I might have mentioned this once or twice but what I find enlightening in painting on open land is that I am in the midst of so very many creatures ‘unseen’ -their continued presence entirely dependent on our land’s eco system.

This is a very old apple tree and has been the focus of many of my works throughout the years. It is host to numerous birds who nest in it and use it for cover in increment weather. The apples are also fodder for deer and yes, sometimes dogs :O. Needless to say, this little hill that it is perched on has been climbed many times by both four and two -legged critters.

July

oil on canvas

36x36in, 2010

available

I worked on this painting last July and put it away with the intention of resuming later in the month. Something about it was really bothering me but I was too close. Today after returning from a walk in the field and seeing all of the thistles in bloom (with yellow finches feeding on them) I thought of the painting. I took it out and after applying and wiping out several times, I just signed it.

July

oil on canvas
20x30in, 2009/10

SOLD

This painting is representative of a body of work that is ongoing- exploring our connection with the seasons of the land and the seasons of our lives. Listed below is a simple but to me so deeply true poem - no matter the denomination or what beliefs one has I think it says it all

July, A Time to Every Purpose Under the Sun

oil on canvas

24x48in, 2009

SOLD

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the sun:

Today on my walk I had to catch my breath at the site of Queen Anne's lace embellishing the fields. They usually arrive in August and I suppose I didn't think that they, too, would be early.
When I lived in California I was taken aback to learn it was common for florists to have this 'weed' imported- these wild flowers that grow here in abundant splendor and remind us that summer is in full swing.

August, Morning With Queen Anne

acrylic on canvas
12x24in, 2009
SOLD

One thing about living up here on the escarpment--the temperature is always a few degrees lower, which is great in the summer-not so in winter! So even on these sweltering days, the evenings cool down and tonight was accompanied by a refreshing breeze--thankfully no gusts to knock my easel over :X

After a week of no rain and steaming hot weather, relief came yesterday in a day-long downpour. As a result, today's sunshine brought new wild grasses and flowers, my favourite being clover, thistle and chicory. Their vivid and varied patterns and colours, as well as light movement in the breeze, tantalized yellow finches and butterflies. It was a pleasure watching them feed as I painted—nature’s so ALL WAYS in sync!

July

oil on canvas
12x24in, 2010

These warm July evenings bring a special yearning for my Daughter, who moved to Ireland a few years ago. Although I usually work from life, the image below was painted from a photograph taken by her just before she flew across the pond. LUMU Liah

July, Remains of the Day

oil on canvas

30x36in, SOLD

What a beautiful afternoon—ideal for a plein air painter I think! The acre of property I live on backs into an open field and my neighbour has let us use it for many years. Beside me is a vineyard, and I had very kind neighbours who let me paint in them undisturbed. Now I have new neighbours who are always out working the property with their assortment of machines –as I write this (at night) they are spraying yet again with pesticide(?). Anyway, they were gone for the day so I set up my easel and painted undisturbed for hours and hours—was wonderful! The field where I painted from had been freshly cut so it smelled DIVINE! The only snag was the wind- whoever invented bungie cords deserves a medal.

July, Greenbelt Disaster

oil on canvas
18x24in, 2010
available