REMINDER: Use the Sketchbook in My Pocket

Another week nearly gone by and I haven't kept up with my plan for a sketch a day or a painting a week. I always keep a tiny sketchbook in my purse, a decent fine line marker and simple watercolor palette. On a recent trip to Brooklyn to visit my daughter, I reminded myself that the hardest part of making art is getting started, and a thumbnail can be a wonderful thing. This little sketch was done in a coffee shop. It took all of five minutes and is a wonderful souvenier of my trip, of time spent with family and the beautiful sunny day. The snow is nearly gone in Brooklyn. I came home and used the computer to add a little color.

Getting into the Winter Blues

My original plan was to post a painting a week, or a drawing each week, and provide myself and other artists with ideas on locations for plein air painting. I thought it would be handy to review my blog and see where I've been, what I've done, and share ideas for upcoming art activities. All this blogging, facebookking, digital imagery making, etc. takes time. So, I abandoned my blog and enjoyed my summer and fall, and happily traveled, sketched and painted. The long gray winter days of late are giving me the opportunity to look back on this year, and catch up with my original plan.

Winter 2011. . . WOW! New England has had it's share of snow. During a regular winter, I went out with my artist friends and painted. We painted cornstalks breaking through the crusty snow, fir trees and deciduous trees tinged with lovely rusty red buds, ochre bushes veiled with vines dangling red berries, long cobalt blue shadows against the warm white areas of glistening snow, or the jewel-toned winter birds enjoying a feast at our home feeders. (I have enjoyed the birds this year and the squirrels. Just yesterday, while traveling along what is now a one-lane road, several wild turkeys jumped the snowbank into the road in front of me. I was both happy to see them and happy I had not hit one!) But, the snowfall this winter has been a bit much and my artist friends and I have been out only a few times. I'm estimating 50" of snow on the ground at this writing, and two more snowstorms predicted. We're shoveling instead of painting.

This morning it is gray and snow-sleeting again. My husband is raking the snow off the roof, and I probably will start the process of moving things from the basement that may be damaged when a thaw finally arrives. During days off, we've enjoyed snowshoeing as a alternate to shoveling. The scenery around us during those adventures has been beautiful, quiet, and refreshing in its coldness. I've had thoughts of bringing my painting gear in an abbreviated form, but last week I stepped off the snowpack and went thigh deep into a no-longer fluffy area. The snowshoes work great, but I can see myself struggling with my easel and struggling with dropped items. Eventually, the snow will pack down and I will be able to take off the snowshoes, put up and easel and paint.

The sketchbook I keep in the car does not have as many wintertime sketches this year, as the roads are narrow and it's difficult to find a place to pull off . . . even for a moment. But, I am sketching. And, I went to a parking lot at the Henderson Cultural Center at Hunt Hill Farm (http://www.hunthillfarmtrust.org). I painted for a full hour before I was too cold to continue!

Coastline Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Had a great time over the "perfect weather" Memorial Weekend. One of the high points was painting in the Botanical Gardens at Boothbay Harbor http://www.mainegardens.org. I've been trying to get there for nearly a year. My plein air painting friend, Melissa, and I spent a day looking for a great site in the general Boothbay area with a white house, lupine, and the ocean. But, once we saw the gardens we settled for some stunning plantings and vivid color. While we didn't get to paint lupine, the gardens were showing off some yellow Ladies' Slippers and many, many pink Ladies' Slippers! I've never seen so many and they will fade soon. Also, a lovely display of art in the main building, including one of my favorite watercolorists, Joan Plummer. And more, the gardens are planning a week for plein air painters (July 18-25) with an opportunity to show and sell at the Visitor Center.

Ice House, Hollis, NH

Friday was a perfect day for painting in watercolor outside. The sun was shining. The air was warm and dry. I drove to Hollis, NH and met up with the NH Plein Air Painters. Early in the day, I painted this ice house next to an apple orchard that is in a town(?) park. After a lovely lunch at a diner in Milford, NH, NH artist Sharon Allen and I painted a local landmark, a lighthouse on a lake. I have a general idea of where it was. The wind picked up in the afternoon, and I struggled to keep my easel from flying away. Having said that, the bugs were fierce and that's unusual on a windy day. Must remember my bug spray next time! The painting went together quickly and I'm fairly happy with the final.

Weantinoge Plein Air

Getting ready for the next paint out with the Weantinoge Land Trust. They created this beautiful poster that will be updated as the new sites are announced. Next paint out is at Hunt Hill Farm in New Milford. Beautiful property with rolling hillsides, barns and a Christmas Tree Farm. The associated Silo Gallery has offered to show some of the paintings of the land trust properties in January 2011. Hope the artists come out and paint. The last (May) paint out was well attended . . . weather wasn't too great!

Sping Flowers Have Arrived!

Spring is a beautiful and refreshing time of year! It's hard to focus with all the new things growing and all the beautiful colors popping up. I'm enjoying my little flower garden that, this year, rewarded me with outstanding tulips! I planted some beautiful pansies, also. Yesterday, I had the idea I would paint in my own yard . . . and I did. Somehow I managed to paint other things and not the flowers. I think I'm afraid I can't make a painting as beautiful as the experience of seeing the flowers first hand. But, in the winter months, a beautiful painting would be a feast for the eyes. and the colors energizing.

Laurel Ridge Farm/Daffodil Fields

Had to make a quick trip to Laurel Ridge Farm and see the daffodils. This farm is a site for the CT Plein Air Painters, and is spectacular this time of year. I marked my calendar for April 8 (to keep watch) but this is the first chance I've had to get there. Friday may be the only time I have to paint on location here as it is a bit of a drive for me. Very early morning seems to be the best light. There seems to be more whites this year, but maybe the yellows have come and gone.

I drove down the road and the farmer was using an ATV to round up the cows.