If it were not for the mosquitos and the chiggers I might not ever come inside. To be surrounded by The setting sun, and chest high flowers is a wonderful thing to experience.
Photo by Dickie Hill
Rain in the Desert
10″x8″ pastel on sanded paper
With just a little rain the desert springs to life.
“Rain showers my spirit and waters my soul.”
-Emily Logan Decens
Let’s Take This Side Road
8″ x 10″ pastel on sanded paper
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” -Erol Oman
We are driving across West Texas today. The wildflowers have been delightful! I love all to imagine what is down all those side roads. And to further imagine what would, or could happen when we get off the beaten path whether it be the highway, or just the course we are heading.
My lap studio.
My Favorite Lace
Listening to Spring
10″x8″ pastel on sanded paper
“I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen.” -Anne Lamott
Beautiful Spring Came
12″ square pastel on sanded board
“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” -Harriet Ann Jacobs
Picasso’s Primrose
8″x10″ pastel on sanded paper
“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” – Pablo Picasso
My impression of Evening Primrose
10″x8″ pastel on sanded paper
There is beauty all around us, often mixed up in things that are not very beautiful. I paint exactly how the flowers feel, without the power lines, or houses, or cars. As I enjoy this year’s wildflowers I remember this quote from Monet:
“Try to forget what objects you have before you – a tree, a house, a field, or whatever. Merely think, ‘Here is a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow,’ and paint it just as it looks to you, the exact color and shape, until it gives you your own impression of the scene before you.” -Claude Monet
Appreciate the beauty, ignore, or deemphasize the rest: That might be good advice to apply beyond landscape paintings.
Winter is Dead
10″x8″ pastel on sanded paper
“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.””
-A.A.Milne
Started this painting with a beautiful underpainting to establish lights, darks, and mood.
Corner of Nature
10″x8″ pastel on sanded paper
“My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature.” -Claude Monet
paintandsimple 