After the Rain

There's not much like the fist sunny Sunday after a week of rain in Southern California to tempt one outside to paint. Unless it is combined with an invitation from the California Art Club to a paint out in a beautiful location. Then it's irresistible! The paint out, hosted by Pat Kelly, an artist I much admire, was held in a rural area near Ramona. It featured beautiful views of snow dotted mountains, seasonal ponds, trees not yet in leaf, and vast stretches of meadow just turning green.

It was a lovely day to paint in the company of other plein air enthusiasts and followed by an instructive group critique. I have "tweaked" my effort a bit in the studio, but essentially this is the painting. I call it "Almost Spring."

Bye bye minis, hello new projects

2009 has galloped into the past, and so have the holidays, including my holiday from "real" painting.   I very much enjoyed painting my minis, but when I placed a pristine white 16 x 20 canvas on my easel and it looked HUGE, I knew it was time to stop horsing around and get back in the saddle for some serious painting.

OK, enough of the equine metaphors; but before I  say good bye to them, here are a few horse minis to round out the cat, dog and horse images.

Christmas Greetings

During this Most Wonderful Time of the Year, I wish each and all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Creative New Year.

Our family has celebrated Christmas with cats for many years.  They add greatly to the festivities, and of course have inspired several Christmas cards.  Here is a painting of our beloved Maine Coon, Figgy, and a reprise of a little poem I wrote a few years ago.  Blessings.

Some visitors at Christmas time

come feathered and bedecked

But others--quite surprisingly

Are not what we expect

One was a tiny baby

so helpless and so small

but come to save the entire world

with hope and grace for all

So don't neglect to claim your gift

It will bring you peace and joy

All because one Christmas time

God was a baby boy

More minis

A Bow Wow to Dogs

Lest those among you who are dog-gone crazy about dogs protest, let me assure you that I am also quite fond of canines.  And, they are fun to paint.

The Black Beauty with the bow around her neck was Sadie, possibly the best dog who ever lived.

She enriched Sara and John and Katy and Nicki's lives immeasruably for many years.  She is missed.

Many Minis

Crazy about Cats

Here are two of my all time favorite cats:  the one on the bottom was Willie,  who, alas was only in our lives briefly.

 The one on the right was Stretch, who owned first my sister Ann, then went to run her daughter Kathryn's household.






Many of the artists at the TVAL Gallery, including me, have spent the last month or so painting mini paintings for our Christmas Tree.  It has been fun, rather relaxing (as in, no worries about composition) and given me a chance to paint some of my favorite subjects.

When I was a little girl, I had an old Tom cat named Socks.

He was my introduction the the mysterious, wonderful

world of cats.  I've been hooked ever since.  Rex, Sara,

Liz, and all the grand kids are equally smitten.  Here are

a few feline paintings.

Wild about Horses

I've been crazy about horses for as long as I can remember.  Although I never had a horse of my own, I was lucky enough to have a doting uncle who did.  Uncle Bob was a widower who lived with my grandparents and treated his nieces and nephews like his own children.

His hobby was calf roping in rodeos, and he had a horse called Smokey.  Smokey was named for his color, a dappled grey.  He was a large (actually, he always seemed huge to me) fairly good natured horse who allowed me to ride him without putting up a fuss.  Whenever Uncle Bob had time, which was not often enough to suit me, he would saddle old Smokey for me.  Sometimes, though, I just rode him bareback.  Riding him was always a treat.  Since then, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for grey horses.

I share my special regard for horses with my grandson, Danny.  We've spent hours of contented time looking together for "horseys" in my art magazines.  There are lots of horses here in the Fallbrook and Bonsall area, too, so we've been able to see lots of them on the hoof.  There is a pair of retired Arabians in a corral just a short walk from our house, so all the grandkids have gotten to know them.  When they see the kids coming, the whicker softly, knowing  that carrots are coming!

When Mary suggested that we spend some time studying and painting horses, I leapt at the idea.  I've spent a lot of time learning horse anatomy:  the skeletal structure, from the poll to the ilium to the cannon.  Even the tail has bones.  I've studied the muscles, both deep and superficial.  I'll never know enough, but am enjoying the journey.

But mostly, I am enjoying painting these beautiful creatures.  From the arch of the neck, the flow of the mane, the roundness of the rump to the delicate grace of the legs, they are a visual treat.

 This month I have four of my horse paintings on display at the Temecula Valley Art League Gallery:

This one is a tribute to old Smokey, and that's what I call it

I call this one "Follow the Leader"  I've never been able to decide which were my favorite:   Palominos or black horses


I loved the idea of the warmth of the sun on the snow reflecting on the under-planes of these almost white horses.  This one is "Snow Frolic" 

Even inanimate horses appeal to me!

On the Way to San Jose

Since Sara and her family have moved there, we have certainly learned the way to San Jose.  While we miss having them close by, we have had some beautiful drives to and from.  This last trip a few days ago was no exception.  

We usually beat it up the 5 in our eagerness to get there, but take the 101 and our time on the way home.  My camera and sketch book stay pretty busy then.  The oak studded, rolling hills are beautiful any time of year, and in the October light were spectacular.  Glimpses of the Pacific provide a nice contrast.

  

I have not yet done any paintings from the photos and sketches from this trip, but most certainly will.  In the meantime, here are a few from previous trips.

Moonstone Beach in Cambria is popular year round

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The Golden Hills of Paso Robles in late summer

A pair of ponies sunning themselves in Paso Robles

This one is pretty much from memory/imagination, but the clouds were real