Red Roofs

More Vinalhaven houses jumbled together on the harbor. The lobster cages and ropes are piled in every available space. This was a warm sunny day when the houses show their happy faces, a respected treat before the days shorten and darken and fog and rain converge to change the landscape.
pastel on paper approx. 12x16 unframed.

Yellow Field

"Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers - and never succeeding. "

Gian Carlo Menotti

Look familiar? I decided to do an oil from yesterday's plein air painting. I love the textures I can achieve with oil paint. Pastel has different textures but can't be piled on like oils.
8 x 8 inch oil on cradled panel
$110.00 unframed + shipping

White Rock Lake Wildflowers

This is plein aire at White Rock Lake. Most plein aire supply lists include sunscreen and bugspray but I think I need to add allergy meds to my list! I'm not sure what this lovely yellow flower is but This field at white rock lake is filled with them along with winecups, queen anne's lace, indian paintbrushes and indian blankets. All of my favorites. I will try to make a trip back before the flowers fade.
pastel on paper 8 x 8 unframed

Margarita Time!

It's Margarita Time! It's already hot in Dallas so margaritas sound really great! I should have saved this for Cinco de Mayo so you may see more limes in the next few days.
$150.00 pastel on paper approx 8 x 10 inches unframed

So Close

The sheds and lobster houses, sitting on the harbor in Vinalhaven, are so close together, they create light and shadows and reflections that are much more fun to play with and interpret than if they were spread out and individual subjects. They each have their own personality and project their current mood in the water below and on the objects that surround them.
$150.00 pastel on paper approx 8 x 8 unframed . Send me an email for framed prices.

Still Flowing

"He who postpones the hour of living is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses."
-Horace
This is the Pecos River just outside of Roswell, NM. My friend in New Mexico couldn't believe I wanted to stop and take pictures of the Pecos River. The light was perfect with the sky casting a silvery glow over the water. The river is calm here, as if conserving it's energy to finish it's course through the desert.
pastel on paper 8x8 (size is approximate)
$110.00 unframed +tax and shipping

All in a Row

This is more Vinalhaven, Maine houses, all in a row. I love the spaces between the houses and how the houses are so close together. This creates such wonderful shadows and light.
pastel on paper 5 x 5 approx.
$110.00 unframed + tax and shipping

Mostly Blue

I think this is the last of the bluebonnets until next year. Spring in Texas is already coming to a close just as it is beginning in other parts of the world. The cool blues and greens are so refreshing.
pastel on paper 5 x 5.
$110.00 unframed + tax and shipping 

Field of Dreams

Perhaps a true Texan's heart is really blue. As a "born and raised" Texan, bluebonnets will always inspire a special pride in my heart. It is an annual event to view the bluebonnet fields around Texas. This year the display is more spectacular than usual. Even the drought of 2011 didn't dampen the display. Texans wait with great anticipation each year for the happy blue lupines to show their lovely faces. News spreads quickly of the fields of dreams where families appear in droves to photograph the kids, dogs, mom, dad, and grandparents all dressed in their Sunday best.
unframed pastel on paper 8x8 inches(approx size)
$110.00 unframed + tax and shipping 

Rio Chama's Journey

8 x 8 inches pastel on paper unframed
"In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time."
Leonardo da Vinci
The colors of the landscape seem to jump to life as the Chama River journeys through the desert. it courses through the thirsty landscape, sharing its life's force along the way. I love it here, just north of Abiquiu, New Mexico. The colors are subtle but become more intense to me as I spend more and more time in the area.
$110.00 unframed + tax and shipping

Vinalhaven Drive

I consider this more of an illustration than my usual paintings. I see a story in the works. I love these little houses that all line up with the wonderful light and shadow. I have more paintings planned from this image. This is a view that I plan to abstract more so that it becomes even more about the light and shadow.
pastel on paper 16 x 20 inches
600.00 unframed + tax and shipping
email me if interested.

Taking My Time, Enjoying My Time

I'm working on some larger artworks so in the meantime I am posting some things that bring me happiness.
I have seen lists by others of things that make them happy so I have compiled one of my own:
1. quiet and peacefulness
2. seeing my children laugh and smile
3. yoga
4. hiking
5. taking time to be present
6. finding ways to recycle more and having a positive effect on the earth
7. exploring words and writing
8. touch
9. discovering beautiful places in the world that cost nothing to appreciate other than just being there
10. creating beautiful and thoughtful things
11. learning ways in which to improve the existence of things
12. decluttering and becoming more minimal
13. enjoying delicious food with friends and family
14. meditation
15. a really good book
16. enjoying a vegetarian meal with a friend while "catching up" on life
17. creating art purely for the sake of creating something from the soul without concern for the opinions of others
18. energizing conversations over a glass of red wine

Winter's Water Garden

5x5 inches pastel on paper
This is Nature's version of the perfect water garden. I saw several of these little spots at Lost Maples Park in Vanderpool, TX . (Of course,  I would love it down there!) I always love going elsewhere for inspiration but then I am so grateful to come home again, my favorite place of all.
"It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I've gone and come back, I'll find it at home. " -Rumi

Hill Country View

"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." -Vincent Van Gogh
Well, sometimes that voice is silenced! Sometimes, one just has to keep pushing through and keep painting. Usually that voice is eventually silenced. It sometimes helps to visit an inspiring place. There was so much inspiration in the Hill Country! This is a little spot off of Hwy 39 where the river crosses the road. We stopped for a little break to take in the beauty and a few photos. I knew I wanted to put this scene on paper as soon as I got back to my studio.
pastel on paper approx  7x7 inches
$110.00 unframed + tax and shipping

Enchanted

The Texas Hill Country in the Winter is a wonderful adventure. The once barely green grasses turn a golden brown to compliment the red and golden dirt and pink granite of the landscape. I spotted this little oasis on the walk up to Enchanted Rock. This was a little reminder to not overlook the journey along the way as it is just as rewarding and the final destination. Sometimes the beauty of the depths of winter can be as rewarding as the glory of spring.
8x8 pastel on paper.