Harbor Life

Harbor Life__20 x 60 oil on linen___For Rockport Art Festival this weekend (click to enlarge)
I posted "state one" of this large work a few months ago. Click to see the first version, but you will be hard pressed to see any big changes. I just added a few nondescript birds... I have been saving it to show at the Rockport Art Festival, in Rockport Texas this weekend. Of course, I like to show my blog friends my works FIRST, and to give you the chance to purchase it first, too. SO, if you need a BIG BIG piece of art let me know quick, because I will show this one as my "flagship" piece over the weekend....I hope to see you there! It looks a LOT BETTER in "real life!
Speaking of "life", I thought you 'd like to see our little "Johnson" who is now our BIG BOY, since the Good Dane Romeo passed away a few weeks ago....Romeo used to put a ball like this under his tongue!...check out the ear!

Cottonwood Chill

Cottonwood Chill___20x16 oil on linen__for Passing America: The Great Plains__$1700 unframed
With Summer here and temperatures in the 100's every day, we can only DREAM of fall! Somehow, though, "dreaming" is a good tool for the artist! ...

I remember being young and BEGGING my parents for a horse! My friends had horses and we lived neat a stable where they were kept. Every day after school and all summer long I would hang out at the stables, brushing the horses, cleaning the stalls (YES, I LOVED doing that!...ANYTHING to be around the horses...I even loved the smells!...you tom-boys know exactly what I mean!).

...my friend Betty Sue would often let me watch her horse Ginger when she was out of town. This was the best of all worlds! I got to spend every moment with Ginger, and I would take her down to a far pasture to ride bareback, to halter her up to a tree and sketch her for hours. Her eyes told me that she loved me better than Betty Sue...(dreaming, remember?). My favorite thing was riding her into the deeper waters of Walnut Creek, and she would swim across with me holding onto her mane...Walnut Creek was cool because it was spring-fed, so this was a great summertime treat!....I never got my own horse as a kid, but DREAMING about them , I think, made me a better artist! I can draw a horse now, from memory, at ANY angle....

BIG Gathering_ Crossing Kansas

BIG Gathering _ Crossing Kansas _24x30 oil on linen__for Passing America: The Great Plains
I am probably not finished with this one, yet...it is a large one for my plains exhibit in the fall. A few weeks ago, I posted the study for this one. It was called "Gathering for Kansas"...click link to see it and compare. The study was a "drive-by" painting, created on the move as we went past the little farm where these cows were crossing.

High Plains Gathering

High Plains Gathering-state 2 ___24x24 oil on linen___for Passing America:The Great Plains
A few days ago I taught a one day workshop in Smithville, TX. THe group had worked with me a month earlier, and I gave "homework" for them to "START" a few canvases. TTHis time, I showed how to work up one of their "starts" to a larger canvas. The version below was state one of a large canvas I worked up from the small. This demo took about an hour (not counting my talking time....plenty of that!!!). The idea was to lay down the largest, simplest shapes of color. State two, above is the next step....I see things that I need to refine, before calling it DONE. This one is posted especially for the "gang" in Smithville....would love to know your comments and what you think I will probably do to call it "done" :)

Demo Before Morning

Demo Before Morning__6x8 oil on linen__$190
While posting this I got to thinking...I am not sure anyone in the workshop even saw it! The day was still darkish when I finished and everyone was already well into their own works. (I love that point in a workshop when the artists are suddenly brave and taking on the problems without "needing" me to get started!) We all got to the location VERY early...about a half hour before sunrise. According to NASA, this is called "twilight". I use their site to determine sun and moon phases ANYwhere I travel. This helps with workshops to schedule sunrise/sunset times...check out the site)...There will be another multi-day workshop in Fredericksburg this year. Sometime in Late Oct-Nov...stay tuned!
...And a word to my Smithville group: I looked at the noun today, and have decided the verb was MUCH BETTER....Y'all know what I mean...and so do my Fredericksburg friends. I will "post and tell" tomorrow!

Sunrise Scape

Sunrise Scape__6x8 oil on linen panel___$190
Another demo from the Fredericksburg workshop.

