2026 Sunflower #3

SOLD!  $145 (unframed) 4x6" mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10". $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 9/26 the price goes to $225.

Another sunflower...

2026 Sunflower #2

 
SOLD!  $145 (unframed) 4x6" mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10". $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 9/25 the price goes to $225.

Sunflowers!  It is that time of year.

I am trying to balance a new commission (it is a surprise so I cannot show it), paintings for my Annual Open House (November 20-22)  and the occasional blog painting!

AND still squeeze in a few shows.  Waterford is a gem...

2026 Waterford Fair
October 2, 3 & 4 from 10am to 5pm
Held in Historic Waterford, VA
My space is outside the Old School (up the hill!)
rain or shine!
discount tickets & info at: www.waterfordfairva.org

Commission Finished!

My commission is finished, framed and my client is thrilled and already has it hung! 
I totally enjoyed this painting, there is so much to see in it and I love how it looks.

Annual Open House countdown:
Open House is 58 days away and that sounds like plenty of time! But it goes by fast. My job is to paint, paint and paint some more! Linda handles the rest and she is ORGANIZED! There is a long list hanging on her board with things to do by certain dates.
Already accomplished:
1. We have been to the printer for the design of the invitation.
2. We decided NOT to do a large print this year. This will be the first year not doing one, but we
are looking ahead to cutting back on shows and already have a wonderful selection of prints available. HOWEVER there are 2 Holiday Mini Prints and I am excited about them. They are at the printer now!
3. Huge amounts of mat cutting and framing to boost stock is happening.
4. Supplies roll in daily. I just picked up a pile of frames.
5. The menu is together and I was informed we are trying something different this year.
She did a dry run on two items. Both passed the test!
So we are on schedule!  

Save the date: Nov. 20-22 ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE
                       Nov. 27-29 Open Studio

Magnolia and commission update:

I took 2nd place in watercolor over the weekend for body of work!

I finished a painting:

2026 Magnolia      10X10 frame            $400.

AND, more work on my commission.
Washes on the porch ceiling and roof lines.  Detail on the farms in the background and on the grass on the foreground.  May not look like a lot but that little bit was hours of painting!

reminiscing...

 Somethings you just remember.    On September 11, 2001 we were having breakfast at the Chimney Corner Restaurant with friends James and Sandy Bock.  The TV was on in the dining room and we could not understand what we were seeing.  We went home and were shocked and glued to our TV for days.  

25 years has brought so many changes.  I long for the feeling of togetherness in the US.  I miss the ease of flying and traveling.  That old restaurant, Chimney Corner on Rothsville Road in Lititz is no longer there. Our good friend James is no longer with us.  AND 25 years has slipped by in a blink...

Back to my commission...

I think it is good to be away from a painting for a bit.  When I pick it up again I have a fresh perspective and see things a bit differently.  

I am playing at stone masonry!  Building the column a stone at a time.
Light washes and then building the colors.

I added a lot more detail to the 1st column stones .

Started the underpainting wash on the 2nd column and roofline.




I now added a wash over the wood on the 1st column.
A warm wash over the wood on the 2nd column.
Stonework on the 2nd column.


I can "see" how it will look when I am finished and I am getting close to the end!

new painting

If you came out to the Heart of Lancaster show this past weekend you saw me working on this painting. I finished it!

Salt-glazed    framed 14x18     $875.

Busy weekend!  I had a double booth; prints on the right and original paintings on the left. 2 tents, 7 tarps, 15 panels and 2 rugs with a long set up and pack up!

Our helper in the studio unpacked, framed and repacked for the next show.
This Sunday I am returning to Bel Air, MD.  It has been YEARS since I was there.  Plan on stopping out!  Booth #138

New painting...

 I finished another painting...
Another painting from Zoar, Ohio.  They had some beautiful antiques!  So simple; just a solitary basket on a beautiful cabinet  with a hint of a reflection on the wall.

2026 Solitary    framed 14x18"         $850.

I am packing the van between the storms!  This weekend I have a double booth, two tents, and LOTS of paintings and prints!  Not a free inch of space in the van!!

commission:

I am moving on to the siding.  First washes
Excuse the blue tape, its holding my paper to the board.

Going darker and more work on the railing

Need something free to do on the weekend...
I am in booth #136

Update:  I had a wound care appointment yesterday for my toe.  The sore is almost closed, its healing.  BUT I will need the boot several more weeks.

Commission

Moving along on my commission. 
Working the landscape towards the house.

Underpainting for the grass. Steps and rail.

New 14x18 painting...

I finished another painting in between working on my commission.

SOLD!    "2026  Blues"        framed 14x18"        $900.

A painting from Zoar Village in Ohio. 
I wish we owned that cabinet! 
Shades of "Blue" everywhere.
Looks even better than it photo'd

A client purchased  "Waiting for Fall"   framed it herself and it inspired her to collect other small chair prints and used mine as her center piece.  Looks great!

