Fenced Sunflowers

This past Sunday morning I was visited by some young artists from Camp Susquehannock. They drew in charcoal and I worked at the bottom of the garden on this pastel painting. For those of you not living in white-tail deer country, we must fence the deer out of our gardens especially when we grow sunflowers - a gourmet item on the deer menu! This is a 16 x 20; rather large for me to complete in one sitting en plein air. I had to finish it up this morning in the garden. The light was coming from the same direction, but it was much stronger this morning. A newly hatched family of tufted titmouses (titmice?) were practicing their whistles & cheeps in the branches over my head.

Michael Poster, my husband took some photos of the kids and made a slideshow with music by Booker T & the MG's. http://www.backroadsproject.com/kids_draw/

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.

A Fine Home

It was nice to see so many of you turn out at the opening last night of Three Artists Paint Their County. Yes, the gallery is air conditioned and the show will continue until August 22; wed-sat 11-5 and sunday 12-4. 570-278-4011

I love this spot. I've painted it before. This time a small trailer (mobile home, RV?) had appeared in the window created in the trees. I like the winter landscape colors and most of all the open expanses of sky, field and view. The tongue in cheek title is actually a sincere expression of what I think constitutes a "fine" home; fresh air, clean landscape, nature all around and plenty of long distance views. It is included in the Three Artists Paint Their County Exhibit at the Butternut Gallery in Montrose. It is 18 x 18 image size.

Whistle Stops & Depots

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All aboard, railroad buffs! An exhibit of railway-related artworks by the members of Pennsylvania En Plein Air Society. Opening reception Friday July 23, 2010 6pm ? Music by Steamtown Ramblers with songs of railroads and hobos. This is your chance to attend a party and add a piece of original art to your collection. There will be oils and watercolors, acrylics and pastels; stations and trains. The work will be varied in size and scope, but all will be reasonably priced. Meet the artists; some are established well known names in Northeastern PA and some are emerging talent. All have taken on a two year project of recording our local railroading history on canvas and paper. It is a beautiful sight, if you love trains and history...or just ART!

Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 5-8pm through August 25. Schulman Gallery, 2nd floor of the Campus Center at Luzerne County Community College, 1333 South Prospect Street, Nanticoke, PA. My pastel painting, Alford Switch Tower is included.

The switching tower, built in 1915, was used to switch the multiple tracks in use at the time. It was all done mechanically with steel rods and levers and muscle power.

Three Artists Paint Their County

Betty Bryden, Bob Smith and Rodrica Tilley paint and draw inspiration from Susquehanna County, PA July 24 - August 22 at the Butternut Gallery 42 Church St., Montrose, PA 570-278-4011

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This is my pastel painting; My Neighbor's Garden as it is featured on the invitation card. The image size is 18 x 18 inches, soft pastel on Wallis paper. Opening reception is Saturday July 24 6-8pm.

Happy Garden

This is the plein air demo that I started for a group of Hill Country Artists 2 weeks ago Thursday evening. I love painting for them. They are an interested group of painters with many questions. I did a little work on it later in the studio, framed and hung it on the wall.

I usually avoid yellow in the garden and in paintings, but other people like it and this is one of the rare garden exceptions. In July it is a hot, happy border with sort of a Chinese Restaurant style color scheme. It's 11 x 14 on Wallis paper mounted on thin gator foam.

Annual Summer Art Exhibit

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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.