Field Drawing Kit

I plan to do a little “plein-air” painting today – this means painting outdoors.

I sketched a Field Drawing Kit to help me remember what to bring:

I enjoy the spontaneity of painting outside.  I spend less time thinking and just paint.

And postcards are the perfect size!

I am hoping to paint the wild rose:

And who knows the surprises nature will have in store for me!

Happy Creating!

Trees

As I was painting trees yesterday in watercolor and gouache:

I was reminded of the poem –

Trees by (Alfred) Joyce Kilmer:

I think I shall never see                                                                                                       A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest                                                                       Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,                                                                                    And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear                                                                                      A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;                                                                              Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,                                                                                 But only God can make a tree.

Happy Creating!

Watercolor Postcard

I painted this postcard from the lake photo I posted yesterday:

I like painting this size – 4 x 6 inch!

It is a good way to “practice” painting.  🙂

Last year, I painted a watercolor postcard of a mountain scene and actually MAILED it!  And yes!  The person actually received it!  What a FUN gift to share with a someone special.

I challenge you to create a “postcard” size painting and MAIL it to a friend!

Happy Creating!

Postcard Perfect

I had an AWESOME weekend at the lake!  I thought this photo looked like it could be a postcard:

Some white, fluffy clouds for you to gaze at!  Do you see any images in them?  I thought I saw a bird – imagine that!  🙂

My husband and I were out in our boat on this unusually HOT day when we saw this rope swing on the shoreline:

No, we did not swing from it – sorry to disappoint you all!  But we did go in the lake for a couple of QUICK dips as the water was a cool 66 degrees.  When the air temperature is in the 90’s – the cold water was very refreshing!

We discovered a hidden gem near this rope swing – a waterfall!

It was well hidden in the trees but we could hear its loud roar from the boat.  The waterfall is in the middle of the above photo.

It was such a pretty place on the lake.  No cabins so it was all natural.

It was the kind of day that made you look up at the blue sky and have a heart of gratitude for this beautiful place and being present to enjoy it!

May you discover the hidden beauty around you this week!

Happy Creating!

My Head In The Clouds – Part 2

Remember this watercolor painting from yesterday?

Well, I kept adding more layers of watercolor to it and outlining the colorful shapes with my black micron pen (02 size).

And this is what I got:

It no longer looks like clouds but tree bark!

Could it be a Cedar Tree?

Or perhaps a White Pine?

I don’t know but it was very fun to do!

Happy Creating!

Sketchings of Nature

A friend at the lake brought me a wonderful nest she found on the ground.  It is a cup-shaped nest made out of green moss, pine needles, shredded birch bark or paper, tree lichen, feathers and dog hair.

I’m not sure yet the kind of bird that created this soft home-tweet-home.  Any guesses?  I had fun photographing it in a variety of settings like on a tree branch.

This prompted me to sketch it in my art journal:

With a few other wild plants such as:

Pink Forget-Me-Nots…

White Trillium flowers and unfurling ferns.

And wild roses that are in bloom!

I hope to paint these subjects individually.  It was fun to draw them in my sketchbook so I will remember to do so!

Doing these sketches reminded me of one of my favorite artists, Marjolein Bastin, who draws and paints nature beautifully.  Do you have a favorite nature artist?  I’d love to hear about it!

Happy Creating!

Sunsets and Storm Clouds

I marvel at each sunset I see – such beauty!

I took these photos at the lake this weekend.  It was a bit stormy.

I wrote two Haiku’s to share with you.

Sun setting color                                                                                                                   God’s Masterpiece unveiled                                                                                        Takes my breath away.

You can see the storm clouds forming above the trees.

Sky grows dark rumbling                                                                                           Clouds boil on the horizon                                                                                   Exploding rain falls.

We really needed the rain as it has been a dry Spring.  Luckily, it rained mainly at night so we could enjoy the fresh mountain air during the day.  🙂

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”  – Vivian Greene

May you take the time to enjoy a sunset this week!  🙂