February 16 Another Winter Morning

Clouds make the color. In life and in skies. This morning had no clouds and therefore no brilliant color. The days are getting longer; the sun is up a little earlier each day and stays in the sky until later every evening. I haven't talked with a Minnesotan in the last two weeks who wasn't hankering for spring.

8" x 10" $470

February 7 Trompe l'oeil Scene

I rather liked the color scheme of yesterday's painting. I used the same colors today on a much larger winter scene. This is an out of the ordinary shape which called for a painted frame since it would be difficult to find one to fit. I've done trompe l'oeil on walls in homes around the area; including mine. It's a fun wall treatment but since this one is on hardboard, it's portable. The detail shows a segment of the "frame."

Approximately 27" at the widest by 30" at the peak. $380

February 6 Farms in February

This looks mighty strange for a teapot and cup. That's what I was going to paint until the first stroke of paint hit the "canvas." After warping the brandy glass yesterday, I was going to warp up a nice tea pot and cup. But then I dipped the brush in the paint and that first stroke laid down such a nice streak of colors that I just ran with it from top to bottom and then decided how to develop it. Nice little winter landscape.

8" x 10" $370

January 27 Winter Twilight

I was driving home today, just as the sun was setting. It did lovely smoky lavendar and saffron things to the clouds. I had my camera along, but didn't stop to photograph the landscape. I should have, it would only have taken a minute. Instead, I've relied on my memory and created the third winter scene in a row. It's a little larger than some. I hope you like it.

20" x 16" $270

January 25 Winter Tree

It was another very busy day. I'd set today as my deadline to get the photos for the vinegary book to the publisher. It takes longer than you'd think to name, caption and put "a lot" of photos in files and send them via e-mail. Of course there were other items on my work agenda and I think, at 8:30 p.m., I can call it a day.

We've had some nice winter days recently. But today was cold and blustery. With winter dominating my feelings, a relatively simple winter scene was a necessity as time waned and fatigue set in. But, I think it works. I never sign a painting if I'm not satisfied with it.

11" x 14" $250

January 12 Pretty Little Winter Scene

On a busy day like today, I was happy to fall back on my window painting experience and paint a quick little greeting card scene. It's based on the picturesque farm half-way between here and Long Prairie.

We had to skip the Snap Fitness workout this morning to get to St. Cloud for a contract negotiation meeting for my book about the vinegary. The publisher is south of St. Cloud and believe it or not, had a goat giving birth in a small shelter outside the company door! I'll save that story for another time.

From that meeting we zipped back into St. Cloud. I met with the publisher and account rep of the magazine I edit: Central Minnesota Women. Ron putzed around town, ate some tacos and took a nap.

Then back home for a ten minute session of daily painting before heading back to Long Prairie for Savannah's first basketball game of the season. Her team didn't come out victorious but they were fun to watch.

Supper was a quick assembly of soup using the chicken stock from those chicken wings on Sunday. Ron was going to make noodles but we were out of flour. Gosh, who's in charge of grocery shopping these days?

Twenty more minutes of painting post-supper, application of my simple signature, a digital moment then quick upload to the blog and next I'll be off to play volleyball at 7:30. Hey, the daily painting got me out of dishes tonight. Art perks.

Twelfth day of daily paintings, 8" x 10" $120   SOLD This one is going to Germany! Hi Ho Hi Ho!