Plein air watercolor landscape of an approaching storm over Montana mountains.
Plein air watercolor painting 9.5 inches x 7 inches $100
My very last watercolor landscape sketch from Montana this June. Some of the weather was unusually fierce that week and it was fun to try and capture the tumultuous clouds that rolled over the mountains. You have to work quickly in these conditions and watercolor painting is probably as good as any medium for speed. But you have to be willing relinquish a little control and work with the surprises that appear on your paper…
We’ll be going to New Orleans for a visit soon. I am looking forward to doing some watercolor building paintings when I am down there. I’ve always loved NOLA and it’s very, very unique architecture and atmosphere.
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a road in the hills of Montana.
Plein air watercolor painting 7 inches x 9.5 inches $100
Another watercolor landscape from our trip to Bonanza Creek Country Ranch in Montana. We had a great cabin, perched on a hill, that looked down on the little road leading to the stable. The view was fantastic. The walk up, after a hard day in the saddle…not so much. It was cloudy much of our time there and quite a few flood watches, which is unusual for them. One day after an all-day ride, I sat on our front porch and did this watercolor painting of the road and the mountains in the distance.
Plein air watercolor landscape painitng of a stand of pines on a hill in Montana
Plein air watercolor painting 9.5 inches x 7 inches $100
Here’s another watercolor landscape from our wonderful trip to Bonanza Creek Country Ranch this June. Every cabin is secluded and surrounded by Montana landscape. One morning I sat on our deck and worked on a quick watercolor painting of the pines and hill behind our place. It was so pristine and quiet…
Sorrella Jewelry Studio, my sisters’ online jewelry company has just been mentioned in Us Weekly! They are hitting the big time and are now providing beautiful bling gifts to the celebs! Check out their famous new diamond-rimmed monogram necklace. So proud to be doing some design work for them!
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of the woods on a Montana ranch.
Plein air watercolor painting 6. 5 inches x 10 inches
When we were out west, we all stayed in cozy, lovely cabins situated in private wooded areas on the ranch. One afternoon, I sat on our deck with a glass of wine and did a plein air watercolor painting of the pine trees near by.
Its hard to explain the solitude at Bonanza Creek. You can see for miles and miles– ranch land, cattle, forests, sky and mountains. But you don’t see cities, houses, cars, traffic, planes or much “civilization” of any kind. It feels like what our country must have been like hundreds of years ago, before we filled every available space with stuff. It is unfamiliar and overwhelming at first. But once you’ve been there, you pine to return…
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of ranchland in Montana
Plein air watercolor painting 6. 5 inches x 10 inches
Montana in June was marvelous! They have had a lot more rain this year than usual (maybe TOO much!) and the land was lush, green and covered with wildflowers. We spent most of our time at Bonanza Creek riding the 35,000 acre ranch, soaking up the unbelievably beautiful scenery. A couple of days were spent on culling out “pairs” (a mother and baby cow) from the herd, team penning (separating specific cows into specific pens) and moving one of the herds to new grazing grounds. Of course, all of these tasks could have been done with one experienced rancher and a dog, but our group of 7 plucky cowgirls did an admirable job.
I didn’t have much time for plein air watercolor painting but I did manage to do a few quick sketches in the afternoons. Whenever I travel to a new location, it takes me a while to “get the lay of the land.” And believe me, the land out there is amazing! How do you suggest endless fields and valleys that lead, miles away, to huge jagged mountain ranges? Especially when it is not the landscape that you are familiar with? This is my first attempt at a watercolor landscape of the daunting but very beautiful western countryside…
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a footpath in Montana
Plein air watercolor painting 5 inches x 7 inches
I’m going out to Bonanza Creek in Montana this June! Beth and I are going to ride the hills with a great gaggle of cowgirls who are as excited as we are. I’ve been looking at new cowboy boots and dreaming of days on horseback. I’ll be bringing my watercolors and painting in the afternoons after our rides. This little plein air watercolor painting was done the last time I visited my sister in Dillon. Can’t wait to paint watercolor landscapes of the beautiful western countryside again!
Plein air watercolor painting of the president's house at the University of Montana Western
Plein air Watercolor painting 9 inches x 6 inches
My sister lived in Dillon, the biggest city in Beaverhead County, Montana. Whoa, 4,000 population! But its a wonderful town, full of really nice people. The University of Montana Western is located there, and one day we explored the campus. The president’s house was a beautiful old building just made for a plein air watercolor painting of architecture. The great thing about being a watercolor artist is that you can always carry a small bag of supplies with you and stop at the drop of a hat to paint!
Watercolor portrait of two cowgirls on their horses.
Watercolor portrait painting 12 inches x 9 inches
My Bonanza Creek dreaming wouldn’t be complete without a watercolor portrait of the two intrepid cowgirls! Here we are moving cattle in September, living the good life!
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a road leading to a Montana ranch
Plein air Watercolor painting 15 inches x 5.5 inches
Sometimes an extreme horizontal format is the best way to capture the feeling of a location, especially if you want to create a panorama effect. This Montana watercolor landscape was painted in July when the fields had already turned to gold, but before everything has greyed down and lost its vibrancy.
