The Colors Have Shifted......Days 172 - 178

 Looking through this week's, studies the color shift is evident. There are no grey shapes of leafless trees in and among the greens. The broom sage has lost its gold color and flowers are appearing everywhere. On day 172, I stuck to the  same limited palette as I ended with last week - Cadmium Lemon, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Red Light, Alizarin Crimson, Viridian, Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine Blue and Titanium Zinc White. This day was about greens and shadows and how it all varies something I can never study enough.

Day 173 promised to be a super busy day. Obligations at the CARE Art Center and then picking up art work from the Mississippi State Alumni show. This made for an early morning paint study. Didn't have time to go far, but was really drawn to the way the early sun hit the small maple tree in our backyard. Stuck with the limited palette but never felt limited with my colors.





Nothing like a moody Delta sky and Day 174 was a great one. A rainy morning led to some clearing just as the sun set. The clouds only got better and better. Still not getting the glow in an orange sky like I want but continuing to practice.





Another sign of spring on Day 175. The buckeyes have started blooming in the woods behind the barn. Even with all the green appearing I love the fact that this time of year there is still a lot of differences in the greens. The bright lime greens against the blue green foliage of the buckeyes was a great study. The red blooms of the buckeyes were just an added bonus!




 Day 176 was a cool, grey, day thrown in the midst of an overall lovely week. This of course was a plein air class day. My students were troopers though and painting at Elaine Sayles' lovely place was a treat. This painting was a demo and study of the small pond by her house.

The sun was back on the morning of Day 177.  Wanted to practice edges so chose the old garden shed as a study subject. Lots of greens, shadows on the walls and dynamic light made this old shed and excellent study. I paint some of the same subjects around the farm multiple times, but they are subtly different....every....single....time.

Day 178 was a little dreary  and cool until late in the day. Getting ready for the Double Decker Arts Festival Friday and Saturday so did just a quick cloud study as the sky began to clear.

Spring?? Not Quite....Days 167-171

 Day 167 was cold, rainy and windy. Wind chill never made it out of the 30s and I just could not imagine going out in the cold...AGAIN. It's the middle of April and we are in the South! Oh well, I had almost convinced myself to do an indoor still life when I noticed a clearing beginning in the clouds. Grudgingly, I packed my bags and walked out the door and to my amazement, there in front of me was the most amazing sky. It was changing and changing fast, but the muted yellows and greys were so amazing, that having a chance to study them was all I cared about. To think I almost wimped out and missed it!


Day 168 was sunny, but still unseasonably cold. Spent a little time studying the light on Al's water tank. Trying to add more structures and objects into the studies to push the difficulty level a little higher.






Day 169 warmed slightly, but with that came very high intense southern winds. Still the morning light was lovely and I enjoyed playing with the shadows on the hillside.

With the promise of another cold front moving in as the day wore on, I took the opportunity to get out early on Day 170.  Limited my palette today, working with only Cadmium Lemon, Cadmium Yellow Light, Cadmium Red Light, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue Hue and Ultramarine Blue. Such a great way to practice true greens!



Very busy day on Day 171. I was stressed because I knew my day would not slow down until well in the evening. Again, I had almost convinced myself to not try and paint today, until I noticed our cat sitting in a patch of morning sun. She is 16 and enjoys a warm area of sun whenever she can find it. I immediately grabbed my paint and snuck around the corner hoping she wouldn't be disturbed and move. She sat and enjoyed her morning sun bath for a good twenty minutes, giving me just enough time to do a study of her.

Progress, Progress.....Days 161 - 166

 Still enjoying the (extremely) unpredictable spring weather here in the Sip (for all you non - Mississippians, that's what we call our beautiful state). Day 161 was a spectacular, sunny day. I stopped on the way to my Oxford classes and painted the pond just before you get to Jean's studio where I teach. The willows with their baby green foliage against the mucky water of the pond was a great color study.  I massed the shadows in first as usual and then did large masses of the pale yellow green. Afterwards, came back with my knife and broke the masses up. It really helped keep the the bright color clean and fresh.

Day 162 was on a Tuesday and this is a full day of classes for me. My painting that day was actually a demo for an "Intro to Plein Air" class I am currently teaching. Today we worked with a limited palette and did quick studies of "basic shapes only" in the landscape. The overlook on our farm is always perfect for this.

 On Day 163,  tackled an early morning study of Al's old tractor. As always, I was drawn to the light, but I am also trying to pull more difficult subjects, like buildings, animals, and other objects into my studies. I know the only way to grow is to constantly take myself out of my comfort zone.




