A Good Day!

"On the Banks of the Withlacoochee"

8" x 10" Oil on Canvas Panel

I'm finally a retired person! Everything from the shop is gone (except for a few bills), and for the first time in a really long time, I only have 2 keys on my keyring: car and home !!!! How sweet it is!

And, today, the sun was shining - and it was in the 70's -- just my kind of day! I did manage to go out and shoot a couple of pictures to paint - including the one above. This part of Florida has an abundance of these enormous Live Oak trees - huge trunks, twisting limbs and beautiful "wingspan". They are also home to a lot of spanish moss, which can eventually take the tree over and kill them!

Also, today, I recieved in the mail 3 DVDs from Elin Pendleton, on her Color System. I really love her style of painting, and her teaching technique is just wonderful! I hope someday to go to one of her "Color Boot Camp" workshops.

So, all in all, a pretty good day, yes?

Musings

"Another Day in Paradise"

10" x 10" Oil on Canvas Panel

I'm ready for Summer! OK, so it isn't 10 below zero - (in fact, it will be in the 70's today), but I don't like Winter, period!

When I moved to Florida, some friends asked me how I would live with all that heat and humidity. "Just Fine", I would reply! (Summers in Missouri are actually hotter and more humid than where I live right now) And, now that I have a pool right out my back door, heat is never an issue!

But, this year, the main reason that I'm so impatient for Summer is this: I need more inspiration photos to paint - and to save up for next Winter! I'm forced now to try to find photos in magazines - which is OK, but I would much prefer to paint things that I've actually seen. And, even though I'm in Florida, most everything is brown, and lifeless. I'll be going to Kansas City in May -- I'm already thinking of where to go to take pictures!

Workshop tomorrow -- hope I can find something to paint!

Totally Different, But Fun

"Country Bluebird"

16" x 12" Oil on Canvas Panel

So, this is what I've been working on this week! Lynne helped me find the photo, and gave me great color direction. I still need some help finishing up the weeds, but all in all, I think it turned out quite nicely. It's very different from what I've been painting - very structured and much more detailed. I might try a series of bird paintings - who knows?

I'm still working on getting rid of all my "stuff" from the shop. It all should be gone by next Wednesday, and then I'm FREE!

Thanks for looking -- let me know what you think!

Frustrating Week!

I have no painting to post today. I started 3 different paintings this past week -- all of them are headed for the dumpster! Even Penny and Barney were bored watching me try to paint!

In Workshop today, I was feeling like maybe painting isn't for me -- I've hit a wall and decided that of course, I have no talent, so what did I expect? Thank God for my instructor angels and the other people in class! They very tactfully reminded me that I need to change what I'm doing and spend some time studying color mixing, drawing, and find some different things to paint. After all, you don't become a painter overnight! Did I mention that my middle name is "Impatient"?

So, hopefully, the painting I started in class today will make it's way to the blog in the near future! I really like it - it's nothing like anything else I've painted -- and it's got me started thinking in another way.

Thank all of you who have commented on my blog! I truly appreciate the kind words, and I hope that you'll keep reading and see how I progress.

2 Kinds of Waterfalls

"Waterfall"

8" x 10" Oil on Canvas Panel

I decided to sit down and knit the other day, and found this pattern that I liked, and thought it would make a terrific scarf: It's called "Waterfall" -- and it is turning out quite nicely!

Then, I found a picture of a Waterfall that I took at Rainbow Springs State Park, and thought it would make a nice painting! What a coincidence!

And, now my business is closed! YAY! Still have to do all the "getting rid of stuff" nightmare -- but all will be done by the end of January. Then, I'll be retired (at least for awhile)! It's amazing how many things I can think of to do then -- but I have a feeling that my days will get away from me, and I'll probably only knit and paint!

Only happy thoughts from now on!!!

If Wishes were Horses.....

"Turnpike Palms"

8" x 10" Oil on Canvas Panel

I remember my mother saying to me, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride!". She said it a lot, because I was always wishing for things, or for things to change. I don't think that I've learned much about wishing in the last several years of my life.

Right now, I'm wishing that the next few weeks were over! My business is closing (which is great for me), and that means lots of work to tie up all the loose ends and get rid of all the "stuff", and packing away all the business "stuff". This is work that I really don't want to do! I just want it all to magically be done! But, since there is no way around it, I will do it!

I've spent the last 5 years trying to make all my customers happy, and to give them a great deal at a great price. But, in the end, I still made some of them very unhappy. For this, I am truly sorry, but there is nothing I can do to make it up -- my business will be over on Monday. It is done!

