Capturing Giles

Today was a beautiful day! We awoke to 47 degrees here in the NRV. Wow! It was chilly this morning! I had to wait until later in the day to catch the sun and the beautiful vistas.

I made my way to Giles County, to a mountain estate near Newport owned by friends. So much view you can't paint it all at once. The owner was great in that he had taken pics from an earlier painting session at their place. I am listing them separate. Today's was good. The air was warm, the breeze was cool. In the end, a lovely day.

Floyd outing!

I headed out recently on a late afternoon to capture the beautiful weather and views. I pulled over at a local farm off Christiansburg (Old) Pike, in between two car sheds, to discover a special landscape looking towards Bent Mountain/Check areas.

I spent just a short time, painting quickly in the waning afternoon light, and was soon joined by the owners of the farm. They were so hospitable and nice, even though there was a strange girl dressed in tank top and shorts painting beside their storage shed. Turns out they knew my husband's folks. Isn't that cool? I also had the pleasure of meeting a pug-mix dog named Puggles. He was exceptionally sweet, although he did snap once at me, (he was just guarding his turf)and so I've named the painting "Puggles' View."

To sign off for today, you will also note something NEW!!!! Due to the fact that my beloved Abercrombie (pre-Britany-era) hat is dying a slow death, I had to start to pass the torch to a new painting hat. I choose one given to me by a dear gentleman (and amazing pool shark!) from my "second home," Gloucester, Mass.

Until next time, happy painting!

News from the Gallery

I have new works at The Cheshire Gallery in Roanoke. I was thrilled to get my own display!!!! I will also have an upcoming demonstration and artist talk in October. Watch out for a mailing and announcements.

Wine Down Monsoons!

More Wine Down Photos!!!

Wine Down the Music Trail....in the rain!

David and I picked up and travelled with art in tow to Wine Down the Music Trail Festival at the Blue Cow Pavillion (i.e. the Floydfest site) near Meadows of Dan, VA and at the edge of Rock Castle Gorge. We were able to set up on Friday, the 4th. Saturday came, and with it, great music, a little rain, and a couple of sales. Being under "the big top" with the wineries was great, especially when it rained. Which we learned VERY well on Sunday. Talk about a monsoon. It stormed straight from 2pm on. The festival essentially got washed out, and at around 3:30-4pm, everyone in our tent decided there was nothing left to do but sample the wine some more. Luckily we had sweat shirts with us, as the temps dropped to the low 60's very quickly. It was great being next door to our friends from The Chocolate Spike in Christiansburg. Their fudge ROCKS, especially with a good, strong red wine!

In the end, the festival was a bunch of fun, we got to meet some really cool new folks, we made some money, and got to drink some amazing wine! Not a bad way to spend a weekend, and WAY better than the 100 degree temps at Sidewalk earlier in June.

Be on the lookout for new works and new outings coming soon!!! I do have 5 new works at The Cheshire Gallery in Roanoke this month of July, and I am on a "feature" wall. Check it out!!

Until next time, may all your trees be happy trees!

joli

Rocky Top Outing (with cows!)

David and I enjoyed a wonderfully HOT day at the top of the family property in Floyd, an area we call Rocky Top. I started a painting of an expansive view towards Pilot, looking down across the property, our house in the distance. We had some visitors shortly after I began painting.....Dad Wood's cows! They literally came out of the woods, down the hill, and the herd encircled our set up with the Isuzu and my easel for a little while, then they made their way down the slope to the creek. We had to dodge a few storms, so I painted VERY quickly. The result was a picture very loosely painted. I am still working on the finished product and not sure if I want to tighten up the image yet. I love the painterly quality and might keep it.