As Evening Progresses, The Artist's Garden plein air

6"x8" oil on Belgian linen on archival panel

"It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly."
- Claude Monet



I've been enjoying spending time with my daughters, chatting, taking walks, playing tourists...we took a walk down in Mystic to photograph boats today (after delivering paintings to the Post Office). It's been gloomy weather to say the least, but as afternoon rolled into early evening the sun came out at our house. As summer progresses the sun seems to turn the corner around the front of the house. As it lowers towards the horizon, it creeps further into my front garden. As evening progresses, it illuminates the day lilies which are almost ready to bloom, and warms the big blue pot of pink flowers. I'm not sure of the name of this perennial- it's one I got at a "Friends of Harkness" plant sale a couple years ago. We called them 'purple buddies' when I was growing up in FL. They have long pale sage green fuzzy stems & leaves, a bit more yellow green than lamb's ears (plants), with a pinky-purple bloom. Anyway, when I saw the sun warming up this part of the garden just outside my front door, dinner had to wait. There was painting to be done.

I'm re-reading some favorite old books about "favorite old painters" who painted their gardens. Monet, Renoir, & others....who grew gardens with the intent of painting either 'pieces' of them (floral cuttings when the weather is bad) or entire settings outdoors. This has been my intent ever since we began considering plans last year. More to come on how we put together these ideas....yes, I'll share my resources!