About "Shadows"

When we went to the National Park on Papagallo we had lunch at this hundred year old plantation house.  It was truly a beautiful place.  The surroundings were filled with native plants reminiscent of Arizona, mostly various species of cactus.  The house  itself was located on a rise surrounded by very old native trees.  That day it was hot and dry and what really struck me was the shadows cast by the old trees.  Shadows are a passion of mine probably because they are never exactly what you think they would be.  In fact they are always much more interesting than anything I could imagine.  I wanted to express the feel of the day.  I'll probably experiment more with it.  Different colors, just little things until I feel it is just right.  I'm not sure at this moment just how but it will be an interesting challenge for me.  More and more I want to capture that specific moment, just how I felt, what I thought.  I'm still somewhat of a novice at landscapes, but what always matters most to me is the emotional response.  You'd think after painting all this time it would come easily but there's always so much more I want to say.

"Shadows", oil, 11x14 $295

Well, our show is over for awhile.  I pretty much took off since to work in my flower gardens while the weather is nice.  Soon it will be too hot and I want to be through by then to enjoy the results and paint.  We had hoped for more guests, but we sold a few, made a few bucks to buy more art supplies.  I hope some of you will look at Mick McGinty's new landscapes.  They're really nice.  His link is on this site.  And the artists in the show with me, Reg Stark and Steve Conrad have some really interesting pieces.  Steve has a blog called "I'llpaintthat.blogspot.com". 

"Basket of Fruit" 5 x 7, oil in frame (we had fruit every day on the table)

"No Twilight", mixed media,, 16 x 20

Off the deck

More on Costa Rica

Have been very busy working toward a showing this weekend so I haven't had much to say.  Here are two of the pieces I have just finished.  The first photo is one I shot off our deck again in Costa Rica.  I hope you might be interested in just how I get my ideas.  I had an accomplished artist tell me once that he only painted a location after he was no longer there.  At long last I think I truly understand what he meant.  Now, several weeks later I remember mind images that I felt at the time.  One thing I remember is that at 5:30 in the evening and by 6:00pm it is completely dark.  There seems to be no twilight. So here is the photo and here is my remembrance.

This is what I saw......

...and this what I painted ."Casa in the Trees", oil, 16 x 8, $ 375, SOLD

Costa Rica

Now I am back working on some ideas that came to me from my trip to Costa Rica.  This painting is based only on some trees outside our house there.  Several of them had white trunks, and although it was March they had very few leaves.  The guide said this was because we were on the "dry" side by the Pacific.  He said to see this area green we should come in December, just after the rainy season.  My bedroom looked out over this side of the house and I could see the water through the trees.  That said, this is the painting.  I plan to put it in my upcoming exhibit at Morton Street Gallery, where I will be showing with Reg Stark and Steve Conrad.  More of their work can be seen on http://www.mortonstreetgallery.net/  or on the gallery blog,
http://www.mortonstart.blogspot.com/.  

"All in a Row", oil, 10x8, $ 95

"Pot of Gerbera Daisies" oil, 5 x 7

I was asked to paint some small florals and these daisies were blooming in my garden.  They are one of my very favorite flowers.  I am always hesitant to cut them because I love them in the garden, but I love them in the house too.  Anyway, here is one of the small pieces I did by request.  I hope you enjoy.