Halloween Colors

On Halloween day I stepped out into the middle of the street in front of my house and snapped a quick photo of the colorful trees in the neighborhood. This painting was done referring only to the photo in the camera...I didn't even take the time to download it onto the computer. What made it fun was that because the image was so tiny I didn't get involved in "detail-itis". I like it.

Halloween Colors, 8.5 x 11 pastel on red cardstock

Rod's Little Maple

Another small painting from yesterday, standing under my back porch patio roof while it rained. This is a pretty little maple tree in my neighbor's yard next door.

 

Rod's Little Maple, 5x5 pastel on black cardstock

Fuschia's Last Stand

It's raining outside today, but I had the urge to do some plein air painting, so I took my easel outside under the covered patio in the back yard and looked around for a subject. Here's amidst the mossy rocks, yellowing ferns and fallen leaves is a little fuschia bravely putting out a few more blossoms before winter.

Fuschia's Last Stand, 5x5 pastel on black cardstock

October 29th Trees

I really intended to sew this morning, but after looking out my windows to the trees behind our house, the pastel box called to me...."Just take a few minutes....what colors do you see? Pick up a pastel or two and linger a little at the easel..."

How quickly time flies when I am not at the easel! The Maples must be given a little attention today. The leaves will not last much longer. And the artist in me is feeling a need to assert herself again. It's time.

October 29th Trees, 6x6 pastel on black cardstock

Clear Lake Camping

We went camping this weekend to Clear Lake in the Mt Hood wilderness. I sat on the beach to do this painting and struggled with the wind (see the ripples against the shore line?) and the glaring afternoon sunshine, but somehow it turned out just fine! Ken sat nearby enjoying a good book, so we both had a nice time on the beach.

Clear Lake Afternoon, 8x10 pastel on red cardstock

 

Later on, while sitting at our picnic table, I was watching the last lights of the sun in our camping area and impulsively decided to try to paint it. I made a quick sketch with a black pastel, then gleefully scribbled color throughout the paper. What a fun time! I told Ken, "This is what art should always feel like: carefree and fun!" I think the painting even looks as though the artist was having a good time. Yep!

Clear Lake Campground, 8x10 pastel on green cardstock

Blue Sky in the Sand

While walking on the beach a couple weeks ago I loved seeing these huge water puddles that overflowed from the ocean onto the sand. I knew I would try to paint it, and here's the first try. Will there be another? Maybe. :)

Blue Sky in the Sand, 8x10 pastel on grey Canson

The Sun Goes Down

We were down at Clackamette Park a few weeks ago and watched the sun go down. I took pictures (washed out and blah looking), so using the landscape as reference only, this morning I re-created that sunset as it seemed to me at the time.