Today, I goofed around with making a painting video...it was tricky, and I hope to get the hang of it and create more in the future. For this one, I was using acrylic paints on a 7x7 hardboard. The original video was 8 minutes long and I sped up the time by 4X. Enjoy!

Painting No. 131, 11x14in, oil on hardboard
SOLD (Patron Site Award, 'The Gathering' Plein Air Event, June 2014)

This past Friday, I completed a painting that I'm really proud of and I consider it my best yet! Just wanted to give you a little preview of it....it will be #145, so be looking to see the finished painting on here soon! :) The reference photo was taken during our trip to South Haven, Michigan earlier this month. What attracted me to this view/photo was the vast variety of greens and the atmospheric perspective as you look down the road...it also reminds me of a wonderful vacation week we had as a family.

Painting No. 130, 11x14in, oil on hardboard (framed)
$200, email me to purchase

This was the first of my four paintings completed during The Gathering Paint Out event this past June. I painted this scene at Strawtown Park in Cicero, IN. I got lots of mosquito bites in the process, but I really love how this one turned out, and it even looks more stellar in the frame! :) If case you missed my post about this Paint Out weekend, click here to read all about it! 

This past Saturday I did a Paint Out at Conner Prairie, which is a 'living history' museum in Fishers, Indiana. It was only a short morning event (7-10am). It turns out, I felt super rusty painting, so I just ended up with two little paintings that I don't really like very much. But it was probably worth it for the laughs (in hindsigiht) and the amount of awkward experiences I seemed to pack in, in those few short hours.  

My first set up was on a farm...and yes, I did notice the cows when I set up, but did not anticipate them coming over to watch! In case you don't know, I am NOT an animal person and these bulls were nasty, they got right up to me and mooed right in my face and shook their fleas at me. blah! Oh, and my painting fell over onto my palette...urgh. 

There were lots of photographers around and I seemed to be a popular subject for them dispite my grubby painting attire. One guy got really into taking photos, he was paperartizi material, definitely. When he was done, he gave me his card and said some of the photos might show up on his website and 'by the way, you have paint on your cheek and I think it's fabulous'. Geesh! (It turns out as I notice my face in the car mirror when leaving, that I have a red paint streak under my bottom lip making it look like I have three lips, in no way cute or anywhere near fabulous!) ha ha

Then it started raining, but that was okay...I was ready to come home after all that. Most of all, I kept thinking how much I missed my painting buddy, Rachel Steely James. This was my 4th Paint Out, but first going alone (as Rachel just brought her baby boy home from the hospital the night before, yea!) So in summary of my lil' Conner Prairie Paint Out, what can I say, 'It was an experience!' 

Here's one of the photos taken by that photographer! He contacted me later and shared it with me. :)

Painting No. 129, 6x6in, oil on hardboard
NFS

I painted this as a surprise gift for someone at my church who graduated from high school this year. Let's just say that when you are in your 30's and you hear that a teenager thinks your remotely cool, it's a huge encouragment booster! haha  Just thought it would be fun to celebrate her accomplishment and help cheer her on with the journey ahead.

Painting No. 128, 14x18in, oil on hardboard (framed)
$210, email me to purchase

Painting No. 127, 5x7in, oil on hardboard
$40, email me to purchase

I did this small painting as a quick study to really focus on color. My reference photo was taken early this spring in Fishers, Indiana near my parents' house. I pulled over the car to snap this photo...just knew I had to paint this scene! I kept the brushstrokes really loose which ended up giving this little piece a nice vibe, letting the color and contrast have center stage.

Painting No. 126, 5x7in, oil on hardboard
SOLD