September

"Lilies"

6x8 oil on panel

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It's September, fall is on the way and summer will soon be a distant memory. Gone will be the summer flowers, asleep in their flower beds for another season.

One of those old friends I will miss the most are the day lilies that grace my landscape. Their gentle beauty and colorful faces and more than welcome each year. I look forward every spring as I clean away the dead leaves to the small green sprouts that signal their arrival. Isn't it wonderful that we always have something to look forward to. Darkness may come, old friends may die, but there is always the dawn, new birth and the loving grace of God our father to usher us into the new day.

Until next month..........................JB

June,July and August Post

"Waiting...till the cows

come home"

12x16 oil on canvas

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It's summertime, and the living is hectic! With the grandkids out of school, gardening, company and traveling, it hasn't left much time for painting. But in hindsight, I wouldn't trade one moment with the kids because before I know it they will be grown, working, out on their own.

It has been hot, but this is summer in Texas. This little painting depicts a yellow lab waiting by a red barn. The warm colors in the painting remind me of summertime. This is just another day on the farm and man's best friend is standing watch, waiting for the farmer and the cows to come home. No matter how you spend your time this summer, I hope you enjoy the season. Eat some watermelon, swim, get a tan, and spend time with someone you love because, summer will soon be gone. Until next month........JB

May 2009

"Meadow Lark"

5x7 oil on panel

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It's summer and my favorite time of day is the morning. I love to get up early in the morning before the heat of the day sets in and work in my flowers, have a cup of coffee on the back patio and read the paper. It is such a peaceful time of day for me, before the phone starts ringing and the reality of the day takes over.

A first for me this May was a plein air paint out. This entails dragging all of your painting paraphernalia into the field, setting up shop and painting what you see as you see it. All I can really say is that I survived. I even enjoyed the first few hours when it was still cool and the bugs had yet to locate my spot.

Plein air painters are a hardy lot. They must be willing to fight the elements, remember or improvise all of their supplies, and rig up a way to get all of their wet paintings home with no smears. They have to be fast on their feet to capture what they see at the moment before the light and shadow patterns change. They have to be able to simplify and zero in on their subject and make all of that green stuff look interesting.

I thought it would be easy. I ran not walked back to my studio, my music, my cup of hot tea, air conditioning, and other creature comforts. All I can say is, "been there, done that", and take my hat off to all those who persevere in the field. So, here is possibly my one and only plein air painting. Enjoy!!!! Until next month......................................JB

April 2009

"Out to Pasture"

10x12 oil on linen panel

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I have finally completed the challenge. I have painted my first cow painting! This was a challenge from my art friend who keeps me working and honest. She loves cows and always wants to paint them. I on the other hand can think of a number of other things I would rather paint!

Colorado inspires me at every turn. Everything in that state is a Kodak moment for me. I love the mountains and vow to live there some day, even if it has to be in my next life, ha! The photograph that inspired this painting was captured on a cool autumn day. The colors in the mountains always seem more vivid to me and the air is so pure and clean. I don't even mind the bugs and the wind as just being out of doors is a joy.

I hope that this painitng will inspire you to find a favorite place if you don't already have one. I am always looking for an excuse to escape to the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. You can still find unsoiled territory to explore and leave the hustle and bustle of everyday behind for a little while.

Until next month.....................................................JB

March Entry

"Morning's Glory"

7x6 watercolor on paper

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I am ready for spring. About this time of year I start to get antsy. I want to be out in the flower garden, feel the warm sun on my back and dig in the dirt. The four seasons are just right for me. About the time I get sick and tired of one, change comes and it is usually welcome.

This is a small watercolor painting of Morning Glories. I love flowers and Morning Glories are one of my favorites. I think it is neat how they open up in the cool of the morning and then have sense enough to get in out of the heat of the day. Nature is like that though. To bad we all can't learn from her. We could all do with a dose of common sense now and then. Mother Nature and Father Time. One gives wisdom, the other notes the passing of our days.

Now, spring is sprung, at least in my neck of the woods, and none to soon. So, get out and take a walk, smell the flowers, watch the trees awaken from the winter and say thank you to the almighty that even though change comes, some things will always stay the same.

Until next month......JB

February Post

"In Between"

4x4 oil on canvas

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A cactus growing in an unlikely place caught my eye and became the basis for this small painting. This is the first for the year in my painting of the month series. January escaped me. It came and went in such a hurry I didn't have time to catch my breath let alone make a blog entry. What's the line to that old song, "slow down, you move to fast"?. That's the way I feel about life at the moment!

Mother Nature uses red and green often on her palette, and purple is good in any landscape or floral painting. This painting was inspired by one of my photographs which are usually jumping off points for me. I push the color and the image to try to create something interesting. Sometime it works, sometimes it doesn't.

So, here's to a new year. May it bring peace and prosperity to all. Until next month.....JB