Painting Under Pearly Gray Skies & Light Misty Rain

Country Church, 9"x12" oil on linen mounted on board

Secret Garden, 8"x8" oil on Ampersand's archival gessobord

Last Friday was a solid gray day, thick cloud cover, and actually a fine mist in the air, that eventually went into a soft rain. I started in the morning painting the little church on North Main Street in Chincoteague. Even though the light is not strong enough for distinctive shadows, there are soft shadows. And the color in the vegetation seems to deepen. For the afternoon, I went over to Channel Bass Inn, on Church Street there on the island. They are a bed & breakfast with a lovely garden behind them. It's like a series of small rooms that lead one into the other. From a city parking lot behind the inn, there is an entrance into the garden that is a wisteria vine covered arbor. This is where I stood to be protected from the mist, which had turned into a very light rain at that point. From under the vines you look into a curved path that leads you past a bench, loads of flowers and around into another opening, until you finally get to the back entrance. It's an enchanting place, and I was glad to return to see it again this year. And glad I had some cover from the rain!

Contact me here for more information about these 2 paintings.

Summer Happiness

16"x20" oil on linen mounted on archival board

"Summer is not so much a season as a melody, that tune of contentment we hum as the days begin to beautifully blur." - Sarah Ban Breathnach

Finally, we have reached my favorite time of year. Everything wonderful is starting to bloom in the yard. It's the third summer in our garden, and everything is really reaching a wonderful state of lush! Peonies, Siberian Iris, Knockout roses, catmint; and that's just what's blooming right now. Later there are other rose varieties, hydrangeas, lilies, daisies, black-eyed Susans, and more! After all the still-life florals I painted this winter, it's especially fun to take this outdoors. Out on my back patio, the morning light is wonderful. (well, so is the late afternoon, but that's another painting for another day!). A light breeze to ruffle the hems of the tablecloth is a delight after the gusts of last week. I think this is going to be a good gardening year!

I made a few tweaks on this after bringing it into the studio, I'll need to re-photograph & post an update once I get that done. Thanks for following along with my blog & enjoying summer with me!

For more information about this painting, contact me here.

Bee Charmer - Are You Ready For Valentine's Day?

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard

"Recall it as often as you wish, a happy memory never wears out.

- Fublin


I'm really glad to have found this quote. There's times lately I think I'm going to wear out my happy memories of last summer! It has been the fiercest winter so far! I've got lots of dreamy memories from warmer times - including this little bee I spotted doing his happy thing around all these summer blossoms. I love the phrase "Bee Charmer" from the story, "Fried Green Tomatoes" - and love the sound of it as it is spoken.

But - another painting to bring out of the 'archive'! I am offering these 'Valentines' at 2009 prices during the month of February. They are dry and ready to ship as soon as your Paypal payment clears! I also accept personal checks - it just takes a good bit longer for it to travel through the mail from your house to my bank. Paypal is that sure bet to receive it in time for Valentines Day!

******For these Valentine special offerings, I'll cover shipping via Priority Mail (for continental US) between now (Feb 1st) and Feb. 14th! Treat your sweet-heart to something wonderful, that lasts forever, isn't fattening, and is the perfect size! Forwarding this email to 'the likely suspects' might be helpful as a gift-giving guide! OR be good to yourself, a personal Valentine 'from you to you' might be just what you need.

My third Valentine offering for my subscribers this month is, "Bee Charmer" a 6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard. Reply to this email to let me know you'd like this piece & preferred payment method. Your Valentine price is $100 +zero for shipping (see above)! ...all in the name of love!

Now go on, work on that love life!