14 x 11

oil

This was the first morning light coming through the fog in the backyard of the Pagosa Springs, CO cabin where we stayed this past fall. Just noticed that my previous post is a painting of that cabin. What a great trip!

"Hill Country Road"

11 x 14

oil on panel
Sold

Driving along any back road throughout the Texas Hill Country, my favorite place in this great state!

"Santa Rita Veranda"

9x12

oil on canvas panel

The residential area of Santa Rita in San Angelo, TX has some of the most beautiful homes in the country. This is a veranda on an outstanding Spanish style home, with beautiful gardens overlooking the Concho River. Still remember the PERFECT plein air day this was painted, sitting under a shade tree, mild temperature, no wind...all that keeps a plein air painter coming back for more.

9x12

oil on canvas panel

This was painted in San Angelo, TX in the Santa Rita area, late one afternoon on a recent OPS paint out. Loved the dancing shadows on this adobe wall surrounding a beautiful Spanish style home.

"Cactus Out Back"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

On a recent trip to San Angelo, TX, a friend offered his ranch for the day to our plein air group. I found the perfect place to paint, covered patio in the back of their bunkhouse, out of the sun and the wind and with this perfect view. All the plein air comforts of home!

"Bend in the Rio Grande River"

9x12 oil

available at the Adobe Art Gallery

Ft Worth, TX

This was painted along the Rio Grande River on a beautiful fall day not too far north of Santa Fe, NM. You can't beat the colors in New Mexico!

Painting Challenge Day 5

Day five of the 3 Paintings in 5 Days takes me to some plein air paintings I have done in the last couple of years...the cabin in Estes Park CO, the DeGolyer house at the Arboretum in Dallas, lawn chairs in Monteagle, TN, a low water crossing in Palo Duro Canyon, a horse trailer on the Tweedy Ranch in San Angelo, TX, adobe in Taos, NM and back to Co for the tepees. Lots of travel, and each one a memorable trip. 

I've always said that plein air painting is like keeping a diary, every painting brings back a memory of the place, the season, the weather and the people we traveled with or visited along the way. I joined Outdoor Painters Society four years ago and have met the most fabulous people throughout the country as well as outstanding artists who have aided in my growth as an artist. Life is good!

Thanks for following along with this 5 day challenge!

"Orange and Sunflowers"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Sold

I've been concentrating on plein air paintings so much lately, it was nice to do something different. 

I have an upcoming plein air competition event this fall so will still be getting ready for that, but hope to do more fun pieces like this as well...altho, believe it or not, this too was painted outside from a still life set up. 

"White Rock Stables"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Purchase here

Had a great day out with some of my painting buddies for a day of plein air. White Rock Lake in the middle of Dallas offers wonderful painting opportunities away from the hustle of city life, not only the lake and boats, but hiking and bike trails, and a real hidden jewel is the stables. 

Wasn't sure how this photo would turn out, seems I've misplaced my camera charger, so took this was taken with my iPhone camera. Think it's pretty close to the original painting. Have new batteries and charger ordered so will retake when they arrive and compare the two photos.

"Power to the Bluebonnets"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Purchase here

Spring is the best time to head south of Dallas to the Palmer/Ennis area to find the bluebonnets in bloom. Met several other plein air painter friends there last week to capture the beauty of our Texas state flower in full bloom. The rancher whose house is in the background came out to visit with us just as we were setting up. There is a designated Bluebonnet Trail in this area and the property owners are more than generous and welcoming.

Someone said that if you are a painter and live it Texas, you HAVE to paint the bluebonnets...it's the law!!!

Barn at White Rock Lake

9 x 12

oil on canvas

Painted this barn on Goforth in the White Rock Lake area this past Monday when the temps were in the 70's. Can't pass up a plein air day like that in January. Today we are in the 20's, and so goes Texas weather. And a big thank you to all the welcoming neighbors who came out to see what our group was painting.

"Doctor's Office-1895"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

This is one of my entries in the plein air show at the Dallas Heritage Village. Need a doctor? This is where you would go in the late 1800"s, complete with examining room, operating room and pharmacy all in one place.

The art show will be in October at Heritage Village, I'm sure there will be some great plein air paintings in the exhibit.

"Pilot Grove Church-1895"

9 x 12

oil on canvas
sold

Pilot Grove Church is one of the older structures at Dallas Heritage Village, home to the largest and finest collection of 19th century pioneer and Victorian homes and commercial buildings in Texas. 

Several days of plein air painting this week with the wonderful cooler July temps, and Heritage Park offers limitless painting opportunities.

Dallas Reunion Tower

9 x12

oil on  canvas

Painted with our Monday group of plein air painters yesterday and found this lovely spot south of downtown Dallas with the Trinity River and the top of the Reunion Tower in the background. For those of you who aren't familiar with Dallas, the tower is a big part of our skyline. An elevator takes you up 50 stories to a restaurant and observation deck.

Robert E Lee Statue

9 x 12

oil on canvas

Robert E Lee statue on his horse Traveller, at Lee Park in Dallas. On June 12, 1936, the statue was unveiled by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A smaller-than-actual-size replica of Lee's Virginia home, Arlington House, is also located in the park.
Our Monday plein air group is still painting historical sites in the Dallas area.

"Versailles Park Gazebo"

9 x 12

Oil on canvas

$125

Have had several beautiful Spring days to paint with my local plein air group. This is the gazebo at Versailles Park in Highland Park, also called Echo Park by my children because you can stand in the middle of the gazebo and your voice will echo. The area is a perfect example of the dogwoods, azaleas and tulips that are in bloom here in the Spring.

This park also has fond memories for our family because our son proposed to his wife here and she later had her bridal portrait photographed here. A similar painting was their first anniversary gift. 

"Morning Light"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

sold

This is my "quick draw" painting from the Outdoor Painters Society weekend show, Plein Air Southwest at Southwest Gallery. The timed quick draw event was held at the Dallas Arboretum with about 40 artists completing a painting from 10-12. These were quickly framed, delivered to the gallery to be hung on the "wet wall" for the opening reception from 3-7. That's the reason for the hasty, not so good photograph. But I am happy to say that the painting sold within the first hour of the show.

Here are my other two plein air pieces that were juried into the show about a month ago. If you are in the area, visit the gallery for a real visual treat!

Here is the gallery link for all the artists in the show, along with their paintings:

http://swgallery.com/artists.aspx?style_id=28

"No Trespassing"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

One of my plein air groups that paints Dallas historical sites met today to capture some of the shot gun houses in the 10th street district. Here is a little information on the area. 

Tenth Street Historic District

Dallas' 12th historic district was adopted in 1993. One of the only remaining intact Freedman's Towns in the nation. It is a cohesive collection of modest folk and vernacular dwellings dating from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. In this neighborhood there are 257 domestic structures, four commercial structures, three institutional structures and one cemetery.

A few of the houses have been updated, but as you can see from the "No Trespassing" painting above, many have not. Quite an interesting morning visiting parts of Dallas I had never seen before. The Preservation Dallas Society is planning an art show later this year featuring many of these plein air paintings. More to come on that event!!! 

"Pelican Point"

9x12

oil on gesso board
sold

Headed to White Rock Lake early Monday morning to paint with our plein air group, driving in the most beautiful hazy fog. I arrived at this cove where you could see nothing but shades of gray with the dark outline of the trees and a few of the fall colors peeking through the mist. By the time we unloaded our cars and were set up to paint, we were greeted with this clear sunny day. There were numerous pelicans just off to the left, thus the name, Pelican Point.

"October Color"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard
sold

Painted this en plein air on a recent trip to Tennessee. Happy Halloween!