Forest Scene

Forest Scene
Originally uploaded by Connie Vickers

This small (4x6) forest scene was done from a photo reference using watercolor on hot press watercolor paper. The details in the trees were added with colored pencil. It seems that I am always short on time - I'm sure this is a problem many of us suffer :o). My home is surrounded by trees and I would rather be outside trying to capture the beauty I see there. Getting home at dark from teaching school doesn't lend itself to painting from life. As nice as that would be, doing something is better than...

Sparta,NC

Sparta,NC
Originally uploaded by Connie Vickers

Another photo done from reference photos taken during my Sparta, North Carolina weekend. This one is again, watercolor and watercolor pencil. The paper in this little book is not a very good quality of watercolor paper and I have to be very careful not to overwork it. The painting reminds me of the cool evenings there even though it was July! Great memories...

I haven't done a very good job of journaling since school started. Too busy, too tired, too overwhelmed, too, too, too. You get the picture. I read an article today in an old Sketchbook magazine (I wish they still published) about staying creative if you had 5 minutes, or 10 minutes and it reminded me that each moment is an opportunity. I will do better...

Sparta,NC

Sparta,NC
Originally uploaded by Connie Vickers

This painting was done from a reference photo taken during my weekend with cousins in Sparta, North Carolina. I spent many hours that weekend on this old wooden bench enjoying the quiet, reading and relaxing. The painting brings that back for me. One of the joys of summer for me is "time". This summer I tried daily to take advantage of every moment I was blessed with.

I will strive to continue in that vein now that school is starting!

Sunset in the Blue Ridge Mountains

I can never capture the beauty of the North Carolina mountains. Not with a camera. Not in a painting. But I do love to try. This small painting is a combination of watercolor and watercolor pencil. In my attempt to put the peace and tranquility of that evening on paper, I of course fall short. What the painting does do though is spark my memory of that beautiful day spent with a dear dear friend.

Bald Knob Farmhouse

Bald Knob Farmhouse
Originally uploaded by Connie Vickers

Sparta, North Carolina is a wonderful small town just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. For the past two years, four of my cousins and I have been blessed to spend a quiet weekend in this beautiful old home named Bald Knob Farmhouse by its owners.

Spending time in a beautiful home with beautiful women that I love is truly a gift.

In this small watercolor, I tried to capture a small part of that peaceful time.

Bodie Lighthouse

One more lighthouse memory and I'm off to the mountains to see my dear friend Peggy. I know the mountains will provide lots of visual inspiration. Now the question remains - What will I do with that inspiration?

Cape Lookout

With my extended summer about to come to an end (back to work August 18th), I ran across this watercolor painting I did when my students studied North Carolina lighthouses. I think working with the kids keeps me from overworking my paintings because you have to work fast and instruct at the same time. I added a link above (click on my title "Cape Lookout") for you to see some of my 4th graders watercolor paintings from the past. These kids amaze me!

Looking at it made me long for "sand between my toes" and the friends I left at the beach. I don't see them nearly often enough.

I am about to remedy half of that tomorrow when I go in the other direction (the beautiful mountains of North Carolina) to see my wonderful friend Peggy.

Tree Farm

Sitting in one of the many porch rockers looking out over the acres of Christmas trees made me want to come back at Thanksgiving and pick out my own. Each field had trees that were approximately the same size and shape. Closest to me were the six foot blue spruce - beautiful.

Yellow Door

This is the second painting I did on the Paint Out at Cedar Hill Farm. The owners were so gracious to share their home with us and there seemed to be beautiful scenery and still life setups at every turn. New to this experience, one of my biggest problems was deciding where to set up and paint. Surrounded by talented artist - including my new painting friend Lin - it was intimidating and inspiring at the same time. What an incredible day...

Garden Gate

Painting plein aire is another new experience for me, but Alamance County has a wonderful group of outdoor painters that are very supportive and encouraging of beginners. This watercolor was done during one of their all day "Paint Outs" at Cedar Cliff Farm in the Piedmont area of North Carolina - an incredibally beautiful setting. The owners have filled their own lives with art and a landscape that screams to be painted!