An Urban Park

8" x 10" - oil on hardboard

I painted this on location with my plein-air class from the Art Students League of Denver. We set up in Commons Park, located in downtown Denver. The park runs along the east side of the South Platte River and offers city dwellers a wonderful place to connect with nature. This piece was painted from the middle of the park looking southeast. I was intrigued by the contrast created from the brick, steel and glass structures and the open, grassy area of the park. Where normally one would expect car lined streets, parking meters and concrete, the viewer is instead treated to a large green field.

Curious Mode of Transportation

11" x 14" - oil on canvas

A 'car train'? I had not heard of this type of transportation until I visited Slovenia. On our drive from Bled to Kobarid, we were given the advise that we would save some time if we took the car train from Bohinjska Bistrica to Most na Soci. It sounded strange to me. I am familiar with driving a car onto a floating vessel as I have used the Washington State Ferry system. But driving a car onto a train car? Well, that is exactly what is done.

I wasn't the only one curious about the process. Another family was waiting with us and their children stepped out to more closely view the train. I enjoyed the image of these two small children juxtaposed against the massive engine.

Loaded and on our way, the train took us past rural villages, small farms and lovely scenery. We also passed through a very long tunnel. It took us a full 15 minutes to get through and those 15 minutes were spent in complete darkness. So dark that you couldn't see the tunnel walls or even a hand in front of your face. Obviously, we could have kept the car lights on, but why spoil the fun.

Corn field at Elliott Farm

8" x 10" - oil on hardboard

sold

One late afternoon I painted this beautiful corn field from my friend's backyard. She was painting next to me and we both spread out over the patio. Preferably when we paint we try to find an interesting view with few interruptions and we thought this was the ideal location. Little did we know that one of the family cats would be interested in artwork. Little Clam couldn't stay away. She wandered around our legs, jumped on the table for a better view and tiptoed over paintings done earlier in the day. Perhaps she was hoping to pick up paint on her paws and create her own work of art using the patio as her canvas.

On the Coast

8" x 10" - oil on masonite

After a day on the farm we headed for the coast. I spent a wonderful morning painting with a good friend of mine. The weather was perfect and the location was even better.

And while I was painting, my husband...

was off playing in the mud. He had the opportunity to dig for clams. We were fortunate to visit at low-tide and our hosts were so kind to take us digging. And what a feast we had the next day. The clams were fantastic!

Visit to the Pacific Northwest

6" x 10" - oil on hardboard

On a recent trip to visit friends in Washington state, I had the opportunity to paint in the Skagit Valley. The area is full of small, picturesque farms and each one has its own charming barn. Some of the farms grow fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, apples and plums and some grow vegetables, hay or any combination of the three.

And some raise cattle. Throughout the day we were serenaded by this large herd of wonderful cows. They would come and go like the tide. Sometimes sneaking up quite close.

As long as we were painting they couldn't care less about us. But if I approached too closely with my camera, they would move off in another direction. I guess they needed their space. I did learn that grazing cows do not stay in one place and that taking their picture is a must if I ever want to paint them.

8" x 10" - oil on hardboard

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Another beautiful day in the Skagit Valley. The two barns that I painted were just east of the town of Sedro-Woolley.

Reflections on the Krka River

Near Novo Mesto, Slovenia is the village of Otocec. It is situated along the Krka river and sitting on an island in the middle of that river is the Otocec Castle. Today the castle is a hotel, but non-guests can still walk the grounds. On the day that I visited, the river was flowing very slowly, so slowly that near perfect reflections were created on the surface.

I took the opportunity to sketch the castle while my companions observed a swan building a nest along the bank.

11" x 14" - oil on canvas

When I returned home, I created this painting. It reminds me of the gentle water and those beautiful reflections.

Looking for Trout

11" x 14" - oil on canvas

Searching for trout in even the smallest creek is my husband's favorite pastime, so it is amusing that he is the only one not looking in the river. While vacationing in Slovenia with some friends, we stopped for a few hours in a town named Ribnica. The town and surrounding area is well-known for producing wonderful woodenware and pottery.

After strolling through town we wandered over the Ribnica river. We weren't the only ones looking for fish. A young schoolboy was taking his lunch on the bridge. Actually, I think the fish were getting most of his lunch. He seemed content to throw large pieces of bread into the slow moving river.