Lemonade...

Lemonade   watercolor   13.5 x 18

Who wouldn't like some?  Especially here in northeast Ohio where the temperature is hovering at 90 degrees in the shade.  This watercolor was done in class from items that were put together by artists in the class.  I have since stopped the "everybody bring something" method of setting up a still life as the resultant composition usually contained too many elements for my liking.  But this one worked out well for a couple of reasons.  I tend to like an opposing color temperature as an underlying wash.  This is more difficult to do with watercolor.  And I also like mixing the organic and geometric shapes that create balance....a great yin-yang combo. 

The difficult part, as I recall was keeping the lemonade fresh with ice cubes.....we were all melting.

Plein Air Painting is not for Sissies

Allium   oil/canvas   14 x 11 x .5

I enjoy my creature comforts.  Painting outdoors requires lots of lugging, much time setting up and taking down, as well as repeated interruptions.  The interruptions are well-intended and kind (why, I couldn't draw a stick figure!  X 12 times/day), but interruptions nonetheless. Staying hydrated is a problem due to lack of restroom facilities, which would require a packing up all over again.   And all of that green....green....green...I am happiest when I can pair organic shapes with geometric, so I often try to include a bit of the man-made along with the wide varieties of plantings.  This is, after all, an event that is in cooperation with the home and garden tour.  Most of the attendees have vast knowledge of plants.  My focus in this work is the planting of allium which are large airy spherical violet blooms from a plant related to chives and onions.  This was my first painting of the event and, perhaps, the one I am most satisfied with.  It was worked with a limited palette and contains both kinds of shapes.

Allium can be seen at Hudson Fine Art and Framing.

Back to the studio....no bugs....few interruptions....and a glass of water whenever I choose.  O.K., then.  Call me a sissy....I can live with that.