February 2020: Field Notes

The month of February began with sunshine, and a goal to get out into it as much as I could. 

February 1, 2020, 12 x 9" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/1: The sunshine, though brief, was extra welcome after a particularly cloudy January, and it was good to get out to the woods and paint. The early afternoon light shone on a wild apple tree, and the sun cast blue shadows across the deep snow.

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February 2, 2020, 10 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/2: A birch tree in the woods. The sun sank behind thin clouds to the west, softening the contrasts and colors of the evening landscape.

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February 4, 2020, 7 x 5" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/4: Trying to escape the bite of the north wind, I found myself returning to the shelter of the orchard. As usual, the deer had made themselves at home there, and the snow around the trees was crisscrossed with their tracks.

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February 5,8, 10 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/5 (and 2/8): Further snow-study. I loved the strong blue that seemed to envelop the snow- and tree-covered slope in shadow, while the soft evening sunlight lingered on the stones and oak tree that occupy the corner of the hillside pasture. It was a bit more than I could manage in the short time I had before the sun set, and I returned to the same place a few days later to wrestle with it a little longer.

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February 6, 2020, 10 x 8" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/6: Golden light, the moon rising over the old oak tree, and the shadow of the hill slowly climbing as the sun sets.

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February 8, 2020, 5 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/8: Small, cold, color studies, as the sun set and the full moon rose above the tree tops.

February 8, 2020, 7 x 5" plein air oil on linen/birch.

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February 11, 2020, 10 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/11: On a west-facing hillside, facing the sun. Hickory and oak trees, blue shadows, 

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February 15, 2020, 8 x 6" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/15: The sun setting behind me gave so much color to the snow and the tangle of vines at the base of these trees.

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February 17, 2020, 7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. Sold.

2/17: Painting in the field, watching approaching snow showers, the afternoon sun occasionally visible through the clouds.

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February 22, 2020, 11 x 14" oil on linen/hardboard.

2/22: I received a box of lemons from California in the mail and they were too pretty not to paint, their bright yellow next to the blue-tint of an old canning jar from my Grandma's kitchen.

February 22, 2020, 6 x 8" oil on linen.

And one more quick study, just for fun.

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February 24, 2020, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch.

2/24: A layer of thin clouds made for subtle light and color at dusk. Snow and scrappy trees.

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February 29, 2020, 14 x 11" plein air oil on linen/hardboard.

2/29: Leap-day painting. The day had been a persistent grey, and I began my painting with a plan to focus on the dark water and soft color shifts of a cloudy day. I had just sketched out the rough shapes of the scene when I looked up to see blue sky, and the last trace of cloud quickly disappearing. My footprints in the snow caught bright sunlight, and the creek changed from slate to deep blue.

My grey-day painting was ruined, but I can't say it was a complete loss. :)

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Autumn

Some oil paintings from October and November:

Late-blooming roses.

Autumn Roses, 9 x 7" oil on linen/birch.

A stem of sumac leaves, with the light shining through them.

Sumac Leaf, 7 x 9" oil on linen/birch.

Gathered hickory nuts from the woods.

Hickory Nuts, 8 x 8" oil on linen/birch.

A little study of autumn color, fields and pastures, and a few grazing cows.

Green and Golden, 5 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch. October 17, 2017.

A blue-sky day along the river. Painted in Alma, Wisconsin.

6 x 8" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 19, 2017. Sold

Followed by a cloudy one. Painted in Brownsville, Minnesota.

On the River, 6 x 8" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 20, 2017.

In a week's time most of the leaves in the woods were on the forest floor instead of in the canopy.

9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 25, 2017.

Falling snow and sleet softened the view of the landscape and heightened the color of the green moss and the dark trees in the woods.

10 x 8" plein air oil on linen/birch. October 27, 2017.

There is a particular row of pear trees in the orchard that always turns beautifully red in the fall. I broke off a few twigs before a hard frost robbed the leaves of their vibrant color.

Pear Leaves, 12 x 12" oil on linen/birch.

First snow. It didn't stick around long, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

First Snow, 8 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 1, 2017.

Another little still life of things gathered in the woods.

Oak Leaf and Acorn, 7 x 10" oil on linen/birch.

The last of the nasturtiums, which had been kept through a few frosts outside already.

Nasturtiums, 8 x 8" oil on linen/birch.

A quick study of the oranges and greens of a cold November evening.

7 x 10" plein air oil and linen/birch. November 9, 2017.

The old frame of a barn along a country road.

9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. November 12, 2017.

A study of the familiar sweep of the south-side fields on the home farm. The cold weather has changed the greens, softening and dulling their hues.

Windswept Fields, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 13, 2017.

