Sailboat on the Mississippi

We were lucky to stumble upon this boat anchored offshore. Sometimes I pick a scene for the challenge of the subject matter without much thought to the composition. It's a study. This one was perfect for that reflection on the boat from the light on the water. I did wipe it off once and this was cropped to a little better composition.

6" x 9" oil on canvas

Wildflower Field

Wilson Lake is a favorite place to paint because of the beautiful waterscapes. I had that intention but this time of year the wildflowers are out and this scene was too good to resist. The next painting should be studies of the various varieties of wildflowers. I know Queen Anne's lace but that is about it. I might add that I started this on a slightly wet ground which I ended up fighting to get the values and colors I wanted. I have prepared several canvases with different grounds ready for the next time.

9" x 12" oil on canvas

Tall Trees

Beautiful clouds today. I could not decide between the clouds or these trees. When I first saw this the sunlight was hitting the tree trunks, but like on any cloudy day the sunlight came and went leaving me to my memory. The clouds added more interest to the background like the blues starting as a mass above then breaking up into particles dropping down. This weekend I saw the movie "Pixels" and that is probably why it seems that way. 

6" x 12" oil on canvas

Bridge at Martin Pond

My last two attempts at plein air painting were not worth posting. Today I feel good about this one. I decided to take the dogs out to Martin Pond and see if I can get a painting in. At one point I heard a large splash and I turned around thinking it was one the bull frogs, only to catch a glimpse of my Dachshund, Lucy swimming in the green duckweed by the bridge. I think she will get a bath later. The green pond scum was challenging along with the teal green bridge. The bridge color was created using a combination of pthalo green and Ultramarine blue.  

11" x 14" oil on canvas board

Running for Cover

This one was painted on a dull yellow background. This young rabbit is the second generation this year. They don't seen to be as quick to run. Spotted this one from the bathroom window as the mother was nudging it on. It would have been nice to catch that.

8" x 6" oil on canvas

Pheasants Forever

Volunteer from Pheasants Forever. This group is responsible for helping persevering wildlife habitat. 11" x 14" oil on panel 

Lights, Camera Action Volunteer

We have outdoor movies in the park every week thanks to a group called Lights, Camera, Action. Local businesses donate the money for the rights and some of the movies are older but occasionally it was be a not so recent release. It is a great time for families to get together and enjoy the park.

11" x 14" oil on panel 

Volunteer God's Closet

The volunteer from God's Closet. The organization collects donations of clothes, furniture and such to help families affected by home fires. I loved the red dyed ends of her hair. 

11" x 14" oil on canvas panel

American White Park Calf

Demo from the art Center in Burlington during the sidewalk sales. Enjoyed talking to the shoppers. I picked this subject because the kids like animals. 

11" x 14" oil on canvas panel

Rachel from P.O.R.T

Another volunteer, this lady is instrumental in acquiring land for trails linking the local parks. We are building a new rec center on the outer edge of Fort Madison. Linking the rec center to some of the interior parks makes it easier for the kids to bicycle to baseball and soccer games. Our trails are well used by all ages

11" x 14" oil on panel

Night Painting

We went plein air painting downtown at night. I still don't have a lighting set up that works. What I saw painting from the street light and what I saw the next morning is different.  I need to make my darks darker. If I painted on black velvet?

12" x 9" oil on canvas

Volunteer for Relay for Life

This is the volunteer for Relay for life. She bakes pies for the annual event. She also is a cancer survivor. Really enjoyed the painting session with her. I may need to do a little more on this before turning it in to the art center. I am behind on this project and the director is asking where the paintings are. This really is one of those things where you need to know when to quit.

The one hour pose. I did not want to ask her to pose for too long and tried to block in as much as possible in one hour. Painting from life is still the best and I feel that I pick up a lot even when it is only an hour. 

11" x 14" oil on panel

A Little Behind

Another view of the neighbor's rabbit.

6" x 12" oil on canvas click to bid

Daylily Garden

Jessica and I went plein air painting in Hobbs Hilltop Garden this morning. I was late since I had to wait for the cable guy. He did a no show, no call. The mosquitoes were out in droves this morning but I did manage to stay out long enough to complete this painting. I wanted the practice painting deep reds and water drops. I did not put in all the rain drops, just enough to get an ideal of how to paint them. The daylilies should still be in bloom for 3 more weeks so hopefully I will make it up there again. Besides the annoying bugs I often see critters that make me smile and this little tree frog in a daylily is one of them. Gerald says he is waiting for bugs to eat. Yah!

12" x 9" oil on canvas 

Garden Tour

Today was the annual garden tour here in Fort Madison. This hosta bloom is one of the paintings I painted at the event. The garden tour gives the local artists a chance to paint at private residences with exceptional gardens. I have taken advantage of this event since the beginning. This event was my first time plein air painting when my friend Ruth Newberry encouraged me to participate. It was a huge daylily garden and the gardener was a retired engineer who now uses his skills to engineer new varieties of daylilies. I wish I could have created a painting so well that day as I think I have since thrown that painting away. I have learned a lot and have had fun doing it. I also learned about flowers, even though it does not show in my own landscaping.

6" x 8" oil on canvas

To see his creations click on Gerald Hobb's Daylily Garden http://www.cvids.org/hobbs.html

This is the second painting, a little more ambitious since it is 9" x 12". I took photos to tweak it later. 

Unknown Illustrator

I work part time at the Sheaffer Pen Museum in Fort Madison. We received these original paintings and they do not have a signature. If anyone out there can identify them we would appreciate it.

Young Rabbit

This seems to be the young rabbit I first saw running around with its mother earlier this spring. They sure do grow fast. 

12" x 9" oil on Raymar panel.