"Fields of Gold" 12x24 oil on panel

A perfect VT summer day.  I may do a few more touches, shadows on the barn.  But this has been sitting in my studio un-posted for too long.  

"Wobbly First Steps" 12x12 oil on panel

An exercise in getting more paint on the panel.  It seems easier when I use panel vs. canvas.  I'm trying to really load it on, and also be a little freer and looser.  This was a good subject to be free and loose.  Another title or caption I thought of "I'm all ears, Mom!"  Such a cute little guy.  Shelburne Farms herd of sheep early summer.

"A Wake at Sunset" 12x24 oil on canvas

A couple of days ago I decided to work on this one little more.  More paint, more paint.  And I think I made it better.  It's been a struggle this summer to find time to paint.  So busy, such a wonderful summer in VT.  But I need to paint more.  So, this was a start.

"Kendall Kayaking" 5x7 oil on panel

Another summer reverie, my niece Kendall kayaking this summer. Yes, there's a theme here. Hanging inside on a winter-like October day. Make the most of it by painting!!! Sweet memories, and feeling very productive. Nice!

"Toes in the Water 2" 5x7 oil on panel

Revisiting a favorite image from the summer. I guess this snowy (yikes!) October day has me longing for other times. Aahh, Summer in VT. You are a long way off. A fun little photo to paint. More accurate drawing makes her look more her age - amazing the difference small changes make, especially when painting children. Also, different painting size, different cropping.

"Waiting" 12x12 oil on panel

Revisiting an image I painted once before. This one is larger (12x12) but it still worked. We pass the moorings at Point Bay Marina when we sail. But this was a particularly lovely evening. Not sure I'm finished with this. Maybe a few more tweaks, but I wanted to get a post up today. It feels like summer is coming to a close. Lovely Fall-ish weather, but I'm not ready to say good bye to summer.

"Tubing, Lake Champlain" 6x6 oil on panel

A perfect day for tubing, boating, anything outside. Aahh, Summer in VT. . . way too short!

"Cousins, Mt. Philo" 6x6 oil on panel

My niece and great-nephew visiting from Georgia. Dappled sunshine, a picnic in a great location, then a walk to see the view. Summer in VT!

"Reflection" 6x6 oil on panel

Our kayaks waiting on the beach. Reflections. Reflection. Reverie. Aaahh, summer in VT.

"Toes in the Water" 6x6 oil on panel

There's nothing quite as much fun as a kid going swimming in the summer. Pure joy. Brings back memories of all the summers past. This is my "great" niece. Yikes!

"Moored in the Marina" 8x8 oil on panel

Point Bay Marina where we dock our boat is in a lovely little harbor with the Green Mountains off in the distance. I snapped the photo as we were coming home one evening. My first attempt at painting sailboats.

"Late Summer Field" 8x8 oil on panel

A quick sketch today, a little daily painting, but finally I am able to get back to it. It feels so good to be painting again. I wanted something quick and easy for my re-entry. Nothing frustrating or difficult or discouraging. It seems like it has been forever, and I've really allowed "life" to get in the way. It's been a good summer, though. Lots of family this year. But very, very good. I'm hoping to paint several more days over the next week and a half before I start back to the National Academy. Then I will have to find my way as to what i want to post on the blog. Figure painting from life is so much more of a struggle than these little paintings from photographs. . . Oh, well, we'll see. For now, a little taste of Vermont's late summer fields.

"Race Day Volunteer" 6x6 oil on panel

A RaceVermont volunteer waiting for the racers to come through. It's a huge community effort to support these mini-triathlons. The race starts with a swim in the lake, then a bike ride and finishes with a run. Couldn't do it without all the volunteers -- and the orange cones. Gotta love 'em.

"Buddies at the Bike Race" 8x8 oil on panel

Our health club sponsors a race series called Race Vermont (racevermont.com) and the mini-triathlons are a very fun event. People of all shapes and sizes come out to watch and cheer on the racers. I got some good pics yesterday to paint from.

"Neighbor's Old Red Barn" 5x7 oil on panel

More symbols of summer in VT: adirondack chairs, a flag flying in the breeze, flowers in a window box, shadows on the side of an old barn in need of a paint job. You just know the barn cat will be doing his rounds soon.

"My Sister Kayaking" 5x7 oil on panel

A perfect summer day on Lake Champlain. Puffy clouds, blue sky, Garden Island and Cedar Island in the background. My sister's first time in a kayak. She loved it! A very happy day.

"Fishin' on the Dock" 8x10 oil on panel

Garden Island across from our house. My sister and I were kayaking and I snapped this shot. Perfect summer image. Again, hard to photograph the painting and it doesn't do it justice. Feels good to be back painting after a few days off.

"Colorful Travelers" 8x8 oil on panel

At the Old Brick Store in the village of Charlotte, VT, a meeting place for many colorful characters. I started this painting last week but felt it needed some more time. Several things really bothered me, including how it reproduced. I think I made it better, and the photo is definitely more accurate. Although I'm constantly surprised at how much is lost in the photo. Oh, well. . . Tomorrow I will be starting a new painting and hopefully will have sufficient time to finish a good "daily painting." I have some fun new reference photos, so check back for new stuff late tomorrow and throughout the week.

"Father's Day Sunset" 18x18 oil on canvas

I gave this one another day. It needed more paint and there were some colors I didn't like. Given that it is 18x18 I think two days are OK. Fun to kind of go color-crazy. But, in truth, the photo seems awfully dark. So hard to photograph paintings.

"Our Neighbors' Docks" 5x7 oil on canvas

Lake toys. Quintessential summer scene. Photo shot from our beach where we launch the kayaks and throw the frisbee for Kate's dog. Summer in VT is wonderful!