Spring Fed

Spring Fed___24 x 30 oil on linen

This is the one I worked on at the Chocolate Sketch class on Saturday. A typical Texas Hill country bluebonnet painting!

Many of our streams are "spring fed" as are the cattle!

I have some little things left to do, but you might not notice them so I decided to post it tonight...bigger paintings take a little time to "see". I like to hold them for many weeks and place them on walls around my house (or at coffee/chocolate shops!) to see things in different lighting conditions.I have planned this painting for a long while, after doing something outside that was very similar...

Ann's Bluebonnets

Ann's Bluebonnets__12 x 36  oil on linen__sold

 

 

I delivered this one to an old friend Friday night. Ann lives in Panama but was in town visiting family, so we had this date planned for months for her to pick up this painting...and the REAL bluebonnets are everywhere!...

The proportion made it difficult to photograph...

For the past few months I have been a spotty blogger. I hope you have enjoyed the break!

Frankly, these have been tough months, in many ways. The main thing is loss...the loss of my mom's health, mainly. I am really enjoying a lot of time with her these days, because I know I will not have her much longer....And also the loss of a few dear friends...different situations, but feeling their loss in deep ways.

If you live long enough these times happen, I know. So many of you have shared personal stories with me as we correspond.

So as Spring is here with NEW LIFE all around, PLEASE KNOW that I thank God for you...really!

The Backfield

The Backfield___10 x 30 oil on linen___available soon


I am in the middle of a blitz of western and wildlife works for my galleries...summer is SOON so I want to equip them with some good new works, plus I have a couple of shows I will bring new works to!


Of course there will be plenty of longhorns and horses, but if you have ides, let me know!


THIS WEEK, though...I am headed to Gadsden, Alabama for the Southeastern Plein Air Festival...can't wait to see friends there that I have not seen in about 3-4 years!
See y'all on the Coosa!

_______________V....Vaughan Spring Schedule________________

April 9-13, Southeastern Plein Air Festival, Gadsden, AL

Memorial Dy Weekend-May, Phippen Museum Western Art Show, Prescott, AZ

Summer Workshops in Texas, Colorado and more!

...see my schedule for more dates and events

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!

Lavender Layers

Lavender Layers__6x8 oil on linen panel___$150 wet!! ...sketch included

Yesterday's post was a painting at this same location, the lavender fields at Becker Vineyards in Fredericksburg, TX. Just as this is not a banner year for our bluebonnets, it looks like the lavender crop might be sparse, too. But then, maybe lavender plants peak later in the spring....for now, the plants are not very big or lush, but I like the scruffy colors in the foliage with just hints of blooming flower. Sometimes a BEAUTIFUL, thick growth of blooms can look too "fantastic" in a painting...bordering on "cartoonish"...like yesterday, I painted this from my sketch, (below). See the difference in composition?

Bluebonnet Stream 1

Bluebonnet Stream 1____6x8 oil on linen___will be dry for Christmas! $250 includes shipping
Saturday I mentioned that I have spent a few days solving "bluebonnet problems". The problems I am working on involve the little bluebonnet flower...they are very detailed, but as an Impressionist, I try not to dabble in all the details, but rather I try to create the impression of the big batch of blue! Here is one of three of the same scene I painted. They are all real JUICY and full of color. click the blog image to see the thick paint! But the paint will be dry by CHRISTmas!...MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Willow City Loop

Willow City Loop__8x10 oil study on linen panel__$250 when I am finished with the big version
I usually shoot a photo of the place where I am painting, just in case I need the reference details later. I RARELY post this reference photo, especially if I have been painting en plein air. But TODAY's location was so spectacular, that I NEED to show you what it REALLY looked like! (see below). I will be starting a large painting of this study as soon as I can, while it's all so fresh in my mind. ...This is TRULY a record year for Texas wildflowers. I told my painting buddy, Pat, that we used all 5 senses today!: The SIGHT of amazing colors, textures, places!...the SMELL of bluebonnets (and the goat farm we stopped at)...the FEEL of the cool air...the SOUNDS of the spring, like the birds that sound like dripping water (cowbirds?), and the spring peepers (frogs)...and I guess to complete the senses, Pat made some great food for my birthday lunch! what a pal!...and We stopped at a little BBQ place on the Loop and got a pulled pork sandwich...