I never can decide which I like more, early morning light or late evening. Both are dynamic in their own way. We no longer use our rickety little utility shed, but I keep it around because it makes a great painting subject. On Day 164,  it was all about the light and the tree shadows on the west wall, but it was also about the way the light caught the edge of the door frame just as the sun was going down.

 
A nice change of scenery was on tap for Day 165. I was in Louisville, Mississippi for a women's retreat and so I was able to spend time painting at Lake Tiak-O'Khata. It was quite windy, but the day was beautiful and the sun was warm.

 As beautiful as it was yesterday, Day 166 was just as stormy and nasty. Managed to sneak one in during a brief break between rains at the end of the day. Delta skies are always an inspiration!  

The sky was once again my inspiration on Day 167.  After the storms cleared out, the cold moved in. The wind chill never climbed out of the 30s today and it was all I could do to convince myself to go out. I am over the cold!! I sucked it up though, stuck to my commitment and went out.......and was blessed with an incredible sky study. Played with ultramarine blue and yellow ochre for the grayness of the sky and became so caught up in it that it became more about the moment and less about the painting.  I almost talked myself out of painting outside today, had I, I would have missed it.

I am ending this group with a larger studio painting that is currently on my easel. This painting  was created from studies and photos from our trip to Natchez. It has been so much fun and definitely shows a shift in my style, which I attribute without a doubt to the daily studies I have done of over the last 166 days.

Spring or Rather All Weather Elements In One Week .... Days 155 - 160

This week (Day155) started out with probably what I would call the windiest day I have ever attempted to paint in . Not only that, it was the first day of my "Intro To Plein Air" class and so my 15 dedicated students also braved the hurricane worthy gales that wrecked havoc on our painting time.  I was impressed at how they stuck it out and became hard core plein air painters in one class.  Lots of greens to play around with. Working hard on keeping them natural and the masses simple.

 On day 156, I painted my chicken house for a second time. This time it was from a different angle and a different time of day. Had fun playing with the shadows and the light on the gate and the fence.  I truly enjoy trying to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Most of Day 157 was spent working at our CARE arts center, but during a lunch break I was able to step out the front door and study this incredible dogwood blooming next to Charleston's post office. I think this little building is one of the most beautiful buildings you will find anywhere and the dogwood makes it even more special this time of year.

From windy, to sunny, to stormy,  Day 158 kept me indoors due to blowing driving rain and thunderstorms. Was able to paint this familiar scene from my studio window. I find it interesting though painting the same scene and how it changes with the seasons.

And now it seems on Day 159, we are back to winter. Spending the weekend in Starkville and had envisioned lovely spring painting on MSU's South Farm. I was NOT expecting to be under the nose of the horse trailer, blocking the wind painting a ditch bank while the wind chill was 29 degrees.





Finally, on Day 160, the South Farm painting time I was hoping for. Sunny, green rolling hills and ...... 48 degrees. So I didn't quite get the warmth, but all the other conditions were good. Played with keeping the tree masses simple and suggesting the shape of the cows. I'm sure the yellow bitterweed is not the best for grazing, but it makes great color in a painting.

The Many Moods of Spring......Days 148 - 154

So glad that spring has finally made an appearance, but sometimes I wish it was a little less moody. Painting most days, boils down to what window of time will open between rains and give me a chance to dash outside and put some paint on a canvas.  Some days, like Day 148 ( left) , I get lucky. Other days, like Day 149 (right), I'm not so lucky and the bottom falls out. (It was worth it, the clouds were amazing!)

Day 150 finally brought some sunshine and I decided to do another study of the wisteria from a few days before. This time it would be in midday sun instead of the early morning clouds. The wisteria was as beautiful as ever, but I also like the light play on the ground.

On Day 151, I packed up my gear and headed to my mom's for Easter. My hometown of Lexington is farther south and a little further along in spring than we are in north Mississippi. Things are a little greener and flowers are popping up everywhere. This azalea bush in her neighbors' yard was definitely putting on a show and so much fun to study.

Another study of Baxley's creek just south of the farm was the subject of Day 152 (below). It was a beautiful Easter day and this was a great place to enjoy the afternoon.


