"Woodland Ardor"

This painting is imaginary.  However, it was inspired by my many walks in the woods along Monarcas Creek. I wanted to create a scene that is typical of this area of North Carolina.  

                                              60" x 48"

                                              acrylic

                                              SOLD

"From a Strong Base"

 It always amazes me that some trees seem to survive in spite of all hardships like hot, cold, winds, ice, snow, wet, dry, insects, diseases and man's abuse. 

                                               10" x 10"

                                               watercolor

"Wilkes County Farm in July"

 I really enjoy driving around in neighboring counties.  The farmland is so beautiful in the rolling hills as you get closer to the mountains going west.  This is a scene from my travels back in July.

                                                      8" x 10"

                                                      watercolor

"Somewhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway"

I think this view was near Grandfather Mountain along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Painted from a photograph.  I just don't remember the exact location.  

                                                       8" x 10" 

                                                       watercolor

"At Asheville Botanical Gardens"

 The town of Asheville, NC has a wonderful botanical garden.  In the past I've enjoyed meandering through basking in the beautiful sights, sounds and scents of nature.  Here's a painting of one of my favorite vistas there:

                                                      8" x 10" 

                                                      watercolor

"Trail at Mill Creek"

 A place not too far from my home where I love to walk.  The midday shadows and bright light are what attracted me to this scene.

                                                      8" x 10"

                                                      watercolor

                                                   

                                                      

"Old Redbud Tree"

This old redbud tree has seen better days.  However it's structure caught my eye with the large negative spaces (spaces between the branches) pointing in one direction toward the base of the tree. It does have character and a little life left in it with the few small leafy branches.  En plein air about two and 1/2 hours.

                                                   8" x 10"
                                                   watercolor on 140 Arches cold presses

"At Bianca Artum Garden"

I enjoyed a lovely spring afternoon last week painting in this quiet little garden near my home.

                                          8" x 10"
                                          watercolor

"Cherry Tree Outside My Studio Window"

This plein air (I'm calling it that!) painting was done looking out my studio window on a rainy day-then the sun came out!  So I couldn't resist including a bit of cast shadows on some of the limbs. This is exactly what all plein air artist tell themselves to do:  "Avoid chasing the light."  Oh well....

                                          8" x 10"
                                          watercolor
                                         
                                         blush pink blooms have passed
                                         graceful limbs dressed in spring green
                                         swaying to and fro

Plein Air

With the past week bringing such beautiful weather and spring blossoms here to the Piedmont of North Carolina, I enjoyed painting outside.  Staying close to home, I walked to the park in our neighborhood.  I stationed myself a safe distance from people walking by.

The first day I painted this watercolor:

                                         "Yellow Azaleas in Hanes Park
                                           8" x 10"
                                           watercolor

The next day I painted this. A neighbor walking by bought it!  I'll deliver it when it is dry.:

                                         "Flame Azaleas in the Park"
                                           12" x 16"
                                           oil
                                           SOLD

"Trees at Crow Top"

Recent commission-  a pair of woodland paintings.

                                                        20" x 13"
                                                        watercolor
                                                        SOLD

"Outcropping"

Another "found" creation while continuing to let the paint show me what's there.  My imagination takes over as I experiment with the medium.  I wonder into and around the landscape discovering plant life and outcroppings of rocks as the painting develops.                  

                                          9" x 12"
                                          watercolor
                                       

"At the Top of the Rocks"

Playing with watercolor.  This is a "found" vignette while experimenting.  I'm enjoying letting the paint show me what it wants to do and am fond of the results.

                                                       12" x 9"
                                                       watercolor

"Down East Pines"

The warm hued late day light shining on the trunks and limbs of these pine trees really caught my eye. 

                                          9" x 15"
                                          watercolor

"Mountainside Trees"

After the sunlight popped over the top of the mountain and lit the sides of the trees:

                                                          9" x 15"
                                                          watercolor
                                                          SOLD

"Below the Dam"

Last Monday was such a beautiful spring-like day.  While visiting C. G. Hill Park here in Forsyth County, NC, I walked down into the woods below the dam and painted this scene.  The two small trees on the right side of the stream projecting out of the bank side by side caught my eye.  Painting time about 2 1/2 hours.

                                                    6 1/2" x 9"
                                                    watercolor

"Twisted"

Coming upon this tree on one of my walks, I found the patterns created by the bark so captivating that I just had to do a painting of it.

                                                       9" x 14"
                                                       watercolor
                                                       SOLD                              

"Pantomime"

                                                      9" x 13"
                                                      watercolor
                                                   
                                                      reaching up and down
                                                      curving in all directions
                                                      what is the message

                                                     

"Creekside Spring"

Walking along Monarcas Creek this past Spring.

                                                    9" x 12"
                                                    watercolor
                                                    SOLD

"Remembering Runnymede"

Every Spring a favorite destination to visit in our city is Runnymede Road.  The landscape burst forth with blooming azaleas and dogwood trees heralding the beauty of a new season.

                                          12" x 16"
                                          watercolor
                                          SOLD