 And a little study of the fields and woods to the north. The colors at dusk.

5 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 13, 2017.

 A sunshine day in a field of hay.

7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 18, 2017.

A day to give thanks. One among many.

7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 23, 2017.

Despite a stretch of warmer days, a little bit of ice remained on the shaded edge of the pond.

9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 27, 2017.

 After keeping out during most of the deer hunting season, it was good to get back down amongst the trees again.

7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 28, 2017.

One more painting for the month of November. I knew just where I wanted to paint, and went there directly, but I didn't stay there after all. The old draw of the woods kept me wandering and meandering through the trees and up and down hill until the shadows were long and there was only just enough daylight left for an attempt at capturing this little group of birch trees.

10 x 8" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 30, 2017.

A Windy Rainy Day in May

It's been so rainy and wet lately. There isn't much field work being done around the area, with the fields being muddy at best, and washed out or under water at worst. And the last few days have also been cold. It felt more like March today, instead of May, as I went out to paint.

The dandelions are going to seed, which I always find beautiful, and I wanted to paint some of them, and there's this old favorite oak tree at the corner of a field that's not quite fully leafed out yet.

Getting things started - blocking in the shapes, and painting clouds.

It was windy, and occasionally misting, and I was damp and shivering by the time I was through painting. But there were some amazing clouds out there today, the sound of the wind blowing through the grass, dandelion seeds in the air, a blackbird's nest in the hay field, and a deer passing by as I was cleaning up.

A red-winged blackbird's nest.

I call it a pretty good day to be out.

A Windy, Rainy Day in May. 12 x 9 inch, plein air, oil on linen/hardboard.

(But I hope we get some sunshine soon.)

October

Changing weather, colors, harvest, shortened days and low sunshine.

When I could, I walked over fields, and picked apples in the orchard -red and yellow fruit against blue October skies - and soaked into my memory as much of this fleeting season as I could.

 Though I seldom had the time to get out with my gear, I'm happy I was able to do a few paintings outside. 

I often had a dog or two for company.

Farm Dog, October 10, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard.

The season changes quickly. By the time I painted this one, only a few late-blooming wildflowers still stood amongst the brown weeds and seed heads. The aspen leaves almost glowed.

Golden Day, October 21, 12 x 9" plein air oil on linen/hardboard.

At times, the hills across the valley looked beautifully blue. On this day, the sinking sun back-lit a glory of oak leaves as the shadows grew long in the woods.

Oaks and Shadows, October 25, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard.

Hunter in the Hay Field

 There are difficulties and annoyances when working on location, but I get some pretty great work-spaces too. A hay bale is fairly comfortable, smells nice, and you can jab your brushes in anywhere.

And it comes with a view!

 The color of the fields looked pretty flat in the clear sunshine when I began painting, but I knew that as the sun got lower, the texture would appear. I was not disappointed.

Cat on the prowl.

As I painted the green fields I saw this cat, slowly and silently making her way through the grass and alfalfa, hunting. So I put her in.

I finished up as the shadows grew long, and put my painting away just in time - the dogs discovered me and leapt up onto the bale, nearly knocking me and my gear off and trying to lick everything in sight!

The finished painting:

Hunter in the Hayfield, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. 8/1/15

Oaks and Outbuildings

Painting at an old farm in Red Wing, Minnesota.

A beautiful day, and I got to meet up with some painting buddies. :-) 

It was pretty windy, and I meant to find a sheltered spot, but ended up out in the open, and just held onto my hat. I love these old oak trees, but I got off on the wrong footing trying to paint them. Half way through it looked like my paint tubes had just spewed onto my canvas. It came out okay in the end, if a bit rough, and it was a good challenge anyway!

November Woods

 Tonight's painting:

November Woods, plein air, 9 x 12" oil on linen.

The oak leaves are still beautiful, they're just underfoot instead of overhead, and I love the way the late sunlight hits the bark on these great old trees.

Painting and Pie.

Oak in the Fog, plein air, oil on linen. October 13, 2012

Spent my Saturday afternoon sitting out in the fog, and then rain, admiring and painting the ghostly shape of an old oak on the edge of the woods.

 It was a beautiful time to be out, even if it was a bit soggy.

Then my little sister brought me a piece of apple pie.

Perfect.

:-)

Aspen and Oak

 Today's painting subject: the brilliantly arrayed aspen and oak (and a few hickory) trees. The aspens seemed to glow against the dark clouds, and the oaks were all sorts of lovely.

Aspen and Oak, plein air, oil on linen panel. October 16, 2012

The muddy tire marks lead into a pasture, and for the first half of my painting session I had an audience. :-)

Critical cattle.