Cape Cod Couple

Two years ago, we camped at Cape Cod, MA for a week in October.  It was quiet, some restaurants were still open for delish seafood, and I got to take lots of photos for paintings.  These boats were anchored near the shore in Wellfleet and I loved how they looked together. Just like two Cape Cod couples, happy to be together, waiting for their next adventure.  I painted this on a pastelbord that is 6x18. I really liked the format.

San Juan Capistrano Village Gate

Last year, on our trip to California, I went to paint in the little historic village in San Juan Capistrano.  It's always beautiful there, little side streets with old houses dating from the 1700's, flowers everywhere blooming, as they only do all year round in California.  This was done this spring from a photo I took that day.  Loved the light play on the gate, flowers and road.  I have to say, I do miss this place wherever we are home in the Adirondacks.  This is 20x16 pastel

Before the Storm

Going out to paint can be an iffy proposition.  It really didn't look like it would rain, so I packed up my gear and headed to the bridge, at the back of Abanakee Lake, in Indian Lake.  I was enjoying the view and started to paint when the light changed, the wind picked up and I realized that the mountain I was painting was looking very ominous.  The one thing I didn't want wet was my pastels, so I packed up quickly, took lots of pictures and got in the car.  Ready to start the car, the downpour came.  Saved once again!  Finished at home.  This pastel was sold at Abanakee Studios,  Indian Lake, NY

11x14 Pastel

Tree Shadows

Shadows around this gorgeous tree in Rochester, New York caught my attention.  There was a peace to this tree, so sturdy, so much width to shelter people from the sun, a bit mystical in it's color.  I don't know what kind of tree this is, but still love the beauty in it. 

10x10 Canson Touch pastel paper mounted to board

The Marsh

We have so many marshes here in the north country of New York that on every hike I find another place to paint!  This pastel is of a march in Tupper Lake, on the way to Lake Placid.  Pastel on a 6x18 board gives this piece a long format in which to view the distant hills.  It seems a peaceful place.

6x18 pastel on pastelbord

Under brush

Fall's such a beautiful place in the Adirondacks and this fall we took lots of walks to our lake.  As the weather turned colder, the underbrush became filled with dead leaves and dried sticks.  They had a color all their own and I took lots of reference photos for a pastel painting. 

11x14 pastel on board

Autumn Under Foot

This past October, on a walk to our lake, I brought my digital camera and was taking shots of all the gorgeous colors on the trees.  It was a beautiful day, as autumn was fast disappearing - lots of leaves had already fallen from the trees.  One look down and I was awed by the beauty of the pattern of leaves, the colors and the fallen dew drops from that morning.  The photos I took were like a work of art in themselves but, I was determined to try to paint at least one of the photos.  I loved the white leaf that is prominent in the painting.  Where did it come from, when all the others were faded and full of color?  This is my rendition of autumn under foot.

11x14 pastel on Richeson gatorboard

Las Cruses Sunset

Last June, we stopped at a campsite in Las Cruses, New Mexico for a few nights.  To say it was hot is an exaggeration - it was EXTREMELY hot!  We were parked in a lovely spot, though, above the city and the mountains so that every night was a riot of color as the sun set.  I tried to capture on digital camera the beauty of those sunsets, but really, it's not possible.  I used one of the photos I did take and tried to remember all the color on the mountains and the city lights.  I also decided to use a Richeson board that I prepared with acrylic gesso, in order to have some texture to the painting.  I'm happy with the results - it represents a June night high above Las Cruses, NM.

11x14 pastel