Maumee River Plein Air

Another great spring day in Northwest Ohio. A somewhat less than inspired painting but when the goal is just to relax and enjoy the day the result is always a success.

9" x 12"

oil on canvas

Spring Weather Arrives

It finally got warm enough for me to get outside and paint. I need 50 degrees or better and I like it to be 60. I am a wuss, I know. This wisteria is growing up the side of a tree. The back lit shrubs were brilliantly lit. No wind, lots of shade, steady light and lots of birds flying around. My host furnished a glass of wine and all was well in the world for a couple hours. A perfect day to be outside painting.

12" x 16" oil on canvas

Mallard Lake Oak Openings

I used a photo taken by one of my students to paint this demo for a weekly painting class I'm teaching this month. It's a local metro park near the place where I am holding the class. I photograph every step then throw them into a Powerpoint presentation so they have a step by step map for their painting. Many of the people taking this class have never painted before so it's very helpful. They also have a print of the original photo so they can see what I modified to create the painting.

Texture study

I bought this clay pitcher the other day for the express purpose of painting it. I love to paint gray objects, even more than I love to paint white ones. They reflect light in a beautiful muted way that is hard to describe and even harder to paint. The values are closer for one thing, so it's harder to get them right, making any attempt to paint a challenge. But I enjoy challenges now.

I added some complimentary food objects: a yellow lemon and a red-violet onion.

9" x 12" oil on canvas

RED ONION

Woodhouse- a German Shepherd- Lab Puppy

This is a commissioned painting of a dog I painted for Mary B. for her son's wedding. Yes, dog portraits are pretty in vogue now. In the old days- like the 1800's-- people wanted portraits of their family members. Now they want their pets immortalized. It's OK with me. I love painting dogs, especially when they have soulful eyes, like this pooch.

WOODHOUSE

9" X 12" OIL ON CANVAS

Last painting for the Spring Session

11" x 14" oil on canvas-- from a photo I took when I was in Phoenix and the students did a pretty nice job with it too!

Spring Greens

My next to the last class with these painters, and we painted spring flowers because it is Spring, after all. Everyone did a great job with this one. I had to finish mine at home.