Crazy Weather!

The weather in the pacific northwest can be crazy in April! It can be nice and sunny one minute and then suddenly the skies are dark and stormy. This is how it was one day when I was driving out in north Clark County. The clouds were gloriously striking! I don't know why but I really love looking at thunderheads. They are fun to paint also! I used mostly wet into wet watercolor and dabbed some areas with a tissue to get some harder edges in spots. I added white gouache to the darker blues while they were still wet to form some softer clouds. I also saw a flock of geese flying at the time so added them to the painting as well. The fun part of being an artist is the freedom to create the scene you want. I have no shortage of inspiration here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest! Happy painting!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and to all the mothers out there! This is my gift to each of you. I couldn't resist painting these brilliant blossoms lit up by that elusive sun! Enjoy!

April Showers

I was driving near Ridgefield the other day on one of those rainy, gray days that I'm so tired of! Suddenly the sun came out and lit up the snow on the distant hills and the bright green fields were a glow! I wished I had my camera! Not to worry. That evening I did this small watercolor of the scene while the memory was still fresh in my mind. Sometimes I think that's better that using a photo anyway!

I did this quick painting of lilacs after a tour of the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in Woodland, WA. There were so many wonderful varieties, some in colors I had never seen in lilacs before. I kept the image simple, relying mainly on the lighting, colors and textures to convey the feeling of seeing the lilacs on a bright, spring day. My scanner wasn't big enough to scan the whole painting so part of it was cut off!

Lilacs, 10x11 watercolor on Arches paper  SOLD