We arrived on locations at 6 am for our morning paintouts. This one was at the home of Bill and Nancy Bush and it was downright CHILLY that morning. We all reminded each other that later in the day we would WISH it was so cool....our afternoon temps topped out at over 100!

We painted all week with a limited palette of just FOUR paint colors, and the goal was to see the spectrum in each scene. The sun was just above the horizon when I painted this, so the spectrum was in the sky and not on the land, yet.....

To my class: I DID a few "oil changes" on this one when I got home, and I stayed true to the palette...Can y'all see the refining of shapes?...and the addition of the "pure color" we talked about?...I miss y'all!

Uptown Luckenbach

Feed Mill -Uptown Luckenbach, TX__8x10 oil on linen___Available soon
Here is a demo from the workshop this week. This feedmill is owned by Monroe Behrens who is, himself a creative artist and craftsman. He calls his place "Uptown Luckenbach". THis was my favorite place all week.....I just loved all the activity and equipment, with goats in the front yard and farm fields behind. We saw the moonrise here and marveled at the full spectrum in the light at sunset....I spent 45 minutes on this study, and plan to push and pull some things before selling it....

Warm Texas Morning

Warm Texas Morning__6x8 oil on linen___sold
I miss my new friends today!
We had a full class of artists painting together in Fredericksburg, TX for the past three days! I should have blogged this last night, but I have been "recovering"...whew!
This was a plein air workshop, and I am sure there is a special place in heaven for anyone who will brave 100+ degree heat to paint in the great outdoors...It was also a time to focus on the "extreme light" ends of the day, so we worked from dawn to dark. The little one above was a demo yesterday morning, not long after sunrise...the clouds teased us each morning, but there is no such thing as rain!
We painted in some great locations, including a winery, a feed mill, and a pioneer farm.
I kept expecting to hear complaints (like at the feed mill when trucks would whiz by on the dirt, stirring up gritty clouds that wafted onto us! The "lowlight" of my week...I HATED it, but kept quiet for the sake of my painter friends :)
I look forward to teaching in Fredericksburg later in the year. Stay tuned!
THIS Saturday, the 18th, I teach a one-day session in Smithville. It might be full, but if interested, please call me 512.917.0814

THe Way of the Farmer

The Way of the Farmer____16 x 20 oil on linen for On the Way exhibit in Austin at Hill Country Bible Church AND
for Passing America: The Great Plains in October at the Great Plains Art Museum at the University of Nebraska

This was painted from a photo I took at the farm a few years ago, while Aunt Nancy, the farmer, drove past my studio window. I have ALWAYS planned to paint it, and finally....now! It will be on exhibit at Hill Country for a while, then I will FINISH the painting for my Great Plains solo show....Yes, it is not finished. THIS PART is, but I will add a few IMPORTANT things before I will call it "done"....can you guess?

When I am at the easel, I do not FULLY appreciate what I am doing. You artists understand what I mean...
While DOING it, you are in "one zone" which I call "the VERB - painting"....
LATER the artwork becomes a "NOUN"-(THE painting). Today I looked at the Romeo I posted yesterday, with tears...it LOOKS like him exactly.
I posted this link once before, but here again is my FAVORITE thought on DOGS....it's fun, and MEANINGFUL! When you play it, PLEASE think of your favorite dog :) And Be blessed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY

Some of you will see me at sunrise!!! ...or so! See you at the workshop!!!

Romeo's Last Thunder

Romeo's Last Thunder_____Pastel pencils on archival paper_____Family Collection
Our beloved "Good Dane", Romeo died on Thursday....He has been in our family since he was a baby, given to my oldest son as a Christmas gift. Of course, when the son went away to college, I claimed Romeo....He truly was a gentle giant who made a great impact on all who net him...I have spent the past few days moping and missing him....terribly.
I got to hold him in my arms when he went "away", but I made sure not to cry till he was gone. He was brave, and gentle and a lot of fun, even just a few days ago!...I sketched this today, from one of his last photos. He was looking out the window, a little bit nervous that there was distant thunder in the area...he never liked thunder....