Mondays are busy days for me and Day 153 was even more so.  The morning started out with the hanging of a show I will be a part of at the Powerhouse in Oxford for the month of April. After that it was straight to Jean's to teach class. As I drove in, I noticed she had a lovely patch wisteria and of course it caught my eye. I get about an hour break between my classes and so I set up and did a quick study around mid afternoon. It was another grey day, but sometimes I think the purples show up even stronger with out competition from the sun.  I find it interesting that I am never without my paints or sketchbook anymore. I am at a very busy time in my life and I may go days without long periods of time in my studio, but that, in no way stops me from painting. There are ALWAYS windows of opportunities, you just have to be determined enough to take them!

Painting Mississippi.... Days 142 - 147

 Day 142 started this group with our incredible late afternoon, Delta light. There is still a lot of winter grey, but more green is showing up everyday. I loved the back lighting of these cedars, as well as, the way the light came through them and lit the ground. Perfect way to end the day.

On day 143, I packed up my paint for a weekend getaway and painting excursion in and around Natchez, Mississippi. I have always wanted to go to Natchez, but I have just never made the effort.  In fact, one location on the way down, was a place I have wanted to see for years. Windsor Ruins has always fascinated me and painting them has definitely been on my bucket list.

 We made our way though Port Gibson only to come to a barrier stating the road was flooded. After passing through the barrier and then slowly driving though said flooded road (my husband is a trooper!) only to come to yet another road closed sign, I had almost given up on this opportunity. Fortunately, Al was more persistent and determined to drive until we absolutely could not go further and we arrived at the ruins just before the road officially became barricaded off. It was so worth it. The ruins were spectacular and I was able to spend about and hour studying them before getting back on the road for Natchez.

Natchez was just what I had hoped. We stayed in a hotel overlooking the Mississippi River and I was able to paint river boats from our hotel window with my watercolors. On Day144, we walked the streets. The morning light was lovely and I was able to take a lot of reference photos. Chose to only take one full plantation home tour and it was of Longwood. We chose wisely. This home, even though never finished, was incredible. After touring the home, I pulled out my paints, sat on the back of my car and did a small study of the back of the home with its grand live oak trees.  I was in heaven, but I learned quickly that I need a lot more practice with Spanish moss!

We ended the day in Natchez with tamales and "Knock-You-Naked" margaritas (yep, that's what they're called!) at Fat Mama's. I'm just not into that whole "starving artist" thing!

We made it home from our short but fantastic trip, just in time for me to do an afternoon study. I chose to ride up the road to a small creek just south of our farm. The grey weather was back, but this little area was still enjoyable - Day 145.

Faced once again with yet another grey day, I was feeling less than inspired. I had no idea what would be inspiring  and I was actually dreading painting. Then I saw this HUGE forest of wisteria on my way back from taking my daughter to school. It was growing all around a church that some friends attend, so I made a few phone calls, got permission and flew out there to paint before the rain moved in. The most beautiful purple blossoms covered everything and so Day 146 was an unexpected
joy to paint.

 Day 147 finally gave us a little sunshine.......along with 30 - 40 mile per hour winds. Painting during a wind advisory is not always recommended but I had a couple of great friends battle it with me and so it really wasn't so bad.

I am learning, yes, I can paint anywhere, anytime; there are no excuses!

Bits Of Green Amidst the Grey.... Day 130 and Days 136 -141

 So I added Day 130 in this group since I grouped the Florida trip all together. I was able to do this Delta scene before we hit the road. We have had a lot of rain lately and with that comes flooding. The waters are starting to recede somewhat and a little green is peeking through in the fields that will soon be plowed under. Love the contrast of these elements in this Quitman county scene.

 Returned from Florida to a grey and dreary Mississippi. Nature is not quite as green here yet as it is farther south, but on Day 136, our little cypress tree was putting on a show. Its yellow green foliage against the grey background made it much more impressive.


Day 137 continued a little grey but looking up into the bluff from the Delta fields, the baby green foliage is becoming more and more evident.

Grey days were still hanging around on Day 138. I have to admit, I am missing the Florida sunshine! Painted a study of my front garden. The wild privet was a nice contrast to my lavender chairs.

 Day 139 moved from grey to drizzly. I have decided the best way to encourage rain to fall is to take my easel out under a cloud. Battling rain drops on my canvas and palette (and no, oil and water do not mix!) This developed into a shape and mass study quickly to avoid being totally soaked.

Day 140 showed a hope of some parting clouds - finally! The day ended with a soft slightly muted yet beautiful sunset. The clouds were breaking up just enough that there were some rays of sunlight breaking through. Not the most dynamic sunset, but lovely in its own way.

Finally Day 141 brought the sun. Still waiting for the trees to really put on their leaves, but once again the wild privet and wild grape vines are glowing in their green.