Garden Watercolors

Camassia and Tulips
(SOLD - inquire about similar work)

I am all about my garden at this time of year and am painting some small (4" x 10") watercolors in it...of it.

Hate to tear myself away, but Alaska calls...and Oregon and Washington.  When I return I hope I can see the 36" tall poppy heads over the weeds...and I am dreaming of the fabulous roses of the northwest...and the Cascade Mountains, Columbia River, Kenai Peninsula, and midnight sun.   These are the last 3 states for my Fifty State Plein Air Painting Project 
which you may have heard me mention...a few thousand times...over the last 7 years...yes? 

Tell me about your trips, garden, paintings, dogs or plans. (bunions, bad knees, periodontists...no thanks).    North to the Future!

See side bar for the exhibit at Butternut of Garden art work .

A New Hampshire Barn...and...

One of the few plein air paintings I've done since my Mojave trip in the spring. One of my fellow life drawing classmates invited artists to his wonderful historic property; full of gardens, architecture and a view of Mt. Monadnock. Hope he asks us back again because all I got done was one corner of his barn...Ken's Barn 12 x 12 pastel...available for purchase.

Speaking of which...the other new thing is a blog of all my paintings for sale currently. Some have been in storage too long. Some have been greatly reduced. Some not much. This will change as new ones are posted.

So, besides, drive paintings here and there, weed the garden and buy more plants that's about my summer so far. There has been much contemplation in the garden, too. What about you?

"The feeling of being present is most alive in this painting.  I can feel the scene and almost smell it."

 One of the eloquent readers of this blog sent that comment to my email regarding this painting. Thank you, thank you. I love hearing from you all.
       

Vermont Pastel Society Members Show

Living in Vermont, just two and a half years, I like to explore; I took my first trip to Randolph yesterday. I drove through sleet, mud and downpour because I was delivering some paintings for the annual VPS members exhibit at the historic - and very much alive and thriving - Chandler Music Hall.


I could have taken Amtrak because the northbound Vermonter stops here in Brattleboro and then Randolph, every day.  Freight trains, too? I can see the typical rail yard assortment of buildings and mysterious equipment and piles of "material"....maybe a track repair facility? I'll find out because I am going back for some plein airpainting in Randolph. It's a town with character, music, art. What's not to like?

Dreams are Made of This 16 x 16 by Rodrica Tilley 2013

The exhibit of work by some members of Vermont Pastel Society is in the Chandler Downstairs Gallery. As you exit the ladies room you will see our paintings on two walls. You are invited to the opening reception this Friday April 4th, 5-7pm. (Stay for Mustard's Retreat and John Gorka performance) I have learned never to be disappointed at being placed near the bathrooms...many people will see your work...believe me, there are worse placements for art...and the lighting is good. My painting, Dreams are Made of This is available for purchase from Chandler. 802-728-9878

Connecticut River at RT 9

One chilly morning, Charlotte Fischer and I set up our easels on the old bridge (retired from vehicular service when a new one was built) to Chesterfield NH from North Brattleboro, VT. After 2 and a half hours on the bridge....not getting much warmer...we gave up...not entirely happy with our results, but at least glad we'd risen to the challenge. We both agreed that we had watched one of nature's magical miracles - foliage turning color before our very eyes! Really. There was much more yellow and gold along the banks when we packed it up than when we started.

This 12 x 12 will be for sale soon. It may need a few small finishing touches, but it is almost ready for framing. It is not one of those who hangs around the studio torturing me for months.

Tuesday Painters Exhibit at Latchis 4 Gallery

For the month of September the Tuesday Painters are exhibiting their recent oils and pastel paintings at Latchis 4 Gallery. All 5 of us will be at the artists' reception First Friday Gallery Walk...5-8:30...September 6. At other times the gallery will be open whenever the Latchis Movie Theater is open; enter the theater lobby and turn left through the first door. It's all on Main Street, downtown Brattleboro, VT.

Tuesday Painters is a group of 5 women who like to hang out together while painting outdoors. Charlotte Fischer, Basha Freudenberg, Cicely Carroll, Deedee Jones and Rodrica Tilley all work independently, but the experience of painting together at one location can be creatively inspiring....and Eye Opening! It has been a joy for me to get to know these artists in my new community...as well as the places they have taken me to. 

My painting above, upper left, Boxwoods and Bench was inspired by a friend's lovely garden in fall.

