Plein air landscape painting of a rock garden in front of a home.
Plein air watercolor painting 9.5 inches x 7 inches
The light shining through the silhouetted trees attracted my attention at this lovely home. I had to paint quickly because the heat that morning was overwhelming. But that kind of weather can actually be a good when doing watercolor landscapes. The washes and layers of color dry quickly, which helps me avoid creating pools of muddy color. Sometimes my mind and hands work faster than the medium allows. I get excited to get all my thoughts down before the previous layer has dried enough to accept another pass. Watercolor paintings take a bit of patience and forethought…and sometimes I have it…and sometimes I don’t!
Plein air watercolor painting of a pine tree near a meadow garden.
Plein air watercolor painting 7 inches x 9.5 inches
Another plein air watercolor landscape painting from the Ann Arbor Garden series I have been working on. I’ve visited this particular garden 3 times now and each time a find a completely different, intriguing view. The wild flowers made and interesting highlight against the dark depth of the forest behind. The flowers are fading fast in Michigan, but I hope to visit the gardens a few more times to do some pastel garden paintings …
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a July garden in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Plein air watercolor painting 7 inches x 10.5 inches
Another garden view from the older home I’ve visited a few times. I keep switching back and forth between plein air watercolor and pastel garden paintings, trying to decide which medium works best for flower filled landscapes. They each have their good points…guess I will just keep painting in both mediums…
Plein air pastel landscape painting of a flower urn along a garden path.
Pastel painting 9 inches x 12 inches
Another pastel garden painting! This property is amazing. It has every type of garden you can imagine. Formal shaded areas, large sunny meadows, wild flowers, wooded trails and creekbeds. Everything a Michigan plein air artist could hope for. I’ve painted on their beautiful grounds quite a few times and am starting to feel like one of the family. I always knock on the garden owner’s door to let them know I will be wandering their property. Its too creepy otherwise.
There was so many views to consider, it was almost overwhelming. I settled on this “small” scene since it was so hot and I knew I would not be able to take the heat for more than an hour or so. Plein air painting is not for sissies!
Plein air pastel landscape painting of garden and potting shed.
Pastel painting 9 inches x 12 inches
Saturday morning I visited the same beautiful home where I did the watercolor painting, “Garnet’s Potting Shed,” which I posted a few days ago. This time I wanted to try a pastel garden painting of the luscious grounds.
Much as I may want to create a painting that is all flowers, I am always drawn to the architecture in a scene. I like to take the strong, structural lines of buildings and play them against the organic flow of landscape, or in this case, flowers and shrubs. I walked to the other side of the shed and really liked the view. The small shed was in deep shadow but some of the plants were lit by almost psychodelic sunlight. Just the type of subject I like for plein air painting!
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a garden path and potting shed.
Plein air watercolor painting 7 inches x 10.5 inches
Last week, my friend, Cecily, and I visited a beautiful garden at a home built in the mid 1850′s by President Millard Fillmore’s brother. The gardens had a wonderful old fashioned feel to them and complimented the old house perfectly. It was extremely hot, but we planted ourselves in the shade and did a few plein air watercolor paintings. I also took a lot of reference photos of the many flower beds, trellises and out buildings for future pastel garden paintings to be done in my studio this winter.
Plein air pastel landscape painting of a small garden with path and birdhouse.
Pastel painting 5 inches x 7.5 inches $100
Although I am still knee deep in Italian paintings for my upcoming show, I am starting another fun project. A group of 12 Michigan plein air artists will be visiting 6 gardens in the Ann Arbor area to photograph and paint this summer and fall and next spring. Then in June, during the Ann Arbor Garden Walk, we will exhibit and sell some of the work we’ve done over the last year.
I visited one of our sites the other day, in the blistering heat, and did this small plein air painting. I took lots of photos to work from in my studio during the freezing winter months.
Plein air pastel painting of a statue in a garden.
Pastel painting 4.75 inches x 8.75 inches $100
I love painting landscapes and I’m drawn to the human figure. What a bonus when I can do both in one pastel drawing! This piece was done at one of my favorite plein air spots, Weller’s in Saline. The old mill site is now used for weddings and they have gorgeous gardens and grounds surrounding the buildings. I’ve been to many nuptials there and it is the perfect place for intimate, nature-filled gatherings. There are 3 or 4 elegant statues in the park-like setting and they make a perfect subject for plein air pastel paintings!
I’m continuing to work on loosening up in my plein air work. Catch the light and shadow, get the values right, ignore the itsy bitsy details…
Speaking of values, check out this neat online color test for artists. Women usually score higher than men. If you take it, send me your score!
I painted this pastel portrait the week before our trip out west. Carol came all decked out in garden wear so in my figure drawing of her, I envisioned her in a lovely, plant-filled location.
Pastel painting of a garden sculpture in the spring.
Pastel painting 10 inches x 13 inches
Wednesday was another day in the continuing saga of constant rain in Michigan. We were supposed to have a plein air meet that morning, but it was drizzling and I was the only one who showed up. I started this pastel painting of a statue in the park but the rain forced me back into the car twice. I finally left the garden painting unfinished and gave up for the day. Maybe I will try to work back into it on another day…
Plein air pastel painting of a bird bath in a spring garden.
Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 11.5 inches
Didn’t have time today for a full painting foray in the big world so I decided to do a pastel landscape right in my own backyard. Our bleeding hearts are in full show and I liked how they looked behind our birdbath. People were cutting grass and sawing wood all around me so this garden painting is much more peaceful than the actual experience of creating it was!
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a pond in a botanical garden
Plein air watercolor painting 10.5 inches x 7 inches
I painted this plein air watercolor painting in the same Naples botanical garden where I found all of the fascinating lilies. There were so many great views, it was difficult to choose one to paint. I will definitely be visiting this site again next year. Its a place to let your “inner color” explode!
