"Italy" in the South of France

10 x 8

At my sister's home there is a porch off the master bedroom that they call "Italy."  The idea is from the book Angela's Ashes where the family moves from the bottom

floor, "Ireland" when it rains, to the drier second floor, "Italy."  This Italy is on the ground floor, but is just a nice  cozy retreat from the rest of the house that is usually filled with family and friends. 

Hay Bales

12 x 12   Sold

Hay bales are just such an interesting and fun subject to paint and there have been plenty of them around here this summer.  I keep getting drawn to them.  The big round bales seem to be the most prevalent, although some of the smaller rectangular bales are around, too.

Curiosity

10 x 10

When I stopped to take pictures all of these cows were back by the trees.  But when they saw me, they all started coming toward me.  I guess they thought I was bringing them something to eat.

Somewhere On The Path

6" x 6"

I cannot remember just where I took the picture that inspired this painting.  I am not even sure  that I ever followed this path to see where it led.  But I loved all the different greens.  They are always a challenge to mix and paint.   But it is a good exercise in mixing colors.

View From Chateauneuf en Burgogne

8 x 10

It was a misty on and off day as we drove up through this gorgeous area of Burgundy.  The bright yellow shape is the rape seed that was blooming all over at this time of the year (spring).  It was so bright it was nearly fluorescent and blinding in some places.  Just stunning!!

Hay Bales of Fall

12 x 16 

I think that hay bales are just so interesting and I love to paint them.  There are usually many of them visible in different settings.  I especially loved the colors in this early fall scene.

French Village in Burgundy

                                             12 x 12

Several years ago we were in Burgundy in the spring when the rapeseed was blooming.  There were brilliant fields of yellow everywhere and it was absolutely stunning and nearly blinding at times.  The French have a name for rapeseed which I don't remember right now.

Spring

8 x 10

I was asked to donate a painting for a charity event silent auction this week, and this is the one I chose because it is so appropriate for this time.  The peach trees are beginning to bloom  and we are sooooo hopeful of a good peach crop.  The prospects are looking very good right now.  We just have to pray that there is not a late freeze.

Late Afternoon Shadows

8 x 10

Last fall I was plein air painting with some friends just down the road from our place.  The long shadows were stretching across this pasture.  The cows had to be relocated for the composition of the painting because they just wouldn't stand in the right spot!

Simple Blues

8 x 10

Last spring had such a bumper crop of bluebonnets I painted them over and over again.  This one has been simplified to just basics.  We can only hope that this coming spring will be as spectacular as the last one was.  The bluebonnets are already up in many places, but we will need to get some rain pretty soon to keep them going.

                                  

                     

                    

Blues and Greens 2012

Bluebonnets

I think I will post some of the bluebonnet pieces that I did last year.  Hopefully we will have another display this spring (if we get some more rain).  I see a lot of little plants coming up and just hope that they will all survive and bloom.  Many people may not know that a field of bluebonnets has a wonderful scent.  Very subtle, but delicious.