Back From Saratoga & Back To Work

At the race track...

It seems that time just flew by. Last week was taken up with packing, getting the farm sitters introduced to our daily routine and then the drive to Saratoga Springs. And now here we are back home,getting our life back on track with the art show and the excitement of the racetrack behind us.

My work hanging at Equidae Gallery,in the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs,NY.

It was nice to get "off the farm" and to see new places, horses galore at the track,and wonderful art work in Saratoga galleries....but now I am back in my studio, working on the two paintings I started in my casein painting demonstration that I did for Equidae Gallery  in Saratoga.One of the paintings is turning into a mixed media piece....I have gone into it with my Sennelier oil pastels and am liking it!

The gardens grew while we were gone....the grass grew.....the weeds grew. We have our work cut out for us,so to speak, when the rain has stopped. But for now, I am painting away making up for lost time. A gallery is asking for new work for an October show! So it's back to the drawing board!

A new casein turned mixed media ....in progress!!

Winter Has A Hold On The Farm

"The Exerciser - Keeneland"    watercolor on board     12 x 12"

The winter weather broke for awhile.We had a taste of spring for a few days and rain came in last night with a pounding force that melted the snow that was piled up over the past month. Today I can see patches of brown, green and that means mud is not far behind. But we will have to wait for the mud while as a cold snap comes back with snow squalls and winds that bite. Our brook is rushing ,freed of it winter mantle, but ice coats our paths and walking needs a concerted effort to stay upright.

When winter refuses to leave...I stay in my studio. 

I have finished the above watercolor, done on Amperstand watercolor board. I have used this board before and like how the Sennelier watercolors slide around on the clay surface of the board. I will finish this painting off with a fixative that protects the watercolor and allows the painting to be framed WITHOUT glass. A novel idea.  The painting, "The Exerciser - Keeneland",   will be available from me, on my website.... until I decide what paintings go to what gallery during the summer months.

I also ventured out the other day for a quick plein air foray in pastels....the result is the following 5 x 7" painting on pastel board. "Winter Barn" is available, but I am redoing my website and it might not be put up on my site. In fact a lot of work will be taken off my site. Call it spring cleaning?

"Winter Barn"     5 x 7"      pastel on  Amperstand pastel board

Nellie does not like this rainy and now cold weather....The temps are falling now more than a degree a hour with high winds bringing snow. This morning it was 42F. Now it is 27F and falling. Nellie has decided to stay snuggled up in our bed....I am headed down to put the horses in. Winter winds are blowing.

Wake up Sleepy Nell!

A Thank You Gift From Sennelier - Thank You, Sennelier!

My thank you gifts from Sennelier France.

A while ago I was contacted by Sennelier of France and asked if I would help them with a blind test of their watercolors. They had seen my website and liked my work.. and so invited me to help them improve their product.

 I have used Sennelier supplies for years and am familiar with their high quality product line. When I lived in Italy I used their pastels ...and loved them! 

 It was a fun test, with several tubes of various watercolor colors to compare..It really made me think about the consistency and fluidity of each tube as I compared and rated them all, then finally picking my favourite from each group. They told me they would sent me a thank you for my time at the end of the testing. The time spent was fun and I had learned someting during it.

When several weeks later a big box from France was delivered to our home I was more than excited about the contents! I have new watercolors to use....new pastels to play with and new oil pastels to try! AND lots of new 300 lb watercolor paper to put to good use, along with some new watercolor brushes!

Thank you Sennelier!!! Believe me, the pleasure was all mine!! Below is one of the paintings that I completed with the test paints which I liked the best!! It is available on my website.

"Lift Off"     watercolor          8 x 13"

Now I am just now heading down to the studio for a bit....going to try those Sennelier oil pastels for sure!