Plein Air watercolor of a pot of geraniums along a wall in a garden.

Watercolor painting 6 inches x 9 inches SOLD

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One more plein air watercolor painting of our friend’s garden. These geraniums were perched jauntily on the garden wall and caught the bright sunlight perfectly. I especially liked the way they blooms were highlighted against the dark red maple in the background.

Plein air watercolor landscape of a brick walk wandering through a garden.

Watercolor painting 5.5 inches x 9.5 inches $100

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Another watercolor landscape of our friend’s beautiful garden. I spent a good 4-5 hours exploring and painting the different views in this backyard treasure. One of the owners is a Master Gardener and has been kind enough to share her special knowledge with my gardening husband. Little by little, with her help, our own backyard is becoming a painting paradise, too! Soon, I’ll be able to create watercolor and pastel paintings of gardens without leaving home.

Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a winding path leading to a garden fountain.

Watercolor painting 6 inches x 9 inches $100

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Our friends in Sylvania, Ohio have one of the most beautiful backyard gardens I have ever seen. Almost every square inch is filled with gorgeous flowers, shrubs, paths, walls and fountains. They have created “room” after “room” of amazing floral displays and they are expanding every year. And best of all: they allow me to wander the property and paint watercolor landscapes to my heart’s content! I’ve painted this path 3 times now and hope to continue to study it in the future…

Watercolor plein air painting of the old houses along Lake Charlevoix, Michigan.

Watercolor painting 9 inches x 6 inches $100

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When we were “Up North” on Memorial Day, I wandered all around Charlevoix and found areas I had never visited before. There was a lovely boulevard of stately old summer homes along Lake Charlevoix that caught my eye. The area was a private association and I hope they didn’t mind that I plopped myself down in the middle of the common area and painted watercolor landscapes of the scene. Nobody requested that I leave, so I took that as permission!

Watercolor painting of a Victorian cottage in Bay View, Michigan

Watercolor painting 6 inches x 9 inches $100

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Another one of the historic Victorian cottages at Bay View, Michigan. While I was doing this watercolor painting, the owner of the cottage came out to take a look. Turns out she and her husband lived in Ann Arbor for 3 years when they were in college and have many fond memories of their time in our part of the state…

Watercolor plein air painting of a cottage in Bay View, Michigan

Watercolor painting 6 inches x 9 inches $100

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When I was up north last Sunday, I decided to ditch the pastels and concentrate on watercolor landscapes for the day. I visited the small community of Bay View near Petoskey, Michigan. I’d always admired the beautiful Victorian cottages in this gorgeous little enclave, but, as I wandered around I discovered that there was a small, historic campus nestled in among the summer homes. The community was started in the 1880s as a Methodist retreat with educational programs.

I didn’t “get religion” but I did meet some very nice people. And I was more than happy to spend a few quiet hours under the trees painting beautiful, historic architecture!

Plein air watercolor painting of trees along the Huron River in Gallup Park.

Watercolor painting 9 inches x 3.5 inches
$80

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In Ann Arbor, we have a beautiful public treasure called Gallup Park. The Huron River runs through it and it is a gathering place for joggers, kayakers, dog walkers, families and courting couples. I try to get out there at least a couple of times a year to do some plein air painting. This small watercolor landscape was one of a few I did recently. The views are so varied that I can  just set up my supplies, paint, pivot, paint, pivot, etc., and get an interesting scene at every turn. I’m hoping to get out again this weekend with either my watercolors or pastels and capture some of the gorgeous red buds that are in bloom right now…

Watercolor painting of a street in southern Spain lined with stucco houses

Watercolor painting 8.5 inches x 6.5 inches
$80

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This small watercolor was painted plein aire in southern Spain a while ago. The little villages there are filled with white stucco houses topped with red tiled roofs, and the surrounding hills are beautiful. I sat in a bar and sipped the local wine while I painted this watercolor landscape. Hmmm…this drinking and painting seems to be a trend. Well, when in Rome…

Watercolor painting of an outdoor cafe in Naples

Watercolor painting 6 inches x 7 inches

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This watercolor painting will also be available thru the Circle of Art fundraiser for Food Gatherers on May 17. I painted it sitting on a step on one of the main streets in Naples, Florida. Plein aire paintings can be quite a challenge when you do them in public. Everyone who comes by has to sneak a look. Sometimes they ask to take a peak, other times they just belt out their opinion loud enough for everyone to hear.  It used to really fluster me but I have become used to the process. Most people are very kind and encouraging and I can always use that!

And Food Gatherers could use you. Click on the Circle of Art website in the next couple of weeks and see if there is a piece of art you can’t live without!

Watercolor painting of tables and palm trees around a pool in Spain.

Watercolor painting 6.5 inches x 8.5 inches

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I painted this watercolor painting plein aire when we were in Spain a couple of years ago. We stayed at a fantastic hotel near Malaga and spent a bit of time lounging around the pool. Not wanting to be too slothful, I painted as I sipped cocktails! What a treat!

I’ve donated this piece to a charity art auction run by Saline Picture Frame Company to raise funds for Food Gatherers. In the last couple of years they have raised over $58,000 to help feed the needy in Washtenaw County, Michigan. To quote Saline Picture Frame’s website:

2009 marks the fifth Circle of  Art benefit for Food Gatherers.  The Circle of  Art is a party, a project and a group effort by artists and art lovers to help fight hunger where we live.  Simply stated, a bunch of artist donate small works of art, Saline Picture Frame Co. mats them all and hosts a party, lots of people come to the party and bid on the art and then Food Gatherers uses the money raised to feed hungry people.

I donate to this great cause every year. If you have a chance, please visit their website or go to the auction and support them!

Watercolor painting of farm and fields along a country road.

Watercolor painting 8.5 inches x 6.5 inches
$80

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The fields are turning green here and I am getting excited about getting out and doing plein air watercolor paintings again. There are still many old farms in the Saline area of Michigan that I haven’t captured yet. But soon I will have to widen my scope and head farther west. At some point, I hope to have documented nearly every farm in the area with a landscape painting.

Watercolor painting of the old clock in Depot Town, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Watercolor painting 5 inches x 7 inches
$80

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Remember when all of the cities used to have ornate, old clocks in the center of downtown? There aren’t many left but there’s a beautiful example in Depot Town, Ypsilanti, Michigan. I’ve walked by it for years, and one day I finally brought my paints downtown and captured it in watercolor. I love documenting historical architecture and artifacts from an earlier time. I often kid that I should have been born 200 years ago but i doubt that society would have put up with my strong woman attitude!