Fresh Lemonade

As winter has come in Ohio my artist friends are not wanting to paint outside. Anita, one of the artist, has offered her home as an alternative to gather inside to paint. Last week I took these lemons and a hobnail pitcher for a still life. Her dinning room table was a lovely lemon color! Thanks Anita1

12" x 12"     Oil on cradled Birchwood     $450

Italian Still Life

This is the second year, as an art instructor, I was invited to demo at the Hoyt in New Castle during their open house. The windowsills in that lovely mansion turned art museum are perfect for painting still lives. 

11" x 14"  Oil on cradled birch wood    SOLD

Autumn in West Virginia

Michelle, an artist friend from Wapakoneta, came to visit one day this week. We searched for a good spot to paint on the West Virgina side of the Ohio river.  We found this spot near Newall. The temperature was very summery for November. Perfect for Plein Air!!

12" x 24"   Oil on wood   $450

Ohio River Valley

East Liverpool is an Ohio river city. This is the spectacular view in autumn hues from the hilltop this Monday. West Virginia is just across the river. The temperature was a little nippy, but my sister and two friends, Sheri and Carol all did wonderful paintings. One of my art instructors used to tell us we would make better art if we were not too comfortable! 

12" x 12"  oil on cradled wood    $550

Lanterman's Mill

This week our Plein Air artists met at Lanterman mill in Mill Creek Metroparks. The temperature stayed around 50 degrees, but I layered with a wool and a down vest and did not notice the temps. The painting sold "wet off the easel!!"

12" x 12" Oil on cradled wood   SOLD

Autumn At Beaver Creek

A couple of weeks ago our Autumn colors were just beginning to sparkle when sunlit. The Monday painting group met at Beaver Creek State park. I set up at the east edge of the bridge with a view to the south.

11" x 14"  oil   $350

Beight's Barn

It may be obvious that I love the old barns. They are becoming scarce. Many are only shells of the original structure. This is still a working barn at the Bieght Farm along State Route 170.

16" x 24" Oil on Linen.    $450

Field & Clouds

Our Plein Air group met near East Palestine, looking east into Pennsyvania. The clouds moved in a dramatic display above the cornfields.

12" x 12"  Oil on Cradled Wood    $350

Gordon Park

Michelle, Becky and I looked for the perfect spot to paint. We found this dramatic view of the city of Cleveland from Gordon Park. We set up our easels on a concrete slab. The wind and waves from Lake Erie were a challenge. But, the view was worth it all.

12" x 24"  oil on cradled wood   $675

Bayarts

During the OPAS Competition I participated in the Quickdraw. I hadn't settled on the spot to paint until the whistle blew to begin! Quickly looking around, the light on this Bayarts Gallery building really popped! Really I would not have seen this dramatic light if I'd tried to choose a spot at another time of day!

12" x 12"   Oil on Cradled Wood  No longer available

Rocky RIver

The OPAS Competition was in Cuyahoga County this year. The Rocky River seems aptly named! I set up on a large rocky ledge near where the water cascaded down to these impressive stones. The light moved over and out of the ravine as time passed. I had to return the next evening to finish.

16" X 24"   Oil on Linen   $475

Cranberry. PA

One beautiful summer day I met two Plein Air artists, Doreen Currie and Tami Louco. Tami is from the Cranberry area of Pennsylvania and Doreen is from the Latrobe area. We shared stories over a lovely meal at Tami's and Painted this farm on a cool sunny day.

12" x 12"  oil on board   SOLD

Yellow Creek Falls

An artist in our painting group suggested we paint in the Struther's Yellow Creek Park, where he runs each day. I sat on a rock slab right at the edge of the falls. I enjoy being almost within the painting.

12" x 12" oil on cradled board   $450

Girard-Liberty Park

The stone slab creek-bed is a challenge to capture, especially as  minutes pass and the light moves over it. This is what I completed while sitting in the cool ravine one summer day in August. The trickling of the water is the best therapy imaginable! 

12" x 16"  Oil on Cradled Wood    $350

Bay Village Shoreline

OPAS sponsored Plein Air paint-out in Bay Village, Ohio, along Lake Erie, last Saturday. This year's competition is to take place in Ashtabula County.

12" x  24"       Oil on Cradled Birch Panel       $450

Small Sunflower Field

Two weeks ago Latrobe PA artists planned their first Plein Air event ever! I was excited to paint in the kind, gentle, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Although it was a two hour drive from my home,Doreen Currie from the area, an enthusiastic and talented plein air artist, made the trip worth the effort.
The painting will hang in the Latrobe Art Center with other artwork through October 22. 

12" x 24"  Oil on cradled birch panel  $450

Fields of Sunflowers are in bloom again!!What a show.

12" x 24"  Oil on cradled wood    SOLD

Spanish Influence, Lakeside Center

The final day at Lakeside I finished this 12" x 24" painting on cradled Birchwood. The previous morning was cool and overcast, very comfortable when spending time working out the composition. But, that final morning the sun showed up the highlights needed to give it a glow.

12"  x  24" on cradled board

For Sale @ Artists-In-Cahoots, Lakeside Chautauqua

Lakeside Garden

The Lakeside Chautauqua on Lake Erie has these beautiful gardens that were blooming profusely last week. Coneflowers, hollyhock, black-eyed Susan, Russian Sage, framing a lake that changes color   as the sky and wind affect it. 

