Paint Out in Terrell, Texas – Day 2

Today was another “bluebird day” – sunshine, 75 and only a little more wind. I went back to the historic home on 1st street and decided to paint the carriage house.  The shadows cast from the trees created plenty of contrast across the roof and the lawn.

The sketch – even though I have my ‘Best Brella’ clamped on my easel,  the sun was already creeping onto my paper.  In the course of the 2-1/2 hour painting session, I had to adjust the umbrella 3 times.  I’m painting on 140# Arches cold press that has been glued to a  masonite board. My paints are Daniel Smith.

I’m almost done here – just need to add another layer to deepen the shadows and add more foliage to the big tree behind the carriage house. This photo doesn’t show the huge tree very well, but it’s at least 4 stories tall and the new spring yellow-ish green leaves were absolutely glowing in the bright sunshine.  As you can see, I did some “pruning” of  several shrubs and completely eliminated one.   All Done! Another great day at “work” – As I’ve said many times…..I love my job!!!!

  

“CARRIAGE HOUSE” - 11 x 14 Watercolor                                                   Paint Historic Terrell - Terrell, Texas

On Location in Fredricksburg, Texas

I love ALL of Texas...but the Fredricksburg area in the Hill Country is one of my favorite places to paint and last week, I spent 3 glorious days there working on location (en plein air).  My cousin Connie Bernhard and her husband Dennis have a 500 acre ranch just west of Harper (22 miles west of Fredricksburg) and they provided "room and board" during my stay. (am I lucky or what?)  Their ranch is beautiful with rolling hills, a creek, sheep, cattle, and 2 llamas; "Tony" llama, and "Dolly" llama. Dennis' old home place is on the creek and I want to do several paintings of that location with the original outbuildings later on this year.  The painting  of the red barn is a "shearing barn" on their ranch.  The next one is a scene on the banks of the Little Devil River, north of their property about 8 miles.

                                                                

                       

The next is of a building on a historic site just east of Fredricksburg.  I liked the wagon under the overhang with distant hills.  The next painting is out on Grapetown Road.  I have no clue exactly where it is; The small rock structure out in the middle of a pasture with distant hills in the background made a nice composition. I'm planning on making another trip in the Fall when there's a lot of color all over the area.  My cousin's home is on a hill overlooking a beautiful valley; I have the perfect spot already picked out! 

Saturday Paint Out

With the temperature getting up to a "balmy" 62 degrees, I painted out today with four other artists. The 5 of us scattered out on about 4 acres of trees, a pond, little paths, & some outbuildings. I chose to paint the neighbor's house across the fence row. This time of year, the North Texas landscape is pretty blah...not much color except for a gorgeous blue sky and some evergreen trees and shrubs. It was great to get back out into the landscape after a too long holiday season and a month of awfully cold weather. One great thing about Texas is that the cold doesn't stay around long; we have a few days of cold, then a few days of warm. So, here's my painting of the day. Enjoy!

"The Dawson Place" 9 x 12 Watercolor on 300# Arches Rough

First Place in Paint Out

Well, it was a good trip to Corsicana the past 2 days and a successful paint out. I won 1st Place with my painting of "Palace Playbill". "Olsen Feed Store" and "Palace" are 11" x 14", watercolor. Both paintings will be on display (and for sale)at the Corsicana, Texas Chamber of Commerce for 2 weeks. Enjoy!

Another Paint Out!

Today, I traveled south about 45 miles to Corsicana, Texas to participate in a 2-day paint out. After checking in, I drove around the historic downtown area and came upon an old feed store. The sunlight was filtered by a haze so I opted to get my drawing in place and return tomorrow, hoping for better light conditions. Check back in a couple of days; I'll have at least 2 new paintings to share!