***My Workshop next week in Fredericksburg is FULL...THANK YOU to all who signed up...For those of you on the waiting list, we will do it again in the fall! More details to come!
***There might be a spot or two in the Saturday workshop in Smithville... vvaughan8@yahoo.com

While the Sun Shines___12 x 12 oil on Gallery Wrap canvas___for Passing America (and "on the way")

This painting actually "lines up" to make a nice grouping with the painting I posted the other day, called
"On The Way"...if you get my e-mail, I attached them side by side for the group to see...
Both these paintings are inspired by our old farm..that's Nancy driving the tractor...She was the FARMER on our farm for the last 10-15 years we were there...an IMPRESSIVE woman, and my husband's aunt. She trains horses, rides rodeos (was in the NFR in the mid 1980's), and LOVES THE LAND...Nancy doesn't know it, yet, but she will be in a number of these larger works I am preparing for my solo museum show in October (Great Plains Art Museum)....I will pick the best one for her and make a nice canvas print for her house :)
If you have been itching, it might be the summer no see-ums, but I bet it is that you are itching to paint! Come to a workshop! Mine are short, and intense and LOTS of fun...see below

*** SUMMER PAINTING WORKSHOPS...we have room for just a few more!
June 13-15 2011
Fredericksburg Artists School
Plein Air Color – Capturing the Impression Quickly ...or Painting and Sketching, Every Day (…and what to do with all those field studies!) http://www.fbgartschool.com/ for info and to register...hurry, it's almost full!

June 18- A one-day workshop, Smithville, TX... GREAT for beginners or "rusty" artists. Learn how to manage oil paints and the basics of painting quickly and impressionistically.

Oct 8-10
Workshop at Bone Creek, David City, NE ...in conjunction with the opening of my solo show

Passing America: The Great Plains in Lincoln, NE

Life on the Lake

Life on the Lake__10 x 12 oil on linen panel___sold
I wish this was MY lake, but it's a special place for my cousin, Jeff and his wife, Tricia... Here is what Tricia says about the place!
"This is my aunt and uncles cabin in Emily, Minnesota on Rogers Lake..... we always have a blast when we're there. My aunt and uncle call it "The Sweet Spot" It's a small, quiet, clean lake with a lot of wildlife. One of my favorite things to do is sit on the dock and watch the eagle and her babies that have a nest real near by. Jeff actually rests while we're up there too, which he's not very good at doing at home."

*** SUMMER PAINTING WORKSHOPS...we have room for just a few more!
June 13-15 2011
Fredericksburg Artists School
Plein Air Color – Capturing the Impression Quickly ...or Painting and Sketching, Every Day (…and what to do with all those field studies!) http://www.fbgartschool.com/ for info and to register...hurry, it's almost full!

June 18- A one-day workshop, Smithville, TX... GREAT for beginners or "rusty" artists. Learn how to manage oil paints and the basics of painting quickly and impressionistically.

Oct 8-10
Workshop at Bone Creek, David City, NE ...in conjunction with the opening of my solo show

Passing America: The Great Plains in Lincoln, NE

Lying Bull

Lying Bull___6x6 oil on canvas panel_____$190 when it dries (click image to see details)

See that expression??? ....Nuff said!

On the Way

On the Way___12 x 12 gallery wrap___for an upcoming show
YES! THis one is a larger version of my last post called On the 28th. WHen I do similar paintings I like to keep the titles similar so that I can find them in my files...This painting was prepared for an upcoming exhibit of the PACT Team at Hill Country Bible Church next month...I will talk about that as the time draws near.
I have a couple of almost full workshops drawing near...June 13-15 in Fredericksburg, TX and June 18 in Smithville, TX...I have heard that the Smithville group has been doing their "homework" which I "assigned" a few weeks ago! I am eager to meet up with some of these artists who have already worked with me!
....V

On the Twenty-Eighth

On the Twenty-Eighth__6x8 oil on linen__special commission
I painted this as a special commission for DB and KB...I hope they like it....the date of this farm painting was OCTOBER 28...
Saturday is the 28th of May....a day I have been preparing for for 12 years! My youngest son will graduate high school tomorrow....on his way to college and life beyond!...Just as I am on my way to an empty nest and life beyond!....We were reminded of that today, (Friday) as we went to the funeral for Aunt June....my husband's GREAT Aunt. Our families had a lot of contact with one another...it was great to see the extended family at the funeral on the south side of San Antonio...we all vowed to get together soon BEFORE the next funeral....June was almost 90. She was a friend of Grandmother Helen and married to her brother, Roy who died a few years ago....WONDERFUL TEXAS PEOPLE with a rich love of life and family...from an era that we owe a lot to..... She passed quietly in her sleep...what a blessing and GIFT to her daughters...