My next show is: Heart of Lancaster...

Next weekend: Sept. 5 & 6
It is FREE!  I am in my usual space #136

over the weekend...

I have pretty much just been sitting at the table working on my commission all weekend. Staying off my foot! Yes, I have the boot on every moment except when I sleep. I think its looking better, next check up is another week. Linda has a long list of errands to run today. I am along for the ride!  Linda is having a fit about the length of our grass, but it rains (pours) daily and never dries enough to mow.  I'm thinking we can bale it soon!

Commission update: Saturday, my client came to watch me work on her painting, she is excited and happy with it, which takes the pressure off.  I am confident enough at this point to enjoy the process

I am adding the trees


Looks better without seeing my blue tape! I use painters tape to hold the paper to my board.  I am saving the white of the paper for the farms, painting the grass and trees around them.  Suddenly there is a horizon and a the feeling of distance.  This is slow going, I don't want to get green where it doesn't belong.

todays painting

The view from the porch is stunning.  
Layers of wash to get a sunset.  Started a bit of green.


Added the flag which has light shining through.

My client is coming to watch me work on this tomorrow!

New painting and commission progress

My demonstration painting from the show at The Oaks.
"Going Out"     framed 14x18    $850.

Commission: 

I am starting with washes in the sky.  Drying hard between each layer.  Slowly building.

Commission...

No time for my daily blog painting because I have a commission to work on. I received permission to share. This painting will frame to 18x24"
Once a client decides on a budget and size we talk about what their vision is, what has the most meaning. This is a house commission however it is a corner of their house and a fantastic view. I draw the old fashioned way, by hand, and I rarely need a ruler! I draw directly on my watercolor paper and the client approves the drawing. This is the only time I can make structural changes.

Starting to paint it tomorrow.

Update:  Monday was my appointment with a wound care doctor for a second opinion on my toe. More of a specialist.   It IS healing but slowly.  Instructions for the boot are even stricter than the Podiatrist.  If my foot touches the floor the boot must be on.   New meds to put on which means Linda is playing Nurse again.  I also have a compression sock.  Take Vitamin D and stuff called Juven to promote healing.  He will look at it in 2 weeks.  It is from my chemo, causing neuropathy in my foot.  Thankfully, I do not have any pain. But it is throwing off my gait, messing with my hips.  This summer is NOT going as planned!

2026 Landscape #12

 mini original watercolor   $225.

A bit of Lancaster County countryside.

this weekend is a really good quality show in Oaks PA. Plenty of parking. Hall E

print this page for $2 off.  Tell all your Philly friends!

2026 Landscape #11

mini original watercolor  $225.
Just a pleasant view from Belle Grove Plantation in VA.

WOW...look at a clients wall...5 pieces of my 8x10 mini originals hanging in these panels!  Now I am not going to say she designed it around my work...But it sure looks perfect.  I am planning to fill that up!!  I am impressed and honored.

2026 Landscape #10

 mini original watercolor  $225
Isle of Skye, Scotland. I totally enjoyed working on the background but the sheep took a bit of concentration. They always look like they have a smile! And a little harder to make them look soft in watercolor.

I started packing for the Lititz Craft show (Saturday 10-3, I am in front of the Sutter Courtyard)  BUT, waiting to see what the weather may do.  If its sunny I can take the light pop up tent. IF it may have a storm, I need the harder to put up tent with sides... decisions, decisions!

2026 Landscape #9

SOLD!  $145 (unframed)6x4" mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing10x8". $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 8/7 the price goes to $225.

I am loving the textures I was able to get, the clumpy grass in the foreground, trees and to be able to create distance.  A feeling of a bit overcast, but it is Scotland after all...Callander, near Stirling.  Your eye is not sure if it wants to go to the "coo" or the barn first!

Busy day today, I had breakfast with a buddy, ran a few errands with Linda, picked up 3 more dozen ears of corn to put into the freezer.  Linda cleans it and I boil and cut off.  Love having fresh corn in the middle of winter.   Meanwhile trying to decide when to pack the van and IF the weather is going to co-operate for the show on Saturday.  In my younger days I didn't mind showing in rain, but I must admit the thrill is now gone!

This Saturday  August 8 is the BIG Lititz Craft Show
I am in my usual space in front of the Sutter's Courtyard at the square.
from 8 to 3.  Free... 

2026 Sunflower #1

SOLD!   $145 (unframed) 4x6" mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10". $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 8/6 the price goes to $225.

I found these sunflowers at S Clyde Weavers on Monday.  I usually wait till September to start painting them but these were really pretty with a blue sky.


I spent some time with a photographer today.  I have been included in something special for Lititz which I will share later.  Lots of photos were taken and I even got to put on my bicycle kit and take my bike out to the trail for some shots!  Boy did that feel good!  I had my boot off for 30 minutes!