En Plein Air in Tennessee

Hello Friends,

I just returned from the most wonderful trip to Tennessee. I met the "crème de la crème" of artists. These women have been my very close friends and mentors. The support and advice is non-stop. They will give it to ya straight, if you ask for it. That's the most anyone can ask. I spent a week together painting in the studio and en plein air.

This is one caught in the mirror, so the painting looks reversed. I learned so much, it's unbelievable!

Below is the finished painting. It's 11x14 oil on canvas panel. I call it, "Poppies and Tea".

One of those days was spent painting on location in a park en plein air. When we returned to the hotel, I asked one of these ladies to assist me with my painting. I needed to adjust the values and the advice I received was priceless. I will always look at these paintings and remember the friendship that evolved over the span of a very short time. The following is my painting on location. It's 11x14 oil on canvas panel. I call it "Plein Air Tennessee River"

We had another day in the studio with another still life set up. I had a long time artist watching my canvas as I made my brush strokes. The approval was awe inspiring. The following is the finished painting. It's 11x14 oil on canvas panel. I call this one, "Around and Together".

Here is where these paintings will inspire me on a daily basis. This is my desk at work. I can rest my eyes upon my work and remember the lessons and inspirations, while I'm buried under operative reports and drudgery. LOL

Something is Missing

Hello again,
I know the tail is missing, but, trust me. There is a method to my madness...Lol.
         Have you ever went to a birthday party as a kid? I mean, one of those cool birthday parties, where there's all that cake and lots of ice cream? The ones with a whole bunch of kids, all running around, playing all those fun games. Well, that's how this painting came about. Collins Natural Horsemanship has some Gorgeous horses. They also have birthday parties out there for all the kids. So, Dave and Anna needed a donkey for pin the tail on the donkey and I volunteered. I had this piece of luan in my studio, so I decided to paint the donkey on that. I sealed it really well, so all those little hands in the cake and ice cream wouldn't affect the donkey's nose or ears. LOL And now, the little kids have a donkey to put the tail on...pretty cool, don't you think? I do.

P.S. I also met the most beautiful Blue Bell I ever saw, but that's a story for another day. ;)