.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can complete this task by memorial day....or there abouts.

Stay tuned.

Sunflowers 2/30

 watercolor

 9" x 12"

 floral

 Here is the second painting that I did for the 30 days challenge...I do love flowers.  Spent the day today outside cleaning out the gardens.  Too early to plant here in Indiana,  but it was a beautiful day to garden and cut the grass.  Now to make me a well deserved banana split.

Just a Farm in Indiana

 watercolor

 6-1/2" x 14-1/2"

 landscape

I am so far behind on posting on my blog....there are just not enough hours in each day.  But for the last 30 days, I did a 30 day, 30 painting challenge.  I will post the 30 paintings that I completed during this time.  It was a great April for painting.

Enjoy.  Stay Strong!  Stay Well!