Painting the Seasons

It's been a while since I've posted on the blog, but that doesn't mean I've not been painting. I've been painting the seasons getting ready for an exhibit at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation gallery for the month of May.

Poinsettias are always a part of my painting rhythm each year.  I love to paint and teach how to paint poinsettias.  I always have pots of poinsettias to look at so we can paint what we actually see.  There are so many different techniques you can use to paint them.

During a visit to the Twin Rocker hand made paper shop, I picked up four square pieces of handmade paper to create one scene for each season.
Last spring I painted a baby cardinals nest that appeared in just outside our lilac bush outside the living room window.  Of the three eggs, only one hatched and I was able to take the photo that I used for the painting.

The inspiration for the summer painting came from a photo shoot at Prophets Town in West Lafayette to catch the prairie flowers in bloom.  I began the painting last summer but struggled with the composition and getting the queen anne's lace just right.  After using some white guache I was able to get the effect that I was looking for.

Milk weed pods and teasels are some of the beauties of fall.  I gathered some milk weed pods and kept them in my studio to study and sketch for the fall painting.  It was a challenge to capture the fluff of the milk weed seeds, but a fun one.

In January I was able to spend in week in Hillsdale, Michigan.  There was a beautiful fresh snow that I captured at sunrise in minus 17 degree wind chill factor weather.  It was worth braving the elements to see the beauty of the sunrise over the pond in Slayton Arboretum at Hillsdale College.

The four main painting of the four seasons are finished.  But there are so many more I would love to paint.  This afternoon during the Super Bowl, while Steve watched the game, I enjoyed painting another scene from the Slayton Arboraetum.