That Sky of Mine

Always... something going on in the sky.

Here was the plane, breaking the clouds, to allow the horse to run free in the sky!

(painting is still  "in-the-works.")

On the way home, a small ball of color in the sky:

Big Bug...lively world

That's what I see here... and not a friendly big bug:

My Dad turned me on to seeing things in the everyday items... he'd poke 4 toothpicks in a lemon, 

2 cloves for the eyes, and use the peeler to make a curly tail, and I'd walk in to see a funny yellow pig on the counter. Nothing was ever boring. But now I can't drive down a road without seeing faces in rocks and grasping trees... and everything imaginable is in the sky/clouds. It's a lively world.

Today's colors and energies!

It was a wet day with lots of vibrant mosses and lichen...

Ready, Set, SHOW!! Landscapes in Place at Duvall Designs Gallery!

Delivered paintings to their December debut 

at the most lovely and perfect gallery space, 

Duvall Designs Gallery, 

in Millwood, Virginia!

Holiday Artists Reception 

Saturday, December 15, 2012   

5 - 8 PM

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duvall-Designs-Gallery/180535148748628?fref=ts

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/December---Duvall-Designs-Gallery.html?soid=1111688353565&aid=rtaqmah5BTA

I don't think I've ever seen my paintings look so happy! 

The wood and stones in the walls echo the wood and stones in the landscapes.

A storm is brewing over the fireplace!

Peggy Sweeney Duvall at the exhibit hanging

December artists are: Charles Matheson, Jason Alexander, Peter Wood, Tia Maggio,
Leigh Henry, Jay Duvall and Jim Pitzvada, and me!

My woods painting hangs contentedly next to Peter Wood's metal sculptures.

"Last Bit of Winter" waits its turn to be hung, resting on one of Jay Duvall's stunning tables!

Peggy & Jay hanging the Marsh painting

Four sun-kissed landscapes to warm winter weary eyes.  

Close up shots of the paintings:

SOLD! 30" x 40" Golden Fields Off Rokeby Road

Got the landscaping bug!

Finished 2 landscape paintings today (started weeks and months before), and 

had a long photo outing, (on the way to get lattice for framing) with dramatic light and sky, then, a few hours in the woods, drawing.

So immersed now!

landscapes!

Working on a couple of landscape paintings, preparing for an exhibit in December. I never considered myself a landscape painter, but it seems the Virginia countryside has a convert. Here are two photos taken this morning that may help explain my new passion (although the old passions of gardenscapes/florals and portraits are still alive & well.)

At this moment, I look out the window and see purple and pink clouds in an icy blue sky. .. off to paint!

Getting ready to rework an on site painting in oil, but hesitant because it feels finished and fresh. 

May wait until tomorrow.

Artwork for the Chaos Theory Exhibit of Artists in Middleburg

Finished! 2 paintings for the upcoming group exhibit:
Chaos Theory
November 29 - December 29, 2012 at Sona Bank, in Middleburg, VA

The Bend Near Lovers' Rock, Outcropping   Oil on Canvas 24" x 30"

A Bend in the Road: View From Rectortown Road   Acrylic on Canvas  16" x 20"

wondering...

Wondering whether a blog is really worth the effort, at this point.

I can't give it my "all" and sometimes wonder whether it's worth the time to upload pictures, or whether I might gear it to some other thought train. 

I love this little leaf, caught on a berry, that looks like a tiny being trying to spear one of the berries. This is how I see all the time, and it's distracting, sometimes.

Back in the Saddle

the Hanging

Getting my ducks in a row (okay... so they're cows...):

Preparing to hang work on Sunday 9/9/12

at Middleburg Common Grounds

Newest piece:

Cloudscapes

Florals

landscapes

still life

PS Note how soothing these paintings are for pets! (and instruments)

Life Time

I've been drawing tuberose, and studying the Sphinx moths that are drawn to them, hoping to do a painting at some point. Today, my neighbor let me pick some end-of-summer tomatoes in her garden. When I returned, I had this little hitchhiker on my shoulder... the tomato hornworm. I thought about how close in color it was to the tuberose plant it would feed on in the mature moth stage. Then I didn't do too much more thinking... 

just enjoyed the saturated vibrant green and the fine linear details of the markings.

I couldn't decide whether to mention my brother's sudden passing in my blog, partly because it is so gapingly fresh, but also because it is still not quite acceptable. The only reason I have to bring it up here is that, like everything else, it affects how I paint, and how I am. Well, not quite "like" everything else... like nothing else, really. It was a shock to my whole being, and I'm still reeling. 

Steps are again very connected to the earth and breathing is conscious. When the mind wanders, the emotional tsunami starts to rebuild. Dreams cannot be faced yet, so I lie awake until I'm too tired for emotion and then it's shortly time to awaken and do the daily necessities, with as much focus on the moment as possible. The past is fine for a brief visit, but not too long, yet, and the imaginable future still needs someone from childhood's past, and the very recent past now, who left way too soon.

Tubes and Mags

Time to return to the tuberose, 

a gestural, glovey blossom always extending a hand or three, in fancy white petals.

"How do you do?"

So quaint now, compared to "How're y'doin'?" and "wazzup?"

A Southern blossom, for certain, the tuberose.

And returning to the magnolia

before she completely turns brown

Inspiring time of year

So much inspiration in the fall!

Colors change daily , light seems to become more silvery and pure.

Today, I had an overwhelming inspiration for a new series of drawings/paintings, 

but then was sideswiped by the heady aroma of a magnolia blossom. 

Tomorrow...tomorrow,  I will begin the new series

(and continue with the old ones.)