"Front Porch" - SOLD

This trip has been good for me because I've realized (here at the end) what I like to paint most outside. I really like small, close-up scenes like this, of things like houses and cars, etc., and not so much the vistas. Even though the vistas are always beautiful to look at, I find them difficult paint. And I'm not inspired by them. I don't think "oh cool, I want to paint that!" But I look at a scene like this and I get excited. And all the time it was right outside the front door!! The light you see in the window is for the table we eat at. And the chair is where I sometimes sit and read while Jacob (son, 5) plays in the creek next to the house.

I will paint once more tomorrow, and then we head back. I am hoping I still fit into the airplane - I must have gained 50 lbs eating all this wonderful German food! I have learned to say, very well, "Ich bin sat," which means, "I am full," but apparently I never say it soon enough.

"Schatten Weg" - SOLD

I will never again trust weather reports. Yesterday it was supposed to rain so I planned not to paint, and it was beautiful all day. Today it was supposed to rain and I went out anyway. Unfortunately, while it only drizzled a tiny bit, the sun would come out for 5 minutes and then go away for 5 minutes, and so on. I've decided these are the most difficult conditions to paint in. The painting you're seeing above is from a few days ago as I am behind in posting. I am particularly pleased with it.

"German Suburb" - SOLD

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Most German houses are ... complicated. Or in art terms, busy. Lots of light bits and dark bits and stuff going on. Not to mention the immaculate shrubs and gardens all around. These two houses were relatively simple, and I was especially taken by the shadows. I've learned that one must paint first the parts that are going to change fast. In this case, I started with the light parts on the houses, then worked on the shadows, then the rest.

"Flowing Water" - SOLD

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Here is the same creek (not the same view) as a couple of posts ago, but with sun shining. The rocks under the water are very brown. And honestly, it didn't occur to me that it was weird until I showed it to someone else and they remarked on it. When I was there, it just was. Yeah?

Today we hiked up and down a mountain and I took plenty of pictures, as I have been the entire trip. Hopefully I'll have one or two good ones when I get home, to paint from.

"Im Schluchsee" - SOLD

You might remember this scene from last year (see below). I wanted to try it again and I waited until the sun was out to have the same light. Even still I had to wait some for clouds to pass. You can see from the old one that there were actually more houses. I really liked the first one, but I hope you'll agree that I've improved a bit since then? Especially with the distant stuff?

"Dresselbach"

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I apolgize for the poor image (glare). I will repost soon. The sun finally came out today, but I am a bit behind with posting, so here is one more overcast painting first. A "bach" is a creek, and this one is on the property here. I had to wear rubber boots to get to this spot, as the ground was super soggy. So soggy in fact I was actually standing in several inches of water. And the water was so cold I was afraid I might lose my feet after standing here for an hour! But, alas, I am ok.

"One Block Down" - SOLD

I was really taken by this scene because of the little white house, but also the two trees, almost in line with each other, one of them orange. Now, it's spring here in Germany (I'm experiencing spring for the second time this year - how lucky am I?!) and so I wonder what kind of tree is orange in the spring?

The sun came out for a while but by the time I'd set up and painted the white house, it had gone away. I waited and waited but it only came back for short visits, which made things difficult. It's supposed to be back this weekend and I can't wait!

"Top of the World" - SOLD

I remember when I was first starting out with still lifes, I was mostly unhappy with everything I painted. But there was usually one little thing I was proud of. And that one little thing had to make me happy enough to keep going. And the more I painted, the more I liked. With landscapes, I am not all the way back the beginning, but I keep telling myself - "baby steps, be happy with them." Like, I love the trees in this one! And I like the house on the left. And I like the car, and the reflection of the flowers (can you see it?). But I know I can work on making it all gel. The weather is still not cooperating - overcast - but maybe that's an excuse.

"Uphill Path" - SOLD

I did get to paint yesterday, but after more than a full of week of kein (kein=no - oh my gosh, I'm thinking in German!) brush time, I think I'm allowed at least one total stinker. And yesterday's was it. Today I got a little more traction, though it's still an uphill battle (hence the title of this one ... sort of) for me with plein air.

People walk a lot in Germany and there are paths everywhere for this, which is fabulous for us since we didn't rent a car. This means the places I paint must be within walking distance of the house, which is somewhat limiting. Fortunately this is a beautiful place (we are in the Black Forest, in Southern Germany, near Schluchsee - for those who asked). I saw a teensy bit of blue sky today, but still mostly overcast. Just a little rain.

