Candles or Pumpkins?

The days are getting shorter and candles are getting lit on the mantle again for dinner. I needed a subject for painting class, and I'm still obsessed with capturing nighttime reflections, so decided to try these. However they also look like pumpkins and that's fitting since Halloween is next week! Will let this rest and decide later what they want to be. what do you think?

Fall Swoop

Who can resist such beautiful fall scenery; everything in a gold wash from the sun last weekend. For a couple of hours I was in heaven sitting on my beach chair, just painting things on my front porch. Rich colors are such a boost, especially today; a week after all this beauty it's pouring rain and windy! It's cozy to paint indoors too though, and soup is simmering in the crockpot. I cannot complain!

Vermont

The flower painting workshop was terrific. Annelein Beaukenkamp is a hard working teacher, giving demos, tips, one on one attention, and much encouragement to all of us for three whole days. Here are a couple works in progress from the last day.

going to Vermont

Ohhhh, it's been such a busy August, as I'm sure everybody's was. I tried my hand at oil painting for a class that strengthened composition principles. I can't say I have high hopes for ever painting in oil, but I do think that reworking the brain every so often is a good thing. It stretches the mind, makes you think in different ways, and gets the neurons firing.

After each painting in oil, I would go back and do the same composition in watercolor, more determined to create the feeling I wanted. It worked for one painting so far, which I will post later. I am off this week to Vermont for a "flower power" watercolor workshop by Annelein Beukenkamp. It will be a much needed break and change of scenery. More than that, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in life for me without my children at home for long stretches. Two are in Europe for the year; a new chapter for them too! I'm planning on traveling to see them in the spring (Belgium and Germany) and hoping for painting opportunities!

Lockwood Lavender Festival

What a wonderful weekend! You couldn't ask for a better venue than Lockwood Lavender Farm's Festival to have an art show. The views are serene and beautiful, the air is naturally lavender scented, and everyone is happy.

Never get tired of this scene. I've become a sheep fanatic! Is there any more innocent looking animal?
All of us artists (17 or so) were nice and busy throughout the weekend. Business was brisk with art and lavender lovers. Thank the Lord for family and friends' help so I could escape and get a few photos! Not to mention help with setup and takedown. Some brave people do this every weekend in the summer-they must have special powers.

We had a spectacular 4th of July-beautiful clear warm weather, and everybody enjoying all our lake town has to offer. Every year I want to capture a scene from this weekend. This is a little color study from memory-maybe a real painting will finally emerge.

Birdy view

Quick little bird study from our windowsill.