Black-eyed Susans

Black-eyed-Susan time at Barbara’s, 8x10" watercolor

I am not the only one I know who has felt a little down lately. Something about the days getting shorter reminds us that winter is on its way. But, not that quite. On the contrary, it has been too dang hot for plein air painting. And for that, we can blame summer. So today, just to get a little dose of Vitamin D, I faced the heat and finished this watercolor of my neighbor’s house with her Black-eyed Susans. Started years ago, I wish I had finished it before Barbara passed this year. 

Mountain Getaway

Brenda’s in Blowing Rock, 9½x7" watercolor

When it is not possible to stay with friends, I have started looking for Airbnb accommodations. Last weekend I stayed at a lovely home in Blowing Rock, NC. I absolutely loved my stay there. A second room for a small additional fee was available for my traveling friend, Sandi. We were in Blowing Rock to participate in a paint out at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park with other members of PAINT NC (acronym for Plein Air In The Triangle).

Spring at last

Praise the Lord, 9½x7" watercolor

Spring has finally arrived in all her glory and it feels great to get out again and paint. I had vowed at one time only to share my plein air watercolors on this blog, but because I am doing more and more oils, both in and out of the studio, I have less time for watercolors. It didn’t take long Sunday to run over to First Presbyterian Church here in Goldsboro to paint the church with the cross visitors had so beautifully decorated. The really brightly colored flowers are azaleas. Cool temperatures on Sunday kept them from wilting.

à peindre à l'intérieur

Garden Supply honey display, 9x7" watercolor

I wish there was a better French term for painting inside. Plein air is, of course, the term for painting outdoors, but painting indoors in French is peindre à l'intérieur, not a term that easily rolls off the tongue.

Regardless, it was a wonderful escape yesterday to paint with several of the members of Paint NC, a group of plein air painters living mostly in the area in North Carolina know as the Triangle. The paint out was at Garden Supply Company in Cary, NC. Finding we could choose to paint inside or out, was all I needed to hear to convince me to go. What a shopping mecca inside that store, so full of the quaint and unusual.

Happy New Year

First Presbyterian, Charlotte, 9½x7" watercolor

I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf this year, so I put kale on my shopping list. I also have more plein air painting on my list. In spite of the mild December weather here in North Carolina, a full docket of painting commissions allowed me time to paint outside only once. Above is the small watercolor I did in Charlotte in mid-December after I had delivered some artwork to a customer who attends this church. First Presbyterian has its own parking lot, so, in spite of a Panthers game that day, parking was a non-issue in downtown Charlotte.