Ginger

Ginger___6x6 oil on linen___a graduation gift for Katy

Please don't tell her!!!! ;)

The Shapes of Sunrise

The Shapes of Sunrise---A LESSON---painting is SOLD
I say that painting is easy! Like everything else it takes time and practice to get comfortable with all the variables. Variables such as what type of canvas? board? brush? brand of paint?...and then there's the KNOWLEDGE factor: does green and yellow make blue? what ratio of green to yellow? WHAT??? OH, I just wasted a bunch of green...
But after a while, you get better at it, or at LEAST braver! (I say that you ought to at least be brave when you try new things...this is also my driving philosophy when I am in a new town, and a rental car...I get lost a lot, but I do it with CONFIDENCE!)
I started the painting above with a class watching me. The lesson was this "painting is SIMPLY shapes of colors"...using a photo from my farm (September 30, to be precise) I made myself see the shapes of color. See below for this first step. Putting them in order first, I then COMPARE the relationships of the colors. For the finish, I make adjustments, and then "de-edge" some of the color shapes...
Now, that was a FREE lesson, but there's a little more to it...JOIN ME at one of my upcoming workshops, and I will share the rest! :) (schedule below)
WORKSHOPS:______________________________________________________________________
Jun 13-15 2011
Fredericksburg Artists School
Plein Air Color – Capturing the Impression Quickly ...or Painting and Sketching, Every Day (…and what to do with all those field studies!) http://www.fbgartschool.com/ for info and to register...hurry, it's almost full!

June 18- A one-day workshop, Smithville, TX... GREAT for beginners or "rusty" artists. Learn how to manage oil paints and the basics of painting quickly and impressionistically.

Oct 8-10
Workshop at Bone Creek, David City, NE ...in conjunction with the opening of my solo show

Passing America: The Great Plains in Lincoln, NE

FIrst Thermals

First Thermals___8x10 oil on linen panel___for Passing America: The Great Plains (click image for details!)
Early in the spring the air is often too cool and heavy for the buzzards to float as they like to do, but the day I painted this was warm. In fact, it was one of the very FIRST warm days of spring. The air was warm and light and the buzzards were enjoying their ride on the thermals!
I mentioned yesterday (or so) that I am a crazy person for the next couple of weeks, as my son prepares to graduate high school....CONGRATULATIONS Sam!

Spring Patchwork

Spring Patchwork-Caldwell, Kansas_8x10 oil on linen_for Passing America: The Great Plains

This one was painted through Kansas last month...a "drive-by" painting for my project.

It is GRADUATION time for my youngest son...if you have had a high school graduate in your life lately, you understand...it is a crazy time, with proms, parties, powderpuff football games, dodgeball tournaments and important things like that! Oh, yes, and academics! Tonite was the academic awards, and I am amazed at the success earned by the beautiful young people who have worked so hard! I will be erratic with posts for the ext couple of weeks...did I mention finals, parties and family and friends at graduation time???

Flyover

Flyover__Decatur, TX___8x10 oi on linen___for Passing America: The Great Plains exhibit

**YOU ARE INVITED!...FRIDAY, May 13 (TONIGHT!) I will give a gallery talk in Smithville, TX at a reception for the opening of an exhibit. Thirty of my Farm paintings are there, for a month-long exhibit we call "Missing the Farm". Come, if you can! Stay till Saturday for a special one-day workshop. E-mail me for info vvaughan8@yahoo.com

You have to look hard to see the "flyover" in this "drive-by" painting. THe last of the birds flying north from Texas last month. I was not sure what these were, but we saw pelicans when we stopped for gas. The pelicans were not in "formation" when I saw them, so these might be geese???