Lily Pads at Duke Gardens

This is the watercolor resulting from yesterday's value sketch. Finally had to just leave it alone before it turned to mud. It was a wonderful day and this small painting will remind me of how incredible it was to spend a day outside painting with a good friend. What more could I ask!

Duke Gardens

Wonderful day painting with my friend Lin in Duke Gardens and then a long leisurely lunch and talk! You can see her work at "View From The Oak" http://viewfromtheoak.blogspot.com/. She is such an inspiration to me! You will love her paintings!

I started with a drawing. It seems to get me started when I feel overwhelmed and surrounded with that much natural beauty - I was totally overwhelmed. After the sketch, I started a watercolor. Wasn't really happy with the result, so I stopped before I totally made mud of the work. I will look at it again tonight and see if it can be salvaged. Salvaged or not - it was an incredible day!

KittyBurger

This is an "oldie but a goodie". This is my cat KittyBurger and he still looks the same except the black spot on his nose has gotten larger. This morning he has red paint on his ear and his back. Couldn't help himself from getting to close to hubby and his painting project. Curiosity!

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.

Echinacea

Just spent a wonderful weekend with four other girl cousins in Sparta, North Carolina. We stayed in an old home named "Bald Knob Farm House". The house is surrounded by Christmas tree farms and filled with antiques. Each day I found time to do a quick sketch to remind me of this incredibly peaceful place and the wonderful women I shared it with. For the next few days I will share those sketches.