Maybe, then, I'll be able to get back to painting! The above painting is from a photo I took on the Florida Turnpike at a rest area -- pretty palms up against a building. I'm trying to find something to paint today -- probably another Rainbow River scene.

Changes are Afoot!

"Peaceful River"

6" x 8" Oil on Canvas Panel

I'm finally closing my business! For the last 5-1/2 years I have owned a Quilt Shop. It's been a great gift - and I loved (almost) every moment of it! But, all things must end -- and it's time for me to do other things -- like paint more!

This is another small painting of scenes on the banks of the beautiful Rainbow River. I'm looking forward to February, when the azaleas are in full bloom in the Park! I hope I'll be able to convey just how gorgeous it is in a painting!

Beautiful Sunday!

"Rainbow River Calm"

6" x 8" Oil on Canvas Panel

Wow, what a difference a week makes! We had the most beautiful Sunday -- temperature was in the mid-70's -- Sunshine -- just a perfect day!

Dunnellon is known for it's two rivers: The Rainbow River, and the Withlacoochee. The Rainbow comes from Rainbow Springs, which bubbles up over 500 Million gallons of water daily. The river is crystal clear, and 72 degrees all year round. Lots of people "tube" and float down the river all summer. The Withlacoochee is dark and mysterious and great for fishing and boating.

I've been doing a series of Rainbow River paintings, and I've discovered that I really love doing them. It's a beautiful river, with lots of gorgeous scenes. I hope you enjoy them.

On The Fairway

"On The Fairway"

6" x 8" Oil on Canvas Panel

I've started a series of smaller paintings (6" x 8") that will be for sale in "Tara's", a local boutique. Mainly landscapes for now, but who knows what I'll get into next!

A new golf course community is being built here in Dunnellon - Juliette Falls - and my stepdaughter's husband helped to design the golf course. They came to town right before Christmas so he could see the completed course, and they took a lot of photos they said I could use. I know nothing about golf, but I will admit that the course is really pretty! And, while everything else is dry and brown here, that golf course looks like it's Springtime!!

It's warming up here -- back into the 70's! YAY!

BRRRRRRR!

"The Tree"

8" x 10" Oil on Canvas Panel

The past two days have been really cold here in Florida! Overnight down in the 20's - and during the day only up into the 40's! For awhile, I forgot that I live in Sunny Florida! But, thank goodness, we will be back in the 70's for the weekend!

This painting is of a tree just outside my back door. I've always loved to look at the weird branches going all over the place -- and finally decided to try to paint it. I started this yesterday in workshop, and got a lot of great input and advice.

I keep thinking of doing a still life -- but to tell the truth -- I'm not sure about doing it. We'll see......

Rolling Clouds

"Rolling Clouds"

6" x 8" Oil on Canvas Panel

Rolling Clouds -- that's how I'm feeling today! It was another good workshop today -- I'm learning a lot from Lynne and Kelli about color, drawing - oh, just everything!

And, I received a new DVD in the mail today: "Plein Air Painting with an Attitude", by Elin Pendleton! It's just great! Watching Elin paint is very inspirational. She goes to the field with only 5 colors and white. On site, she just mixes everything up and has the most tremendous painting when she's through! Lots of great advice, here!

I may be approaching overload, though. I need to paint again tomorrow and see if anything I learned today will actually show up in a painting!

I started today a little down in the dumps, but now, I'm anxious to go again!

Happy New Year!

"The Path"

9" x 12" Oil on Canvas Panel

You know, I'm really looking forward to this new year! Lots of changes coming - and lots of new things to learn.

I'm at an uncomfortable place in my painting right now. It's kinda like having a new job -- in the beginning, everything is new and exciting, and you can't wait to get into work every day. Everyone is telling you how great you are and how happy they are that you are there! It's quite a High! And then, one day, you realize that you don't have the faintest idea what you are doing, but your bosses expect you to know it all by now! And the doubt starts creeping in (just what were you thinking -- quitting your old job and starting something new, at your age!!)

So now, I've learned to put paint on canvas, and paint some "ok" paintings, but I'm not happy with what I've done lately. I've started judging myself against people who have been doing this all their adult lives! Time to give myself a break! I guess that's what I get for trolling the internet all the time, looking and admiring all the terrific art that's out there!

So now it's back to being open to learning new tricks and keep on painting until I find what it is that I think that I'm lacking. Self Doubt and Impatience -- not a pretty pair! Stay tuned to see if I make it! :)