                           

12" x 12"      oil on wood      $450

Rutherford B. Hayes Historical Home

The Ohio Plein Air Society was invited to Fremont, Ohio to celebrate their centennial year. We painted at the Rutherford B. Hayes Mansion & grounds. Our work will be hung in the gallery for viewing and purchase on the grounds until October.

18" x 20"    Oil on canvas board   $475

Hayden Falls

My artist friend, Michelle invited me to paint with her this past week. Friday was extremely hot,but we found this lovely waterfall set apart, in the midst of the city. We painted a couple of hours in the calm oasis sharing with the snakes, wild ducklings and poison ivy.

11" x 14"    Oil on canvas board    $450

The Rose Garden

Our Monday Plein Air group painted at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Metroparks. The orange roses especially caught my eye and the dark high hedge that set the colors off. It was a hot day, in the sun, but under my umbrella life was pleasant.

12" x 12"     Oil on board      $475

Peonies, Magenta Brilliance

On the second day of the peninsula art academy Competition we saw these amazing peonies at Judy's  Barn. The day was overcast, a fine mist threatened rain, however the brilliant color was not compromised. This painting was accepted into the 81st National Midyear at the Butler Institute of American Art.

12" x 24" Oil on Cradled Birch Panel 

 $600

Blue Hen Falls

We participated in the Penisula Plein Air competition last weekend. So many choices, so little time! Kathy & I hiked down a treacherously steep bank to paint this view of Blue Hen Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National park. It was peaceful, even with the background singing of the 17 year locusts out in full force! This painting won first place. It has also been accepted into the Springfield Museum OPAS show "Parks". Which opens in Oct.

12" x 24" oil on cradled birch panel $650

Susquehanna River

Took a trip east as far as the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. A friend wanted to visit her twin on their birthday, but didn't want to travel alone. They took me to this lovely spot at a ferry crossing. They hung out a while as I worked on trying to capture a bit of the view in paint.

12" x 24"   Oil on Birch Panel     $550

Hambelton Mill

This week we painted at Sprucevale. A section of Beaver Creek State park. Hambelton's Mill is an old yellow stone building. The Dame Rocket wildflowers made a show on the floor of the woods on one side and a dirt horse path lead back from the highway on the other.

12" x 24"      Oil on Birch Panel    $550

Burgess Run Creek, Moss, Rocks and a Trickling Line of Waterfalls

This is the second Monday my group painted at Burgess Run, behind Sue's house in Poland. It was a wonderful place to paint! Peaceful, cool and relaxing. Moss, rocks and a trickling line of waterfalls. Thank you Sue!!

12" x 24"   Oil on Birch Panel    $550

Rocks and Roots

An artist friend, Sue, invited the Northeast Plein Air Artists to paint in the ravine behind her house. What a delight to paint the natural area, roots, rocks, flowing stream, and fresh spring green leaves and plants coming to life! I painted on a smooth cradled square of birch wood. Really like that surface with a coating of oil to help the paint flow.

This painting was juried into the Ohio Plein Air show in Columbus Art Museum. The show will be up March 6 through June 18 2017.

2" x 12"      Oil on Cradled wood panel      $550

Byler's Greenhouse

This past week the day of class it was raining a little too much to paint outside. So I found the perfect place! Byler's greenhouse! A few years ago the class met there to paint. They were so gracious to invite us to return any time. This is the demo for this weeks' class.

12" x 12"     Oil on cradled wood   $650

Daffodil & Forget-me-nots

I had to record our backyard spring blooms while they were still alive! Rain & cold threatened, came and went, but they lasted until I finished this small painting!

6" x 6"     Oil on cradled wood panel    $350

Ross Orchard

Last week our neighbor's orchard was in full & glorious bloom! And what a lovely Monday to sit in that heavenly place. Apple blossom scents and buzzing bees plus friendly people coming and going. I returned the next day to continue. Still not quite done, worked on it in my studio during the rain a third day. I consider it my best orchard blossom painting yet!

12" x 16"    oil painting     SOLD

Fruit With Green Pitcher

The Second Class was on a stormy afternoon. So I set up a still life on the wide windowsill of a Hoyt Classroom. A sort of study in greens. This is my demo for that class.

14" x 20"   Oil on stretched Canvas      $450

Lakeside Pavilion

This week I painted a somewhat larger version of a painting I did a few years ago at Lakeside Chautauqua on Lake Erie.

Although I seldom paint from photos or even my plein air work, I enjoyed this exercise. Perhaps it is time to develop this skill!

20" x 22"      oil on stretched canvas     

 SOLD at Artist-In-Cahoots Gallery, Lakeside Chautauqua, OH

Rose Farm

This farm along Heck Road is a painting I did many years ago. That sunny spring day I invited my stepmother Rose to come with me. She enjoyed the plein air peace & a change to her routine. 

5" x 7"    Oil

Winter Flow

One warm day in January some friends & I painted in Beaver Creek State park. I stood at one end of the bridge, the guard rail at my back to paint this view.

8" x 24"    Oil on Stretched Canvas  $550

Things In A Basket

Indoor studio painting. When my friend Michelle visits we gather things from around the house to put in a still life. Tea tins, cream pitchers, a shell, salt shaker and fruit, with plants in a basket.

8" x 24"  Oil on Stretched Canvas $465