The Oil Painters of America hosted plein air painting events all over the country.  In Texas we met at MarktPlatz in Fredericksburg and drove out to the Willow City Loop, where a very friendly rancher allowed us to tromp all over his beautiful property.  Painting outdoors in the wind and sun is a very challenging feat. The sky was so blue.  I mixed it like I thought it was and then had to lighten it twice. The granite is really very pink.  

   At least there weren't any bugs or snakes.  After painting up a storm, my friend Jean Green and I went over to the WhistlePik Gallery... a great gallery. 

Guess!

I did this with an underpainting first. I have been using a new basecoat by Gamblin instead of gesso on the panel.  It doesn't soak up the oil in the pigments.  It doesn't have any tooth.  I like it, though.  

Guess what river this is!!!!

The Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos AGAIN?  Well, yes.  This is called Bluffs at Hart Camp.  This photo doesn't quite catch the atmosphere of the sky.  It is 24 by 30.  

    Here I am again on the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos, one of my favorite subjects.   I hiked at daybreak down the river bed a couple of miles west of Highway 84 southeast of Post. It was difficult going because of the mud and quicksand. 

    This painting went through several stages.  I replaced the sky and tried several foreground ideas before discovering a balance that I like.  It is 22 by 40.

Reflections on the Canadian River

     The water in the Canadian is red.  I mean REALLY red.  This is an image of the Canadian at the Recreation area north of Amarillo off of HWY 87.  There were quite a few off-road vehicles splashing around in the mud.  It looked like fun.

     This painting is 24 by 48 inches. I will be included in an exhibit in the Slaton Texas City Hall on October 31st.  I hope to see you there

FIFTEEN MINUTE PAINTINGS

This series of exercises has really energized my work.  I have been doing it for about two months now.  I set a goal of making six paintings a week. Sometimes I'll do two a day.  Sometimes one or none.  I mix all my paint first, then set the timer and paint.  If I only need a few more strokes to finish, sometimes I'll let myself paint a couple of extra minutes.  

FIFTEEN MINUTE PAINTINGS

Well, I just wanted to give you an idea of what my 15 minute paintings are looking like.

Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos

I've been working on this painting for two days.  I am liking it except for the erosion formation in the foreground on the right.  The part that seems not right is in the center at the bottom where it is close to the water.  I am not so sure about the line of the river bed either.  I might crop two inches off of the top.  Hooray for masonite panels.  I tried something new with this batch.  It is a product that Gamblin sells as an alternative to gesso.  It does not suck the oil out of your oil paints.  It doesn't have a tooth like gesso.  I really like the way it leaves my paint really wet and malleable.  I actually had a chance to get some good brush work going.  

Commissioned Painting

I finished this painting of White Sands yesterday.  Pam suggested that I clarify the light source.  That did the trick.  I am really pleased with it.

Painter's Progress

Plein air painting at Lake Whitney.  We drove to Lake Whitney for the Bosque Conservatory National Juried Show at Clifton, and I took my new pochade box along.  We stayed at a B&B called Lakehaven.  Very nice.  I Made two paintings of Lake Whitney.  The compositions were not so strong, but I was mainly concerned with experiencing the color/light dynamic.  I feel that I improved over my first effort at Coeur d' Alene.  I am using a small palette knife.  The feeling of being there with my wonderful husband, painting in the fresh air and sunshine, looking at this beautiful scenery and hearing the splashing of the water on the beach...  was exhilarating and I was filled with joy.  I kept thinking...wow, I have really found something wonderful.  I am so blessed.