Planting Leeks

Planting Leeks, plein air, 8 x 10 inch oil on stretched linen.

A few days ago I helped plant hundreds of tiny leeks into a long row in one of my mom's gardens. Today, with many more to add to the row, I was a slacker, and painted instead. ;) It was a beautiful sunny morning and early afternoon, but I could see the clouds moving in from the west. I had to hurry to block in the shadows before they disappeared, and also sketch in the figures before they moved elsewhere!

This was my funny little quick sketch of my mom, with her signature red garden boots.

I was just cleaning up my brushes and palette when the first rain drops started to fall.

Maple on the Marsh Trail

Maple on the Marsh Trail, 10" x 8" plein air oil on stretched linen.

Warm and breezy day in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Myrick Park marsh trails were busy with people enjoying the day, and the water was filled with coots, ducks and noisy geese. This is a view of the footbridge from just past a large grey maple tree.

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!

Snow Clouds

Snow Clouds and Birches, 16 x 20" oil on linen/birch panel.

Another one drying on the easel.

 I find snow so challenging: the way it drifts, catches the light, and casts shadows, and how it can look so different depending on the light, weather, and time of day. It can be dull or dazzling. Hard and soft. I'll keep trying to get it right! 

A Certain Old Maple

 What a beautiful day to get to go out and paint. No mittens needed!

At the high points of the fields I could walk across icy mud and stubble, it smelled of spring, but as I headed downhill the snow was still deep enough in places to walk right over one of the fences, and fall through up past my knees when I least expected it. I discovered that one of my boots has a leak.

 I chose to paint this beautiful, tumbling down, old maple tree. My siblings and cousins and I used to spend a lot of time in and around this tree, climbing, reading, eating candy, making up stupid songs, roasting hotdogs over a fire underneath, dodging cow pies as we jumped out of it. Good times.

Deep snow and a dry place to sit.

The pups think painting is terribly boring.

Finished. 10x8" oil on linen.

^_^

Currently drying on my easel:

November's Last Hurrah, 16 x 20" oil on mounted linen

Walking toward home one day last fall, as the sun set, I looked across the road and knew I wanted to try to make a painting based on that moment.
The fields and pasture stretched into the distance in the fading light, with the last thin crop of hay cut and lying in narrow rows, and the trees already bare of their autumn foliage.

Quick Painting in the Cold

On Wednesday, I finally got to paint my first plein air painting of this winter. It's been about 2 months since I've been out painting, and though I felt a little rusty and clumsy, and before long, freezing, it felt good to be out again. This winter has been so cold, a "normal" day felt like spring. But I wore the wrong mittens  (warm, but akin to oven mitts and I can't hold a paintbrush in them) and it really was too cold for bare hands!
 I loved the long blue shadows, and the colors of the bluffs as the sun got low in the sky. I hope for some warmer days and more painting time soon.