No. 862 Toolbox Meets Primroses on Steps

Toolbox Meets Primroses

Oil on Canvas Panel

5" x 7"

Click to Bid

Two of my favorite subjects this January- together!

This is my favorite winter plein air painting layer. It's a second hand cashmere sweater - soft, thin, warm, colorful and wonderful. I purchased several of them from Thredup.com averaging about $20 each.

No. 861 More Primroses

More Primroses

Oil on gessobord

6" x 6"

Click to Bid

On yet another fabulously wet and windy day, I sat on my own front porch and enjoyed painting these cuties.

If a pair of feet could have heroes these boots would be mine. They are waterproof, insulated boots by Vasque and kept my feet warm and dry no matter how wet the day was.

No. 860 Primroses Tucked on the Side

Primroses Tucked on the Side

Oil on Canvas Panel

5" x 7"

Click to Bid

Money well spent on these primroses as they were a bright spot on particularly grey days.

My favorite gloves when painting this time of year. They transform from mittens to fingerless and back again to mittens when the fingertips get frosty.

No. 859 Bailey's in Winter

Bailey's in Winter

Oil on Canvas

5" x 7"

I've spent a lot of time here during the fall but never in the winter. It was a windy, rainy day. I was super lucky to get permission to set up under the eave of the closed vegetable stand where it was dry and wind free. Few! What a difference!

Another important piece of my winter plein air gear. Layering is key and this Odlo insulating base layer made a big difference. Also purchased on sale via REI.

No. 858 Toolbox Meets Pumpkins

Toolbox Meets Pumpkins

Oil on Canvas Panel

5" x 7"

The next benefit from painting outdoors in January is freedom from cabin fever. I had never really noticed how trapped I was feeling until I no longer felt that way. Good clothing really goes along way in this department. Actually I was inspired to do this whole painting outdoors thing by a Norwegian saying, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes". You may want to argue about this but I felt there had to be something to it. 

So in December, when all the good sales were on, I invested in a NorthFace coat from the garage sale department of REI. I'm telling you right now, it made all the difference!

This mid calf length down coat was secret to my winter outdoor painting success. Sure I looked like a small round abominable snow person but I was warm!

No. 857 Sunset at Lowell Riverfront Park

Sunset at Lowell Riverfront Park

Oil on Canvas Panel

7" x 5"

Click to Bid

When a person has been in my class for awhile I often have them tell me how much more they see in everyday life since starting class. Everywhere they go they see more color than they ever did before. I think it is a particular gift of being an artist. It's like layers of veils being removed from our eyes.  So exciting!

Well one of the best gifts of painting outside this January was having a few more veils removed from my eyes. It took a bit more time to notice the beautiful colors everywhere but they were most definitely there!

No 856 Taking a Break

Taking a Break

Oil on Gessobord

5" x 7"

Click to Bid

This one is part of my January painting challenge. I was really happy to complete the challenge painting outside every day during the month of January. I made lots of great discoveries and will share those with you in the following days. 

Almost immediately after the challenge I was given the opportunity to teach a small workshop in southern California. How cool is that? I'll share more about that very soon too!

Most recently I've been having a blast watching the Olympics with my family. I thought this painting of a pair of ice skates was timely. :)