Plein air oil painting: Far Bank

12 by 12 inches, plein air, oil on hardboard

I spent some time today painting in an open area near Willow and Ravine Way. Kohls was right behind me — does that add to the pastoral feeling of the painting? I had some fluffy company, and tried working the geese and their goslings into the painting, but they worked their way back out again. I used a new plein air umbrella – worked very well, although attaching it to my easel was a bit of a trick. I forgot to leave it on for the picture. I love these pale spring greens.

     

Plein air oil painting: Dairy Bar

8 by 8 inches, oil on hardboard

This morning I tried a plein air street scene. Bright bits of color, people walking by – I wish I’d painted some of the people or a moving car into this composition. Maybe next time. I was right outside Motophoto at Glenview Road and Harlem. Beautiful day.

The Dairy Bar proper is in the center of this group, with a cafe to the left and a barbershop and Glenview Cycle to the right. A Glenview expert tells me that far right building used to be the village post office.

Oil Painting of Crocuses

6 by 6 inches, oil on hardboard

This warmer weather tempts me away from the easel and into the garden, but here are a couple early spring crocuses. Happy Mothers’ Day!

 

Plein Air: Docks Before Rain

10 by 10 inches, oil on hardboard

I went out painting by the lake in the Glen earlier this week. It was just starting to rain as I packed up. On the east side of the lake there’s a shelter and docks for fishing. I started with a pink ground again — I’m not sure that’s working for me. I left too much pink showing through, anyway. I also tried to push too much of the sky into the composition, so I went back in and changed some things today. I feel like it matches up better to my memory of the cold, windy morning. In the distance on the right stand the Techny Towers of Northbrook.

We have a road trip coming up (can’t wait!), and I’d really like to improve my plein air skills and do some painting while we travel. Please share any tips, advice and feedback you can think of in the comments. Which one do you like better?

Oil Painting of Freesia

11 by 14 inches, oil on hardboard

Freesias smell so amazing – they’re some of my favorite flowers. For one of my first jobs I worked in a greenhouse where these were grown as cut flowers for florists. I’ve never tried growing them myself, although having them in the house inspires me to try. Things are growing with all these April showers. The peas are up. Daffodils and primroses are blooming. Time to get outside.

Art Post Gallery: Honorable Mention

6 by 6 inches, oil on canvas

At the Art Post Gallery

I was thrilled to receive an honorable mention from the Art Post Gallery at tonight’s reception! This was my entry – similar to a painting of red currants I enjoyed painting last summer. The theme of the show (Botany Magnified) reminded me of the way the berries were reflected and distorted in the spoon. The entries were beautiful and showed wide variety in subject and technique. It was fun to be a part of the contest, and fun to see so many fellow Glenview Art League members participating.

The collection of 6 by 6 inch paintings will be on display (and for sale) at the gallery through May 5. Here is a link to an article about the show in the Northbrook Patch by Stan Golovchuk.

Plein Air: Big Bend Lake

10 by 10 inches, oil on hardboard

“Big Bend Lake, in Des Plains Illinois, is the site of a 280 million year old impact crater basin. This space rock was estimated to be about five miles in diameter and if it happened today would be catastrophic but it happened 40 million years before the beginning of the Triassic period well before dinosaurs.” - geocaching.com

I made it back out to the old crater basin today for more plein air painting. Gorgeous day – very windy and colder than I expected, no meteor activity. Click on the painting to see the listing on etsy.

This reminds me of a novel I finished recently, The Last Policeman by Ben Winters. I thought it was very good. The doomsday meteor makes an interesting twist on the “noir” mystery genre.

UPCOMING EVENT: The Art Post Gallery in Northbrook is hosting an Art by the Inch Competition. I had fun seeing several fellow Glenview Art League members in line to pick up one of the eighty 6 inch square canvases a few weeks ago. The theme is “botany magnified.” I’ll be dropping off my painting soon. The show opens on April 18 with wine and appetizers from 5 to 8 p.m., and presentation of the winners at 7 p.m. All paintings will be on display through May 5, and are for sale for $150 each.