So hoof it on down to Latchis 4 --- meet me and my friends --- check out our awesome paintings.

Then, just around the corner on Flat St. at Vermont Center for Photography, my husband, Michael Poster has an exhibit: Dreamland - pictures about the effects of natural gas development and production on a small rural community in northeast Pennsylvania, that used to be our home. 

That same Friday night, our daughter, Zoe Tilley Poster,  is part of the Enormous Tiny Art Show in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at Nahcotta 110 Congress St. Three simultaneous openings! You can purchase Zoe's framed original drawings online....or you can go in and have a look now. 603.433.1705

The Gardener's House

SOLD

This is an early morning plein air painting of a charming property that the Tuesday Painters were invited to visit and set up our easels. It is 16 x 16 and available for purchase framed.

Imagine having a gardener living in the midst of an extensive garden...or being a gardener living in this cute place. (I think many decades ago I read a banned book about this. My mother smuggled it over the border during one of my father's fishing trips in the 1950's. He was concerned about not exceeding the number of allowed dead fish in the cooler. I wonder if he knew about Lady Chatterley's Lover in my mom's suitcase. Neither of them knew of my secretly reading it a few years later)

Can't go wrong with Gallery Wright

The first Vermont showing of my paintings is at Gallery Wright in Wilmington VT; Nine pastel paintings from the Fifty States Plein Air Painting Project as well as one of my large flower garden pastels, June Bloomers. Those of you who have been following the Fifty States blog know there is a story behind many of the "on location" pastel paintings. Some of the tales are about miss-adventures on the road, some are about history or geography or quirky anecdotes. It has been an interesting project involving a car full of art supplies, many miles of open road and a "mature" artist.

Falk Road, Dummerston, VT

I love to drive around my new neighborhood in Vermont, investigating possible painting sites...just looking at the views. On a previously un-driven-by-me gravel road ten minutes from home I came upon this fabulously tree-infested, nicely cultivated property. The garden was tilled and some stakes were up. No vehicles came by for the 3 hours I was there on the side of the road. Then the clouds even decided to cooperate. A perfect day for plein air painting.

This 16 x 20 was done on the very toothy Richeson pastel board (slate) with a mix of Sennelier and Great American soft pastels.

Garden To Be

On the corner of my deck sit a few pots of pansies and some annuals and French tarragon; a restrained selection, for me, in anticipation of a few small construction projects here this summer. We are having a formerly used small greenhouse attached to our house, the deck enlarged and the front stone walk and steps rebuilt. This 12 x 16 pastel is my first plein air painting of 2012. Well, at least I didn't wait until May...quite. I painted this yesterday afternoon. Happy planting!

Phyllis' Garden

On July 10th my friend invited a few plein air painters to her new home. It is an airy Pennsylvania hill-top site wedged between two defunct dairy farms. Being a sucker for garden views, I chose this veggie garden as seen from one of several elevated porches and balconies. I was attracted to the linear elements and the protective presence of the large maple tree. In my crazy season of packing and moving I forgot to post this. Now it is a nice reminder of a midsummer's afternoon painting with friends....and another of the Transitions series.

Lilium 'Pizzazz'

I've been amusing myself by painting some of my wonderful Asiatic & hybrid lilies in watercolor. The weather has cooled off a bit and is more conducive to spending time in the garden- painting or weeding. This is a small 4" x 4" and there are a few other companions to it.

Annual Summer Art Exhibit

SOLD
I have been having a rather exciting spring...painting, watching a den of red foxes on my property, traveling to Delaware for a few sublime beach painting days, looking for the kit red foxes, weeding the garden, smelling the roses, wandering through the woods with binoculars peering around trees to spy the adorable little foxes, finding a rafter of wild turkey poults and thinking what a good meal they will make for the foxes (my apologies, hunters), wondering who will eat our blueberries this year...turkeys or foxes.

Please come to my July 2 opening reception here from 6-8pm. The annual summer art exhibit continues through July 11th. Open every day 10-6 - except one - closing at 4pm on the 11th. I will be showing pastels and watercolors of landscapes, rivers, flowers, gardens, travel...and, you guessed it, foxes!

Artists are invited to set up easels and paint in the garden any day during the exhibit.

