lots to tell

summer seems pretty busy for everyone and I'm no exception--but today I will play a bit of catch-up with my blog.

In late July, I taught a 3day workshop in a lovely lodge near Platte, SD, sponsored by the Stagecoach Gallery, where I show my work.   I had 4 students, who did fabulously.   The first day we talked about materials and mark-making.   The second day was about value mostly.  The third was working on a painting idea, then some plein air.    photo by Mary Hunt, Stagecoach owner.   My youngest student was Torri, and the furthest-away was Vernita, from Texas!   A couple students had a very limited number of pastels, but look at what can still be done, nice showing of work here!


Then a couple weeks passed with me doing the stuff I left aside to prepare for the workshop.....until the DeSmet plein air paint out!   How I LOVE paint outs.

DeSmet is where the Laura Ingalls pageant is held and there is an area set up just like it would've been in her day, lots to paint!    We had most of the weekend as rainy, grey days, which isn't something I usually paint.  I did very much enjoy that tho., was different and somewhat a challenge instead of the typical sunny 'pretty' day, the grey days have their own serene beauty.   And, I'd much prefer grey to heat, any time!

I could easily paint there for a month.   I hope to return next year, as I feel I haven't even begun to paint the possibilities available there.  And, the Harvey Dunn Society was sooo accommodating to the 50 or so artists, making us meals, handing out water and fruit, a big thanks to them!!

Here I am starting a 10x10 on Uart paper, of a distance farm.   sadly, I didn't photograph it when I was done, and it sold at the wet-paint sale at the end of the weekend, which is good, but when will I ever remember to get those photos??!

this last photo is of inside the schoolhouse, it was misty/sprinkling so I went inside the building instead.   This was done on Uart, with some alcohol underpainting.   This was one of my favorites of the weekend.   My other and very favorite sold, again, without a photo of it.

School has started back up, where Daughter is a senior.  oh my.   How did this happen?   But it leaves my days a bit more open to my own devices, and I've been working steady on some commissions, of horses!   I think this is just awesome, painting people's beloved horses.   And riding my own, weather permitting.   I can ride in rain, but not heat.  blah!

I am making sure to set a goal for the week or day, or even monthly.   Otherwise, nothing gets done.  I find lists to be my best helper in that dept.   If its not on the list, its pretty certain NOT to get done.   I am happy to report today's list has been filled, with the completion of this blog post.   Sometimes an entry gets booted to the next day or further, but I feel best when I can cross each thing off.  Yea!   Makes me feel useful.