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!

Reunion

Last week, after returning home from Hawaii, I spent 3 days with two girlfriends from high school.  We've been pals for over 50 years.  Anyway, while the other two were napping, I gathered up my plein air gear (I'm never without it) and walked a few yards away and painted my friend's home.  This is a view of her back porch, looking from across the golf course fairway #17. Outside my family, Ginny is my biggest fan; she has my paintings hanging from floor to ceiling on 2 walls in her home....a "Tina Bohlman Collection" .  

"Doug & Ginny's Hilltop Home"
Good friends are a joy....and when friendships span more than 50 years,it's truly a blessing!

ALOHA from Hawaii.....

The island of Maui in Hawaii is absolutely beautiful.  My travel sketchbook is filling up quickly.  Everywhere I look is a painting waiting to happen! This is my first visit to Hawaii..and I hope it's not my last...it's truly like being in paradise.  I have only 2 more days before I return to "the real world".   Here are some watercolor & ink paintings from my sketchbook...enjoy!

LAHAINA HARBOR, MAUI - 5-1/2"x 7" -  9/16/08

POINT BLACK ROCK - KAANAPALI - 3-1/2" x 5" - 9/14/08

KAANAPALI BEACH- BLACK ROCK POINT & MAUI SHERATON - 5-1/2" x 7" -  9/19/08

KAANAPALI BEACH - 3-1/2" x 5" - 9/14/08

HANAKAOO BEACH PARK- LAHAINA HARBOR IN DISTANCE - 5-1/2" x 7" - 9/19/08

A lovely couple from Ohio stopped to talk for a few moments before leaving for the airport. 

KAANAPALI BEACH (from Black Rock Point) -5-1/2" X 14" - 9/18/08

This scene was so vast, I captured it using 2 pages across in my sketchbook.

HANAKAOO BEACH- 5-1/2" x 7" -  9/19/08 - the wind blowing in from the Pacific was about 20 mph...my paint was drying on the brush before I could put it to paper!  Plein air painting has it's "moments"!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN.....

Within the next few days, I'll be on a plane to Maui for a "working" vacation.  New airline rules for luggage limits a person to 1 checked bag and a carry-on....and each bag cannot weigh more than 50#.  Needless to say, I may be painting "nekkid" cause I'm packing my plein air gear first & if there's any room left, I'll throw in some clothes too.  I'm excited about this trip; it's my first visit to the Hawaiian Islands and I'm sure that I haven't allowed enough time (or money) to "do it right".  

More later.....gotta go gather up my gear.

Painting The Parks - Estes Park Colorado

Last week I spent a glorious 6 days in Rocky Mountain National Park...working. (I repeat....is this a GREAT country, or what?) My "work" was participating in the 7th Annual Estes Park National Paint Out, sponsored by Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park and Earthwood Collections Gallery.

63 artists came together to paint on location from August 9 through August 22, choosing a moment in time and special place to paint...including Rocky Mountain National Park, Big Thompson River canyons, views along the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway, and/or people and places in Estes Park, Colorado. Given a 50 mile radius in which to paint, artists chose to document cityscapes found in the various front range communities of Colorado. The public was invited to watch the artists paint during the two week painting period. All paintings were event stamped and authenticated and only works created and stamped during the painting period were included in the exhibition and sale.

In 2005, I participated in this great Paint Out and left the area with a list of places to paint...."next time". Well, "next time" has come & gone..again, & I still have a long list. So, I guess I'm going to have to go back next year..(yee-haa).

For this year's event, I submitted 6 paintings to my "host gallery", Earthwood Collections in Estes Park . (paintings are available for purchase through Earthwood Collections (970-577-8100) Estes Park, Colorado until September 30th.)

"Longs Peak Vista" (view from MacGregor Ranch)

11" x 14" Watercolor

"Photo Op" - (RMNP Bear Lake & Hallett Peak )
9" x 12" Watercolor

"Sprague Lake" (RMNP)

11" x 14" Watercolor

"The Stanley"

Historic Hotel, Downtown Estes Park

(People's Choice Award)

11" x 14" Watercolor

"View from Riverwalk Park" (Downtown Estes Park)

11" x 14" Watercolor

"Big Thompson" (Moraine Park area, RMNP)

11" x 14" Watercolor

Colorado.... Here I come!

My husband had major surgery on August 4th ; he's home now and doing much better. In fact, I'm packing up my "hubby" along with my paint gear and will be on location in Rocky Mountain National Park come Monday, August 18th. I'm participating in the Estes Park Plein Air 2008 - Painting the Parks". I LOVE MY JOB!!!! "Below Olympus Dam - Big Thompson River"

Three years ago, while on location during the 2005 Estes Park Paint Out, my son drove up from Denver and fished the river downstream while I painted looking back upstream. "Below Olympus Dam" is one of 2 paintings I completed that day; my son has the other painting. We talk of that day often; it's one of our favorite "mother & son" memories.

I plan to complete 2 paintings a day. If I have internet access while in Estes Park I'll be posting daily. Otherwise...I'll catch up when I return August 26th.

On another note, I delivered my illustrations for the children's book yesterday. I'm under a confidentiality contract until it's published so I can't post them yet....but the author was pleased with my work and gave me another book to illustrate. It's a Christmas story and I'm on a mid-September deadline. I'll begin work on it as soon as I return from Estes Park.