When we were in Maine last fall, we spent time in Acadia National Park. Many photos were taken, but this watercolor is from both my photos and “memory”. Unless you have a boat, you cannot see the Bass Head Lighthouse from this angle! We actually saw it at sunset, along with 10 other people! It must be one of the most photographed lighthouses. 22 x 28 (NTF).

A trip out to VA countryside (before the big snow storms) was rewarded with sites of several old barns.  You view how time and the elements change the hardware and wood components. And the plant life cycles every year, withers in fall and returns each spring.

The new show at ArtBeat Gallery, Manassas, VA begins January 6 and highlights works completed from the historic Green Spring Gardens, Fairfax County, VA. Here is a 16 x 20 watercolor of roses, from a visit I made there last summer, and is on display at ArtBeat.

This large piece started with discouraging color and composition. After leaving it a few days, I came back to alter the composition and provide some places for the viewer to come in and out of the painting. The color balance was changed to try and reach a 75/25 ratio of warm to cool. It isn’t exact, but abstracts can be hard!

The artists of ArtBeat Coop will be showing a new exhibit, “Green Spring Gardens”, in January 2010, at the ArtBeat Gallery, Manassas, VA. The art exhibit will be creations drawn from visits to the Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, VA where hundreds of outdoor plants, trees and flowers are grown and displayed. In March, the art display will move from ArtBeat to Green Spring Gardens for a brief exhibition.

An annual Christmas card painting is complete, a 10 x 14 watercolor, seen here. Barn scenes have been my choice for several years. This scene is on a cloudy, cold day with falling snow. To paint falling snow, I tried white watercolor paint, but it’s too transparent. So I changed to watered-down, white acrylic, splattered with an old toothbrush.

The Workhouse at Lorton will have special “small works” exhibit beginning November 23 - January 4. Hundreds of original art pieces, not to exceed 9 x 12, will be on display. They make very unique holiday gifts. This is one of several acrylics that I completed for the exhibit. Each piece was done on “gallery wrap” canvas, 6″ x 6″ x 1 1/2″, without frame, but painted around the top, bottom and sides to create a wrap around of the landscape. I decided to feature Italian landscapes after reviewing a book series on Italy.

Trying abstract works in acrylic on canvas.

I had a request for a beach scene. While you know it’s the beach, it has more about the sand dunes and grasses. The cast shadow of the fence adds interest and defines the shape of the dune. I used both watercolor and acrylic, particularly in the grasses.

I managed to finish this piece for the new Workhouse Art Center show starting this week. I had a few ideas for a still life in mind, and they fell into place: color scheme, dark background and this olive oil cruet that I wanted in there because of it’s shape. I need to do still life to sharpen my sense of balance and composition. More to do!