"Stemless"

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I've heard one report so far from a friend who saw the movie (mentioned yesterday). Apparently the bar scene happens so quickly, near the end of the film, my paintings are a blur. Ah well.

For those of you who don't know why I'm in Germany, my husband was adopted from here when he was a baby. About two years ago he found his birth parents, still married. Earlier this year his birthfather died (at 85) and today was the funeral. We are here visiting his birthmother and today we also visited with lots of family. Unfortunately very few speak any English at all. My husband has been dutifully teaching himself German, but for me painting always wins out when I have any time. Tomorrow, hopefully, I will be able to paint.

ps. I am calling this "Stemless" because ... I see now, from Germany, that I completely forgot to paint in the stem for the grapes. Woops! If the winner wants it in, I can do it. : )

"Side Tomatillo" - SOLD

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Several of my paintings are going to be in a movie that is coming out today. The name of the film is Letters to Juliet. They told me the paintings are in a bar scene ... If you see it please let me know (I won't be able to go until I am back in the States)!!

"Thin Thistle" - SOLD

I painted this last week. A thistle is especially challenging because it has tons of tiny ... are they petals? Anyway, I approached it as I would a tree outside, sort of.

We are here in Germany, settling in. It rained most of today, when it wasn't snowing. I won't be able to paint still for a few days because of things going on here, but I hope it stops raining by the time I can, as I am eager.

"Take Off Tomatillo" - SOLD

I've gotten some general questions recently (about the type of paint I use, my palette, how I photograph paintings, etc.) and I thought I should post again about my FAQ page, created for just this sort of thing.

This time tomorrow I will be stuffed in a small metal box, hurtling towards Germany, along with my husband and son and ... lots of other people. Fun stuff. And then a day or two to recover from jet lag. And then I will be painting and posting again.

*I won't be shipping any paintings until June - I apologize for the inconvenience!!!*

"Take a Bow" - SOLD

I am back home now and busy packing for our trip to Germany (leaving on Tuesday). I said goodbye on Friday to a new group of friends (kids) and was sad to leave them and Sedona. Below are all the demos I did in class - I happily got to photograph them all before they sold.

And below are my kids, whipped into shape by the last day (and it only took a little chocolate to bribe them). : ) Thank you all for such a fun week!

I mentioned one day last week about an exercise I had them do with a minimum number of brush strokes and subsequently got lots of emails/questions about that. One of the biggest reasons I hear about why people take my class is to become looser/less fussy. Of the things I suggest to my students, among them are: squint and see shapes and values rather than objects; make each brush stroke count/be deliberate; rather than defining your subject, consider suggesting it, with brush strokes . These things are very important in how I paint. I hope that explains it.

"Yolkless" - SOLD

This might be my most favorite egg painting yet ... except without the yolks. I adore all the stuff that goes on in the shells when they are in shadow.

Today will be the last day of my class in Sedona. My kids have cooperated as you would expect kids to - some whining & complaining - but in the end they fall into line. Honestly though, if you ask them they'd say they keep me in line too. I told them to count their brush strokes for one exercise and then forgot to myself when I did the demo. Woops! But they were right there to remind me, thank goodness. : ) Here are some of my kids looking ... well, awful serious:

"Spotted Love" - SOLD

I got this little, ceramic pear in the mail not too long ago. I was quite perplexed because, while it was so ME (green & spotted) I had no idea who had sent it. Finally, about an hour later my husband said "oh yeah, your mom said she was sending something." (Well, why didn't you say something earlier, sweetheart?!) My mom is always looking out for me - thanks, mom!!

Will post some photos from this workshop soon ...

"Tea with M&M's" - SOLD

Right now I feel like I am always in Sedona. Not that I'm complaining - if you have to be somewhere this is a FABULOUS place to be! Yesterday was my first day of class - trying to whip a new set of kids into shape. So far they haven't complained much, which is good, but I haven't given them the really tough assignments yet. : ) I'll try to post some demo photos this time, meanwhile here's more M&M's I did last week.

"Danger Overhead" - SOLD

I should mention here that the painting I posted a few days ago with the mouse ... well he was looking at 3 green peanut M&M's. I got one email calling them olives, and another grapes. These are the same M&M's - plus one blue. I think it's clearer with the blue one added in, yes?

I am off to Sedona tomorrow for a 5-day workshop starting Monday. Toodles!