Across the Pond

"Across the Pond"
8" x 10"
Oil on canvas panel

This is my second plein air painting from Sunday morning.  It was a larger format and a closer view of the shore across the pond.  

I'm leaving Illinois for a week to paint with more new people.  I'm driving to Iowa to attend the Andrew Orr workshop in South English, Iowa.  I hope to be able to post, but I'm not sure what my capabilities will be.  Left to my own devices, and a rickety old laptop, I may not figure it out. But when I return in July, I'll have lots of things to post and hopefully a new enthusiasm and honed skills for landscapes.

Carol

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Daniel Wright Revisited

"Daniel Wright Revisited"
6" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel

Sunday morning was sunny, warm, clear and the only day in June my friends were free to paint en plein air with me. Ed and I dropped off my dog at the groomer on the way and met Alan in the parking lot of the forest preserve. Met him — for the first time! Just as I had met Ed for the first time last month when we painted together. We three chose subject matter near one another and painted a total of five paintings in about three hours. Storms darkened the afternoon skies, but by then we were each back to the normalcy of our own lives.  

Carol

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Green

"Green"
4" x 4"
Oil on canvas panel

Springtime in Illinois, a cold and wet three months, is now behind us. Yet the vegetation in my area seems to have liked it a lot more than the humans. The trees are thriving, lawns are thick and lush and there are fifty shades of ... green everywhere I look. 

Carol

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Sunset Shed

"Sunset Shed"
6" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel 

Tucked in amongst the trees was an out building, a shed of some sort, on the edge of the property.  It wasn't a dwelling, as it had no windows. It may have been used as storage for fenceposts and wire needed at that end of the acreage. 

Carol 

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Dog Walk

"Dog Walk"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

I walked my dog this morning and was keenly aware of the many colors of green and red present in the trees and bushes in my neighborhood. I was taken by the careful planning someone did to insure that my community looks beautiful. 

Carol

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Little Lily

"Little Lily"
6" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel

I find comfort when I paint Little Lily Lake. She's an intimate lake that reflects mirror-like images early in the morning when I pass her once a week. I appreciate her gentle demeanor on days like today when I am thankful to have photographed her shimmering face numerous times.  

I prepare for my landscape workshop, coming up in just over a week. My excitement is building.

Carol

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Field of Dreams

"Field of Dreams"
6" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel  

There aren't many undisturbed fields near where I live, so when I see one, I photograph it. I grew up in rural southern Michigan where my parents purchased land from a dairy farmer.  They built a home for the eight of us with their own hands, while milk cows grazed. Not until the last of six parcels sold did the fences come down and the cows find new homes.  

Carol

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Another Day

"Another Day"
6" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel

I open my eyes, happy to see that it is no longer night, that another day has dawned as promised.  Another day -- another chance to laugh and love. I'm thankful to have another ... day.  

I painted a large white rose over the past couple of days.  I hate it. It's grotesque and disgusting. It's the worst thing I've painted in decades.  There, I've done it, gotten that little chore out of the way! LOL :-)

Carol

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He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

"He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not"
24" x 24"
Oil on hardboard panel 

A dear friend sent several photos of gerbera daisies for me to paint. I'm fond of white flowers, so this one really appealed. It will hang in my solo show next month, comprised entirely of single, large blossoms.

Carol

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Passing Storm

"Passing Storm"
6" x 6"
Oil on panel

Just when you think the sky couldn't possibly lose its clarity, a storm cloud builds; lightning stabs the tender places and thunder stomps its feet. Fortunately, it's a passing storm, one that will make the blue sky all that more welcome.  

I'm painting a large gerbera daisy that just doesn't want to be finished, so I will post this to hold your interest, in the meantime.

Carol

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Liz's Tea Party

"Liz's Tea Party"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

I attended a bridal shower tea this afternoon. The centerpieces were tiny teapots filled with flowers. When I asked to take one home, I was given permission to take it as long as I painted it — tonight.  So here it is in all its tiny splendor.  

I painted from life tonight, which was as refreshing as the party itself.  In fact, today was finally warm enough to wear a strapless sundress!

Carol

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Morning Walk

"Morning Walk"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

I walked through the woods before the morning sky had tucked away her colourful persona and dressed for the day as her true blue self. 

I continue my series of trees, in preparation for my landscape workshop in Iowa.  I have so much to learn.

Carol

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Pine Family

"Pine Family"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

In a sunny spot on the forest floor pine siblings are in their third or fourth summer at their parents' feet. 

I received a gift of many small canvas and hardboard panels recently, so I will be painting in different sizes than my customary 6" x 6" square.  I'm excited to try a new format, although some of them are squares... but 4" x 4".

Carol

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In Between

"In Between"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

The path, pounded flat by migrating mammals, led to a creek after it wove between the two stands of pines. It was a steam that flowed year round; cold, clear and life-sustaining.  

Trees, glorious trees!

Carol

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Sunday Morning

"Sunday Morning"
9" x 12"
Oil on canvas panel

We set up in a couple of different areas to chase the light that Sunday morning. First, as close to the car as possible, then on the other side of the poison ivy and finally in a cove where the wind wouldn't gnaw at my bare hands.  This is the view in the last location, but in reality there was only one rock. It wanted company.

I'll be painting a lot of trees this summer as I paint en plein air, using Andrew Orr's palette of colours.  I'm enrolled in Andrew's workshop at the end of this month in Iowa. No greens were squeezed in this exercise. Instead, I used Cad Lemon Yellow, Ultramarine and Burnt Umber.  A smidgen of Cad Scarlet warmed up some of the greens and the water.

Carol

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No Telephones

"No Telephones"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

There are places where telephone reception is the same as it was when covered wagons crossed the continent — nonexistent. As it should be.  We are not meant to interrupt, disrupt or corrupt everywhere we roam. Some places are meant to be honoured with silence. Here is one such place that I visited in Colorado. 

I painted this during a conversation interrupted by a phone call. I'd say I made good use of my quiet time.

Carol

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Heavenly

"Heavenly"
16" x 20"
Oil on wrapped canvas

The light was golden, the trees were still, the view was breathtaking, but I was never there. Nope, not even close to this place. It's my attempt at capturing the essence of a Jesse Powell piece that I've loved for a long time.  It's not for sale, but you can look at it with me. 

Carol

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