Birch Trees Dancing

SOLD
I was invited to a paint out yesterday by members of Hill Country Artists. At Christine Olson's home there were many wonderful trees and flowers to paint but these two caught my eye. In fact, it seemed like they were the only couple on the dance floor, gracefully swaying in the morning light. For such a simple subject they gave me a surprisingly difficult time. I'd love a chance to paint them again; I think I could use fewer strokes, a smaller amount of pastel and considerably less sweat and swearing the second time around. I'm not even sure this painting is finished now. Maybe tomorrow will bring even further clarity.

My Day at Gibbs

SOLD
SOLD
These are two of the last August Painting marathon pieces; both done as the guest at Gibbs Garden Center, LeRaysville, PA last Saturday. The morning especially threatened rain which allowed me to have a really active sky in each painting. They are each about 2-hour paintings with minimal adjustments back in the studio. They will be for sale here at my studio during The Artists' Open House Weekend October 10,11,12.

Stargazer

SOLD
Never say never. Watercolor is not a choice I ever make for plein air work...except for yesterday. Seated at the patio table facing my new Stargazer lily in a pot, I was tired. It was late and I felt I could probably manage a small watercolor. I painted it while my husband grilled up some burgers and corn. (Thank you, dear.) It's on rough Arches w/c paper and I did most of it with a 1/2" flat chisel brush (ran in the studio for a small pointed round for the speckles...no masking fluid.) It has good contrast & movement and great color! It was worth it's while and it'll be in a 10" maple box frame and on the studio wall soon. I'm pretty sure it will outlast the one in the pot I'm about to feed to some delighted critter in my garden.

"Arena" Lily

Maybe I will feel better about this painting when I don't still have the real lily blooming in my garden. Right now I'm a little lukewarm about it. I was battling with a paper I haven't used much lately...Sabretooth from Canada...salmon colored. I loved the old paper and then it was discontinued and then the new one came out. I don't like it as much. OK, I'll stop whining now.

Fall Brook March

SOLD
Friday I got out for a lovely spring day of painting at Salt Springs State Park. This is done from one of my favorite spots; the bridge on Buckley Road. The color palette was surprisingly similar to many of my Arizona paintings done in March of 2007...more water, though. I used an orange-toned sheet of Wallis paper mounted on board and very soft pastels...mostly Unisons. It was a challenging composition, but I think it is complete.

Love to have your comments on Fall Brook March 12 x 12 plein air pastel.

Blown Off the Field

I was so excited to be met with a day above 50ºF that I quickly grabbed the easel and a few pastels and drove down my road until I spotted a likely subject. A cold front was moving in quite fast and the sky was very active. I kept a death grip on the easel against the gusts and did manage to get the panel covered with color before the rain sent me packing. I don't care; it was my first day out since Nov. 4!

I like this painting...it has strong composition, interesting color and it is fresh & windy. I might normally title it 'spring thaw' but we are far from spring here and we've all ready had several of these thaws, then ice storms, then foot of snow and we're only a week into winter officially.

December Thaw (11 x 14 UArt #800 on panel) will get some finishing work and I will publish the finished piece then. Such a delight to get out of the studio even if it was brief.

BTW the studio is open for appointments during most of the winter. email is best rtilley@rodricatilley.com

Irresistible Palette

SOLD
I love these colors. I use similar strong complimentary colors often to create a painting that has power.

I took Night Begins to the Butternut Gallery where it will hang with Goldenrod Field for the next month or so. The Butternut Gallery and Second Story Books is at 42 Church Street Montrose PA 570-278-4011. They are open Wed-Sun afternoons. Both paintings are framed with mats in rustic gold wood frames about 17 inches square overall. Night Begins is a studio painting and Goldenrod Field is a plein air painting. They are each priced at $400.

Why Plein Air?

SOLD
Because that's where one learns to see...really see. Knowing what lurks in the shadows, what color the leaves reflect, even what the local sounds and smells are makes convincing paintings. Plein air painting for me informs all my other work. What I have learned looking at a mountain range in Arizona helps me paint my own Endless Mountains back in my Pennsylvania studio. Struggling against bright glare to see the waves rolling into the beach in Costa Rica teaches me something about the Susquehanna river. Just dragging an easel out your studio door for a quick warm-up painting will do so much for your skills. Plein air work teaches you to select for subject and compose to your canvas or paper borders. It teaches you to move along, speed it up and keep the energy flowing.

Plein air is the background, the homework for painting from other sources. I see many painters, wasting precious time, using photos when they should be out in the field observing. Once they've done that they may be ready to paint from photos and their own imagination.

Besides it's the most fun you can have and still call it work.