Twilight – a time of pause

10″x8″ pastel on sanded paper

“Twilight – a time of pause when nature changes her guard. All living things would fade and die from too much light or too much dark, if twilight were not.” -Howard Thurman

Happy Field

10″x8″ pastel on sanded paper

“Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you.” -Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Howdy Blue

14″x11″ pastel on sanded paper

“It’s not only the state flower but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat. The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland.” Wrote historian Jack Maguire

The season is short, I plan to make the most of it.

Queen Anne’s Walk

12″x18″ pastel on sanded paper

Queen Anne’s lace is all over fields and road sides where I live right now.  It is tall and willowy, and wild.  


I love painting in the middle of such fields.  Even when conditions are challenging.

Wind: check

Snakes: thankfully, not today

Chiggers: double check

Is Spring Coming?

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12″x12″ oil on panel

Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…
“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…

-Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Gathering Yellow

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The spring has been filled with wonderful moments at the soccer fields. I have loved watching all the games: from my daughter’s team which started the season running like a gaggle of ducks all together, to my sons who play such intense games I can’t sit down. We have frozen and burned up, nearly have been blown away by the wind, and in between, watched spring unfold all around us. We have made new friends and reconnected with old ones, and enjoyed many yummy picnics.

I planned on painting a picture of the kids playing soccer, but this little girl was next to us in an overgrown field during my son’s last game. She was singing softly and gathering yellow flowers. She was such a distraction, I loved watching her as much as the boys’ game (which was a close one). The wildflowers and purple satin dress won out, I will paint the soccer players next season.

P.s. thank you to all the moms who take their daughters to soccer games in full princess regalia.