Sheep in the Meadow, Waterville Lake, Ireland -sold

8"x10" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

It's a shame I don't golf, the courses are set up on the most beautiful patches of earth on the planet. Waterville, Ireland (over in County Kerry) is home to one of these 'best in the world' courses, (so I'm told). But it is beautiful there, I've painted in the rain there- one of my most memorable times painting outdoors! And brought home much source material to paint at home. I knew when I was over there, I'd be painting sheep back home. Their fuzzy muzzles buried in the deep grass, just a few would be on 'alert' and poke their heads up to look, we must've looked harmless, they went back to their business of eating.

I leave out of Boston to go back tomorrow, my third visit to this beautiful place. And I'm so grateful for my friend Barbara Mastaglio for introducing me to this incredible place. She runs an artist's retreat in the summers - please visit her website.

Kerry Cow Calling, County Kerry, Ireland - sold

8"x 10" oil on linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

This is the mother cow of the calf I painted previously (scroll back in the blog a few days). We were "talking" to baby through the hedgerow & mama DID NOT like it. She came barreling down the hill & bellowing at us to "MOOOOOOVE right along!" and I'm wondering if cows can clear fences or hedgerows like horses can! WOO! a little drama on our evening stroll!

Valentia View from the Channel, Irish Series - sold

8"x10" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

On the day we set to visit the skelligs, the boats take you out of Port Magee to make the one hour trip out. On the way back in the channel, I caught these beautiful views of the sun shining on the green pastures of Valentia. I just love the hedgerows that divide up the pastures. Up close, there can be lovely wildflowers springing out of them. From far away, they are such clear divisions, as though they were drawn on the land itself. One of my friends told me that in a painting- they could own the one piece of real estate or vista that in 'real life' they could never afford. So art does give us a tangible way to hold our dreams!

Cloud Mist Over Bray Head, Ireland - mini

3"x4" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

A tiny one in the Irish series, this is on the island of Valentia, just on the north side of Bray Head. The grasses on this coastal plain of land are short and spongy, and probably doesn't grow more than an inch long. Perhaps it is a mossy type of stuff. I intend to find out more about this on my next visit. Looking south to our left Bray Head juts out where the Atlantic Ocean comes into Dingle Bay. My friend tells me the winter storms bring fierce tidal surges & the waves come crashing into the rocks & spray high up into the air. It's a terrifying drop over the edge...and I keep a respectful distance! For a taste of what this looks like, check out this video link, this fellow has taken some amazing footage of this wave action & put it to music - is this magnificent or what?!

Click to bid. (This will take you to my ebay store).

Wildflowers at Cliffs Edge, Valentia, Ireland - sold

16"x20" oil on canvas

This was done with palette knife - and what a delight it is to move that much paint around! There is a LOT of paint on this one. This is the same view towards the skelligs (in the distance off shore) but from a lower vantage point as the one I painted the other day...Slightly different cloud cover, too, as the sky there seems to change constantly! I am heading back over to Ireland at the end of the month and am curious what late winter skies will look like there! I hope to gather lots more source material, and do some more painting on location while I'm there this trip, too. The view in this painting is as close as I get to the cliff's edge- as it's a long drop down and I'm not fond of heights! As long as I'm looking across & not down, I'm fine!

Lilacs and Pears Mini - sold

3"x4" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

I had lilacs last summer in my garden. I had painted one huge bouquet from life, (rather large painting, too), and also photographed them in different settings, and different light. I knew I would want lots of reference shots to paint later, dead of winter, when I can't stand the wait for summer any longer! I am hoping this same bush will be as prolific this year, and I'm thinking about what color vase I'd like to see them in. They are such beautiful flowers - I wish they'd last a whole lot longer in my yard!

I Know Something You Don't Know (Doodle2) - sold

5"x7" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

I couldn't resist another doodle! And thanks to the fan who sent me this email photo last night in response to yesterday's doodle! (you know who you are!) She did the cropping, leaving a some what anonymous 'Mona Lisa' grin....just made me wonder, "hmm, what does she know that she's not telling?" I couldn't help but giggle, clever photographer that she is!

Here's Lookin' at You Kid, (Eye Doodle)

3"x4" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

Sometimes an artist just has to doodle to get out what they're thinking about, play with color, organize their thoughts... Sort of like you do when you're on the phone, with a pad of paper in front of you, and a pen handy. Well, I was itching to play with skin tones and facial features, yet not take on a whole portrait. So doodle I did!

Doulus Head, Across Dingle Bay; Ireland Series - sold

12"x16" oil on canvas mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

Last summer, during my July visit to Valentia (Ireland) we took a walk on the Friday evening of our visit out to see St. Brendan's well. We walked even further out across the bog toward the cliffs by Culoo Rock. Mid way across, the perfect view of Doulus Head came into view across Dingle Bay. The tall grasses waved & swirled in the wind. I don't know that I've ever seen such a rugged, open, and beautiful place in my life.

Fuscia Flowers on Valentia - sold

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

These hardy flowers were bursting out of the hedgerows in heaps! I mean tons of these. Back home in the states I've tried to grow these in various places we've lived, and I kill off every last one! The climate on the island of Valentia (southwest part of Ireland) is ideal for these dainty looking things. It's semi-tropical, warmed by the Gulf stream - so they do quite well! I am humbled by their ability to 'grow like crazy', with no help from me thank-you-very-much!

Kerry Calf, Through The Hedgerow - sold

8"x10" oil on canvas mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

This calf was in another pasture across the lane from the cow in yesterday's painting. The side of the road was met with a large hedgerow from which wildflowers grew (purple, periwinkle blue, and yellow). This calf was so interested in us & came up so close, sniffing to see who we were. Just then mama decided she was not so happy about this & came flying down the hill, bellowing at us (no doubt scolding us for talking to her baby). Baby ran off, wondering what he did that was so wrong!! Yeah, and we felt rather "sheepish" for being fussed at by a cow!

Kerry Cow; Ireland Series - sold

8"x10" oil on canvas mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

Are Kerry cows as happy as California cows? I don't see why not, this is as lush as it gets, the scenery is great, the weather is fine! Last summer while visiting Valentia Island, Ireland; we took a long walk out to St. Brendan's well one evening after dinner. This lovely cow was just one of many we saw along the way. Summers are such a delight there- it stays light out so very late! The changing light is so fascinating for this artist!

Skelligs View from Valentia, Ireland - sold

11"x14" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

From the island of Valentia off the southwest coast of Ireland are these two land forms they call skelligs. Little skellig (to the left) is a bird sanctuary, big skellig, or Skellig Michael is the sight of an ancient monastery. From PortMagee you can hire a boat in the summer (if the weather is reasonable) to take you out there for a few hours visit. It is truly remarkable and I will forever be in awe of this site where man sought a place to be closer to God. As seen from the island of Valentia (as in this painting) they appear as two pyramidal rocks in the ocean. They are about 10 miles out and as the weather changes during the day, so is your ability to see them! On this summer day they looked as though they held the layer of cumulus clouds just above them....as they blew across the sky.

Boats at Portmagee Ireland - sold

6"x8" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

Right across the channel from Valentia is the pretty fishing village of Portmagee. All these colorful boats are such a visual delight for anyone. AND dinner provides the freshest fish you could ever find! The pier is where all the action happens!